H Color Diamonds – Are They Good Enough or Too Yellow?
A side by side comparison of D vs H color diamond rings. Can you identify them?
What is a H color diamond? Is a H diamond good enough for an engagement ring? Would a GIA grade H diamond be too yellow? How does a H colored diamond engagement ring look like when worn on a finger?
In this write up, we will reveal answers to these questions and everything you need to know about buying a H color diamond. You will also get to see indepth comparisons against other colors and see exactly how it looks like in real life.
Let’s dive right in!
What is a H Colored Diamond?
When gem quality diamonds are graded for color, they are assessed based on the absence of color in a face down manner under a controlled environment. They are then assigned a rating based on a scale of D-Z; with D being completely colorless and Z having a light color tint.
The H color rating falls under the category of “Near Colorless“. As you can see from the chart above, the differences in hue are very subtle from one grade to another. While these color distinctions are minute, they can result in big differences in value and prices.
Is a H Color Diamond Good Enough For an Engagement Ring?
When buying a diamond ring on a budget, one of the biggest concerns people have is whether a H color diamond is too yellow.
In fact, I know that the majority of shoppers simply jump to a conclusion about near colorless diamonds (G, H, I & J) appearing yellow before they even see them in real life.
Be it misguided sales talks or misleading information they read online, I want to set the record straight here. Unless you have a particularly sensitive eye for color nuances, chances are you won’t detect color tints in a well cut H color diamond.
In reality, this is how a H color diamond engagement ring looks like under different lighting conditions and environments.
D vs H vs K Color Diamond Engagement Rings Comparison
To give you a holistic idea of how different color diamonds look like, we performed a comparison across the GIA spectrum of colorless, near colorless and faint color.
In the following video, you will get to see the “best” color grade (D) being compared against a H and a K diamond ring.
So, can you see any differences in color tints between the various engagement rings? Do drop a comment below and leave your thoughts on how easy or difficult it is to detect nuances.
Should You Buy a H or I Color Diamond?
Well, it really depends on your personal preferences. I would say that it is almost impossible for a layperson to see differences between diamonds that are one color grade apart.
How Much Does a H Color Diamond Cost?
In my opinion, near colorless diamonds offer fantastic value for money and are great options for people with a smaller budget. Unlike a D color diamond that comes with a hefty premium, H color diamonds can offer a white looking appearance at a much lower cost.
Check out the table of price comparisons below to see how a diamond’s color grade can affect its price.
As you can see, a H diamond costs a lot less than a D diamond and the disparity in prices become more pronounced as carat size increases. If you aren’t that sensitive to color nuances, choosing a H diamond instead of a higher color diamond will save you a substantial sum of money.
How a H Diamond Looks Like in a White Gold/Platinum Setting
This 6 prong solitaire engagement ring in 14k white gold from JamesAllen.com features a 0.616ct H VS2 round diamond. The total price of the ring comes in at $3,400 (diamond $2,400 + setting $1,000).
When worn on the finger and viewed casually, it’s extremely hard to see color differences. In fact, when I gave the ring to my wife, I asked her to make a guess of the diamond’s color. Guess what she replied?
She thought it was a D color diamond ring!
Even from the side profile view of the ring, the color tint is extremely hard to pick up because of the environmental colors (i.e. trying to see a transparent object’s color against a skin tone).
Let’s Wrap Things Up And Summarize!
While D colorless diamonds are desirable because people think they are of higher “quality”, they can get really expensive at higher carat sizes. H color diamonds are a great alternative for people who are looking for a white looking ring without breaking the bank.
As you had seen in the videos above, it isn’t that easy for a layperson to tell a H apart from a higher colored diamond. By placing your emphasis on cut quality, the diamond’s performance can help mask body color and make the diamond face up white.
I personally recommend buying a G or a H near colorless diamond if you are someone who is practical and can’t see color nuances. Instead of paying for a higher color diamond, you can put the money saved towards a better setting or other things in life.
With that, I hope you enjoyed the article and have a better idea about diamond color. If you have any questions or want to discuss your thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below!
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8 Comments
I was browsing around Jared’s and came across a cheap diamond ring listing that stated the color quality to be h-i and the clarity to be i1-i2. What does this mean and is this a good deal to consider?
When you see listings which have specifications like: diamond color h-i or clarity i1-i2, you can be pretty sure of junk quality and near industrial grade diamonds. These estimations of the jewelry’s qualities often over exaggerated and these are the kind of stuff that goes on sale for a good reason. I would avoid.
Between a G and H color diamond, are the price differences and appearances noticeable? I have interest in a 3 stone ring setting and it has I/J side stones. Would the quality of the side stones make the ring inferior or should I get a matching G sidestone if I am buying a G?
You won’t see differences in the face up view unless you have bionic vision.
But I’ll let you in on something I noticed as a trend in the market. As more and more people understand that G diamonds offer an icy white appearance, demand for them has soared. Cutters and businesses know this and the prices have increased lately. A H-colored diamond would be the best low-cost option apart from G diamonds.
As for the next question, the I or J sidestones won’t have noticeable color if they are small in size (i.e. less than 0.3ct each). If the ring design uses larger carat size diamonds (i.e. 1 carat sidestones with a 3 carat center stone), then the color tint differences may be noticeable.
I think an H color diamond is stunning , my diamond is an H , VS2 also , it’s larger than this diamond but I see no yellow , not from the top when I look from the side view in certain lighting I can see a slight yellow hue if put next to say a D color diamond , the color and clarity is where I had to sacrifice a bit if I wanted a larger center stone , I learned a lot before choosing my diamond , never sacrifice cut , these diamonds here are very beautiful , it doesn’t have to be a D color or flawless to be beautiful.
this site really helped me. I purchased/upgraded my 1.5 carat diamond to a 3 carat yesterday. VS1/H. I believe the VS1 is higher than the VS2. Correct?
That’s correct. VS1 is one grade higher than VS2.
From the side, I can see the color differences between the D, H and K. The D appears the most white, the K appears very slightly yellow. The H looks slightly less white next to the D.