As you might already know, all diamonds sold in the market come with a GIA-approved certificate that lists their properties, including their cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The value of a diamond is measured by its 4 Cs, as mentioned above. GIA, which stands for the Gemological Institute of America, is a governing body dedicated to research and education on gemstones. The GIA assigns a color grade to every diamond from a color grade scale. The GIA-approved color grade scale starts from the letter D and ends at Z. There are five color categories on the scale. D to F range corresponds to the colorless category, while the G to J range corresponds to the near-colorless category. A G color diamond offers outstanding value compared to diamonds in the colorless category.

If you compare a G color diamond with a D color diamond, you would not be able to tell them apart easily unless viewing them under a gemological microscope. Most naturally occurring diamonds have some color in them. It is very rare to find a diamond with no color, making colorless diamonds a rare and one of the most expensive finds. However, G color diamonds display a faint yellow color that is only detectable by a gemologist or when viewed under a gemological microscope. A G color diamond practically looks colorless when viewed on its own, and with the right cut and metal, it looks almost identical to a D color diamond.

If you are wondering how to make your G color diamond appear more colorless, we have compiled a detailed buying guide to lead you in the right direction. A diamond is more than its color grade. You need to consider a diamond’s cut, clarity, jewelry setting, and color to ensure it is the perfect diamond for you.

A better look at G color diamonds

Normally, people think that any diamond having a color grade after F will have a very obvious yellow tinge. This is mostly untrue for the near-colorless range because they look almost identical to colorless diamonds. A G color diamond is the highest graded diamond in the near-colorless range. When compared with any diamond from the colorless range, it will have little to no difference in color visible to the naked eye.

Experts recommend buying a diamond based on what looks appealing to the naked eye. Hence, there is absolutely no reason to overpay for a perfect color grade that is only noticeable when the diamond is viewed under a gemological microscope. Although the color difference between a D and G color diamond is barely noticeable, the difference between their costs is significant. You can save up to $800 to $1000 when purchasing a G color diamond instead of buying a D color diamond in the same cut and carat weight.

The color of the diamond does not entirely impact its appearance since other factors play a significant role in affecting the overall look of the diamond. Some of these factors include the diamond’s cut, its clarity, carat weight, and the type of jewelry setting and metal you choose.

To find out how you could attain maximum value from your G color diamond by choosing the right cut, jewelry setting, and metal color, keep reading ahead!

F vs. G color diamond

Since there are so many color grades for diamonds, people often find it difficult to choose between two very close options. For example, G color diamonds come immediately after F color diamonds on the color grade scale. Since they both are neighbors, their overall appearance is quite similar, confusing many people about choosing the right one. F color diamonds belong to the colorless range, so you can imagine they will be quite expensive compared to any other diamond down the color grade scale. If you observe both the F and G color diamonds separately in isolation, you will think they are exactly the same. A G color diamond usually only displays its yellow tinge when it is viewed from the side. The yellow tinge is so slight that the diamond appears colorless when viewed from the top. Most diamonds have a yellow tinge to them. Some yellow tinges are darker than others, hence the different color grades on the scale. For this reason, colorless diamonds, including the F color diamonds, are extremely rare. The rarity of colorless diamonds makes them the most expensive diamonds on the color grade scale from D to Z.

If your budget is not a constraint, investing in a colorless diamond is a great idea. However, paying extra money for a trait that your naked eye can not even notice is absolutely unnecessary. Hence, it would be smarter and wiser to buy a G color diamond and use the money you saved up to invest in other factors of the diamond, like a higher carat weight.

Cost of G color diamonds

Let’s be real; if you have decided to buy a G color diamond, you must have set the right budget. G color diamonds are in no way cheap and light on the pocket. With that being said, they are definitely cheaper than diamonds in the colorless range. A G color diamond is a safe bet for many people since they get the best out of both worlds, an almost colorless diamond that is cheaper than an actual colorless diamond. However, if you believe a G color diamond will break your bank, you can opt for diamonds with a lower color grade within the same near-colorless category.

An I color diamond will help you save more money than a G color diamond. So, if budget is an issue, you can purchase an I or J color diamond since they belong to the same color category and look almost identical to a G color diamond.

The bottom line is, that the better the grade assigned to a diamond, the more expensive its price tag will be. The increase in price due to a better grade sometimes occurs without any visible difference in the appearance of the diamond. So, it is recommended that you smartly choose a diamond that looks visually appealing to you. If you are confused between two options with no visible differences, choose the cheaper option because if you can not tell them apart, it is not worth paying extra for the more expensive option.

