Many people interested in buying diamonds want to save some money and get the best possible colour. But is there a diamond colour grade that is considered best? Let’s dig into this topic and find the answers.
Quick Guide to Diamond Colour Grades
The most widely used diamond colour grading scale is one of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). On this scale, the colour is graded by using letters from D to Z.
D, E, F – These diamonds are graded Colourless. There is a little difference between each grade, but the variation in colour is not visible to the untrained eye.
G, H, I, J – These diamonds are graded Near Colourless. These stones contain some barely visible yellowish tints.
K, L, M – Diamonds in this group are categorized as Faint Yellow.
N – Z – These stones are in Very Light Yellow to Light Yellow group. Tints are easily seen, and these diamonds are cheaper as a result.
This colour grading scale is applicable to white diamonds, the stones that have very rich colour are considered fancy-coloured diamonds and graded another way.
The Most Affordable Colourless Diamonds
In general, the less colour a white diamond has the more its value.
So if you are looking for a colourless diamond, you should focus on D-E-F range. As you might guess, diamonds graded D have the best colour and the highest price.
In case you want to buy a colourless diamond and yet save some money, the best option might be an F diamond, the lower end of the range. It’s nearly impossible to see the difference between D and F with the naked eye, so you won’t need to worry about the colour at all.
What About Other Colours?
Whether you choose a colourless or a near colourless diamond depends only on your personal preferences and budget.
It worth mentioning that near colourless diamonds look white when looked at in isolation, but you will definitely see the difference if you put them next to a colourless stone. But let’s agree when wearing your near colourless diamond you won’t be comparing it with other stones.
In case you want to save even more money, you can buy a near colourless diamond in G-J range. As long as the stone is not that large (1 ct and less) it will look quite similar to a colourless diamond. As a general rule, the higher the carat weight of the diamond, the more important the colour grade is.
Keep in mind that both colourless and near colourless diamonds look best when set in a white metal such as white gold or platinum. Coloured metals, such as yellow or rose gold usually spoil the colourless appearance of diamonds and make the stones look tinted.
If you buy a diamond in K-L-M range, you should not have it set in white gold or platinum, as the tint will stand out in the setting. Such diamonds look the best in coloured metals.
Cover photo credit: FABRICE COFFRINI
