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White, Whiter, Whitest While diamonds come in a wide range of colors*, the most commonly purchased diamond is the "white" or "clear" diamond. White diamonds are color graded and when discussing white diamonds -- the whiter, the better (and the more expensive). But while the differences in grades make a difference in what you pay for the diamond, you may not be able to see an actual difference in color. At the better end of the color scale, if you place three diamonds of three different (but close) grades together, you MAY see a color difference. But look at those same diamonds at three different times (and with no other diamonds to compare to) and, in most cases, you won't have a clue which diamond is highest color grade. HOWEVER. Get to the low end of the diamond color scale and even the untrained eye will see a marked difference. What is the color scale? The very best color grade for white diamonds is "D" and the worst grade is "Z". Grades D, E, and F are called "colorless" and even the trained eye will have difficulty distinguishing between the grades once the diamond is set in a piece of jewelry. Grades G, H, and I are called "near colorless" and the average person will not be able to detect a difference between these and "colorless" diamonds (though the average person will certainly notice the difference in pricing between these two color groups!). Grades J, K, and L are called "faint yellow" and this is the range where even the untrained eye will begin to notice the "warmer" color. Grades M through Z fall into color groups called "very light yellow" and "light yellow" and most people will definitely notice the yellow of these diamonds. Which Color Grade Should I Buy? If quality is your primary concern (and cost is no object), definitely go for a D, E, or F grade stone. If you're balancing quality with cost, select a stone in the G, H, or I grade. If cost is your primary concern, consider the J, K, and L range (while remembering that the "yellow" of the stone will be evident to many people). We recommend AGAINST buying stones in the M-Z grades. *We're not talking about "fancy" colored diamonds here. Diamonds come in a wide range of colors (including pink, blue, yellow, champagne, black) and the "fancy" yellow can be MUCH more expensive than white diamonds. But the "fancy" yelllow, is not the same as a "yellowish white diamond" which has a low value. Additional Resources Where to Buy Editor's Pick! Mondera: AGS and GIA certified diamonds DiamondSafe.com: EGL certified diamonds Tutorials, Guides Diamond Buying Guide: More extensive information about each of the Four Cs, precious metals, diamond pricing, and more. Auntie's Diamonds: More extensive information presented in a humorous (and accurate) manner.

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