Choosing a diamond at the lower end of the color spectrum can be a good way to save money on an engagement ring without sacrificing carats or your dream cut. On the Gemological Institute of America's (GIA) official color scale, I color diamonds are classified as "near-colorless." Only diamonds of the D, E, and F colors are technically colorless. Believe it or not, all diamonds have an overall color ranging from white to brown. As one of the main factors when shopping for a diamond, the color can affect the look of your stone. Anything lower than F may indicate faint color when examined closely and under very controlled lighting. This color will almost always be yellow. Other colors can be found in diamonds, but yellow tint accounts for most of non-white stones. In general, it is difficult to detect any tint in most diamonds.
I color diamonds are the third grade of diamonds that are "near colorless." Near-colorless diamonds range in grade from G to J and are the most commonly used diamond grades in engagement ring jewelry because they balance both beauty and affordability. When viewed from the side, I-color diamonds may have a faint yellow hue, but should generally be white when face up. Although they have a slight yellow (or brown) tint, they will still shine like colorless diamonds..When talking about color, it's worth noting that GIA doesn't consider their color to be "faint." Color technically doesn't start showing in the diamonds until you get to color grades K, L, and M.
Are I-color diamonds worth buying?
When comparing two diamonds face up— an I color diamond and an E or F color diamond — it’s difficult to tell them apart. The differences are likely to be minor (if you can see them at all). And while some differences are obvious, when two diamonds are compared side-by-side, consider the circumstances. Unless you’ll be holding up your engagement ring right next to a friend’s featuring an F color diamond, you have nothing to worry about. The most obvious difference will be the price! I diamonds can be up to 40% less in price than D color diamonds. This means you can get a bigger diamond at a better price.
How can I make my I color diamonds look whiter?
So you’re willing to have a little yellow tint to save some money on your diamond, but you want to get rid of as much color as possible. Here are a couple of tips to cancel out some of the warmth:
Pay attention to the shape.
Choosing a round cut diamond is the best way to "mask" the yellow or brown tinges in I color diamonds. Color is more visible around the points and edges of fancy-shaped diamonds such as pear, oval, and marquise shaped diamonds. These will be the next best options if you don't want a round cut. If you're concerned about the yellow showing, you should avoid princess, asscher, emerald, radiant, and cushion shaped diamonds. These cuts tend to have more color throughout the stone's body.
Choose yellow gold as the metal for your diamond engagement ring.
Diamonds with a slight yellow tinge can appear whiter when set in yellow gold. Using more contrast, such as white gold or platinum, will make the color stand out more, whereas using the same color as the stone will have the opposite effect.
So are I-color diamonds a good investment?
Without a doubt! They're an excellent way to save money, and if you do buy a stone that appears yellow, you can use optical illusions to make it appear colorless without spending any extra money. It's a win-win situation for everyone. Check out our selection of diamonds in the I-color grade and let us know if you have any questions!
