#diamondcolour

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This absolutely stunning pear shape diamond is very nearly flawless, F in colour with excellent polish and symmetry. As the photo shows the diamond is exceptional. Diamond: Pear Shape Carat Weight: 2.01ct Colour: F Clarity: Vvs2 Price: $34,700 INC GST NZD Contact us at [email protected], we can supply the exact diamond specifications you are looking for!

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HOW DO WE SEE COLOUR IN A DIAMOND?

As I have previously blogged about colour is one of the four c's that you should consider when you are purchasing a diamond.  The majority of you will understand the GIA colour grading scale which rages from D - Z.  D being the very best colour or colourless and Z being at the opposite end of the scale showing a yellow or brown tone and saturation.

But how do we actually view colour in a diamond? When light enters our diamond a process called selective absorption occurs.  Selective absorption is what offers colours to all things.  With diamonds it does this when visible white light enters the diamond enabling the gem to absorb some of the wavelengths, while also transmitting wavelengths to the viewers eye. Absorption bands or lines in the spectrum of of an incandescent source are seen through the absorbing medium - the diamond. If little or no colour is absorbed by an object then it appears colourless or white.  On the other hand if the entire spectrum of colours is absorbed, the object will appear black.  In-between there are an infinite number of colour possibilities. In diamonds it is the presence of nitrogen atoms (or other atoms of impurity) which determines the level of absorption, and therefore the color of the diamond.  The less impurities there are in your diamond the whiter or more colourless it will appear.   D colour diamonds are very rare but we specialize in providing our clients with these very rare GIA certified diamonds.

www.nzdiamonds.co.nz

[nzdiamonds]

Which Diamond Colour Should I Choose?

The term "colour" in diamond buying is really the opposite of what you may think. When making your selection, you're not actually looking for the presence of a particular colour. Instead, your ideal diamond will have as little colour as possible. Most diamonds appear icy white, but many have tiny hints of colour, usually yellow/brown.

The closer to white or "colourless" the stone appears, the more valuable it is. Colourless diamonds are extremely rare, and therefore very valuable. The reason - the absence of colour allows more light to pass through the stone. As more light enters, more light also exits the diamond, thereby emitting a higher level of sparkle or "fire". However, there are no hard and fast rules for what colour makes a diamond beautiful. Colour characteristics in diamonds are a result of composition and will not change over time.

Diamonds were formed under intense heat and pressure. Colourless diamonds are composed of pure carbon. Traces of other elements incorporated into their atomic structure account for the variances in colour. A single change in colour grade can significantly affect a diamond's value.

For grading a diamonds colour we use the alphabet scale developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The top end of this scale starts at "D", which represents the most colourless and highest quality stone available. The ratings continue all the way through the alphabet to "Z", with each letter indicating a slight increase in the amount of colour (usually light yellow or brown) present in the stone.

Only 3 out of every 23 grades are truly colourless. Gems of this level are rare and comprise 2% of the total number of gem-quality diamonds. Depending on size, a single grade in colour can affect a diamond's value by thousands of dollars.

The colour of the setting is also very important. A white diamond looks best in a white setting. This is why our engagement rings are offered in white gold or two tone, a yellow ring with a white gold setting.

When purchasing your diamond, consider this:

Diamonds rated D through F are nearly perfect in terms of colour and are extremely valuable. This level of colour quality can't miss the target. However, you do not have to purchase a diamond in this part of the colour scale to get a beautiful stone.

Diamonds with ratings of G to H do contain slight colour, but none that is visible to the untrained eye. These diamonds are good when trying to maximize stone size, and keeping within a budget.

Going one step further, diamonds rated I to J begin to show a very faint hint of yellow in the stone, K through M are considered light yellow/brown and N - Z ratings contain visible yellow/brown.

Fluorescence

Fluorescence in a diamond is the effect that is seen in some gem-quality diamonds when they are exposed to long wave ultraviolet light (such as the lighting frequently seen in dance clubs). Under most lighting conditions, this fluorescence is not detectable to the eye. However, if a diamond is naturally fluorescent, it will emit a soft coloured glow, usually blue, when held under an ultraviolet lamp. Fluorescence is not dangerous to the diamond or to the wearer; it is a unique and fascinating quality that occurs naturally in a number of gems and minerals, and can enhance a faint yellow diamond by making it look whiter.

Fancy Coloured Diamonds

A very rare and expensive type of diamond, called "fancy colour diamonds," may come in pink, blue, green, yellow or other colours.

We specialize in selling D - F colour diamonds, if you are looking for a diamond then please contact us and we will search through the many hundreds of thousands of diamonds we have access to so we can find the very best diamond for you.