J Color Grade Diamonds

The J color grade is the last of the ‘near colorless’ diamonds on the GIA color grade scale which ranges form G through J. While offering a hint of warmth, J color diamonds, can still look beautiful, especially when set in yellow metals. However, we tend to recommend them less frequently due to their noticeable tint, especially when compared to higher color grades. A 1-carat J color diamond typically starts around $4,082. J color diamonds might be a viable option, but it’s essential to consider the setting and overall aesthetic you desire.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
What are J color diamonds?
How do J color diamonds compared to other colors?
How much do J color diamonds cost?
When to buy a J color diamond
Is it OK to put J color diamonds in pavé/halo settings?
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.

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Is it the J color for $3,290 or the G color for $5,710?

There are several things you’ll want to be aware of before you buy a diamond in this color grade. These include the diamond shape, the cut quality, and even the type of setting you choose for the diamond.

Below, we’ve explained everything you need to know about J color diamonds, from their color and general appearance to how they stack up next to better color grades, both in looks and in terms of value for money.

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What Are J Color Diamonds?

How are color grades determined? 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.”

J color diamonds fit into the “Near Colorless” range of the scale, meaning that while they may display some hints of color, they still appear primarily colorless when they’re looked at with the naked eye.

The J color grade is actually the lowest color grade that’s considered near colorless using the GIA’s diamond color scale.

To a certain extent, this has created a false perception that J color diamonds have an obvious, visible color that makes them less beautiful than diamonds in better color grades.

Because of this, a lot of consumers — often aided by jewelers wanting to sell more expensive diamonds — ignore J color diamonds in favor of G, H and I diamonds.

The reality is that a high quality, beautifully cut J color diamond can look absolutely stunning in an engagement ring or other jewelry, all while costing significantly less than an almost identical diamond with a better color grade.

With this said, there are a few downsides to J color diamonds that you’ll need to be aware of if you’re considering a diamond with this color grade. We’ve covered these further down the page, along with more information on the best ways to buy J color diamonds.

Pro Tip: Are you considering a J color diamond? J color diamonds can be a great choice in certain situations For example a diamond like this one from James Allen is stunning and will look perfect in certain engagement rings. Many people may gravitate towards a diamond like this from James Allen, and in certain setting types, you may have to. But if they are in certain settings, you would not be able to tell the difference and you will save $1,620 (a savings of more than 35%).

How J Color Diamonds Compare to Other Color Grades

As we explained above, J color diamonds are the lowest color grade that’s still considered near colorless by the GIA.

By far the most common concern people have about J color diamonds is whether or not they’ll look colorless once they’re set in an engagement ring. Below, we’ve compared the color of a J color diamond (right) to a D color diamond (left, the highest color grade):

Both of these diamonds are from James Allen. Aside from their color, they’re identical in terms of quality — 1.00 carat, VS2, excellent cut round brilliant cut diamonds.

As you can see, the J color diamond looks slightly more yellow than the D color diamond — a difference that’s quite subtle but easy to notice when the diamonds are compared side by side under bright light and with magnification.

However, viewed with the naked eye away from bright lighting, it’s much harder to see the color difference between these two diamonds.

Despite this subtle difference, there’s a significant difference in price between the D color and J color diamonds. The D color diamond costs $6,070 on James Allen without a setting, while the J color diamond from James Allen is available for $3,020 — $3,050 less.

Part of the reason the color difference between these diamonds is quite subtle is the cut. Round brilliant diamonds have a cut that’s designed for optimal brilliance. Because they reflect so much light, they’re very good at concealing differences in color when viewed from above.

For example, take a look at the same two diamonds, this time viewed from the side rather than from above:

From this angle, the difference in color between the two diamonds is much more obvious and visible.

The difference in appearance between the J color grade and better color grade is also much more obvious with other diamond shapes, especially those that have a different facet pattern from the round brilliant cut.

For example, compare this 1.01 carat J color emerald diamond from James Allen (left) to this D color emerald diamond also from James Allen (right) of similar cut, clarity and carat weight:

As you can see, the difference in color is a bit more obvious with this cut. Other shapes with a similar facet pattern to the emerald cut, such as the Asscher, cushion, radiant and princess cuts, may also display the slight yellow color of a J color diamond more than the round brilliant cut.

J Color Diamond Pricing

The color has a huge impact on the diamond price per carat, with diamonds in the colorless range (D color, E color and F color) significantly more expensive than diamonds in the near-colorless range.

The price difference between a D color diamond and a diamond of the same cut quality, clarity and carat weight with a J color grade is significant. For example, the D and J round brilliant cut diamonds we compared above had a price difference of $3,050.

As well as being significantly cheaper than colorless diamonds, J color diamonds can also be more affordable than other diamonds in the near-colorless range.

For example, this 1.00 carat, VS1 clarity, excellent cut, J color round brilliant cut diamond sells for $3,080 from James Allen. This G color diamond, also from James Allen, with identical cut quality, carat weight and color is priced at $4,990. That’s a $1,910 difference in price.

There’s also a reasonably significant difference in price between the J and I color grades, even though they’re only one grade apart. For example, this 1 carat I color princess cut diamond from Blue Nile is $3,330, while this J color diamond also from Blue Nile is almost 30% cheaper at $2,350.

When is a J Color Diamond a Good Choice?