G color diamond cuts

Normally, customers are recommended to opt for a cut that is great at masking the diamond’s internal color when picking one from lower color grades. The ideal cut for diamonds that display a slight yellow or brown tinge is the brilliant round cut. A brilliant round cut is a top choice for diamonds within the near-colorless or later ranges because it is exceptionally good at reflecting light. The round cut of the diamond allows it to reflect a lot of light when viewed from the top, masking most of the internal color and making it look almost colorless.

However, since G color diamonds barely have any noticeable yellow color, they would look almost colorless in any shape or cut. So, you can go for whatever cut you find more appealing with a G color diamond. If you are particular about your diamond looking crystal clear and clean, go for cuts that do not show color more obviously.

G color diamond jewelry setting

The color of the metal you pick to place your diamond in impacts its overall look significantly. Warm color metals tend to make the diamond appear slightly more yellow than it already is. The diamonds appear relatively warmer regardless of their color grade, so it is not a smart idea to buy a high-color graded diamond. Instead, if you are sure about choosing yellow or rose gold colors for your metal, choosing a low-color graded diamond would be a good idea. You can easily downgrade one or two grades from G color diamond if you choose rose gold or yellow colors for the metal.

However, if you choose white gold or silver colors for your jewelry metal, choosing a G color diamond is a good idea since diamonds tend to show their internal colors more obviously in these colored metals.

Side stone settings

Choosing a jewelry setting with side stones can be tricky because most side stones used in rings or other jewelry are within the higher color graded ranges. If you place a low color graded diamond between high color graded side stones, your diamond will appear more yellow than it is. The side stones you pick for your ring can greatly impact its overall appearance. Ensure that your diamond, which will go in the center, is surrounded by side stones of the same color grade as its own. If your side stones have a higher color grade than your diamond, the diamond will appear darker, and the ring will look lackluster.

It is easy to go with a halo or pave setting with G color diamonds since side stones are commonly available in G color grade. Apart from jewelry settings with side stones, you could also opt for a setting where the diamond is the centerpiece and is not surrounded by other gemstones. Your G color diamond is beautiful enough to stand out on its own!

Frequently asked questions

1. What is a pave ring setting?

Pave ring setting is a type of jewelry setting style where small gemstones are placed close together along with the ring’s band, giving an illusion that the diamonds are more in number than they are.

• What is a halo ring setting?

Halo ring setting is a classic type of jewelry setting style where the main centerpiece diamond of the ring is surrounded by smaller diamonds or other gemstones of similar color grade, making the size of the ring appear larger.

• What kind of side stones can I add to my ring?

Side stones come in all shapes and sizes. Most people opt for round side stones to be placed around the center diamond. However, other shapes like pear, baguette, and trillion are also some beautiful options to pick. Side stones can be smaller diamonds or color-faceted gemstones.

• Can the side stones in my ring fall out easily?

The most common cause of side stones falling out of the ring is daily wear and tear and lack of care. Mostly, the stones are held by tiny prongs that keep them in place; however, if your ring falls frequently, these side stones can easily fall out.

• Can diamonds actually cut glass?

Yes! Diamonds are the hardest known material on earth, scoring a ten on the Mohs hardness scale. In comparison, a glass is graded a 6 or 7 on the Mohs scale, which means that a diamond can easily cut through glass.

• How can I tell if my diamond is real or fake?

You could conduct a few tests at home to check if your diamond is real or fake. The first test is the breath test, where you blow air from your mouth on the diamond. If the surface of the diamond fogs up and remains fogged up for a while, it is fake. If the surface instantly becomes transparent, you most probably have a real diamond. Another test you should conduct is the newspaper test. Place your diamond on top of the newspaper and try to read the letters underneath. If you can read the letters, your diamond is fake. If you are unable to read anything, your diamond is probably real. Diamonds refract a lot of light, making it impossible for anyone to read or see the letters through them.

Conclusion

G color diamonds can be a great option for those who are not restricted by a tight budget. They look quite identical to D color diamonds but cost significantly less. If you set your budget for a D color diamond, you could easily get away with buying a G color diamond instead because you can not tell them apart visually. However, if G color diamonds are out of your budget, you can easily opt for a lower grade diamond like H or I and save up a lot of money.