What Is The Best Diamond Color for Yellow Gold Rings?

Who doesn’t love classic gold against a bright white diamond? The combination is timeless and lends itself well to a variety of ring styles. Whether you're shopping for an engagement ring, the perfect diamond wedding band, or a special occasion ring, you might wonder which diamonds pair best with certain bands. In this article, we’re going to help you discover the best diamond color for yellow gold rings.

There are ways to browse diamonds and ring bands online, all thanks to the precision of magnified images and up-close videos that jewelers post on their product pages. When buying diamonds online, there are plenty of options to help you make the right choice.

No matter how long you look at diamonds or peruse the different band colors, the differences won't make any sense to you if you're not sure what to look for. Today, we're going to focus on helping those of you with yellow gold rings find the best diamond to pair with your band. If you’re wondering which color diamond will suit your yellow gold ring the best, keep on reading!

Diamond Color Grades 101: What Are They?  

Before we directly answer the question of which diamond color is the best for yellow gold rings, we thought a little bit of background would be helpful. Somewhat similar to the grades that we all received in school, diamonds are ranked on a grading system, too.

The diamond grading system was designed by GIA (Gemological Institute of America). Based on GIA’s grading system, diamonds are categorized in relation to four distinct qualities, known as the 4Cs

The 4Cs for Diamond Grading Include…

• Carat weight

• Clarity

• Color

• Cut

For yellow gold bands, the best color diamond is white. However, white diamonds are not necessarily the same version of white that you're envisioning. Some white diamonds are faintly colored, and others are nearly colorless, while the remaining white diamonds are referred to as completely colorless. It’s that small margin of variances that we’re going to explore further.

The grading system of white diamonds begins with colorless diamonds ranking as grade D, and the grading system ends at a grade of M for faintly colored white diamonds. So, to summarize, white diamonds between the grades of D and M are perfect for yellow gold rings. 

Still, that’s a pretty wide range of diamond colors, so let’s dive into each one below!

Best Diamond Color Grades for Yellow Gold Rings

Now that we’ve identified the best diamond color for yellow gold rings, let’s look at the color grades more closely.

Grades D, E, F - Colorless Diamonds

White diamonds graded as D, E, or F can also be referred to as colorless diamonds. These diamonds are the rarest form of the three white diamond categories. Just like many other rare gemstones, the rarity of colorless diamonds makes them far more expensive than more common diamonds.

Even so, colorless diamonds are not always distinguishable from other kinds of white diamonds. When paired with yellow gold rings, colorless white diamonds act as a window into the warm yellow gold band.

The clearness of the diamond allows the yellow gold to shine through. Additionally, it gives the illusion that the diamond is more colorful than it actually is. Although white diamonds are beautiful when paired with yellow gold bands, you don't have to splurge on them just to get a gorgeous diamond. Let’s see how other diamonds stack up.

Grades G, H, I, J - Near Colorless

With a grade of G, H, I, or J, these white diamonds are near colorless. However, this category of diamonds is whiter than the preceding grade. Still, the variance is so slight that they are still considered near colorless.

Against a yellow gold band, these diamonds will look beautiful despite barely emitting any color on their own. The gold hue of the band illuminates the diamond, making them appear naturally brighter.

Grades K, L, M - Faintly Colored White Diamonds

This category of white diamonds is recognized as faintly colored white diamonds. Since they have slightly more coloration than nearly colorless white diamonds, they look somewhat out of place when paired with platinum rings or white gold settings.

Of all three white diamond options, these grades are the most flattering to pair with yellow gold bands. Additionally, they are far less expensive than the previous two grade categories. Their affordability can work against them, as many view gemstones with a higher price point to be more beautiful.

However, these white diamonds are truly gorgeous, so try not to let the lower cost affect how you view them! Plus, an added bonus of spending less money on your white diamond is that you'll have more money to put towards other things. Budget-friendly diamonds are eye-catching and mesmerizing, too!

How Much Do Diamonds in Each Color Grade Cost?

As you might've already realized, the color grade of white diamonds affects its cost. Color grades with letters later on in the alphabet are going to cost less than color grades such as D, E, and F.

For example, the average cost of a color grade D white diamond hovers just under $8,300 whereas a white diamond with a color grade of M is only $3,061 on average. Talk about a major price difference between two diamonds of the same color! The only difference is the intensity of the color, otherwise known as the grade of the diamond.

Cost isn’t everything because it’s important to love the look of your diamond ring! Even so, people tend to work within a budget when choosing a diamond, so price points are factors to consider during your final selection. When in doubt, talk it out with your spouse or a close friend to help you choose the diamond most reflective of your taste. Either way, you can’t go wrong with the white diamond and gold ring combo; it’s a classic!

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