How does absorption affect color in colored diamonds?

• A. More absorption yields lighter color; less absorption yields deeper color.
• B. Absorption has no effect on color.
• C. Absorption only affects brightness.
• D. More absorption yields deeper color; less absorption yields lighter color.

Answer: (D)

In colored diamonds, color comes from selective absorption of certain wavelengths by impurities or lattice defects; what you see is the light that isn’t absorbed. The amount of absorption directly controls how intense the color looks.

When absorption is stronger, more wavelengths are removed, so the light that remains is biased toward the color you perceive, making the color deeper and more saturated. When absorption is weaker, more light passes through, resulting in a lighter, paler appearance. In short, more absorption yields a deeper color, and less absorption yields a lighter color.