What is the best Color for a Diamond?

Name: Gabriel Edward Jewelers
Price range: $$

I get asked so often, “What is the best Color for a Diamond?”. The best Color Grade is “D”, but that might not be the best for your wallet (and you might not be able to appreciate what you’re paying for!). Let’s learn about Color Grade, then find the optimal grade for your Engagement Ring.

What is a Diamond’s Color Grade?

A Diamond’s Color Grade measures the amount of yellow or brown tints visible in the stone. These tints come from Nitrogen getting trapped in the Diamond during its formation, and this happens to both Lab Grown and Natural Diamonds.

The GIA Color Scale, running from "D" to "Z", is the industry standard for Diamond Color Grading. — Courtesy of the GIA

The modern Color Scale, invented by the GIA, runs from “D” to “Z”.
A “D” Color Diamond contains an insignificant amount of Nitrogen and therefore no tints of Color. A “Z” Color Diamond contains tons of Nitrogen and looks yellow as hell.

How do I pick the best Color Grade for my Diamond?

Does every Diamond have to be “D” Color to look “white”? Absolutely not. The best Color Grades for your Diamond are the minimum grades at which it looks “white” to the eye while being friendly on the wallet. These grades are determined by 3 things:

Larger Diamonds need higher Color Grades to look "white"

1. Your Diamond’s Carat Weight.

The larger the Diamond, the easier it is to see tints of yellow or brown, the higher your Color Grade usually needs to be for a “white” stone.

2. Your Diamond’s Facet Pattern.

Facets are the flat surfaces of a Diamond, arranged geometrically for symmetry and light return.

Brilliant-Cut Diamonds (Rounds, Ovals, Radiants, Princess-Cuts, Pears, Marquise, Hearts and Cushions) return lots of light, so coloration gets lost in the sparkle. Color Grade doesn’t need to be super high here for a colorless-looking Diamond.
Step-Cut Diamonds (Asschers and Emerald-Cuts) have way less facets, and thus (lol, “thus”) return way less light. A higher Color Grade is better here, to avoid your Diamond carrying a noticeable hue of yellow or brown.

Brilliant-Cut Diamonds don't need as high a Color Grade as Step-Cut Diamonds to look "white".

There's a substantial difference in price as you move from the "Colorless" to the "Near Colorless" Range.

3. Your eyes.

Some people don’t see any tints in an “I” or “J” colored Diamond. Some people see tints of yellow in an “F” colored Diamond. These people just want to watch the world burn.

So, what’s the optimal Color Grade for a Diamond?

For Natural and Lab Grown GIA or AGS Graded Diamonds, the lowest grade at which you see a “white” stone will most likely be…

For Round Brilliant-Cuts

2.00 carat "I" Color Round — 2.00 carat “I” Color Round

Rounds return so much light, we can get away with lower Color.

• Under 2.00 carats: “I” or “J”
• 2.00 – 3.00 carats: “H” or “I”
• Over 3.00 carats: “G” or “H”

For Fancy Brilliant-Cuts

2.00 carat "I" Color Oval — 2.00 carat “I” Color Oval

Cushion, Heart, Marquise, Pear, Princess, Oval, Radiant

• Under 1.50 carats: “H” or “I”
• 1.50 – 2.00 carats: “G” or “H”
• 2.00 – 2.50 carats: “F” or “G”
• 2.50 – 3.00 carats: “E” or “F”
• Over 3.00 carats: “D” or “E”

For Step-Cuts

2.00 carat "I" Color Emerald-Cut — 2.00 carat “I” Color Emerald-Cut

Emerald-Cut and Asscher

• Under 1.25 carats: “H” to “I”
• 1.25 – 1.75 carats: “G” to “H”
• 1.75 – 2.25 carats: “F” to “G”
• 2.25 – 2.75 carats: “E” to “F”
• Over 2.75 carats: “D” to “E”

For IGI Graded Lab-Grown Diamonds, add 2 Color Grades up to each of the ranges above. For example, for a Round under 2.00 carats, a “G” or “H” Diamond should still look white, at a nice discount compared to a “D” , “E” , or “F” stone.
Follow us on Instagram, we’re always comparing different graded Diamonds side-by-side.

BONUS TIP: Use a white metal for your Engagement Ring!

White Gold and Platinum bring out the best in every Diamond. If you went with a “Colorless” Diamond, you might not be able to appreciate it as much if its surrounded by a yellow ring! And if you went a little lower on Color Grade, a White Gold or Platinum band can make a “J” Color Diamond look even whiter.

Want to learn more? Check out our 10-Step Guide to the Perfect ????

Javi Perez,
President

I’m here to help you create the PERFECT Engagement Ring for thousands off retail price. Keep saving for a lifetime with your soulmate while creating a Ring she’ll adore forever.

Let’s Create Your Dream Ring Together