Close Menu
Jewellery MonthlyJewellery Monthly
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Jewellery MonthlyJewellery Monthly
    • News
      • Industry News
      • Celebrities
      • Launches
    • Events
    • Insights
    • Consumer Education
      • Diamond Prices
    • About Us
    • Contact
    Monday, May 26
    Jewellery MonthlyJewellery Monthly
    Home»Consumer Education»Diamond clarity or colour – which is more important?
    Consumer Education

    Diamond clarity or colour – which is more important?

    Jewellery MonthlyBy Jewellery Monthly04/11/20197 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    You’re out shopping for that beautiful piece of diamond jewellery – a ring, studs, pendant, for that special occasion, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with jargon of the 4Cs of a diamond and know what really matters.

    How do you cut through the sales pitch and technical jargon to select a beautiful diamond?

    What are the 4Cs of a diamond?

    Across the world, there is a uniformly accepted system of grading a diamond – what is called the ‘4Cs’ – being carat weight, clarity, colour and cut. Carat weight and cut are influenced by humans whereas, colour and clarity come inbuilt within the rough diamond which is cut into the polished stone.

    Diamond clarity

    After carat weight, diamond clarity has the next biggest impact on price.

    Clarity refers to the lack of naturally occurring inclusions within (or on the surface) of a diamond. The higher the clarity, the fewer the inclusions (to the maximum level of being ‘internally flawless’), the more expensive the diamond. The biggest mistake that consumers make is to believe that a higher clarity means that the diamond will sparkle more.

    The SI2 clarity grade is meant to be the ‘eye clean’ borderline for someone with ‘normal’ vision from about 35cms. Some (especially young) people will spot inclusions in a VS2 clarity graded diamond. Your eyesight, the size of the diamond and the type of inclusions are all determining variables.

    Diamond colour

    Diamond colour is actually measuring the ‘lack’ of colour in a diamond. The more ‘colourless’ the diamond, the more expensive it is. But, the measurement of diamond colour is done from the back of the diamond. The colour you see from the front of the diamond is influenced by the cut grade, shape and size of the diamond.

    To most people, including professional jewellers, you cannot tell the difference between a D, E or F colour.

    So, D – H colours are good colourless grades. But for larger stones (2 carat and above) or fancy shape stones, D – F colours are the best.

    Just as in clarity, consumers make the mistake of believing that a higher colour means more sparkle. That is a myth. I have seen H colour diamonds that sparkle more than an F colour diamond. Because the difference between them is the cut grade of the stone.

    Colour and clarity add value to the diamond. Not sparkle.

    The smart consumers, will purchase blue fluorescent diamonds because they are whiter and brighter and they are cheaper.

    Diamond fluorescence

    This is where a diamond emits a blue glow under ultraviolet light (as in a nightclub).

    The grades are faint, medium, strong and very strong fluorescence. Blue fluorescence is the most common because it is the complimentary colour to yellow which is the common tint of a diamond.

    Take away the yellow and the diamond will give an icy or blue-white appearance. And hence, they look brighter than their actual graded colour.

    But some fluorescent diamonds look milky and hazy as well in normal light. The trade discounts these diamonds because they are harder to sell.

    The fact is, it needs hard work to select the right fluro diamonds (ones that are not milky or hazy), and a jeweller needs to train their staff accordingly as well. Too much work and time for a stone that is already discounted by the trade.

    In rare cases, a diamond will fluoresce in a yellow colour or white. The yellow colour fluorescence will enhance the beauty of a yellow diamond but will make near-colourless diamonds look more tinted than their actual grade. White fluorescence is to be avoided. It makes the diamond look milky.

    Colour and clarity in different diamond shapes

    The shape of a diamond will also influence what colour and clarity grades you will select.

    Shapes such as a Round Brilliant, Radiant Cut and Cushion cut have criss-cross facets when you view from the top of the diamond.

    These facet structures will emit a rainbow of colours when you tilt the stone slightly from side to side what is referred to as ‘fire and brilliance’ of the stone.

