The most desirable color for a yellow diamond is pure yellow. However, most yellow diamonds have at least traces of a secondary color. Greenish yellow and orangy yellow are common modifications of yellow color in diamonds.

Although pure yellow is the favorite, many people enjoy the modified colors and are happy to get them at a lower price than a similar-size diamond with a pure yellow color. Greenish yellow is the more common secondary color; however, orangy yellow is the more desirable and more costly.

Fancy Vivid Orangy Yellow: In September 2018, ALROSA surprised the diamond market by auctioning a collection of 250 colored diamonds in Hong Kong. Known as the “True Colors” auction, ALROSA intends to make the sale an annual event. The company reports that they will easily be able to support the annual sale because they produce at least 7000 carats of colored diamonds per year. (All of the diamonds in the True Colors sale were cut and polished by ALROSA.) The stone above is an oval-cut, 15.11-carat, Fancy Vivid orangy yellow, VVS2 clarity gem. Diamonds of this size and quality are extremely rare.