Diamond color grades are based on a scale the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed in the 1950s. The GIA's grading scale goes from D-Z, with D being colorless and Z being light brown or yellow. On that scale, an E color diamond falls within the colorless range (D-F) and is considered a colorless diamond.

In general, the lack of color in a diamond is considered highly desireable among diamond lovers both in and out of the diamond industry. But what exactly makes an e color diamond good? Are they truly colorless? Continue reading for the answers to these questions and more.

According to the GIA, a diamond with an E color grade is the second whitest color on the grading scale. With that in mind, it's safe to say that an E colored diamond is excellent if you're basing its quality solely on its color.

If there is any color present in an E colored diamond it would be difficult for even a skilled jeweler to detect. So if you're shopping for the perfect diamond engagement ring and know that a colorless diamond is important to you, an E color diamond is an excellent option.

Not only is an E color diamond excellent quality, it's also more affordable than a D color diamond. However, when thinking about price, it's important to consider the other factors that contribute to the quality and cost of a diamond. Those factors include: carat size, cut quality, and clarity.

The mix of these factors along with the color grade of a diamond will determine it's ultimate price.

No, you cannot see any noticeable color in E color diamonds--at least not with the naked eye. If there is any color in an E colored diamond, it would be incredibly difficult even for a skilled jeweler to see under the best conditions.

Diamonds with a grade of D, E, and F are considered colorless. G-J color diamonds are considered near colorless. K-M color diamonds have faint color. N-R color diamonds fall into the very faint color category. And finally, diamonds with a color grade anywhere from S-Z have light color.

The further down the color scale a diamond's grade is, the less expensive it will be because it shows more visible color. You may now be wondering if S-Z graded diamonds are fancy colored diamonds. They are not. Fancy colored diamonds are graded on a different scale that is based on their color strength.

Diamond-Buying Tips

If you would like a diamond that appears as colorless as possible but are working with a tighter budget, there are a few tricks you can take advantage of to get what you want. To start, you can save some money by choosing an F color diamond. You'd be hard pressed to see the difference between an E color diamond and F color diamond.

Another suggestion it to consider G-H grade diamonds. If you do this, you can still get a diamond that looks colorless to the naked eye.

To make your diamond look whiter and brighter, stay away from yellow or rose gold settings. These warmer metal colors (especially rose gold) will give your diamond a warmer tint and emphasize any yellow in it. Instead, choose a white gold or platinum setting.

Unlike rose or yellow gold, a white gold and platinum will naturally make your diamond color look whiter and brighter.

To understand how rare E colored diamonds are, you should first know that of all the grades on the color scale, D color diamonds are quite rare. Therefore, the next rarest color is E. But is there anything else that can affect an E colored diamond's rarity?

Lab Grown E Color Diamond vs Natural

Natural E color diamonds are even more rare than lab grown E color diamonds. This is because natural diamonds get much of their color from traces of other elements in the Earth around them when they form.

Since lab grown diamonds are created in a lab, they don't get exposed to those elements. But despite this, lab grown diamonds can still have yellow or brown tints to them.

Diamond Size

The majority of people want engagement rings with at least a 1-carat diamond. Smaller diamonds with an E color rating are easier to find, but larger E color rated diamonds are not as easy to come by. This fact alone can drastically reduce the number of E grade diamonds available to you, contributing to their rarity.

According to the GIA's color grade scale, a D color diamond is the better diamond color (despite the fact that both G and E fall into the "colorless" range).

However, what ultimately matters most is what you prefer. You may find a beautiful diamond with a D color grade, but it may have a less-than-desirable clarity grade and an OK cut grade. In this case, you may prefer an E rated diamond with a better clarity grade and ideal cut.

So while color grade is important to consider when shopping for a diamond, there are other factors to weigh as well. At the end of the day, choose what looks good to you and what falls within your budget.