đź“…This fact may be outdated
The term 'blue-white' was used before the 1950s to describe top-quality diamonds with bluish fluorescence from South Africa's Jagersfontein mine. However, widespread misuse led to the FTC outlawing the term in 1938. Modern gemology uses the GIA color grading system (D-Z scale), where colorless diamonds (D, E, F grades) are considered best quality.
The best diamonds are colored blue-white.
The Myth of Blue-White Diamonds: An Outdated Standard
If you walked into a jewelry store today and asked for a "blue-white" diamond, you'd likely get some confused looks. That's because this once-coveted term has been officially outdated for nearly a century—yet the misconception that blue-white diamonds are the best quality still lingers.
The Golden Age of Blue-White
In the early 1900s, "blue-white" wasn't just marketing speak—it described genuinely exceptional diamonds from South Africa's Jagersfontein mine. These stones were prized for two qualities: crystal-clear colorlessness and a subtle bluish tint caused by fluorescence. When held up to sunlight, they seemed to sparkle with an extra brilliance that traders and consumers alike associated with superior quality.
The logic made sense at the time. The "white" part meant colorless (good), and the "blue" part indicated strong fluorescence (also considered good). Dealers charged premium prices for these stones, and buyers gladly paid them. Blue-white diamonds represented the pinnacle of the market.
When Everything Became "Blue-White"
The problem? Success bred imitation. As demand for blue-white diamonds grew, unscrupulous dealers started slapping the label on anything remotely whitish. Lower-color diamonds with yellowish tints? Blue-white. Stones with barely any fluorescence? Also blue-white. The term became so diluted that it meant virtually nothing.
By 1938, the situation had gotten so bad that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission stepped in and outlawed the use of "blue-white" for anything except actual blue diamonds. The term that once signified quality had become synonymous with deception.
The Modern Diamond Standard
Today's diamond industry operates on the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) color grading system, developed in the early 1950s to replace vague descriptors like "blue-white," "AAAA," and "white." The scale runs from D to Z:
- D, E, F: Colorless (highest quality)
- G, H, I, J: Near colorless
- K-Z: Faint to light color (typically yellow or brown)
This standardized system removed ambiguity. A D-color diamond in New York means the same thing as a D-color diamond in Tokyo. No more creative terminology, no more confusion.
What About Fluorescence Today?
Interestingly, the blue fluorescence that once made diamonds more valuable is now viewed with mixed feelings. In colorless diamonds (D-F), strong blue fluorescence can actually create a hazy or oily appearance that many buyers want to avoid. However, in slightly yellow diamonds, blue fluorescence can counteract the yellow tint and make the stone appear whiter—essentially the reverse of the old premium.
The best diamonds today? They're graded as D-color with excellent cut, VS1 clarity or better, and minimal fluorescence. No blue-white required.