Though most people believe all diamonds are colorless, they actually range in wide variety of colors, starting at "D" going to "Z". Each letter represents a narrow range of color based on a diamond's tone and saturation. D, E, and F are classified as colorless; G, H, I and J near colorless; K,L and M faint yellow; N through Z very light to light yellow. As you go up the alphabet, the yellow (or brown) color becomes more obvious. The more colorless a diamond, the rarer it is. Most people cannot see any color until the "J-K" range. After the scale hits "Z," diamonds start to fall under the fancy colors.
Diamonds come in all colors of the rainbow. However, keep in mind that diamonds can be treated in many different ways to get fancy colors. If you want a natural fancy-colored diamond, make sure it's certified.
Diamonds also have what is called "fluorescents" referring to nitrogen trapped in a diamond. Fluorescents can make your diamond look dull or grey so you want a diamond with faint to none. If your diamond has fluorescents, it will also glow under black lighting.
If size is more important to you than color, one way of getting a larger diamond on a smaller budget is by dropping the color down to a few shades. If you set an I-J color diamond in a yellow gold band, the band will help offset the diamond's color.
