• Jewelry Fashion
  • Shopping & Selling Tips
  • Jewelry Care
  • Gemstones
  • Metals
  • Materials
  • Jewelry Basics

Home » Jewelry Shopping & Selling Tips »

The Most Common Diamond Color: Should You Buy It?

Color is one of the most important factors determining the appearance of a diamond. A lot of people think that the typical diamond color is white, or more precisely, colorless. But is this really true?

Diamond Color Grading – A Quick Overview

There are many scales for grading diamond color, but the most popular one is that of the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America).It consists of letters from D to Z, and these letter grades are grouped into color ranges.

Diamond

When it comes to color, you should know that white/colorless diamonds are pretty rare.

For example, diamonds graded D, E and F are at the top of the color grading scale and form the Colorless range.

The next group is the Near Colorless range, which consists of the letter grades G, H, I and J.

Diamonds graded with letters from K to Z have a faint to light yellow color.

The Most Common Diamond Color

When it comes to color, you should know that white/colorless diamonds are pretty rare, although they are very sought after.

In reality, most diamonds mined have a yellow or brownish tint.

Since people usually don’t like to wear diamonds that are noticeably yellow, stones that are visibly tinted are not common in jewelry stores.

Black Friday Deal: Click here to get up to 50% OFF engagement ring settings from James Allen.

Special Deal Alert: Get up to 50% OFF select jewelry from Blue Nile.

So, the most common diamonds on the market are in the Near Colorless range, and more specifically, the stones with color grades H and I.

Click here to see a selection of H- and I-color diamonds.

H and I Colors Compared with Other Color Grades

Diamonds graded H and I are in the middle of the Near Colorless range – they do not have highly visible coloration, and at the same time, they are not as expensive as the more colorless stones.

That’s why the H-I grade is a popular choice for buyers.

This doesn’t mean that these stones are colorless, though. If put next to diamonds graded D, E or F, H-I diamonds will seem slightly more colored, but if looked at in isolation, they can pass for colorless stones.

Click here to see a collection of D/E/F-color diamonds.

Although someone with a really keen eye for colors may be able to spot the faint tint of a Near Colorless diamond, most people won’t notice it.

Stones that are Near Colorless are in the lowest color grade that can pass for white, depending on the setting and lighting.

Once you go past the J color, which is the lowest grade in this range, you enter into the yellow color range, and the stones graded K or lower will have a noticeable tint.

So, if you are looking for a diamond that is white to slightly off-white, don’t go below the G-H-I-J range.

When Should You Buy Near Colorless Diamonds?

Everyone wants a diamond that is as white as possible, but sometimes you just cannot afford to spend money on a colorless stone.

In such cases, settling for H or I color can be a good tradeoff between price and quality. Keep in mind that if you go past I color and buy a J-color diamond, for example, the tint may be noticeable.

On the other hand, if you are really sensitive to color, but you don’t want to go higher than the Near Colorless range, you should pick H or G.

It is worth noting that once you move up into the Colorless range, the price will go up dramatically as you will be paying a premium for that lack of color.

If you cannot afford the price tag of a D, E or F stone, but you still want the best color possible for your money, choose G – this color will get you as close as possible to the colorless grade without the need to pay a premium for it.

Important: Consider the Setting Before Buying

If you’ve decided to buy a Near Colorless diamond, you should know that the metal it is set in can have a huge impact on whether the stone’s tint will be noticeable.

Click here to browse diamond ring settings.

The whiter the setting, the more the color in the diamond will stand out. Therefore, the lower the color grade of your stone, the less suitable materials such as platinum or white gold will be for a setting, and you should consider a metal or alloy with more color instead.

In general, if you want to have your stone set in white metal, don’t go with diamond color grades lower than H. Colors such as I and J will most likely have their slight tint amplified by metals such as platinum or palladium, so if you have a diamond in this color range, yellow gold would be a better choice.

As a final note, you should remember that the cut of the diamond is very important for how prominent the stone’s color will be.

A good cut can bend and reflect light in a way that masks yellow tints, while a poor cut can make them stand out. That’s why you should always evaluate the appearance of each diamond based on how your eyes see it.

Where to Buy Diamond Jewelry?

We recommend James Allen (read review) because you can see a 360-degree video for any diamond before buying it.

Blue Nile is another reputable diamond retailer we recommend.

Disclosure: Some of the links on our site may help us earn affiliate commissions from advertisers. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Read Next

  • How to Clean and Care for Fancy-Color Diamonds
  • Should You Buy Diamonds Loose or Mounted?
  • How Do Diamond Testers Work and Are They Reliable?
More: Diamonds Gemstones


Related Articles
  • diamond jewel on black background
    The Most Common Diamond Treatments
  • Photo of gold bars, studio shots, closeup
    The Most Important Facts You Should Know About Gold Karat
  • diamond on white background with high quality
    What Is the Best Diamond Color to Buy?
  • loose diamonds next to a 10x  magnifier
    What Are Diamond Chips and Should You Buy Them?
Additional Resources
  • Diamond Color Guide
  • What is Diamond Color | The 4Cs of Diamond Quality by GIA
  • Diamond Color Chart – Diamond Education Guide

Popular Topics
• Rings
• Necklaces
• Bracelets
• Earrings
• Diamonds
• Pearls
• Gemstones
• Gold Jewelry
• Silver Jewelry
• Platinum Jewelry

  • More Jewelry Topics
    • How to Clean and Care for a Diamond Ring
    • How Not to Be Cheated on Diamond Quality
    • How to Wear Diamond Earrings
    • What You Should Watch Out for When Buying Cheap Jewelry
    • What Are Eye-Clean Diamonds?
    • How to Choose Diamond Side Stones for an Engagement Ring
    • How to Calculate the Value of a Diamond Ring
    • Is Clarity or Color More Important When Buying a Diamond?
    • What Is the Value of Diamond Chips?
    • What Is the Difference Between Princess-Cut and Asscher-Cut Diamonds?



 
  • The Magazine
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy and Disclosures
  • Categories
    • Jewelry Fashion
    • Shopping & Selling Tips
    • Jewelry Care
    • Gemstones
    • Metals
    • Materials
    • Jewelry Basics
  • Topics
    • Diamond Cut Quality Guide
    • Rings
    • Necklaces
    • Bracelets
    • Earrings
    • Diamonds
    • Pearls
    • Gemstones
    • Gold Jewelry
    • Silver Jewelry
    • Platinum Jewelry
  • Connect with Us
    Connect with Jewelry Notes via FacebookConnect with Jewelry Notes via Twitter

 
Copyright © 2012-2023 Jewelry Notes
All rights reserved.
32333139
Jewelry Notes
  • Jewelry Fashion
  • Shopping & Selling Tips
  • Jewelry Care
  • Gemstones
  • Metals
  • Materials
  • Jewelry Basics