The Best Diamond Color for A Radiant Cut Diamond Ring

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The best color for a radiant cut diamond ring is generally H or better, though, in this case, size matters. The arrangement of the facets that gives radiant cut diamonds their sparkle also slightly enhances the color already be present in the gem. This is a boon for colored diamonds where deep colors are desired, but colorless diamonds can appear more yellowish than other shapes with the same grade.

Color Expression in Colorless Diamonds

Colorless diamonds are graded on an alphabetic scale that begins with D. With each step towards Z, gems show slightly more yellow. In general, diamonds with the least amount of color are rarer (closer to D) than gems that have more yellow (closer to Z). This means that diamonds with higher color grades (closer to D) will cost slightly more than similar diamonds that have lower grades (closer to Z). 

The Best Color Grades for a Radiant Cut Colorless Diamond

While there is certainly slight variation between individual diamonds, most radiant cut diamonds will appear beautifully colorless to a grade of H. As you get to I and J grades, you will begin to notice mild warmth to the stone upon close inspection, particularly with larger gems. Any diamond with a lower color grade than J will have noticeable color. (Retailers like Blue Nile do not sell any colorless diamonds with a grade lower than K.)

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^{The 1.03 ct radiant cut diamond on the left offered by Blue Nile has a color grade of G and appears almost colorless. The notably yellowish diamond on the right is a 1.01 ct radiant cut stone with a color grade of K.} 

Factors that Influence the Appearance of Color in Radiant Cut Diamonds

Color is more apparent in large diamonds than in small ones. This is especially true of diamond cuts like the radiant which have large table facets. If you are looking for a diamond that is on the smaller side, perhaps under a carat, the color is harder to see. Alternatively, the color of larger diamonds shines more brightly. So, if you are looking for a bigger stone, you may want to allocate a bit more money for a gem that has a high color grade.

Something else to keep in mind when considering the impact of color is the metal of your setting. A yellow setting will emphasize any existing yellow in the diamond, sometimes making the color appear a full grade lower than it really is. White metal settings do the opposite and enhance colorless.