    Owing to this, one could easily select say, a G – H colour and an SI clarity and still get a beautifully sparkly stone.

    Step cut diamond shapes such as Emerald cut, Ascher cut and a Baguette cut; and the unique ‘X’ shape facets of a Princess cut mean that one can easily view through the diamond to the very bottom.

    These have an under-stated but very elegant brilliance. And owing to this, one needs to choose the higher colour grades such as D – F and VS or higher clarity grades.

    Cultural differences

    Cultural differences between East and West have a big influence on consumer choices of diamond colour and clarity.

    Most in the West will believe ‘if you cannot see it then it is fine’. And hence, a lower colour or clarity grade is acceptable as long as the eyes cannot visually spot differences in colour and clarity.

    However, many Eastern cultures believe in choosing higher colour and clarity grades such as a D colour and VS or higher clarity grade because it is a symbol of purity. And therefore, they are willing to pay premium prices for these diamonds.

    Diamond certification

    But sadly, regardless of cultural differences, most consumers base their buying decisions solely on the basis of comparing diamond certificates as opposed to the actual diamond. This has made the industry cut diamonds to achieve certificate grades at the expense of beauty and sparkle.

    While I have seen diamonds graded very poorly on their certificates and there are some diamond certifying bodies I would rely upon more than others; it does not mean that all diamond certificates are deceptive.

    Every set of eyes are different. What I see as a beautiful diamond will be different to what you see as beautiful in a diamond and will be different to what anyone else will see as beautiful in the diamond.

    What if you are buying a diamond to a budget?

    So, if you are shopping around for a diamond, chances are that you have a certain budget. If you have to make a decision on whether to prioritise diamond colour or clarity, our recommendations are:

    • Choose colour over clarity: Go for the visual and select a whiter diamond and a lower grade of clarity. Because, if you cannot spot any flaws in the diamond, then why pay for a higher clarity?
    • Choose a medium – strong graded fluorescent diamond that is not looking milky or hazy in normal light. It will make the diamond look brighter than its actual colour grade and will save you money.
    • Consult an expert jeweller who can show you a diamond which has medium level colour and clarity grades but is beautifully cut so that it actually looks bigger than it actually is and sparkles more. (Remember, most Round Brilliant diamonds should be 6.4mm or more in diameter but in actual fact are commonly cut up to 6.3mm – diamonds are commonly cut for weight not beauty).
    • Most importantly, trust your eyes! See, compare and decide. Do not base your decision on comparing diamond certificates.

    And at the end of the process, ensure that you get a valuation from an independent valuer for insurance purposes as well. Then enjoy wearing your diamond and show it off.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Jewellery Monthly
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • LinkedIn

    Jewellery Monthly strives to be the UK's most helpful jewellery publication - informing, educating and connecting all levels of the jewellery trade to help our industry grow.

    Related Posts

    De Beers Quietly Offers Discounted Rough Diamonds to Selected Clients

    15/05/2025

    De Beers Group to Wind Down Lightbox Lab-Grown Diamond Business

    09/05/2025

    GIA Resumes Full Laboratory Services Following Temporary Tariff Disruption

    02/05/2025

    De Beers Reports Sharp Decline in Rough Diamond Sales Amid Market Caution

    24/04/2025

    Diamond Cutter Faces Legal Battle Over $270,000 Shattered Stone

    22/04/2025

    Sanctions on Russian Diamonds Limited by Lack of Tracing Infrastructure

    21/04/2025

    Jewellery industry news & insights delivered straight to your inbox

    Get the free 5-minute newsletter read by Jewellery Industry professionals who want to get ahead

    Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
    Your subscription has been successful.

    Explore

    • About
    • Contact

    Reach Our Audience

    • Advertise
    • Submit a press release
    • Submit an opinion piece

    Consumer Education

    • 4Cs of Diamonds
    • Diamond Price Chart

    Jewellery Monthly is part of Loupe Media Network

    Privacy policy | Terms of use | Cookie Policy

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT