The color grade of diamonds is judged by the human eye. There are 23 grades ranging from D to Z. If the engagement ring or diamond ring you received is a little yellowish, you might be disappointed. We will explain frankly what criteria you should use to choose a diamond ring, so please use this as a reference.
1. ColorWhat is it?
① Diamond color evaluation criteria
To be honest, the average person may not be able to tell the difference between D color and E color. That is how detailed the grade standards are.
Why does it start with color D? Why aren't there colors A, B, and C? I'm sure many of you have questions like these.
Before GIA developed the D-Z color grading scale, many systems were in use, with vague color scales in place. They included the alphabet (A, B, C, and multiple A's for the finest stones), Arabic script, and Roman letters, all of which were inconsistent and imprecise. GIA decided to establish a new system unrelated to the previous systems, starting with the previously unused letter "D."
Most brands carry H or I color or higher, but G color or lower can be seen to have a slightly yellowish appearance. For this reason, Hojudo's loose stone inventory is basically F color or higher.
②About fancy color diamonds
Diamonds are often thought of as colorless, but there are in fact colored diamonds such as red, blue, and yellow. Natural diamonds are colored when impurities are mixed in during the formation process. Fancy color diamonds are diamonds that have color outside the Z range, and the higher the vividness (saturation) and color tone, the higher their value. They can be hundreds of times more valuable than colorless diamonds. We will introduce some of the fancy color diamonds that come in a variety of colors for your reference.Red Diamond
It is called the phantom diamond, and there are only a few dozen of them in the world. Therefore, very few people have seen one. The reason why the diamond turned red is not clearly understood, but it is thought to be due to a "defect in the crystal structure". It is highly valuable among diamonds, and is apparently owned as an investment. For that reason, it is said that 1 carat is worth hundreds of millions of yen.
Pink Diamond
This is also a rare diamond, and it is said that beautiful pink diamonds for jewelry are one in ten thousand of the rough stones. There are only a limited number of mines that produce pink diamonds, most of which were the Argyle mine in Australia. The mine has already closed, and it is expected that the value will continue to increase in the future. Some people want pink diamonds as a lifetime engagement ring.
Blue Diamond
Blue diamonds are something blue and are often used in wedding rings. Most of these are treated stones, and natural blue diamonds are very rare and are said to be more valuable than pink diamonds. The probability of encountering one is said to be 1 in 100,000. Boron is contained in carbon, which crystallizes and turns blue.
Yellow Diamond
Yellow diamonds are probably the most familiar type. They turn yellow when nitrogen is mixed into the carbon. Although they are generally cheaper than colorless diamonds, bright yellow diamonds with good color tone are traded at high prices. They are often used as an accent in diamond jewelry, and some people choose them not only for fashion rings but also for engagement rings.
③Evaluation of the color of fancy color diamonds
Fancy colors are clearly visible.
Bright, vibrant colors are popular, with many choosing Fancy, Fancy Intense and Fancy vivid.
Basically, the upper right range of the graph is more expensive, with Fancy vivid being the most popular and expensive. Fancy vivid pink diamonds are traded at very high prices due to their rarity. Even the same Fancy color can look quite different, so we recommend that you check the actual item when choosing a fancy color.
Hojudo's loose stones are generally F color or above. Of these, 80% of the stock is D color. This is because many customers choose D color. Although it depends on the carat weight, at the purchasing stage, there is not a big difference in price between F color and D color, so Hojudo follows this same pattern. Depending on the brand, D color is often priced quite high, so Hojudo's D color is a bargain! This is why many customers choose D color.
If you have a fancy color diamond or a grade you prefer, we can help you find it, so please feel free to contact us.
▼Diamonds in stock at Hojudo
2. Which color?Which one should I choose?
As with the criteria for choosing a cut, rings are often seen up close, so choose colorless diamonds wherever possible. Necklaces and earrings are seen less up close, so many customers tend to lower the color a little and prioritize carat. On the other hand, the metal material has a big impact on the color development. We have summarized the criteria by material, so please use it as a reference.Regarding color, there are individual differences between those who can tell the difference and those who cannot, so please use this as a guide only.
The criteria for choosing a cut are summarized below, so please take a look at them.
How to choose a diamond cut!
1. Platinum and white gold
②Yellow gold or pink gold
3. Summary
- ■ Colors are divided into 23 levels from D to Z.
- ■ Diamonds are not only colorless, but also colored diamonds, which are classified differently from D to Z.
- ■ Red diamonds, blue diamonds and pink diamonds are extremely rare and in short supply, and are more expensive than colorless diamonds.
- ■The most popular fancy color is Fancy Vivid, followed by Fancy Intense.
- ■If the material is a silver color such as platinum or white gold, it is easier to see the difference in color, so we recommend a colorless F color or above. If it is yellow gold or pink gold, some people choose G or H color.
4. HojudoDiamond
At Houjudo, we propose jewelry with the idea that it will be used for many years to come.Hojudo's loose stones are generally F color or above. Of these, 80% of the stock is D color. This is because many customers choose D color. Although it depends on the carat weight, at the purchasing stage, there is not a big difference in price between F color and D color, so Hojudo follows this same pattern. Depending on the brand, D color is often priced quite high, so Hojudo's D color is a bargain! This is why many customers choose D color.
All prices are reasonable, so you can be sure that they are all from the same appraisal agency.sameYou can purchase diamonds of this grade at half to one-third the market price. In addition to being a direct wholesale store, we are able to offer these prices through thorough cost cutting by operating a single store.
If you have a fancy color diamond or a grade you prefer, we can help you find it, so please feel free to contact us.
