Buying F Color Diamonds: Guide to Colorless Brilliance

Colorless diamonds are those at the very top of the color grading scale – D, E and F. They vary only in degree of “colorlessness”! Just from that description it should be pretty evident that all three colors are extremely white. That is, they really have no body color that is detectable to the observer in real world viewing environments. And since D and E color will cost more, an F color diamond will look “icy white” like the other two members of the colorless range, while costing less.

Diamond color grading is extremely nuanced and must be done in a controlled lighting environment by trained professionals using master diamonds. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and the IGI (International Gemological Institute) are two of the most well respected laboratories globally. Until its recent acquisition by GIA, the AGSL would also have been in that top tier. Not all laboratories have a solid reputation for accuracy and consistency, so the laboratory issuing the report does matter. For more on this subject please see the article AGS vs GIA and this article on the IGI.

While color acuity varies greatly between people, it is difficult for most folks to detect differences of a grade or more when the diamonds are set in jewelry and viewed in everyday environments. Shoppers looking for colorless diamonds will therefore often find the best value in F color diamonds.

Selecting an F color diamond will ensure that the diamond looks exceptionally bright, but only if the diamond is well cut. An ideal cut diamond, when paired with good clarity and a colorless grade, will display extraordinary brightness, fire and scintillation. In fact, although F is only the third best color, and Si1 is the sixth best clarity, an ideal cut F Si1 can look about as beautiful as a diamond possibly can, and at significantly less money than a D Flawless! This is why F color diamonds, in a variety of good clarities, are considered by many astute shoppers to outstanding values.

Many shoppers looking for bright white diamonds also consider G color. G sits at the top of the “near colorless” range, and while still very white can represent significant savings in natural diamonds. This is especially true in finer and larger diamonds. As the photo below illustrates, there is little visual difference between F vs G color diamonds, especially when viewing them from the normal face-up position. Even from side view where body color becomes more apparent, G color diamonds do not have a noticeable tint in real world viewing.

Choosing any natural diamond in the colorless range will cost a premium. If you are one of those people capable of discerning small amounts of body color in diamonds, you will certainly appreciate the rarity and beauty of these special diamonds. But it is important to remember that color is not the only value factor that should be given consideration. Certain clarity factors can negatively impact light performance and detract from the brilliance of the diamond.

When evaluating F natural colored diamonds consider A CUT ABOVE® super ideal diamonds. Not only are they cut to extreme precision, they are thoroughly vetted for any clarity issues that might diminish light return. You can therefore comfortably select Si1 clarity and know that you will have a top performing diamond of extraordinary beauty.

Shoppers looking for colorless diamonds today have a new and much more affordable option; lab grown diamonds. These are synthetic diamonds with essentially the same physical and optical properties as natural diamond. They are therefore just as durable and have just as much potential for brilliance and fire as natural diamonds, assuming they are precision cut.

While lab diamonds are not for everyone, they are becoming very popular as they have become more available on the market and prices have been coming down. An F color lab diamond is very attainable as rarity is not really a factor in driving the price in man-made diamonds. In fact, there is little reason to compromise much at all in either color or clarity in lab grown diamonds because of their relative affordability compared to natural colorless diamonds. And there is certainly no reason to compromise on cut quality which is the biggest beauty factor in both natural and lab diamonds. The Whiteflash Precision Lab brand is our solution for the shopper interested in the best of the best in lab grown diamonds.