You’re just beginning your engagement ring shopping and you’re wondering just what kind of diamond color works best for a white metal, be it platinum or white gold. Today we’re going to explore that, and see whether it’s worth going colorless or a bit of a warm hue is actually alright. And, stay tuned because we’ll discuss how to many pretty much any diamond work with white gold or platinum.
Best diamond color for platinum and white gold
D is the best color grade diamond for white metals like platinum or white gold, but you can get away with an E or F diamond as well. You may also set a G in white gold or platinum, but depending on your diamond cut (brilliant or step) a hint of color may still show.
Colorless diamonds work best with white metals, but if you’d like a warmer hue you can comfortably get a G and it will give you that effect.
Is it worth going for a D color diamond ?
It’s not always worth going for the absolute best color diamond grade. In the end the diamond you set in the ring will be influenced by the color of the metal, the color on your skin, lighting, and clothes. In short, it will not always look perfectly white and crisp. We recommend you get the D color diamond only if you’re striving for absolute perfection, with perfect color and perfect clarity.
Prices drop dramatically once you look at E and lower, and another significant price drop is going from F to G color (colorless to near-colorless). The difference between D and E, and E and F is minimal, and to most people it may not be noticeable. So if you’re not set on getting the absolute whitest diamond, or you have a budget you need to work with, then an E, F, and possibly even G may work in your favor.
If you’re looking at step cut diamonds, those will always show their color so the colorless D-F range is where you may have to shop. We’ll explain this in more detail further in the post. For now let’s take a look at what you can do to make your diamond work with white metals such as platinum or white gold.
Read also: High VS Low Ring Setting
Making any diamond work with white metals like platinum or white gold
Let’s look at a few cases of diamonds that are not perfectly white or colorless, and how to make them look good in white metal. There is always a workaround, as long as you’re willing to change the shape or design a little bit. Remember, the overall look of the ring matters more than the exact color grade of the diamond.
A diamond set in white metal prongs will look 1 color grade whiter than it actually is
The color of your diamond is going to be influenced by the metal you set it in, your skin’s color reflecting into it, as well as the clothes and general lighting. So this means that a perfect D color diamond will look like an F if set in yellow metal. But this can also work in your favor. You can go a grade lower, such as G, and set the diamond with white metal prongs, so the diamond will pick up the white color from the metal. The result is a G diamond that looks F.
This works just as well for rings with yellow bands, rose gold bands, or white metal bands. Perhaps you’re looking at two-tone rings, or perhaps you’re unsure what color metal you want. As long as the prongs are white, the diamond will appear whiter.
Go for a noticeable color like champagne or pink
Is the diamond you’re looking at a bit yellow ? As in a bit too noticeable ? Consider going with the flow and getting a noticeably colored diamond, something like a champagne or the very low P-Z range. Own that color and make it into a statement. And you can use the reverse of the white prong trick.
A yellow or rose gold prong will also impart some color into the diamond. So consider a faint yellow diamond, set in rose gold, with rose gold prongs. It will appear slightly pink. Use yellow prongs and it will appear a bit more yellow. Use this to your advantage.
The cutoff between fancy color diamonds and Z color diamonds is very blurry and up for debate. So you can use this to your advantage and get yourself a very warm diamond that looks like exquisite champagne. To further drive the point home, a halo of tiny white diamonds around a champagne or light yellow diamond will emphasize the color of the center stone. We say halo but they could easily be side stones or accent stones, depending on what you want.
Choose a round brilliant diamond for a low color grade
Didn’t choose your actual diamond yet ? In this case you might want to know that a brilliant cut diamond will generally appear whiter than step cut diamonds. This is very useful to know if you’re going for a G or H diamond. Of all the brilliant cut diamonds, the round is the most forgiving both in terms of color and in terms of clarity. Another great option is the radiant cut, with plenty of crushed ice sparkle.
The princess and the pear cuts tend to show some color, but inly towards the tips where they are cut shallower and there aren’t as many reflections.
Conversely, if you’re looking for a step cut diamond, know that it will show the most color and inclusions. So here you’d definitely have to stick to D-F color diamonds in white gold or platinum.
I’m the main author for jewelrymaterialguide.com. I started this site after we did tons of research before our wedding and noticed that there is information about rings, jewelry, and so on that is really hard to find on the internet.
