---
title: "Light (S–Z): meaning in gemology"
description: "Light is the D-to-Z range from S to Z: a plainly visible yellow or brown tint."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/light-color
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Color and fluorescence

# Light (S–Z)

Also called S-Z, Z color

Light is the D-to-Z range from S to Z: a plainly visible yellow or brown tint.

## In more detail

A Z is not a bad diamond, only one with a visible tint. A yellow or brown diamond with more color than the Z master stone leaves the scale. Then it can get a fancy color grade.

## Related terms

- [Very light (N–R)](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/very-light-color): Very light is the D-to-Z range from N to R: a yellow or brown tint that is easy to see.
- [Fancy color diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/fancy-color-diamond): A fancy color diamond is a colored diamond with enough color for a fancy grade. To GIA, any diamond outside the D-to-Z scale is a colored diamond.
- [Color grade](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/color-grade): The color grade is a letter from D to Z for the yellow or brown tint of a near-colorless diamond. D is colorless and Z is light yellow or brown.

## Learn more

- [The diamond color scale, D to Z: where you first see a tint](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/four-cs/diamond-color-scale-d-to-z)
- [Fancy color diamonds and fluorescence: beyond the Z grade](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/four-cs/fancy-color-diamonds-and-fluorescence)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)