Bottom Line Recommendations:
- The diamond color is the second most important factor to consider when buying a diamond. The prices of the diamonds rise the higher you go on the color scale.
- The G color is in the near-colorless range. However, when looked at face-up, the diamond appears as white as diamonds in the higher color grades. Take a look at this G color diamond here and compare it with this E color diamond here.
- The G color diamond has an icy white appearance while being considerably cheaper than a D color diamond. Compare the prices of this G color diamond here and a D color diamond here.
- When buying a G color diamond, you have a wider selection of settings compared to diamonds in the colorless range. A G color diamond can work well with a yellow gold setting compared to a higher color grade where the yellow hue will shine through the stone making it appear more tinted. You can also use a G color diamond on a white gold or platinum setting and it will still have an icy white appearance.
- Always make sure you compare your G color diamond with adjacent color grades to be able to appreciate the look of the diamond you are interested in. Also, ensure you buy from sellers who can provide 360-degree videos of their diamonds. We recommend James Allen or the Blue Nile.
The most important of the 4Cs is the diamond cut. It has the greatest impact on the appearance of the diamond. The diamond’s brilliance, fire, and scintillation depend most on the quality of its cut.
Next to this is the diamond color. The diamonds with the highest value are colorless. The value decreases as the stones get more and more tint. This tint appears slightly yellow as you go down the color scale.
The color scale was developed by the Gemological Institute of America. It grades diamonds from D-Z. D color diamonds are colorless. They start to get a noticeably yellow tint as you move closer to the Z grade.
Note that for fancy colored diamonds, which have more tint than the Z color grade, the value increases with an increase in color.
D, E and F color diamonds are considered colorless diamonds. The G, H, I and J diamonds are categorized as near colorless diamonds. These may have a noticeable yellow hue. Even so, they are still considered colorless diamonds.
The G color diamonds
These diamonds have a slightly yellow or warm tint to them. The tint, however, is difficult to notice unless you put the G color diamond next to a higher color grade. One major advantage of choosing a G color diamond is that you get an excellent value for the price.
And with a yellow gold setting, the diamond can hide the tint and looks completely white. The G color grade is popular among diamond buyers with up to 18 percent of them choosing diamonds in this grade.
You can think of the G color diamonds as the best thing closest to the colorless diamond range.
The main advantages of buying G color diamonds
The first and most obvious benefit is that the G color diamonds look colorless to the naked eye. The G color diamond may have more tint than the D, E, and F color grades but you will not be able to tell unless you compare them side by side. Looking at the diamond from the top, the eye will not be able to tell the difference.
The price of G color diamonds is a lot cheaper than prices in the colorless range of the color scale. Sometimes the differences in the prices can be thousands of dollars.
When being limited by your budget, then the G color diamond is the best you can get closest to the colorless diamonds.
Should you go for G color diamonds or higher?
It is a matter of personal preference. If your budget allows you to go for the colorless diamonds in the D, E and F grades, then you will get the best value with these diamonds. However, if you want to save some cash, a G color diamond is a great choice.
If it is difficult for you to notice any difference between a G color diamond and a higher color grade diamond, chances are other people will not be able to tell them apart as well.
If you want to use yellow gold for your setting, a colorless diamond will look like a near-colorless diamond due to the reflection of the yellow hue inside the stone. In this case, it is much better to choose a diamond in the near-colorless range.
How G color diamonds are graded
All diamonds including G color diamonds are graded while turned upside down. With the pavilion facing up, the grader is better able to notice the slightest tint of color.
The expert gemologist will observe the diamond under special and controlled lighting and uses specific protocols to give the stone its color grade.
When the diamond is out in the real world, it will be observed from the face-up. Once the diamond interacts with the light, giving off its sparkle, brilliance, and fire, the untrained eye is unable to tell the minute differences between adjacent color grades.
Is a G color diamond too yellow?
Many buyers prefer white gold or a platinum setting over a yellow gold setting while also wanting to save on some cash. The question becomes, will the G color diamond appear yellow on a white gold or platinum setting?
The short and simple answer is NO!
This is simply because the G color diamond appears colorless when observed face-up. The best way to tell the differences between a G color diamond and adjacent color grades is to observe the profile views of the diamonds.
Even when observing 360-degree videos of G color diamonds and comparing them with a higher color grade diamond, note that these will be under a 10X magnification. In real life, the diamond will be much smaller making it much harder to notice the differences.
Comparing G and D color diamonds
Just to have a good understanding of how difficult it can be to tell the difference between a G color diamond and a D color diamond, try comparing them side by side.
You will notice that for the most part, they appear almost identical. What this means is that while you can choose a D color diamond for completely psychological reasons, the G color diamond can provide you with the same look.
You can also save plenty of money with a G color diamond.
G color diamond price
On average there is a 7-10 percent difference in the prices between color grades. A round cut may cost $11,000. Go down the color scale to the G color diamond and the prices may be around $8,000.
Considering that you can achieve the same icy white look found in a D color diamond on a G color diamond, it is well worth it to pick a G color diamond. Too many clever diamond shoppers, the G color grade is the sweet spot where you can achieve a white look while not having to pay high prices.
Conclusion
Many buyers are not aware of the importance of judging the color of the diamond. Often, buyers will end up paying high prices to achieve their ideal look not knowing that they can get the same look at a lower price.
Some buyers will choose a diamond in the higher color grade due to the psychological aspect of it. While this is completely fine, for the buyer who is on a budget going lower on the color scale can provide a great looking diamond at a much cheaper price.