1 2
 
 Most diamonds appear icy white, but many have tiny hints of colour. Diamonds are graded on a colour scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), ranging from D (colourless) to Z.

Colourless diamonds are extremely rare, and therefore very valuable. But there are no hard and fast rules for what colour makes a diamond beautiful. The Incomparable, one of the world's most beautiful diamonds, contains hints of brown, smokey amber and champagne colours.

Weighing a massive 407.48 carats, the Incomparable is the third largest diamond ever cut, surpassed only by the Cullinan I and the Golden Jubilee. The stone is remarkable for its unusual triangular shape, called a "triolette", and its fancy brownish-yellow colour.

The Incomparable was discovered in the Mbuji Mayi district of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire), almost a decade before the Millennium Star was discovered in the same region.

Please note: colour calibration of monitors can vary considerably and the colour spectrum shown is meant only as an educational guide.

Diamond Facts

Most people are unaware of the role diamonds play in bringing real benefits to people in the countries around the world where diamonds are sourced. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa. It is also in Africa that this same resource has been used to fund conflict. In 2000, a coalition of governments, non-governmental organizations and the diamond industry worked together to address this issue. In 2002, they established the Kimberley Process Certification System, a UN-backed process that has virtually eliminated the trade in conflict diamonds. Today, over 99% of the world's supply of diamonds is from sources free of conflict. Diamondfacts.org is dedicated to presenting the facts about conflict diamonds, along with how diamonds are driving economic growth and prosperity in countries around the world.

http://www.diamondfacts.org/