My website is reader-supported. Buying through links on my site may result in me earning a CUSTOMER REFERRAL FEE at no extra cost to you.

Check out the latest deals at our top diamond vendor choice: James Allen

H Color Diamond | All You Need To Know Before Buying One

H color diamond

H color diamond, 1.01ct, ideal cut quality, VS1 clarity grade

Are you in the market for an engagement ring? If so, you may be wondering about the different diamond colors available.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss H color diamonds. We’ll cover what they are, how much they cost, and in what cases they may be a good choice for an engagement ring. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of H color diamonds and whether or not they’re right for you.

Content overview
  • What is a H color diamond?
  • Is an H color diamond too yellow?
  • Is an H color diamond good enough for an engagement ring (plus setting guidelines)?
  • How much does a H colored diamond cost?
  • Which diamond color is better G or H?
  • Conclusion

H color diamond summary

  • H color diamonds belong to the near-colorless range on the GIA grading scale
  • They are significantly cheaper than completely colorless diamonds and thus make a popular choice for an engagement ring
  • An H-color-diamond is an excellent choice for a white gold setting as you won’t be able to detect any yellow color hint
  • For yellow ring settings, I recommend lower grades, allowing you to save more money without sacrificing the diamond’s beauty
  • The best places to shop for H color diamonds are James Allen and Blue Nile

What is an H color diamond?

Although they do not have the highest GIA (gemological institute of America) color grade, H color diamonds are the most popular color among Americans. That’s because, in most cases, they appear colorless, yet they fall into the “near-colorless” category.

And that makes them significantly cheaper compared to their completely colorless counterparts. Near-colorless means that you won’t detect even a faint yellow or light color in the diamond.

In grading diamonds, jewelers place them face down in a controlled environment and evaluate their absence of color. The rating scale runs from a D color diamond, completely colorless, to Z, which has a slight hint of color.

Diamond color grade

As you can see from the chart, a diamond with an H rating falls into the “near-colorless” category. This means that they cannot see whatever hint of color they may have. Since H color diamonds fall within the upper range of the near-colorless category, a low H diamond would fall right in the middle of the range.

The vast majority of people cannot detect color variations at this level.

Just look at the loose diamond at the right and the left. One of the two has a higher color grade than H, but can you tell which one it is?

Two loose stones

I would have guessed that it’s the one on the left, but it’s the one on the right.

Even when the diamond is larger, an H color diamond looks white even from a side view. In a much larger H color diamond, a hint of color might be seen by someone with profound color acuity.

The possibility of this is much higher if they’re looking at the profile of a large H-color diamond, specifically, if the diamond ring is in a solitaire setting with just four prongs.

Is an H Color Diamond Too Yellow?

You may wonder if an H color diamond would look too yellow.

You’re not alone because most people think diamonds in the near-colorless range (G, H, I, or J) are too yellow. They jump to this conclusion before even seeing them in person! I am here to say that this opinion is misguided. And it’s probably the result of misinformation you can read online.

Unless you have an extremely keen eye for body color, the odds are that you will not be able to detect any hint of slightly yellow color in H-colored stones with excellent cut quality. This is true for white gold settings and other white metals. But it’s even more true if you opt for a yellow gold setting. Even diamond experts have difficulty detecting color tints in H diamonds with the naked eye!

James Allen Simulator

The diamond engagement ring you see in the image above is from James Allen. If you are shopping for the perfect engagement ring, you should see what they have to offer.

Is this color grade good enough for an engagement ring?

An H color does not mean bad quality; it is just not as rare and valuable as other colors. An H-color diamond can be an excellent choice for an engagement ring, especially if you are on a budget.

If you are looking for a more luxurious option, consider a G color diamond instead. These diamonds are even rarer, more expensive than H colors, and beautiful.

However, in my experience, the only time you’d need to consider a color grade higher than H, is if you are getting a huge diamond and a white gold ring setting.

If you opt for yellow gold or rose gold setting, the diamond’s color grade can be even lower than H. A yellow and rose gold setting will swallow any yellow tints of an I or J color diamond.

And this advice holds for most diamond shapes, including round diamonds and princess cut diamonds. For a well-cut diamond, H color stones are perfectly fine.

Take a look at the color guide below:

Diamond color guide on various ring settings, including yellow gold settings /rose gold setting and white gold setting for an engagement ring

No matter what color you choose, always make sure to get a diamond that has been certified by a reputable gemological laboratory like the GIA. This way, you can be sure that the diamond is authentic and of the highest quality.

How much does this color grade cost?

Diamond pricing varies significantly depending on the size, quality, and cut of the diamond. Generally speaking, an H color diamond will be more expensive than a G or F color diamond.

For example, a 1-carat size H color diamond could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000, while a 1-carat weight G color diamond would typically sell for around $6,000 to $9,000. As you can see, you can save money and get an excellent stone if you opt for one grade lower on the color scale.

Below I put together a chart that outlines how diamond color affects the diamond’s price:

Diamond Price Chart

So if you’re looking for a beautiful and rare diamond gemstone, an H diamond is worth considering for your diamond engagement ring!

Which diamond color is better G or H?

When comparing diamonds side-by-side, most people cannot see any color difference when the diamonds are 1-2 grades apart if they’re looking at them face up. You can only tell color differences when comparing diamonds that are 3-4 grades apart.

If you’re looking at a beautifully cut H-colored diamond in isolation, you can’t tell the color grade unless you put it right next to an E or a K-colored diamond. Below, you can compare diamonds in the near-colorless range:

You can see face-up views of near colorless G, H, I & J diamonds from left to right.

In my opinion, diamonds in this category offer the best value. My favorite would be G color diamonds. That’s because a G color diamond looks colorless to the average person. And if the diamond is well cut, it looks white when you view it face-up.

Conclusion: H color diamonds

Many people desire diamonds with a color grade of D. That’s because they assume they are of the highest quality. However, you end up paying a huge price, especially for larger carat sizes. On the other hand, an excellent alternative would be an H-color diamond. This would be perfect for those on a limited budget but still want a white-looking diamond.

My recommendation would be to buy a G or an H color diamond. Both diamond categories are near-colorless, especially if you consider yourself practical and can’t see any difference. Rather than paying the price of a colorless diamond, why spend all that extra money on a better setting or possibly a vacation?