G Color Grade Diamonds

G color diamonds are the start of the ‘near colorless’ grades on the diamond color scale. G color diamonds strike a balance between quality and value, presenting a near-colorless appearance that’s hard to distinguish from higher grades. They’re nestled just below the top-tier colors, offering a pristine look without the premium price of D, E, or F diamonds. For perspective, a 1-carat G color diamond might be priced around $5,500. Yet, venturing a bit further down the color scale, like to an I or J grade, could yield similar visual appeal for prices starting closer to $4,500.

Below, we’ve explained everything you need to know about G color diamonds, from exactly how they look compared to other diamonds to how much they cost, recommended shapes, when it’s worth buying one and more.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

What are G color diamonds?
G color diamonds vs. other color grades
How expensive are G color diamonds?
When is a G color diamond the best choice?
FAQs

Why you should trust us

To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.

D Color Diamonds (Absolutely Colorless)

D is the highest color grade, meaning it has nearly no color. Under magnification and to the naked eye, a D color diamond will appear colorless.

D color diamonds are usually set in platinum or white gold, as yellow gold and other jewelry settings detract from the diamond’s uncolored beauty. Diamonds with a D color grade are the most rare and expensive on the market, with a significant price premium over other color grades.

See D Graded Diamonds

E Color Diamond (Colorless)

E color diamonds look almost identical to D color diamonds. Most of the time, the differences in color between a D and E diamond are only visible to an expert gemologist when the two diamonds are viewed under magnification.

Like D color diamonds, E color diamonds are usually set in platinum or white gold to avoid the color of the jewelry detracting from their near flawless color. Although these diamonds are less expensive than D color diamonds, they still command a hefty premium.

See E Graded Diamonds

F Color Diamond (Colorless)

F color diamonds are almost identical to D and E color diamonds, with nearly no visible color. Even under magnification and side by side, a D, E and F diamond will look almost identical to anyone other than an expert gemologist.

See F Graded Diamonds

G Color Diamond (Near Colorless)

G color diamonds exhibit nearly no color and appear primarily colorless to the naked eye. The G color grade is the highest, best grade in the “Near Colorless” range of the GIA’s scale, which covers diamonds graded G to J.

Although G color diamonds have some tints of color, they’re almost impossible to detect with the naked eye. Like D-F diamonds, these diamonds should be set in platinum or white gold to reduce any effects of color reflection from yellow or rose gold.

See G Graded Diamonds

H Color Diamond (Near Colorless)

H color diamonds appear primarily colorless to the naked eye but have a faint yellow hue that’s often visible under magnification in bright lighting, especially when they’re compared to diamonds of a higher color grade.

Like G color diamonds, these can be set in platinum or white gold without any issues. H color diamonds are slightly less expensive than G color diamonds and significantly more affordable than diamonds in the colorless range. This is the minimum color grade we recommend for diamond shapes with a large table, such as the radiant and cushion cuts.

See H Graded Diamonds

I Color Diamond (Near Colorless)

I color diamonds offer a great combination of near colorless looks and good value for money. These diamonds have a slight yellow tint that’s usually only visible when they’re viewed next to diamonds of a higher color grade.

An I color round brilliant cut diamond can look fantastic in a platinum or white gold setting, as well as alongside metals such as yellow or rose gold. As you’d expect, I color diamonds are less expensive than G or H color diamonds. This is the minimum color grade we recommend for princess cut diamonds.

See I Graded Diamonds

J Color Diamond (Near Colorless)

J color diamonds look mostly colorless to the naked eye, but usually have a faint yellow tint that’s easy to notice under bright lights and magnification. In diamonds with a large table, the color might also be visible with the naked eye in certain lighting conditions.

From a value for money perspective, J color diamonds can be fantastic choices. We recommend this color for round brilliant cut diamonds set in platinum or white gold (solitaire setting), as the cut of the round diamond is great at concealing color. However, the J color grade is not recommended for diamond shapes with a larger table and fewer facets.

See J Graded Diamonds

K Color Diamond (Faint)

K color diamonds are classed as “faint tint” on the GIA’s diamond color scale, meaning they have a slight yellow tint that’s visible even to the naked eye.

Diamonds in this price range can be found for significantly less than those in the G to J range. Set in a beautiful yellow gold setting, a K color round brilliant cut diamond can look gorgeous. However, diamonds of this color grade should generally not be set in platinum or white gold.

