Are H Color Diamonds Worth it? Quality Guide

Diamond color is one of the most important characteristics when purchasing a diamond. Colorless diamonds are the highest in value, while those with noticeable color are lower in value. Diamonds with noticeable color usually have a pale-yellow tint.

A color grade has been created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which grades diamonds from a scale of D, colorless, to Z, which has a light yellow or brown color. Diamonds from D to Z are considered white, although some have varying amounts of color.

Trying to balance the quality and price of a diamond can be tricky, and the color grade of the diamond you choose will greatly affect your diamond’s value. Compromising your diamond’s cut, color, and clarity can help you make it fit your budget, but it is not a good idea to compromise so much that you purchase a lower-quality diamond.

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Top Grades

The Color Grading Scale

D, E, F	Colorless	These are colorless and very rare. These diamonds sell at a higher price.
G, H, I, J	Near Colorless	These diamonds have a slight undertone that is not noticeable to the naked eye. These are great-value diamonds.
K, L, M	Faint	There is a slight yellow color noticeable with these diamonds.
N, O, P, Q, R	Very Light	These diamonds have a noticeable yellow hue. They are considered lower-quality diamonds.
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z	Light	There is little demand for these diamonds as they usually have a brown tint.

Value of An H Diamond

An H color diamond is considered near colorless. It has a faint yellow hue which is difficult to detect. It has excellent value and pairs well with yellow gold. It can be hard to find a noticeable difference between the color of G-H or I-J diamonds, especially by an untrained eye. However, the cost savings between these color grades are fairly significant. It is best to avoid a pale yellow color in diamonds, and you should choose a color grade of H or higher.

An H diamond is the most popular color diamond on the market. It has a great balance of price while still having a colorless nature which is popular. H is the tipping point of colorless diamonds and diamonds with a noticeable yellow hue. While the difference is hardly noticeable to the untrained eye, there is a big price difference between these diamonds.

It is even more difficult to tell the difference between a D diamond and an H diamond when they have been set. The price you pay for an H diamond is considerably lower than that for a D diamond, which explains why H diamonds are such good value for the quality of the diamond you buy.

H diamonds can retail for almost 40% less than D-color diamonds, despite the fact that they look almost identical.

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H Color Diamond Investments

Diamonds with colorless grades such as D, E, and F are rare and also have great clarity, cut, and high-carat weight. Because of this, they will appreciate it over time. However, other color diamonds will not appreciate as much, and some even lose value once bought from the store.

The good part is that H color diamonds will get you more of a return rate down the line than diamonds of a lesser color grade. This makes H-color diamonds a good investment for the price you pay.

Setting An H Color Diamond

When you choose a diamond of I or J and lower, there is a risk that white gold or platinum might bring out the faint yellow hue present in these diamonds. The risk is reduced when setting an H color diamond in white metals.

Set in yellow gold, the faint hue of an H color diamond might become enhanced, but not to the point of the diamond looking yellow. The yellow gold will add some overall warmth to the ring’s look.

H colored diamonds also pair well with colored stones. Other colored diamonds might seem more hued alongside stones, such as sapphires or rubies. H colored diamonds maintain their unnoticeable color when set next to colored stones.

Set in jewelry such as pendants or earrings, H colored diamonds have a great sparkle, as they have a wonderful shine when exposed to light and still appear colorless to the naked eye.

Other Considerations

Other than the color of a diamond, there are some other considerations to note when purchasing a diamond. The 4Cs are cut, clarity, carat, and color. All need to be considered when making a purchase, as all three factors will significantly affect the price and quality of a diamond.

A poorly cut diamond will not be able to eliminate inclusions and flaws and not allow the diamond to reflect light properly. A properly cut diamond can reflect light brilliantly and allows the diamond to have an enchanting glow.

The clarity of a diamond refers to any blemishes or inclusions found within the diamond. These can stop light reflecting through the diamond and might be noticeable enough to take away from the stone’s overall appearance.

Carat weight also has a direct effect on the value of a diamond. The higher the carat weight, the more a diamond will cost. Diamonds with a carat weight of over 1.0 ct are extremely rare and therefore cost more than other diamonds, and diamonds over this weight have a value that grows exponentially. Many purchase diamonds just below popular carat weights, as these are less in demand and retail at a lower cost.

The Beauty of An H Diamond

Overall, an H diamond offers great value when it comes to the beauty and price of the diamond. If you want to avoid a yellow tint but don’t want to pay the premium price of a colorless diamond, H is your best choice.

The H diamond is the perfect balance between quality and price. It still has an incredible shine and almost colorless appearance but retails for a much more affordable cost. It will look wonderful in any setting and is a timeless stone that holds its beauty well.