GIA FAQs

Q. What is Color?

A. Colorless diamonds are extremely rare and highly valued. Most diamonds are nearly colorless with yellow or brown tints. The GIA Diamond Grading System uses letters to represent colors, beginning with D (colorless) and ending at Z (light yellow or brown). The GIA Gem Trade Laboratory uses a Z masterstone to distinguish between normal range and "fancy" yellows. If a stone shows a natural yellow color slightly deeper than the Z master, its color is designated as "fancy light yellow" on the Diamond Quality Analysis Report.