Diamonds come in a variety of colors, from colorless to yellow, brown, pink, blue, green, and more. The rarest and most valuable diamond colors are those at the colorless end of the spectrum. So what exactly is the hardest diamond color to find?
Diamond Color Grading
Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This scale ranges from D to Z, with D representing colorless and each letter down the alphabet representing increasing presence of color. Here is an overview of the GIA diamond color scale:
| Color Grade | Color Description |
| D | Colorless |
| E, F | Near colorless |
| G–J | Near colorless to faint yellow |
| K–M | Faint yellow |
| N–Y | Very light yellow to light yellow |
| Z | Light yellow |
As you can see, the highest color grades are D, E, and F, which represent diamonds that are either completely colorless or have just a hint of color that is barely detectable. These top color grades make up only a very small percentage of diamonds on the market.
Prevalence of Diamond Colors
When it comes to natural diamond colors, most diamonds mined and cut for jewelry fall in the near colorless to faint yellow range. This includes diamonds graded G-J on the GIA scale. These colors are still considered very desirable and make up around 60% of diamonds on the market. Diamonds in the very light yellow to light yellow range (grades K-Z) make up another 30%.
Truly colorless diamonds graded D-F are much more rare. These diamonds account for only about 10% of gem-quality diamonds. Of these top color grades, D is the rarest, making up less than 2% of natural diamonds. So while E and F color diamonds are also highly desirable, D color diamonds are exceptionally rare.
What Makes D Color Diamonds So Rare?
So what makes D color diamonds the most elusive? There are a few reasons these colorless diamonds are so hard to find:
- Most diamonds contain slight impurities that cause subtle yellow and brown tints.
- The conditions required to form completely colorless diamonds are very rare in nature.
- Only around 1-2% of mined rough diamonds are suitable for polishing into D color diamonds.
- There is a very high wastage factor – over 80% of rough can be lost when cutting and polishing to maximize color grade.
Essentially, most diamonds contain tiny structural defects and chemical impurities that disrupt the diamond crystal lattice structure. These defects scatter light to produce subtle colors. To achieve the coveted D color grade, a diamond must have exceptional structural integrity with very few impurities and defects. These conditions are rare, making D color diamonds incredibly scarce.
The Unique Properties of D Color Diamonds
D color diamonds possess some special properties that set them apart from diamonds with higher color grades:
| Property | Description |
| Optical Properties | Excellent light performance – extremely high transparency and brilliance. |
| Clarity | Tend to have fewer inclusions thanks to optimal crystal formation. |
| Cut Quality | Can achieve excellent cut grades when expertly cut and polished. |
| Fluorescence | Most are inert, exhibiting no fluorescence under UV light. |
These unique qualities mean D color diamonds showcase unmatched optical performance. They reflect and transmit white light without distorting any colors, producing exceptional sparkle and fire.
The World’s Diamond Sources
The supply of D color diamonds is dependent on the unique geological conditions present in diamond mines around the world. Here are some of the main sources of natural D color diamonds:
- Canada – The Diavik and Ekati mines produce high proportions of colorless diamonds.
- Russia – The Alrosa mines are important sources for top color rough diamonds.
- South Africa – Premier mines such as Cullinan and Letseng yield Type IIA diamonds prized for colorlessness.
- Botswana – The Orapa and Jwaneng mines produce mostly higher color diamonds but occasionally yield top D-F colors.
- Australia – The Argyle mine was known for pink diamonds but also produced rare colorless diamonds.
Few mines consistently produce significant quantities of D color diamonds. As mining depletes reserves, production is declining over time. New diamond discoveries with the potential to yield ultra-rare colors are extremely uncommon.
Why are Colored Diamonds Increasingly Popular?
While colorless diamonds remain the most popular, colored diamonds are gaining traction, especially among celebrities and collectors seeking extremely rare and valuable stones. Here are some reasons for the surge in colored diamonds:
- Rarity – Even more scarce than colorless diamonds.
- Unique beauty – Vibrant hues stand out in jewelry.
- Distinction – Convey originality, sophistication, exclusivity.
- Investment potential – Value tends to appreciate over time.
- Cultural trends – Colored diamonds are on-trend.
- Increased supply – Some mines yield more colored diamonds.
However, the supply of natural colored diamonds is extremely small. Only 0.001% of mined diamonds possess rich colors. The Argyle mine in Australia, famous for pink and red diamonds, ceased operations in 2020, making these colors even more scarce.
Evaluating Diamond Color Rarity
When evaluating the rarity of diamond colors, many factors come into play:
- Position on the color scale – D is rarest, Z is most common.
- Intensity of the color – Vivid colors are rarer than pale.
- Secondary colors – Purple is rare, brown is common.
- Evenness of color distribution – Solid colors are optimal.
- Source of color – Natural is rare, enhanced is more common.
- Presence of modifiers – Cool and strong are best.
But across all colors, D remains the zenith for rarity. These colorless diamonds come straight from nature without any enhancements or tricks to improve appearance. Culling together the unique conditions needed to produce these flawless diamonds in a single gem takes billions of years. That makes D color diamonds the most precious rarity of all.
Pricing Based on Diamond Color Rarity
Diamond prices correlate strongly with color rarity. Here are example average pricing ranges for 1 carat diamonds by color grade in the US as of late 2022:
| Color | Price Range |
| D | $12,000 – $15,000 |
| E | $10,500 – $13,000 |
| F | $9,500 – $11,500 |
| G | $5,500 – $8,500 |
| H | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| I | $3,500 – $6,000 |
| J | $3,000 – $5,000 |
As you move down the color grades, prices decline significantly. But within the top colorless grades, D commands a sizable premium for its unparalleled rarity. This demonstrates how much value the diamond market places on the prized D color classification.
The Allure of D Color Diamonds
D color diamonds possess an allure unmatched by diamonds of any other color:
- They are the epitome of rarity – the rarest diamond color attainable.
- They represent a crowning achievement of nature – perfect diamond crystallization.
- They exhibit the most exceptional optical properties – unmatched brilliance.
- They are symbols of luxury, prestige, and achievement due to their scarcity.
- They convey love and commitment in the most exclusive way for engagements.
For these reasons, D color diamonds command star status among gems and jewelry. Many consider them the ultimate diamond to possess.
Finding a D Color Diamond
Where can one locate this most elusive diamond color? Here are some tips:
- High-end jewelry retailers – Especially firms with GIA certified stones.
- Luxury jewelry auctions – House sales may feature important diamonds.
- Antique and estate jewelry – Old mines yielded D colors well.
- Online diamond vendors – Allow easy filtering by color grade.
- Wholesale diamond traders – Access high volumes of stones.
Expect to pay a significant premium for D color diamonds compared to lower color grades. Larger carat sizes will also command exponentially higher prices for this top color classification. But for those seeking the pinnacle, only a D color diamond will suffice.
Summary
In the world of diamonds, D color grade represents the pinnacle of rarity and desirability. These colorless diamonds constitute only around 1-2% of gem diamonds on the market. Their complete lack of color is a testament to ideal conditions deep underground billions of years ago. With unmatched brilliance, exclusive prices, and prestige, D color diamonds reign supreme as the hardest diamond color to find.
