Yellow diamond grading

Coloured diamonds are graded differently from white diamonds. Instead of the D to Z scale, a fancy yellow diamond is graded by the strength of its colour, together with its cut, clarity and carat weight.

What we list for every diamond

  • Colour grade and whether the colour is natural.
  • Carat weight, shape and cut.
  • Clarity grade.
  • Grading laboratory and report number, where a report exists.

Fancy yellow colour grades

GIA grades fancy coloured diamonds by how strong and saturated the colour looks face-up. For yellow diamonds the scale runs from Fancy Light to Fancy Vivid, with Fancy Deep and Fancy Dark for deeper tones.

  1. Fancy LightLight, soft yellow. The entry point for a diamond graded as a fancy colour.
  2. FancyA clear, even yellow.
  3. Fancy IntenseRich, saturated yellow. Often called canary.
  4. Fancy VividThe strongest, brightest yellow and the most valuable.
  5. Fancy DeepDeep, dark yellow with more depth than brightness.
  6. Fancy DarkDark, brownish yellow.

Swatches are a guide only. Colour on screen varies, and each listing shows the grade from the diamond's grading report.

Yellow diamond questions

What is a canary diamond?

"Canary" is a trade name for a strongly coloured yellow diamond, usually graded Fancy Intense or Fancy Vivid. It is not a grade on a GIA report.

Which yellow grade is the most valuable?

Fancy Vivid, followed by Fancy Intense. Value also depends on carat weight, cut, clarity and whether the colour is natural.

Do your diamonds come with a grading report?

Diamonds are listed with their GIA or IGI report where one exists, and the listing says which. We can arrange a new report on request.

Is the colour natural?

Every listing states whether the colour is natural or treated, as shown on the grading report.