Color

Key Points Color refers to a diamond's lack of color, grading the whiteness of a diamond. A color grade of D is the highest possible, while Z is the lowest. Blue Nile only sells diamonds with a color grade of J or higher. Color manifests itself in a diamond as a pale yellow. This is why a diamond's color grade is based on its lack of color. The less color a diamond has, the higher its color grade. After cut, color is generally considered the second most important characteristic when selecting a diamond. This is because the human eye tends to detect a diamond's sparkle (light performance) first, and color second. At Blue Nile, you'll find only the finest diamonds with color graded D-J. Diamonds graded J or better are colorless or near-colorless, with color that is typically undetectable to the unaided eye.

What Color is Right for Me?

• For the purist, look for a colorless diamond with a grade of D-F for a diamond with no discernible color.
  
• For an excellent value in a diamond with little or no noticeable color to the unaided eye, look for a near-colorless grade of G-I
  

Now that you understand how color affects the white look of a diamond, you are ready to learn aboutclarity.