When speaking of a white diamond, colour actually refers to the absence of colour. A perfectly colourless diamond allows light to pass through without interference, revealing its full brilliance. It is, paradoxically, the absence of any tint that defines the most beautiful stones.
The vast majority of white diamonds actually carry subtle yellow or grey nuances, caused by the presence of nitrogen or other elements during carbon crystallisation. These nuances, imperceptible to the naked eye at the finest grades, nonetheless significantly influence the value of the stone.
The GIA Colour Scale
To evaluate and objectively compare diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) established a worldwide reference scale. It classifies diamonds alphabetically from D to Z:
- D, E, F: Colourless. The stone is perfectly transparent, with no detectable nuance even under expert examination.
- G, H, I, J: Near colourless. Slight traces of colour are visible only when the stone is compared to others.
- K to Z: Light to strong yellow or grey nuances, increasingly visible to the naked eye.
Origine Paris's Choice: D Colour
At Origine Paris, we select exclusively D colour diamonds — the highest grade on the GIA scale. This demanding standard ensures that every piece of jewellery we create has absolute optical purity and maximum brilliance.
A D colour diamond is colourless by definition, whether of mining or laboratory origin. Our lab-grown diamonds present the same optical qualities as the finest natural diamonds — with complete traceability and a controlled environmental impact.
Colour is one of the four 4C criteria — alongside Clarity, Cut and Carat — which together define the quality of a diamond. Every stone we use is IGI-certified (International Gemological Institute), attesting to these characteristics with rigour and independence.