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.

Diamond Color Chart
Diamond Color
D Absolutely colorless. The highest color grade. Extremely rare.
E-F Colorless. Minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist. A rare diamond.
G-H Near-colorless. Color difficult to detect unless compared side-by-side against diamonds of better grades. An excellent value.
I-J Near-colorless. An exceptional value with slightly detectable warmth or tone.
K-M Noticeable color. Not carried by Blue Nile.
N-Z Noticeable color. Not carried by Blue Nile.


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 about clarity.

Want to learn even more about color? Check out our tips and hints section.


What are others buying?

The chart below reveals what types of diamonds other Blue Nile customers are selecting. Modify the cut, carat and price, and the chart will display what others are purchasing according to the various color and clarity grades. By clicking on the percentages, our Diamond Search will generate a list of diamonds that correspond to those criteria.



Have a question?

Contact us by phone at 1-888-565-7641 or email at service@bluenile.com. In addition, Live Chat is available during most business hours.