See K Graded Diamonds

L Color Diamonds (Faint to Light Color)

L color diamonds have a yellow tint that’s visible to the naked eye in normal lighting conditions. Diamonds with this color grade are much more affordable than those in the G to J range, making them a good value for money option.

Because of the yellow tint, we don’t recommend the L color grade for non-round diamond shapes. We also don’t recommend it for diamonds set in platinum or white gold. However, L color round brilliant cut diamonds can still look great in yellow gold solitaire rings due to the warm, yellow tone of the metal.

See L Graded Diamonds

M Color Diamonds (Faint to Light Color)

M color diamonds have a definite yellow tint that’s visible to the naked eye. Like K and L diamonds, M color diamonds offer fantastic value for money when compared to near colorless or colorless diamonds.

The M color grade is typically the lowest color grade offered by online diamond vendors. Although M color diamonds can look warm and beautiful in antique yellow gold settings, their color is quite easy to notice even with the naked eye.

See M Graded Diamonds

N-Z Color Diamonds (Faint to Light Color)

Diamonds in the N to Z range have noticeable yellow or brown tinting. These diamonds are available at a much lower price point than faintly tinted or near colorless diamonds. We do not recommend diamonds of an N-Z grade.

What Are G Color Diamonds?

As we’ve covered in our guide to diamond color, all diamonds sold from reputable jewelers are sold with a certificate that lists their color grade.

GIA, the worlds leading diamond certification laboratory, grades as such: “A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water, and consequently, a higher value. GIA’s D-to-Z diamond color grading system measures the degree of colorlessness by comparing a stone under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions to masterstones of established color value. “

E and F are also in the colorless part of the scale. G, on the other hand, is the highest grade in the near-colorless range, which also includes H, I and J.

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In this case, “near-colorless” means that a G color diamond might display a very faint yellow tint when it’s viewed and graded by an expert gemologist.

Gemologists look at diamonds in a brightly lit laboratory setting. To get a clear view of any color issues of imperfections in a diamond, they’ll use specialized equipment such as jewelers loupes that allow them to view the diamond at 10x and 30x magnification.

This means that while a G color diamond might look slightly different to a D color diamond when it’s viewed under bright lighting and magnification, the difference in color is much harder to spot in a normal environment without bright lighting and special equipment.

In fact, in the right cut, a G color diamond can look virtually identical to a D color diamond when it’s viewed with the naked eye.

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G Color Diamonds vs. Other Color Grades

One of the most common worries people have when buying a diamond is whether a diamond with a color grade that’s below the colorless range (D, E, F) will look yellow in person.

Part of this concern is likely due to marketing. Diamond vendors and diamond jewelry brands, in an effort to push consumers towards more expensive diamonds, can exaggerate the importance of color.

The reality is that, to the naked eye, there isn’t much difference between a D color diamond and one with a G color grade. In fact, there’s surprisingly little difference between a D color diamond and one with an H color grade, at least in the right cut.

To help you avoid overpaying for color, take a look at the image below. This is the diamond on the left from James Allen and this is the diamond on the right. Which is which?

Did you get it right?

Can you see a major difference in color between these two diamonds? If you look carefully, you might be able to see that the G diamond is slightly yellower than the D color diamond. However, it’s a very slight difference, even with bright lighting and 20x magnification.

When it comes to price, the difference is much greater. The G color diamond is priced at $6,000, while the D color diamond is $840 more expensive at $6,840.

One of the reasons these two diamonds look similar is their cut. Because of its facet pattern and ability to reflect light, the round brilliant cut is great at concealing any hints of color in a diamond, even at lower color grades.

Still, even in a cut that displays color more obviously, the difference between a G color diamond and a D color diamond is quite small.

For example, below, we’ve compared a 0.90 carat, VS2 clarity, G color Asscher cut diamond from James Allen (on the left) to a similarly-sized, D color Asscher cut diamond (on the right):

Under bright lighting and 20x magnification, there’s a very slight yellow coloration to the G color diamond that isn’t there in the D color diamond. However, the difference is small — so small that your eye alone can’t tell the difference in a real-life setting.

Now, let’s compare the same G color Asscher cut diamond (on the left) to this F color Asscher cut diamond from James Allen of equivalent cut, clarity and carat weight (on the right):

Can you see any difference in color between these two diamonds? Even with studio lights and magnification, the difference in color is almost subtle, even though one diamond is considered “colorless” and the other only “near-colorless” using the GIA’s diamond color scale.

