Diamonds come in a variety of colors, from clear or white to shades of yellow, brown, gray, blue, pink and even black. When it comes to diamond popularity, the most commonly purchased diamond color is white or colorless.
Why Are White Diamonds the Most Popular?
There are a few key reasons why white or colorless diamonds are the top choice for most diamond buyers:
- Cultural traditions – Diamond engagement rings traditionally feature clear white stones, an enduring trend that shapes diamond preferences today.
- Maximized sparkle – The highest diamond grades are assigned to stones with little or no color. A colorless diamond allows light to pass through and reflect back for the greatest brilliance and fire.
- Wide availability – Colorless diamonds are the most common in nature, found in greater quantities than rare fancy colored diamonds.
- Price – As the most readily available diamonds on the market, clear stones are generally more affordable than colored diamonds in the same size and quality grades.
For these reasons, clear diamonds make up the bulk of diamond sales, particularly when it comes to engagement rings and bridal jewelry. According to surveys, around 75% of engagement rings have a white diamond center stone. Essentially, cultural traditions combined with the prevalence and price points of clear diamonds cement their standing as the most sought-after diamond color.
How Do Other Diamond Colors Compare in Popularity?
After colorless diamonds, yellow diamonds are likely the next most popular based on consumer demand. Next in line come the vivid fancy color diamonds – blue, pink and black. Here is a breakdown of where other diamond colors fall in terms of popularity:
Yellow Diamonds
After white diamonds, yellow diamonds have the highest level of demand. Yellow is the most common fancy diamond color, and the cheerful golden tones have a broad appeal. Yellow diamonds come in a spectrum from very light to rich golden hues. The most valued yellow diamonds fall in the medium-intense range for their warm, sunny color balanced with sparkling brilliance. Yellow diamonds make up around 5% of diamond sales overall.
Blue Diamonds
Vivid blue is one of the most coveted fancy colors. These rare and expensive stones account for less than 1% of diamonds on the market. The primary source is the famous Cullinan diamond mine in South Africa. Blue diamonds fascinate with their exceptional color and rank among the world’s most expensive diamonds. Even small blue diamonds command huge sums at auction when they come up for sale.
Pink Diamonds
Pink diamonds also sit at the pinnacle of diamond desirability. Occurring in lighter pink champagne shades and the coveted hot pink bubblegum tones, pink diamonds are breathtakingly beautiful. The majority come from the Argyle mine in Australia, which is now closed, further elevating the rarity of pink diamonds. They account for less than 0.01% of the colored diamond market.
Black Diamonds
On the other end of the color spectrum, black diamonds have an eye-catching, elegant appearance. Opaque with a deep black color, they appeal to bold tastes. Black diamonds represent a niche market, making up less than 0.1% of natural diamonds.
How Do Jewelry Shoppers Choose Diamond Color?
When browsing diamond rings and jewelry, customers consider several factors when selecting a diamond’s color grade and hue:
- Budget – Clearer colorless diamonds have higher prices in general, so buyers may opt for stones with faint yellow or brown tints if seeking good value.
- Style preferences – Customers are often drawn to diamonds with colors that appeal to their personal taste – some love brilliant whites, others prefer yellow’s bright cheer.
- Setting colors – Diamond colors are chosen to complement the setting metal. Warm yellow gold pairs well with yellow-tinted stones. Platinum and white gold settings enhance colorless diamonds.
- Occasion – White diamonds are traditional for engagement rings and other sentimental jewelry moments. Fancy colors provide unique options for right-hand rings and special statement pieces.
A reputable jeweler can guide customers through selecting a diamond color to match their budget, style and needs.
What Are the Grades of Diamond Color?
Diamond color is graded on a letter scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow/brown). Here are the GIA’s official color grade categories:
Colorless (D-F Grades)
The top color grades D, E and F are premium colorless diamonds. These highest-graded diamonds transmit light with exceptional brilliance and fire. The human eye perceives them as completely white with no discernible color.
Near Colorless (G-J Grades)
Diamonds graded G-J have faint traces of color that are visible upon close inspection to a trained eye. Often set in white gold or platinum, near colorless diamonds offer an excellent combination of beauty and affordability.
Faint Yellow (K-M Grades)
Diamonds graded K-M show light yellow tones that are more readily apparent. While lower on the color grading scale, these diamonds offer pleasing warmth paired with good diamond sparkle.
Very Light Yellow (N-R Grades)
Diamonds graded N through R have noticeable yellow tones that are obvious even to an untrained eye. They retain decent brilliance for a lower price tag.
Light Yellow (S-Z Grades)
Diamonds on the Z end of the GIA scale display obvious light yellow to brown color. These lower cost diamonds are usually accented in yellow gold settings.
Conclusion
In the world of diamond colors, clear white diamonds are still king when it comes to widespread consumer demand. Yellow diamonds follow as the next most popular diamond color. While vivid fancy colored diamonds like blue, pink and black capture the imagination, they occur in much smaller quantities. Diamond lovers can’t go wrong with choosing any diamond color that appeals to their personal taste.