Diamond colour buying guide
Updated: Apr 17, 2023
What is diamond colour?
Refers to the natural colour, or shade really, of a diamond - truth be told it means lack of colour! The colour of a diamond can range from colourless (known as white) to yellow, with colourless diamonds being the most valuable (Not including fancy colour diamonds). ‘Diamond colour distinctions are so subtle that they are invisible to the untrained eye; however, these distinctions make a very big difference in diamond quality and price. Hence, it is important to get an expert’s opinion in evaluating the best colour for your diamond.’ (GIA)
(Gemological Institute of America)
I advise sticking towards the top end of the colour range, D-K in general - colour for me should take priority over clarity. Higher the better as colour is a genuine visual factor of a diamond, and can be seen to the naked eye to a greater or lesser degree. Telling the difference between a D and an F colour for example would be near impossible to the average person, especially once set in a ring. However, the diamond size, diamond shape, the ring style and the metal of the ring can all show or hide colour more.
What is the best diamond colour for me? Diamond buying tips:
D-F colour in any ring style looks amazing.
If buying a white gold or platinum halo ring, stick to the D-F range, to ensure the centre diamond looks white when compared to the surrounding small diamonds.
If buying a white gold or platinum diamond band ring, stick to the D-H range at a push, to ensure the centre diamond looks white when compared to small diamonds on the band.
If buying a white gold or platinum solitaire ring, stick to the D-J range at a push, to ensure the centre diamond looks white. Lower colour can typically only be seen from side view.
If buying a rose or yellow gold ring - a useful rule of thumb is you can go one colour lower than mentioned above. For example down to I colour on a diamond band ring or K colour in a solitaire ring would look fine. The yellow and rose metal tones help hide the colour of the diamond, as even a higher colour diamond such as G or F would have the tones of the metal reflecting through the stone.
Fancy shape diamonds (any other shape that isn’t round), as a general rule show colour more than round diamonds, so aim for one colour grade higher than the minimum to ensure the advice above holds up! For example stick to G or even F as a minimum for a white gold diamond band ring.
This rule also applies for large diamonds, the bigger the diamond, the more it will show colour.
Diamonds can also come in other colours, such as yellow, pink, blue, brown, green, and more, which are known as fancy colour diamonds - which is a whole other ball game.
