Diamond Color & Clarity

To maintain industry standards and to help customers know what they are purchasing, our team of expert gemologists use the Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) Diamond Color Chart and Clarity Scale to grade our Estate Jewelry diamonds. For more helpful information about diamond color and clarity to consider when purchasing your special piece, review the charts & tips below.

Diamond Color

The color evaluation on diamonds is based on the absence of color - the GIA diamond color grades range from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). You will find most diamonds do have some color.
As the example below shows, diamonds on the lower end of the scale (D) have the least amount of color and are considered "colorless" - they have an icy white appearance. Colorless and near-colorless diamonds are rare finds although often popular because they show the most brilliance and fire.
Diamonds on the higher end of the scale (Z) have deeper tones - they may have a yellow or brown hue. These diamonds will have a more noticeable warm tint than diamonds in higher grades.

Diamond Clarity

Diamond clarity refers to the purity and rarity of the stone. As a diamond forms, natural microscopic characteristics may be trapped within or on the stone, referred to as inclusions. This grading is based on the size and location of inclusions, which are a natural and common part of a diamond's growth.
A diamond is inspected and graded by gemologists using 10x magnification, where they look for inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (external imperfections). The GIA diamond clarity grades range from FL (flawless) to I (included).
The size, location, and visibility of inclusions all affect a diamond's clarity. A diamond with few imperfections and flaws will have a higher clarity grade. No diamond is perfectly pure, but the closer it gets to flawless, the better its clarity.
A poor clarity grade means that the diamond has multiple inclusions which impact its aesthetic appearance and sparkle. Inclusions alter the refraction and return of light - the lower the clarity grade, the cloudier a diamond will appear.