It is not a secret that the colour grade is one of the most important characteristics of a diamond, significantly affecting its price. That is why opting for a lower colour grade can help you get the best value and save some money. Let’s dig into this topic and see what is the best diamond colour to buy.
What Is the Diamond Colour?
Diamonds are typically known to be colourless, but most diamonds mined come with noticeable yellowish and brownish tints. When talking about diamond colour, we mean how white or colourless the stone is. The highest quality diamonds are completely colourless, while lower quality diamonds have yellowish or brownish tints.
Diamond colour is graded using a scale developed by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), which goes from D to Z, with D being the most colourless and Z containing yellow or brown tints noticeable to the naked eye.
Each letter grade falls under a clearly defined range of colour appearance:
- D-E-F – colourless
- G-H-I-J – near colourless
- K-L-M – faint
- N-R – very light
- S-Z – light
Diamond colour grade is one of the factors that significantly affect diamond prices, which is why this aspect should never be overlooked. Choosing the right colour for your diamond could help you save some money without affecting the look of your jewellery piece and overpaying for a feature that would remain unnoticed.
Can Colourless Diamonds Be Affordable?
In general, the less colour a white diamond has better and the more expensive it is. This means the diamonds graded D have the best colour or absence of colour if you want, and they command the highest prices.
If you are looking for a colourless diamond and yet want to save some money, you should not necessarily opt for the highest grade in the D-E-F range. Diamonds in the lower end of the range, those having an F colour grade, are probably the best option, as it is nearly impossible to spot the difference between D and F colours with the naked eye unless you compare them side by side.
Colourless diamonds look stunning in settings crafted from white metals such as white gold and platinum, as well as coloured metals such as yellow and rose gold.
Coloured metals work beautifully with colourless diamonds as they add attractive contrast and make them stand out. However, it is worth mentioning that such a setting can add some yellowish tint to the stone. In case you do not want to add more colour to your colourless diamond, you may have it set in white gold or platinum. If you still prefer coloured metals, then it makes sense to use white metals for the prongs. This will help to make the centre stone look whiter against a coloured background. After all, if you have paid for a colourless diamond, it is worth making sure the stone will not be tinted in any way.
What Is the Best Diamond Colour to Buy?
Whether you choose a colourless or a near colourless diamond depends only on your preferences and budget. However, to get the best value, you may want to consider a near colourless diamond in the G-H-I-J range.
As the name suggests, near colourless diamonds exhibit nearly no colour and appear primarily colourless to the naked eye when looked at in isolation. This is especially true for smaller stones weighing less than 1 carat. However, be aware that you will see the difference between colourless and near colourless stones if you put them next to each other.
Keep in mind that the most suitable setting for a near colourless diamond will depend on where in the range your stone falls. If your diamond is graded G or H, then the stone will barely have any tints, and it is safe to have your diamond set in white gold or platinum.
If your diamond is graded I or J, it will have a slightly stronger yellow tint, so it is better to opt for coloured metals. However, there is an exception to every rule. Round and princess cut diamonds tend to hide colour imperfections in the diamond rough, meaning it is still safe to have them set in white metals. For other cuts, it is better to consider a yellow or rose gold setting.
It is worth mentioning that the visibility of yellow tints in a diamond also depends on its cut quality. An ideal cut stone may reflect light in a way that would make any tints nearly invisible, while a poor cut makes the colouration even more noticeable.
Featured image: Dmitrii Stoliarevich / Canva
