Colour – How to choose the right colour grade for your diamond

When we talk about diamond color, it’s not about how much color the stone has, which is somewhat confusing, but about how colorless it is . A diamond with less color transmits light more cleanly and gives a cooler, clearer impression. In this guide, you’ll learn how color is graded, how it affects appearance and price, and which color is best for your ring design, metal, and personal taste.

What does color grading mean on diamonds?

Color grading shows how free the diamond is from yellow or brown tones – from completely colorless (D) to clearly colored (Z) .

Color grading Category Description
D–F Colorless Crystal clear stones – see stones
G–H Almost colorless Light warm tone – see stones
I–J Faintly colored Visible heat – see stones
K–Z Clear color Yellow/brown tone – visible in white frame

Nordic name vs international scale

International Nordic name
D–E River
F–G Top Wesselton
H Wesselton
I–J Top Crystal

We only use the D–Z scale for clarity.

Color and visual experience

Color is perceived differently depending on:

  • Size of the stone – color is more visible in larger stones
  • Cut shape – step cuts (e.g. emerald) show color more clearly
  • Metal – white gold/platinum enhances color, yellow gold dampens

See the color in 360° video of each stone.

Recommendations based on color

  • D – F: Icy white – exclusive. Ideal for white gold/platinum
  • G – H: Visually white – most popular. Good balance
  • I – J: Light warmth – suits yellow gold or rose gold
  • K: Visible tone – used in some vintage expressions

Fancy Color – what is it?

Fancy Color diamonds exhibit intense color such as pink, blue, yellow, green , etc. They are not graded according to the D–Z scale but by the intensity of the color.

Read the guide on Fancy Color .

See the color in practice