The color of a diamond is determined by comparing it to a ‘Master Set’ created by the Gemological Institute of America. The GIA grading system is widely accepted internationally, starting at D (colorless) and ending at Z (yellow). Diamonds that are rated colorless (D, E, F) and near colorless (G, H, I, J) are those preferred by Bailey Banks & Biddle. Depending on size, a single grade can affect a diamond’s value by hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. The closer a diamond is to completely colorless or transparent, the more rare and valuable it is.

When we talk about grading a diamond for color we mean deciding by which amount the diamond's "body color" deviates from the whitest possible color. Bailey’s only uses diamonds that are rated colorless (D,E,F) and near colorless (G,H,I,J).

D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

In the year, 1994, Pauline Willemse cut a diamond that was 50 times smaller than the headof a ballpoint pen. This was the world's smallest diamond.