Near-Colorless Diamonds in SI Clarity

What does near-colorless mean?

Near-colorless means a diamond graded G, H, I or J on the standard scale that runs from D, the whitest grade, to Z. A near-colorless stone shows a trace of warmth when examined face-down against a white card under laboratory lighting, and looks white in the setting, on the hand, in ordinary light. That is the entire distinction: it is a grading-room difference, not a wearing difference.

We stock G and H rather than the full G–J range, because those two grades give the white look most people are actually buying without the compromise that can show at I and J in a larger stone. Every grade is stated on the IGI or GIA report that ships with the diamond.

Near-colorless vs colorless: what you can and cannot see

Set side by side in the same metal, under the same light, a G and an F are very hard to tell apart, and almost impossible once you are looking at them on a hand rather than in a tray. The grades exist because graders compare a stone against master stones, face-down, in controlled light, which is the opposite of how a ring is worn.

Where the difference can show is in the setting. Platinum and white gold are cool, bright metals, and they give the eye a white reference right next to the stone: in a large diamond, that can make a trace of warmth easier to spot. Yellow and rose gold do the opposite, casting warmth into the stone and making a near-colorless grade look, if anything, brighter than its number. Size matters too, because colour accumulates with depth: at half a carat the gap between G and F is academic; at two carats it is worth a look in person.

If you want the top of the scale, browse colorless VS diamonds or colorless VVS diamonds instead. If you would rather put the budget into size or cut, near-colorless is where that money comes from.

G or H: which grade should you choose?

G is the whiter of the two and the safer choice for platinum, white gold and any stone above about one carat. H is a step warmer on paper and still faces up white in every common setting; in yellow or rose gold it is genuinely difficult to distinguish, which makes it the better value of the pair. Neither grade will read as "yellow" to anyone looking at your hand.

• Platinum or white gold, 1 ct and above: choose G. Browse G SI1 diamonds.
• Yellow or rose gold, any size: H is the value pick. Browse H SI1 diamonds.
• Halo or pavé settings: match the centre stone to the accent stones; a G centre with G accents looks more consistent than a mixed set.
• Buying a pair for earrings: take both from the same grade so they match under all lighting.

Why near-colorless is usually the better buy

Colour is the one of the four Cs where the grading scale outruns human vision by the widest margin, which is why it is the most efficient place to save. Moving from colorless to near-colorless lowers the price of an otherwise identical stone with no visible change in the ring, and that saving can go into the two things you do see: a larger stone, or a better cut. Cut is the property that actually makes a diamond bright, so a well-cut G will out-sparkle a poorly cut E every time.

The stones on this page pair G–H colour with SI clarity, the combination we call Classic: inclusions that are invisible without magnification, colour that faces up white, and the lowest price of our three quality tiers. Because they are lab-grown, they cost a fraction of a mined diamond of the same grade while being chemically and optically identical to one. Read how they are grown and graded in our guide to lab-grown diamonds.

Near-colorless in SI, VS and VVS clarity

Colour and clarity are graded separately, so a near-colorless diamond can be had at any clarity. This page shows SI stones, which are eye-clean and the most affordable. For fewer and smaller inclusions under magnification, see near-colorless VS diamonds; for the cleanest grades we offer in this colour range, see near-colorless VVS diamonds. At SI, check the certificate plot and our photograph of the actual stone: what matters is not the grade on paper but whether anything sits under the table where you would see it.

You can combine colour, clarity, shape and carat in the diamond search, or start from a size: 0.5 carat, 1 carat, 2 carat.

Near-colorless diamonds: frequently asked questions

Is a near-colorless diamond noticeably yellow?

No. A G or H diamond faces up white on the hand. The trace of warmth that separates it from a colorless stone is visible to a grader looking face-down through the pavilion under controlled light, not to someone looking at your ring.

Near-colorless vs colorless: which should I buy?

Buy near-colorless unless you specifically want the top of the scale for its own sake. The two look the same once set, and the saving buys a larger or better-cut stone. Choose colorless if you are buying a large stone in platinum and want no compromise on paper.

Is G or H color better?

G is one grade whiter and costs more; H is the better value and still faces up white. In yellow or rose gold, choose H. In platinum or white gold above a carat, choose G.

Which color grades count as near-colorless?

G, H, I and J. We stock G and H, the top two, because I and J can show faint warmth in larger stones and in white metal.

Does near-colorless mean lower quality?

No. Colour is only one of the four Cs, and it is the one the eye is least able to judge. A near-colorless stone with an excellent cut will look brighter and livelier than a colorless stone that is cut poorly.

Are these lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. A lab-grown diamond has the same crystal structure, hardness and brilliance as a mined one and is graded on the same colour scale by the same laboratories. Every stone here is graded by IGI or GIA and inspected in Sweden before it ships.