Explaining Color
The Color Scale for diamonds starts at D being the whitest and goes in alphabetical order all the way down to Z. Most colorless or near-colorless diamonds are graded based on the absence of color, using GIA’s D-to-Z diamond color-grading system. Yellow diamonds are considered to be colored diamonds and are graded as “fancy” when they have more color than a Z color. Diamonds in the D-to-Z range typically decrease in price as the color becomes more apparent. Unlike white diamonds, fancy-color diamonds value typically increases with the strength and hue of the color.
Fancy Yellow diamonds are graded by a different scale, the GIA Colored Diamond grading system. This chart places yellow colored diamonds in one of six categories based on the diamond’s hue, tone and saturation: Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Dark, Fancy Deep and Fancy Vivid.
Typically the more color a colored diamond has, the more the stone will stand out. Fancy Deep and Fancy Vivid diamonds, for example, have a brighter, more vivid yellow hue than Fancy Light diamonds. This makes them more valuable as well. The degree of darkness or lightness of a diamond’s color is also important. For example, a diamond that is Fancy Dark usually is less expensive and sought out when compared to a lighter stone graded Fancy Intense.
Fancy colored diamonds also exhibit a brighter, more intense hue when cut in a fancy shape, which is any other shape than a round brilliant, as more elongated shapes exhibit color more prominently. Sometimes yellow diamonds even have aspects of another color and are labeled with two colors such as this fancy brownish-yellow pear shaped diamond.
X Y Z Diamonds
Although technically white diamonds as they are graded on the GIA standard color grading scale, X Y and Z colored diamonds have a slightly yellow hue as well. This type of diamond is not to be confused with fancy yellow diamonds. Fancy yellow diamonds extend past the X Y Z scale into the fancy light and beyond range which directly comes after X Y Z. Fancy yellow diamonds are extremely sought after because they are rare and give a striking yellow tone. If you love fancy yellow stones and you are on a budget, considering an X Y Z colored diamond is an amazing alternative.
Clarity
We certainly recommend being more flexible when considering the clarity of a fancy yellow or X Y Z diamond. Because the diamond is not white, clarity characteristics are incredibly hard to indicate to the naked eye. Opting for a yellow diamond in the SI2 range will significantly bring down the cost without affecting the beauty of the stone.
Setting Your Yellow Diamond
If you are looking for a yellow diamond engagement ring, you may look at loose fancy yellow or X Y Z colored diamonds. When doing so, consider yellow diamonds typically appear more yellow when set in a setting that compliments it’s unique hue.
What Compliments a Yellow Diamond
At LB we have many setting options that will make your yellow diamond center stone pop. To intensify the yellow look of the diamond it is best to set it against a yellow backdrop.
Setting the yellow diamond in a white diamond halo creates a contrast that makes the center stone’s color pop! Notice how the prongs are yellow, to furthermore bring out the diamond's yellow hue.
Similar to setting it a white gold or platinum halo, setting a yellow diamond between two white diamonds in a 3 stone design also makes the center stone’s vivid hue stand out
Show 3 stones
Emphasizing the yellow color by incorporating yellow in the ring also helps! We set these rings in 18k yellow to really deepen the hue
Lauren B Jewelry: custom engagement rings, diamonds, moissanites and fine jewelry.
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