Shopping for a diamond can get confusing fast, especially when it comes to colour and clarity. These two details trip up a lot of people — and honestly, they’re where most folks end up spending way more than they need to. You’ll hear things like, “You have to get the top clarity,” or, “Never go below colour F.” But let’s be real: that kind of advice can drain your wallet over differences you’d never notice in real life.

Sure, colour and clarity both have a big impact on the price tag. But they don’t all change how the diamond actually looks — at least, not in the same way. Some differences you can spot just by looking. Others? You’d only see them with a microscope in a lab. And once the diamond’s set in a ring, a lot of those tiny details just disappear.

That’s why it’s so important to know the difference between what you can actually see and what’s just listed on paper.

We cover the basics — cut, colour, clarity, and carat — in our main guide, The 4 Cs of Diamonds. But here, we’re focusing on colour and clarity. And we’re getting right to the question everyone really wants answered: Where should you spend a little extra, and where can you relax and save some cash?

We’ll walk through how colour and clarity are graded, what “eye-clean” actually means, how things like shape and metal can change what you see, and which grades give you the best value if you’re buying in the UK in 2025.

By the time you finish reading, you’ll know exactly what’s worth shelling out for — and what you can skip without a second thought.

 

 “Colour and clarity both affect price — but not equally.”

Colour & Clarity in Diamonds: What’s Worth Paying For?

 Diamond Colour Explained (What It Really Means)

When jewellers talk about diamond colour, they’re not thinking about those fancy pinks or blues. They mean how white or colourless the diamond looks. The whiter the diamond, the higher its grade — and, honestly, the steeper the price.

They use the GIA colour scale for this, which runs from D (totally colourless) down to Z (where you’ll start seeing yellow or brown tones). To grade them, they look at the diamond face-down under special lights in a lab. Not exactly how you’d see it sparkling on someone’s hand.

Here’s what surprises most people: once you reach around G or H on the scale, hardly anyone can spot a difference in colour. Out in the real world, a G or H diamond still looks bright, white, and crisp — especially once it’s in a ring. That’s why these grades are the sweet spot for lots of UK buyers. You get that clean, high-end look, but skip paying top dollar for D–F grades.

You’ll notice colour a bit more in a few cases: if the diamond is big, set in white gold or platinum, or if you’re comparing stones side by side. But if you go for yellow or rose gold, even diamonds with a bit more warmth (H–I) look gorgeous and lively.

In How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring in 2025, we get into how your choice of metal and design actually changes how the diamond’s colour comes across — sometimes way more than the grade itself.

“Most people struggle to see colour differences beyond G or H once set.”

Colour & Clarity in Diamonds: What’s Worth Paying For?

Diamond Clarity Explained (What It Actually Affects)

Clarity is all about those tiny natural marks you find inside or on the surface of a diamond. The ones inside are called inclusions, and the ones outside are blemishes. They show up as the diamond forms deep underground—or even in a lab.

There’s a whole scale for clarity, from Flawless (FL) at the top down to Included (I1–I3) at the bottom. Sounds like a big deal, right? And sure, clarity can affect the price, but honestly, it doesn’t change how a diamond looks as much as people think.

Here’s what really matters: most clarity grades come from what experts see under 10x magnification. So, a lot of these inclusions are totally invisible when you’re just looking at the diamond with your own eyes.

That’s where this idea comes in—“eye-clean.” If a diamond looks clean to the naked eye, at a normal distance, in regular lighting, it’s eye-clean. Plenty of diamonds graded VS2 or even SI1 look just as good as higher grades like VVS or Flawless, but they cost way less.

In The 4 Cs of Diamonds, we point out that spending a ton for top-tier clarity usually means you’re paying for something you’ll never notice. What matters more is where those inclusions are, not just the grade.

For most people, clarity isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about feeling good about your choice.

 “What you see under magnification isn’t what you see when wearing the ring.”

Colour & Clarity in Diamonds: What’s Worth Paying For? 

What the Eye Notices More: Colour or Clarity?

When you’re figuring out how to spend your budget, here’s what really matters: Will you notice colour differences more than clarity differences, or is it the other way around?

Honestly, for most people, it’s not even close. The human eye picks up colour differences way faster than it spots clarity ones. Those tiny inclusions inside a diamond? Most of the time, you won’t see them at all—unless you know exactly where to look and have a magnifying glass handy. But even a slight yellow or warm tint? That can jump out at you, especially depending on the setting.

Colour stands out even more when the diamond’s big, when it’s set in white gold or platinum, or when you’re looking at a few stones side by side.

Clarity only really matters up to a certain point. Once a diamond looks clean to the naked eye, the difference between, say, a VS2 and a VVS grade just disappears. Both look the same when you wear them, but the price tag can be worlds apart.

This is why a lot of seasoned jewellers will tell you: focus on colour first, as long as the diamond is eye-clean. We also dive into this in Diamond Cut Grades Explained: Why They Matter—how a great cut can make a diamond look whiter and brighter, so you don’t need to pay extra for crazy-high clarity.

