What Are Fancy Color Diamonds?
While most people think of diamonds as colorless, diamonds actually occur in every color of the rainbow. When a diamond displays enough color to be graded beyond the normal D-to-Z color scale, it enters the world of fancy color diamonds. These extraordinary stones are among the rarest and most valuable gems on earth. Less than 0.1% of all diamonds mined qualify as fancy color.
Fancy color diamonds get their colors from different causes: trace elements like nitrogen (yellow), boron (blue), or hydrogen (violet); natural radiation exposure (green); and structural distortions in the crystal lattice (pink, red, brown). Each color has its own story, rarity level, and value profile.
USA Jewels offers a curated selection of colored diamond jewelry. Whether you are drawn to the warmth of a yellow diamond, the mystery of a black diamond, or the romance of a pink diamond, this guide will help you understand what to look for and how to buy with confidence.
GIA Fancy Color Grading Scale
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades fancy color diamonds on three dimensions:
- Hue — The actual body color (yellow, blue, pink, etc.). Many diamonds show modifying colors, such as “Fancy Orangy Yellow” or “Fancy Grayish Blue.”
- Tone — How light or dark the color appears, from very light to very dark.
- Saturation — The strength or purity of the color, from faint to vivid.
GIA assigns one of nine grades based on these factors:
| GIA Grade | Color Intensity | Effect on Value |
|---|
| Faint | Barely perceptible | Lowest premium |
| Very Light | Slight hint of color | Low premium |
| Light | Noticeable tint | Moderate |
| Fancy Light | Clearly colored | Significant premium |
| Fancy | Medium saturation | Strong premium |
| Fancy Dark | Deep, dark tone | Varies by color |
| Fancy Intense | Strong saturation | High premium |
| Fancy Deep | Rich, saturated tone | Very high premium |
| Fancy Vivid | Maximum saturation | Highest premium |
Fancy Vivid is the most desirable and valuable grade for most colors. A Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond, for example, can sell for 5–10 times the price of a comparable Fancy Light Yellow.
Rarity Spectrum
Not all fancy colors are equally rare. The chart below shows the approximate rarity of each color, from most common to rarest:
| Color | Rarity | Cause of Color | Price Range (1ct) |
|---|
| Brown | Most common fancy color | Crystal lattice distortion | $1,500 – $8,000 |
| Yellow | Common | Nitrogen atoms | $3,000 – $30,000+ |
| Black | Relatively available | Graphite/mineral inclusions | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Pink | Very rare | Crystal lattice distortion | $20,000 – $500,000+ |
| Blue | Extremely rare | Boron trace element | $30,000 – $500,000+ |
| Green | Extremely rare | Natural radiation | $50,000 – $500,000+ |
| Orange | Exceptionally rare | Nitrogen + structural defects | $30,000 – $300,000+ |
| Red | Rarest of all | Crystal lattice distortion | $300,000 – $2,000,000+ |
Price ranges are approximate for natural, untreated stones of good quality. Treated and lab-grown colored diamonds are available at significantly lower prices.
Natural vs Treated vs Lab-Grown
Colored diamonds are available in three categories, each with different value implications:
Natural, untreated: The most valuable. Color formed naturally during the diamond's creation deep in the earth. Certified as natural by GIA or other major labs. These command the highest premiums.
Treated: A natural diamond whose color has been enhanced or created through high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) treatment or irradiation. Common for blue, green, yellow, and black diamonds. Must be disclosed. Priced at 10–30% of equivalent natural colors.
Lab-grown: Created in a laboratory using CVD or HPHT processes. Available in virtually every color. Priced at a fraction of natural colored diamonds. An excellent option for those who want the color without the investment-grade price.
Explore by Color
Click on any color below to read our complete guide with history, famous examples, grading, value factors, and buying tips.
Buying Tips for Colored Diamonds
- Prioritize color over clarity. Unlike colorless diamonds where clarity is critical, in fancy color diamonds the intensity and purity of color is the dominant value factor. Slight inclusions are far less important.
- Get a GIA report. GIA is the gold standard for fancy color grading. Their report confirms whether the color is natural or treated and assigns the official color grade.
- Understand the modifiers. A “Fancy Yellow” is different from a “Fancy Brownish Yellow.” Modifying colors reduce value. Pure hues command the highest premiums.
- Consider lab-grown. If you want the look without the six-figure price, lab-grown colored diamonds offer intense, vivid colors at a fraction of the cost.
- Choose cuts that maximize color. Radiant, cushion, and pear shapes are popular for colored diamonds because their faceting patterns intensify body color. Round brilliants can scatter color and make it appear lighter.
For more about diamonds in general, visit our Diamond Buyers Guide. To understand the GIA color scale for colorless diamonds, see our Diamond Color guide.