As we mentioned above, the visible difference between the J grade and better color grades is more obvious in certain cuts than others.

It’s also more visible in certain settings and metals than others. For example, metals like rose and yellow gold will both pass some of their color into a diamond, making it look slightly more yellow than it really is, even if it has a flawless color grade.

J color diamonds compared to other color grades

Because of the effect, these metals have on a diamond, picking a J color diamond for a yellow or rose gold setting is a smart buy. The difference in color is almost impossible to notice due to the strong hue of the metal, giving you more money to spend on cut quality or larger carat weight. Sometimes it’s even possible to go lower than J, to K color diamonds.

On the other hand, white-colored metals like platinum and white gold can make the slight yellow tint of a J color diamond more visible if you choose a diamond shape that emphasizes color.

This usually isn’t an issue with round brilliant cut diamonds (we actually recommend the J color grade for any solitaire settings), but it can be an issue with diamonds in other shapes, as we’ve explained below.

For Round Diamonds

For round brilliant cut diamonds, we think the J color grade can be an excellent choice. While J color diamonds do have a very slight color, the round brilliant cut’s facet pattern and its ability to reflect light means you won’t notice this color once it’s set in a solitaire ring.

J color round brilliant cut diamonds can look great in all metals, including white metals like white gold and platinum. As we covered in our guide to the round cut, you can actually drop down to a K or L color grade for yellow gold solitaire rings, all without the color looking too obvious.

By choosing a J color diamond instead of a diamond with a better color grade, you’ll be able to set aside more of your budget for cut quality and carat weight — two factors that have a bigger impact on the diamond’s appearance.

For Other Diamond Shapes

While the J color grade can be a great value choice for round diamonds, it isn’t always a good choice for other diamond shapes.

Not all diamond shapes reflect light as well as the round brilliant cut, meaning they tend to show their color more obviously. This is particularly true for diamond shapes like the Asscher, emerald and princess cuts, all of which have a large table that makes their color quite visible.

For more of these shapes, you’ll generally want to stick with a color grade of I or better to avoid the stone looking too yellow (for some cuts, such as the marquise cut, a grade of H or better is recommended).

If you do choose a J color diamond in any of these cuts, we recommend avoiding white gold or platinum settings, both of which will make the slight yellow tint of the diamond more visible.

If you’re considering a diamond in any shape other than a round brilliant cut, check our diamond shape guide for specific recommendations. Each shape-specific guide lists our recommendations for diamond color grades that look the best, all while offering the best value.

Not sure which color and shape combination is best? Feel free to contact us to get personalized help from our diamond experts.

Totally recommended. Quick responses, concrete and specific advice, something and someone you can rely on to make such an important decision.

Gio

Apr 1, 2023

Diamonds Pro helped us pick a diamond, according to our budget and a few other criteria. We ended up buying a loose diamond from James Allen. We felt that we got very good value for money. The diamond was appraised by another jeweler where we live, confirming its characteristics and value. Finally, we had the diamond set in a ring by a local jeweler, and we’re very pleased with the result! Thank you Diamonds Pro 😊

Mikeela Teaquila

Dec 26, 2022

J Color Diamonds and Halo/Pavé Settings

Beyond your choice of metal, the design of the setting you choose can also have an impact on how good a J color diamond looks. This isn’t an issue with a solitaire setting, although it can be something worth considering for settings that feature separate diamonds.

If you’re considering a halo, pavé or side stone setting for your J color diamond, it’s important to check that the diamonds used in the engagement ring setting are similar in color to your chosen center stone.

With three-stone and side stone settings, and particularly those with reasonably large side stone diamonds (that are certified), we recommend that side diamonds always either match the color of the center stone or are slightly darker.

This can often be difficult to do with a J color diamond, meaning you may want to choose a G color or similar near colorless diamond if you like this type of setting.

FAQs

Is J or I diamond better?

I color diamonds are higher than J on the diamond color scale. Technically, they’re “better”, with a less noticeable yellow tint. However, depending on the setting and diamond shape, J color diamonds may make a better purchase, as they can still appear colorless under the right conditions.

Is J color good for a diamond?

J color diamonds can be a very good purchase. For certain shapes, and in certain settings, they can appear colorless, and thus provide amazing value. You’ll want to go higher in color for settings or shapes that show color more clearly, though, such as shapes with a large table size and fewer facets.

Is J too yellow?

J color is getting into the range where you will be able to notice a faint yellow tint with the naked eye, particularly under bright lights. However, this can be offset with the right setting (such as a solitaire setting) and shape (such as round brilliant), to the point where you don’t notice a J diamond’s color.

Is J color diamond bad?

J color diamonds are not always bad. It depends on other factors of the diamond, and how these amplify or hide the faint yellow tint that J color diamonds have. If it’s not noticeable to the naked eye, J color diamonds can make a great value purchase.

Conclusion

J color diamonds can look absolutely stunning, provided they’re the right shape. If you’re looking for a round brilliant cut diamond for your solitaire setting, picking one with the J color grade allows you to save anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the cut quality, clarity and carat weight.

This lets you allocate more of your budget towards a larger diamond or a diamond with a better quality cut — two factors that will affect its appearance more than its color.

If you need help buying a J color diamond or aren’t sure which color grade is best for you, contact us. Our experts can help you find the highest quality diamond for your tastes and budget.

Here are more specific color topics to browse:

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