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F color diamond – Are they worth their price?

F-color diamond, 1.04 Carat Round Diamond, Excellent Cut, VVS1 Clarity

One of the critical decisions you’ll need to make when choosing an engagement ring is what color diamond to choose. And while many people may think that the most expensive option is always the best, that’s not always the case with F-color diamonds.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at these diamonds and explore whether they’re worth the premium price. By the end of it, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about whether an F-color diamond is right for you.

What is an F color diamond?

The GIA grades diamonds on a scale from D to Z in order of increasing color. Diamonds graded D through F appear colorless to the untrained eye and are generally considered excellent choices for diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry.

Because D through F color diamonds are rare and high in demand, as many people are looking for the perfect diamond for an engagement ring, they often come with a premium price.

In the next section, you can look at the GIA color grade scale.

The GIA color grade scale

As mentioned above, the diamond color grades range from D to Z.

As you can see in the color scale below, F color diamonds are the third-highest color grade on the market.

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) diamond grading scale gives diamond dealers and customers a common reference point for diamond quality, and this standard has become an industry norm.

A diamond receives its color grade by comparing it to other diamonds on GIA’s diamond color scale and determining how close or far away it is from perfection.

The absence of color characterizes a colorless diamond (or D color diamond). Some people call them “icy white,” where white means colorless. Such diamonds are scarce and very expensive.

The next color range is referred to as the “near-colorless range.” These diamonds have a slight yellow tint but are still near colorless. These diamonds are high in demand as they provide excellent value for their price.

Diamonds graded J through Z exhibit noticeable hints of yellow color. Many people shy away from these color grades as they think it will make their diamond look too yellow. However, depending on what type of ring setting color you are choosing, you can sometimes find excellent diamonds in this category, as well.

D vs F color diamond

Comparing colorless diamonds in the D through F range is challenging for experts, even more so for a layperson.

Even under excellent lighting conditions, most people could not tell a D color diamond apart from an F colored diamond.

Just take a look at the two loose diamonds below and try to detect a color difference:

Both stones look almost identical. The only difference you can probably spot is the price. That’s why it rarely makes sense to purchase D-colored diamonds since you’d be paying for a premium you can’t even see.

How much does an F color diamond cost?

A diamond’s price is not only determined by its color. The cut quality, carat weight, shape, polish, clarity, etc., all play a role in how much a diamond is worth.

Nonetheless, color is a significant driver of the diamond’s value.

Like D- or E color diamonds, F color diamonds are pretty rare and thus expensive.

The average price for a 1 carat F color round diamond with an excellent cut and VS2 clarity would fall between roughly $6,500 and $10,500.

In the graph below, I outlined how diamond color affects a diamond’s price:

As you can see, the price for a diamond drops significantly once you choose diamonds in the near-colorless range instead of the colorless range.

For example, E and F colored diamonds with a VS1 clarity grade start at around $9,000. Compare that to a G color diamond, which starts at $7,000, and you see just how much money you can save when choosing a lower color grade.

Is an F color diamond worth it?

While F color diamond engagement rings are pretty popular among people who can afford them, they might not be worth it.

That’s because you can find an equally beautiful diamond in the near-colorless range as you can in the completely colorless range.

Which color grade you should choose to get the best value for your money depends on the diamond shape as much as the ring setting’s color. A yellow gold ring setting, for example, can go well with a lower color grade, whereas you might want to choose a higher color grade for a white gold or platinum setting.

Below, I summarized my recommendations for the various ring settings and shapes:

Where you can buy F color diamonds

First, where not to shop for diamonds: at your local jeweler. You are paying double there compared to buying online, where you have more options and where you can shop around.

There are a lot of online stores where you can choose from, some of them also offer free delivery on orders. But the best websites where you can find F color diamonds are James Allen and Blue Nile where you can find excellent quality diamonds.

Both provide a wide selection of diamonds, as well as high-definition photos and videos that help you inspect the diamond from every angle before purchasing it.