Understanding lab diamond color grades.
Lab Diamonds
Diamond color refers to the absence of color within a white diamond. A perfectly colorless diamond appears icy white, while others may contain subtle yellow or brown tones.
Gemological laboratories grade diamond color using a standardized D–Z scale, with D representing completely colorless diamonds and Z representing diamonds with noticeable color.
Lab diamond pricing is affected by color grade, as colorless diamonds are more desirable than warmer ones. At Ada Diamonds, we are proud only offer diamonds to our clients that fall in the colorless (D-E-F), or near colorless range (G).
Just like natural diamonds, lab diamonds can vary in color from icy white to slightly warm tones. Both natural and lab diamonds are graded using the same D–Z color scale.
The most common cause of color in mined diamonds is the presence of nitrogen impurities in the diamond’s crystal structure which can contribute to a yellow or brown undertone. Over 98% of mined diamonds have nitrogen impurities measured in parts per million.
Our lab diamonds are Type IIa, meaning that they contain extremely low nitrogen levels. In Type IIa diamonds, nitrogen is measured in parts per billion.
The lab diamond growth process can sometimes introduce subtle undertones such as blue, gray, or brown. These color tinges are typically the result of shortcuts taken during the growing process.
One example is blue nuance, which is a tinge of blue color present in HPHT diamonds that results from excess boron in the growth process.
Even diamonds with the same color grade on their grading report can display blue, gray, or brown characteristics in person, which is why all of our diamonds are inspected in person before being offered to our clients.
Beyond white diamonds, both natural and lab diamonds can occur in a rainbow of hues, including pink, yellow, blue, green and orange. While white diamonds are graded based on the absence of color, fancy color diamonds are evaluated for the intensity and quality of their color.
Fancy color natural diamonds are extremely rare - and extremely valuable. Lab grown fancy color diamonds can offer a more accessible alternative in the same range of colors and featuring the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds.
There are several factors that can influence how noticeable a diamond’s color appears.
Diamond Shape
Some shapes show color more easily than others. Step-cut diamonds such as emerald cuts tend to reveal color more readily, while round brilliant diamonds hide color more effectively.
Carat Weight
Larger diamonds tend to show color more easily than smaller stones.
Metal Choice
Setting metal can influence how color appears. For example, yellow or rose gold can make warmer diamonds appear whiter.
Diamond color should always be evaluated in person.
A diamond’s color grade provides an important starting point, but it does not always tell the full story. Two diamonds with the same color grade may still appear different depending on subtle undertones, cut proportions, and lighting conditions. For this reason, every diamond at Ada Diamonds is inspected in person before being offered to clients.
The Cut of the diamond is completely determined by the precision and quality of the methods used to cut and polish the diamond. The only shape that receives an internationally-recognized cut grade is a round brilliant. There is typically no “cut” grade provided to other shapes such as ovals,...
Carat weight measures how much a diamond weighs, not how large it appears. Learn how carat weight influences a diamond’s size, rarity, and price, and how Ada Diamonds helps clients find the right balance of beauty, proportions, and value.
Clarity is a measurement of how many or how large of blemishes or inclusions are present in the diamond. The lower the clarity of a diamond, the more imperfections in the diamond. Lab diamonds vary in clarity, just like mined diamonds.
Understanding lab diamond color grades.
Lab Diamonds
Diamond color refers to the absence of color within a white diamond. A perfectly colorless diamond appears icy white, while others may contain subtle yellow or brown tones.
Gemological laboratories grade diamond color using a standardized D–Z scale, with D representing completely colorless diamonds and Z representing diamonds with noticeable color.
Lab diamond pricing is affected by color grade, as colorless diamonds are more desirable than warmer ones. At Ada Diamonds, we are proud only offer diamonds to our clients that fall in the colorless (D-E-F), or near colorless range (G).
Just like natural diamonds, lab diamonds can vary in color from icy white to slightly warm tones. Both natural and lab diamonds are graded using the same D–Z color scale.
The most common cause of color in mined diamonds is the presence of nitrogen impurities in the diamond’s crystal structure which can contribute to a yellow or brown undertone. Over 98% of mined diamonds have nitrogen impurities measured in parts per million.
Our lab diamonds are Type IIa, meaning that they contain extremely low nitrogen levels. In Type IIa diamonds, nitrogen is measured in parts per billion.
The lab diamond growth process can sometimes introduce subtle undertones such as blue, gray, or brown. These color tinges are typically the result of shortcuts taken during the growing process.
One example is blue nuance, which is a tinge of blue color present in HPHT diamonds that results from excess boron in the growth process.
Even diamonds with the same color grade on their grading report can display blue, gray, or brown characteristics in person, which is why all of our diamonds are inspected in person before being offered to our clients.
Beyond white diamonds, both natural and lab diamonds can occur in a rainbow of hues, including pink, yellow, blue, green and orange. While white diamonds are graded based on the absence of color, fancy color diamonds are evaluated for the intensity and quality of their color.
Fancy color natural diamonds are extremely rare - and extremely valuable. Lab grown fancy color diamonds can offer a more accessible alternative in the same range of colors and featuring the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds.
There are several factors that can influence how noticeable a diamond’s color appears.
Diamond Shape
Some shapes show color more easily than others. Step-cut diamonds such as emerald cuts tend to reveal color more readily, while round brilliant diamonds hide color more effectively.
Carat Weight
Larger diamonds tend to show color more easily than smaller stones.
Metal Choice
Setting metal can influence how color appears. For example, yellow or rose gold can make warmer diamonds appear whiter.
Diamond color should always be evaluated in person.
A diamond’s color grade provides an important starting point, but it does not always tell the full story. Two diamonds with the same color grade may still appear different depending on subtle undertones, cut proportions, and lighting conditions. For this reason, every diamond at Ada Diamonds is inspected in person before being offered to clients.
The Cut of the diamond is completely determined by the precision and quality of the methods used to cut and polish the diamond. The only shape that receives an internationally-recognized cut grade is a round brilliant. There is typically no “cut” grade provided to other shapes such as ovals,...
Carat weight measures how much a diamond weighs, not how large it appears. Learn how carat weight influences a diamond’s size, rarity, and price, and how Ada Diamonds helps clients find the right balance of beauty, proportions, and value.
Clarity is a measurement of how many or how large of blemishes or inclusions are present in the diamond. The lower the clarity of a diamond, the more imperfections in the diamond. Lab diamonds vary in clarity, just like mined diamonds.