Smart buyers pay attention to what they can actually see—not just what’s printed on a grading report.

“Colour differences are often easier to spot than clarity differences.”

Colour & Clarity in Diamonds: What’s Worth Paying For?

Why Higher Clarity Is Often Not Worth Paying For

Once people actually get what "clarity" means, they’re often caught off guard by a simple fact: paying more for super high clarity grades almost never changes how a diamond really looks. Grades like VVS1, VVS2, IF, or Flawless sound fancy—and sure, they’re rare on paper—but in real life, you’d be hard-pressed to spot any difference between those and a well-picked VS2 or SI1 diamond.

Here’s why: most inclusions in the VS and SI range are tiny. You can’t see them with the naked eye, and they’re usually tucked away near the edge or hidden under the ring’s claws. Once a diamond looks clean without magnification, bumping up the clarity grade just gives you a fancier report—not a better-looking stone.

This is where a lot of buyers end up overspending. The price jump from SI1 to VVS is no joke, but when you actually wear the diamond, it looks exactly the same.

In The 4 Cs of Diamonds, we talk about clarity as a threshold, not a target. You don’t need perfection—just get to the point where you can’t see any flaws without a loupe. The money you save by not chasing top-tier clarity? Put it toward a better cut, a whiter stone, a bigger diamond, or even a more detailed ring design.

The smartest buyers aren’t after flawless diamonds. They pick diamonds that look flawless.

“Once a diamond is eye-clean, higher clarity doesn’t change the look — only the price.”

Colour & Clarity in Diamonds: What’s Worth Paying For?

How Shape & Setting Change What You See

Colour and clarity aren’t everything on their own. The diamond’s shape and the metal you pick can totally change how those qualities come across—sometimes even more than the official grade does.

Diamond Shape Matters

Different shapes handle flaws and colour in their own way.

Brilliant cuts—like round, oval, cushion, and pear—scatter light like crazy. All that sparkle helps hide little flaws and softens any warmth in the stone. So with these shapes, you can go a bit lower on clarity (think SI1) or colour (H–I), and it’ll still look amazing.

Step cuts, like emerald and Asscher, are a different story. Their long, open facets act almost like glass—if there’s a flaw or a tint, you’ll see it. With these, it’s worth paying extra for higher clarity (VS1–VS2) and better colour (F–G).

Metal Choice Changes Everything

Don’t forget about the setting. The metal you choose pulls a lot of weight.

Platinum and white gold reflect a cool, bright light into the diamond. This makes any hint of colour stand out more, so people usually bump up the colour grade for these settings.

Yellow and rose gold, on the other hand, add warmth. They’re great at making slightly lower colour grades (like H or I) look crisp and bright. The diamond picks up the warmth from the metal and blends right in.

The Takeaway

Before you shell out for a higher colour or clarity grade, think about the shape and the setting. The right combo can make your diamond look just as stunning—and save you a ton of money.

 “Shape and setting often matter more than the grade on paper.”

Colour & Clarity in Diamonds: What’s Worth Paying For?

The Best Value Colour & Clarity Combinations (UK Buyers)

If you want the best mix of beauty and value, you’re in the right place. After guiding thousands of UK buyers, we’ve found the real sweet spot for diamonds—where they look stunning without costing more than they should.

For most engagement rings in 2025, here’s what actually works:

✔️ Colour: G–H (sometimes I)

G–H diamonds look bright and white in almost any setting. Even I colour can look great, especially in yellow or rose gold. Go any higher (D–F) and prices shoot up, but you won’t notice much difference unless you’re using a microscope.

✔️ Clarity: VS2–SI1 (Eye-Clean)

These grades usually look totally clean to the naked eye. Inclusions, if they exist, are either tiny or tucked away where you’ll never see them. Higher grades like VVS or IF barely change how the diamond looks once it’s set in a ring.

Here’s the real trick: spend your budget on what matters most—mainly cut. We’ve broken this down in detail in Diamond Cut Grades Explained: Why They Matter.

If you’re eyeing a step-cut diamond, like an emerald or Asscher, bump the clarity up a little. For brilliant cuts, stick with the sweet spot.

Spend Where It Shows—Not Where It’s Hidden

People tend to overemphasize colour and clarity, but honestly, the biggest mistake is paying extra for grades that sound fancy on paper but don’t actually look any better once the diamond’s in a ring.

So here’s the smart way to shop:

Pick a diamond that’s eye-clean,

Stay in the G–H colour range (or I if you like warmer metals),

And focus on getting the best cut.

Once you get this balance right, you’ll stop overspending and start buying with real confidence.

Want the full picture? Take a look at:

👉 The 4 Cs of Diamonds: The Complete 2025 Guide

👉 How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring in 2025

At Blackwell Jewellers, we help you pick diamonds based on how they actually look—not just what the grading report says.