Both of these diamonds are 0.90 carat, with VS2 clarity and an excellent cut quality. The F color diamond costs $2,900, while the near-identical G color diamond is available for $2,400 — a full $500, or 17%, less.

Are G color diamonds expensive?

As you can see from the examples above, G color diamonds are less expensive than D, E and F diamonds in the colorless range of the diamond color scale, all without much of a perceptible difference in appearance.

By choosing a G color diamond over a D color diamond, you’ll generally save anywhere from 10 to 25%, all for a feature you won’t ever notice with your naked eye.

With this said, G color diamonds aren’t always the best option if you want to get the best mix of appearance and value for money. For certain cuts and settings, it’s often actually better to drop down to a lower color grade that’s still in the near-colorless range.

We’ve explained this in more detail below, with examples for specific diamond cuts, metals and setting types.

When is a G Color Diamond The Best Choice?

In some situations, buying a G color diamond can be a good idea. However, there are also lots of situations in which you’d be better off, at least from a value for money perspective, by buying a diamond with a lower cut grade.

When to buy a G color diamond:

First, if you like engagement rings with halo diamonds, the G color grade is a safe bet (we recommend G/H for any hallo settings since they look virtually identical). Most of these settings use diamonds in the F to G range, meaning a G color center stone won’t look overly yellow or dark in comparison.

For example, this falling edge halo setting from James Allen has small diamonds on each side as well as around the center stone. The diamonds are in the F to G color range, meaning that a G color diamond will fit perfectly with this setting.

Second, if you’re searching for a diamond that’s as close to “perfect” in color as possible without the price tag of a D, E or F color diamond, stepping down to the G color grade could save you a modest amount of money.

When not to buy a G color diamond:

First, if you’re aiming for optimal value for money, G color diamonds generally aren’t a great buy. Yes, they’re cheaper than D, E and F color diamonds. However, they’re significantly more costly than H color diamonds, all without much of a difference in appearance.

If you study a Rapaport diamond price list, you’ll notice that there’s a big step up in pricing from the H color grade to the G color grade. There’s no real reason for this — it’s just an odd quirk of the diamond industry.

This means that you’ll pay quite a lot more for a G color diamond than you would for an H color diamond of the same cut quality, clarity and carat weight, even though there’s virtually no visible difference in appearance.

Second, if you’re buying a round brilliant cut diamond. As we mentioned in our guide to diamond color, the round brilliant cut is excellent at concealing yellow coloration. If you choose any grade higher than H, you’re paying for a feature you simply won’t be able to see.

Third, if you want a yellow or rose gold setting. Because these metals have a strong gold color, any diamond that’s set in them will look slightly darker than its natural color. Because of this, it’s almost always better to choose a diamond with a lower color grade.

G Color Diamonds and Side Stone, Halo and Pavé Settings

If you’re planning on buying a side stone or pavé setting, G color diamond will definitely look amazing. However, you can get an equally beautiful look by going with an I color.

On top of that, you’ll save quite a lot of money that you can later invest in your wedding, honeymoon or life in general.

FAQs About G Color Diamonds

Should I buy H or G Color diamond?

In general, you should buy the lowest color grade that appears colorless in your setting of choice. In most cases, this will be H color or lower, even though G color diamonds can be considered higher quality diamonds.

Do G color diamonds look yellow?

It’s very rare for a G color diamond to have any yellow tint. They’re considered near-colorless, and to most observers, under normal conditions, they should appear totally clear and icy-white, like a diamond is supposed to.

Can you tell the difference between G and H color diamond?

It’s very difficult for an untrained observer to tell the difference between a G and H color diamond, particularly when mounted in a setting. It takes a trained observer, with specialized equipment, to pick out the difference between color grades for colorless or near-colorless diamonds.

Conclusion

Viewed with the naked eye, it’s virtually impossible to see any difference in color between a G color diamond and a diamond with a D, E or F color grade. Despite this, G color diamonds are anywhere from 10 to 25% cheaper than diamonds in the “colorless” range of the scale.

While G color diamonds look gorgeous and can be a good choice if you’re interested in a halo setting that features small diamonds in the G to H color range, they aren’t always the best choice.

For any shape, but primarily the round brilliant cut diamond, you’ll often get identical looks (at least to the naked eye) at a lower price by choosing an H color diamond (see our guide to diamond pricing for more information).

Need help choosing the right diamond for your fiancé-to-be’s engagement ring? Contact us and our diamond experts will help you choose the highest quality diamond for your personal tastes and budget.

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Feb 1, 2023

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