Diamond Color and Clarity Chart (2024)

FAQs

What is the best color grading for diamonds? ›

What is the best color letter for a diamond? The most valuable and rarest color grade is a D color diamond, which is fully colorless. Diamonds graded D-F are the most colorless options available.

The real difference between the two is price. An H color diamond with the same clarity, cut, and carat weight will cost less than a G. So if you're between the two and need to stay within a budget, H is an excellent choice.

​ ​VS1 is higher than the VS2 grade. The only difference between the two is a VS2 diamond's impurities can be easier to spot than those in a VS1. Imperfections in a VS2 grade diamond are similar in size and quantity to those in a VS1.

The more facets a diamond has, the shinier it will be. A diamond gets its facets based on the way it is cut and the shape of the diamond. A diamond must also have a good coloring and be free of inclusions, such as any visible marks, to have a sparkly diamond appearance.

Round Brilliant Cut

The round cut is the most brilliant or the most sparkling diamond cut. Fifty-eight facets (including the culet) are cut into brilliant round diamonds to allow light to pass through and reflect off each facet.

Do H Color Diamonds Look Yellow? Most H color diamonds appear white when you look at the face (a.k.a. the table or top of the diamond). That said, H color diamonds do have a tinge of yellow, but it's typically hard to see unless it's in specific lighting (or you're comparing them to D or E color diamonds side by side).

A "G" color grade for diamonds is considered to be near colorless, which is a high-quality color grade. Diamonds in the G color grade have a very small amount of yellow or brown color that is not easily visible to the untrained eye.

Both F and G color diamonds are considered excellent choices and are very close in color grading.

We guarantee that all diamonds supplied by Costco Wholesale have a clarity to be "VS2" or better and color to be "I" or better as outlined by the industry standard in the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grading guide. Costco sells diamonds with a cut grade of Good to Excellent.

I would say it is color. It dictates more of the pricing of the diamond and impacts the appearance more. But that also means that clarity offers a lot more room for your budget while impacting the appearance very little. Use both to your advantage to find your dream stone.

Is VS1 diamond bad? ›

VS1 is a high clarity grade with no eye visible inclusions and only small, hard to identify inclusions under 10x magnification. These diamonds represent the top 5% of all gem quality stones and are highly recommended as a blend of value and quality.

Red diamonds are the most expensive colored diamonds. Currently, only about 20 to 30 exist in the world. These diamonds derive their red shade during the mining formation. The process is uncommon, explaining why red diamonds are rare and extremely small in size.

Beyond a certain point, paying for a flawless clarity or color grade just isn't necessary and won't have a major impact on a diamond's appearance. At this point, it's better to focus on cut quality and carat weight, both of which are much more visible.

A good carat size for an engagement ring is anything over 0.5 Carat. At 0.5 Carat, the diamond will be noticeable but not overpowering. At 1.0 Carat, the diamond is more eye-catching.

By contrast, although white (not clear, but diamonds with a milky-white tone) and black diamonds are quite rare, they have not managed to capture the favour and attention of the public and are considered to be the least valuable of all coloured diamonds.