Diamonds are found in almost every color of the spectrum, but the majority of diamonds will have tints of yellow or brown. Typically, the term Diamond Color refers to the absence of color, which is a marker of quality along with the other 4Cs of Diamond Clarity, Diamond Carat Weight, and Diamond Cut. This tutorial focuses on fancy color diamonds. Brown and yellow diamonds that exhibit more color than the Z grade within the D-Z color scale are known as fancy colors. Since most diamonds have a bit of yellow or brown, any other colors outside of those hues are called fancy colors. This includes pink, blue, green, black, red, and orange diamonds.

Fancy Color begins beyond the grade Z in the color grading scale. (shown above) While colorless, near colorless, faint and light diamond colors are graded from the face-down position. Laboratory graders assess fancy color diamonds from the face-up or top view of the diamond.

Graders evaluate the hue, tone, and saturation of each diamond.

Hue - A diamond's overall body color

Tone - A diamond's lightness or darkness in relation to body color

Saturation - The intensity or degree of color

Secondary or modifying colors are also assessed, as they impact the overall hue of the fancy color. For example, a yellow diamond may have a green secondary, and will subsequently be graded as "Fancy Greenish Yellow." A blue diamond may have a grey secondary color, and will be graded as "Fancy Greyish Blue" and so on.

Fancy Color Terms on Grading Reports
Fancy color diamonds are graded using the following terms:

• Faint
• Very Light
• Light
• Fancy Light
• Fancy
• Fancy Intense
• Fancy Dark
• Fancy Deep
• Fancy Vivid

Fancy color diamond grading is a complex process, and colors are evaluated based on the intensity. Generally, the more rich and saturated the color, the higher the value. Fancy color diamonds that are true to hue with vivid coloration will be priced higher than lighter and less saturated stones.

For more information on fancy color diamond grading please visit:

• GIA - Gemological Institute of America
• Gubelin Gem Lab
• IGI - Institute of Gemology

While not considered "Fancy" color by diamond grading labs, Faint, Very Light, and Light colored yellow, brown, and grey diamonds can show a fair amount of color on the lower end of the D-Z color scale. S-Z colored yellows, for example, can present great bargains to buyers looking for a yellow diamond without the fancy price tag.

The Faint through Light range and corresponding letter grades are as follows:

• K-M, Faint
• N-R, Very Light
• S-Z, Light

Grey and Brown Color?

Diamonds with tints of grey and brown that exhibit more color than the J master stone may be identified as Faint, Very Light, and Light by major grading labs. Brown diamonds with more color than the K master stone are described with a letter grade in addition to a colored diamond grade ranging from Faint to Light Brown. Grey diamonds of K color or greater will be graded Faint, Light, and Very Light without a corresponding letter grade.

Hue, tone and saturation along with rarity and popularity of color affect fancy color diamond pricing. Pure red diamonds command the highest prices per carat worldwide. Fine yellow, pink, blue and green diamonds garner high prices depending on quality and size. Brown diamonds are generally the least expensive of natural fancy colors. As with colored stones in general, color is paramount for fancy color diamond pricing. Other quality factors like clarity and cut do not affect prices as much as with colorless diamonds. All factors equal, higher clarity and more attractive cuts may command higher prices.

It is always recommended to purchase from a trusted vendor, and if you have further questions, a qualified independent appraiser can assist you.

*Stay tuned for fancy colored diamond listings in the Pricescope database. Price comparisons for fancy color diamonds coming soon.

Trace elements, structural irregularities, and radiation generally cause fancy diamond color. Here is a breakdown of common causes of natural fancy diamond color.

Yellow Diamonds - Presence of nitrogen

Brown, Pink, and Red Diamonds - Colored graining, which results from structural irregularities in the crystal lattice--sometimes in combination with an impurity.

Blue Diamonds - Presence of boron with possible presence of hydrogen

Green Diamonds - Natural radiation

Grey and Violet Diamonds - Most likely the presence of hydrogen (grey diamonds are known for high amounts of hydrogen, while violet diamonds are still being studied for exact cause of color)

Black Diamonds - Dark inclusions or impurities, which are great in number and evenly distributed throughout a diamond

Orange Diamonds - Structural irregularities in combination with the presence of trace elements like nitrogen, though exact cause of color is still being studied

For more information on cause of fancy color please visit: Natural Color Diamond Association

Unlike their colorless counterparts, fancy color diamonds are cut to maximize color. Certain shapes will intensify fancy color, and typically, the deeper the pavilion (bottom half of a diamond) the more color is returned to the eye. It is not uncommon to see yellow diamonds fashioned into radiant cuts, as the mixed cut enhances the yellow hue. As with most diamonds, the finished cut is also largely dependent on the shape of the rough and what the cutter can achieve in terms of color grade.

Diamond Fluorescence may enhance a fancy color, but fluorescence often makes no impact on a fancy colored diamond under normal viewing conditions. Yellow diamonds that fluoresce yellow will be more vivid under direct sunlight or uv light, but many yellow diamonds actually fluoresce blue. If you find a fancy colored diamond with complementary fluorescence, it will only intensify or help the color. To learn more please visit our Diamond Fluorescence tutorial.

Fancy color diamonds are found in Australia, Canada, Brazil, and throughout Africa. Pink diamonds are most commonly found at the Argyle mine in Australia, but pink, yellow, blue, and even green diamonds have also been found in the alluvial deposits of Northwest Africa. Visit The Geography of Natural Color Diamonds for more information.