All diamonds are graded according to their color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. A diamond’s color grade is measured on a color grade scale approved by the Gemological Institute of America. The color grade scale starts from the letter D and ends at the letter Z. All diamonds are divided into different color categories. The range D to F corresponds to the color category of colorless diamonds. The G to J color range corresponds to the color category of near-colorless diamonds. You might have already guessed that F color diamonds fall within the colorless range on the color grade scale.

Almost all diamonds have some hues of yellow or brown color. However, colorless diamonds have no color, making them the rarest category of diamonds on the market. Due to their rarity, color diamonds are extremely expensive. Since F color diamonds are last in the colorless range, they are less expensive than D color diamonds and more expensive than all other diamonds down the color grade scale.

It might be a good idea to invest in F color diamonds in some cases, while looking at other lower color graded diamonds in other situations may be a good idea. Please keep reading on to find out when you should buy or avoid a F color diamond!

Comparing a F color diamond with other color grades

If you have shopped for a diamond before, you would know that D color diamonds are the most expensive, followed by E and F color diamonds. Their colorless property makes them super rare and a worthy possession. However, the color difference between colorless diamonds and most near-colorless diamonds is quite subtle. In most cases, the color difference between both categories of diamonds is barely noticeable through the naked human eye.

E vs F color diamond

Both E and F color diamonds lie within the colorless range. E color diamonds are more colorless than F color diamonds and are more expensive. However, the difference between E and F color diamonds is so subtle that one can barely tell them apart through their naked eyes. A color difference that is so subtle can only be detected when viewing the diamonds under a gemological microscope.

It is recommended that customers choose the diamond that looks most visually appealing to them instead of overpaying for a quality they can barely detect with their naked human eyes.

D vs F color diamond

The same can be said about D and F color diamonds. Since D diamonds are the highest graded colorless diamonds, they are also the rarest and most expensive on the market. However, just as with E and F color diamonds, D and F color diamonds do not have drastic differences in their appearances. In fact, one can barely tell them apart when looked at from the top. An untrained eye cannot tell the differences between a D and F color diamond even with magnified images. Experts, too, have to use a microscope to identify the difference in color between both diamond categories.

When are F color diamonds a good choice?

As mentioned earlier, a diamond’s value is measured through its 4 Cs. The 4 Cs of a diamond are its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. If you have not set a tight budget, opting for a F color diamond should be no issue. However, that does not mean that F color diamonds will give you the best value for what you can visually see. We have put together some shopping guidelines to help you decide when you should or should not opt for a F color diamond. Always remember, what you see is what you get. So, if there is a quality you cannot visually see, it might not be the best idea to overpay for it.

Different shapes and cuts

The cut of a diamond greatly impacts its overall appearance. Some cuts are better at masking any internal color of the diamond than others. For example, a brilliant round cut diamond can mask yellow or brown hues of near-colorless diamonds so well that they look almost colorless. The reason for this phenomenon is that brilliant round cut diamonds are excellent at reflecting light. If you are sure about buying a brilliant round cut diamond, you can easily opt for a lower color grade instead of investing in a F color diamond. You will end up saving quite a lot of money which you can either invest in a bigger diamond or your honeymoon trip.

Color of the metal

Just like with the cuts and shapes of a diamond, the color of the jewelry’s metal also impacts the look of the diamond. Customers usually choose between yellow/rose gold or white gold/platinum metals for their rings. Both metal color categories give a different overall look to your diamond and thus should be chosen carefully depending on the color grade of the diamond. If you choose a yellow or rose gold color metal for your ring, the diamond placed will automatically have a warmer look regardless of its color grade. Thus, it is not a good idea to overpay for a high color grade diamond, only to pair it with a yellow or rose gold color metal.

On the contrary, white gold or platinum rings bands enhance the internal color of a diamond. So, if your diamond has a color grade of J or K, its internal color would be more obvious than in a rose gold or yellow metal. In such a case, it is a good idea to opt for a higher color grade diamond, like G or H. You must be wondering why we did not mention D, E, or F colored diamonds. There is no harm in buying colorless diamonds for white gold or platinum ring bands; however, higher graded near-colorless diamonds look similar to colorless diamonds in the same setting. If budget is not an issue, F color diamond will pair beautifully with silver, white gold, or platinum ring bands.

Side stone setting

Normally, choosing side stones for a lower color graded diamond can be tricky. Side stones usually come in G, H, and I color grades, so choosing them for a lower color grade diamond can be difficult because the diamond would look yellower in relation to them. It is always recommended to choose side stones in a lower or similar color grade as the main diamond. However, choosing a side stone setting for your ring is quite easy for a F color diamond. There is no need to worry about the side stones looking lighter than your F color diamond.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity measures how clean the diamond looks and how many inclusions it has. The lesser the inclusions a diamond has, the better its clarity grade. Like a diamond’s color, its clarity is also graded on a GIA approved clarity grade scale. The clarity grade scale starts from internally flawless and ends at included. However, it is not always a good idea to overpay for the excellent clarity of a diamond. The key is to see which diamond looks clean to you before buying.

• What gives diamonds their yellow color?

The yellow or brown hue present in most diamonds is due to the presence of nitrogen in a diamond’s all carbon structure. The nitrogen molecules present in the carbon structure of a diamond absorb blue light, giving the diamond a yellow or brown hue.

• Do some diamonds glow in the dark?

Some diamonds emit a soft blue glow when exposed to ultraviolet light due to their fluorescence property. The fluorescence property occurs due to the presence of chemical impurities within a diamond’s all carbon composition and is usually considered a defect. D color diamonds with the fluorescence property are usually put up on sale because they are considered defective, impacting their overall value. However, the fluorescence property can sometimes be good for diamonds if present in a small amount since it makes them look whiter.

Conclusion

F color diamonds look ethereal because of their colorless appearance for both rose gold/yellow and white gold/platinum metals. F color diamonds are the lowest color grade diamonds in the colorless range, which means they are less expensive than D or E color diamonds. However, they look the same as D and E color diamonds, and a naked human eye can not tell them apart. F color diamonds are still very heavy on the pocket and are normally out of most people’s price range.

It is not worth overpaying for a quality that you can visually not detect. Thus, if you compare a G or H color diamond with a F color diamond and have an extremely difficult time telling each apart from another, it means you should go for the cheaper option.

If you are sure about buying a yellow or rose gold ring band, investing in a F color diamond will be unnecessary because any diamond in such a setting would look warmer than usual despite its color grade on the GIA approved color grade scale. You would save a lot of money investing in a lower color grade and use it on more important factors of the diamond, such as its carat weight and clarity.