Neutral grading conditions. True body color visible: this is how trained graders see the stone.
Neutral white: how trained graders view stones. The background that makes body color MOST visible.
NāZ
Faint color that becomes detectable only in side-by-side comparison with a higher master stone or against a white reference background.
No color visible to the naked eye in normal viewing conditions.
The practical sweet spot for most buyers. G appears identical to D when mounted; J appears slightly warm only in white-metal settings.
ā How are these prices calculated?
Approximate industry-standard ranges at equivalent carat / clarity / cut, drawn from general gemological knowledge of retailer pricing patterns. Real pricing varies 5-10% across vendors and 5-15% by carat (premiums grow at larger sizes). Specific cited sources are being compiled during the companion guide's research pass. For now, treat these ranges as orientation, not exact quotes.
Schematic visualization, not a photographic representation. Real D-J grade differences are essentially invisible in mounted stones; the slight tints shown here are intentionally subtle to reflect that. Pricing ranges are approximate industry-standard patterns at equivalent carat / clarity / cut, varying 5-10% across vendors. Color-scale terminology and grading methodology follow GIA conventions. Pricing-range sources cited in `research/e1-pricing-multipliers.md` (Diamonds Pro, International Gem Society, Lumera, plus a Blue Nile live-listing baseline).