When couples start talking about finding the perfect diamond for their engagement ring, most people say the more colorless, the better. This is understandable; after all, the less color a diamond has, the more reflective and brilliant it is.

K color diamonds aren’t icy white diamond, but many of them also aren’t starkly different from other (more expensive) diamonds with even less color. So should that deter eager couples from buying a K-grade diamond who want a classy, radiant stone? Definitely not! K color diamonds can be a wonderful option for engagement rings, especially when they're cut and styled correctly.

Often, there are K color diamonds that have such a faint tint of color that it is indiscernible to the naked eye. A barely noticeable tint that just warms the stone up a bit may even be appealing to you, especially considering you’ll save a lot of cash if you go with a K colored diamond.

All that said, you don’t want to go into buying a K-color diamond without knowing a couple key factors. Let’s talk about when and why these options are worth your time, money, and approval.

Diamond colors fall in a range, from D to Z. D is considered colorless while a Z-rated diamond has a visible tint of color. The K color rating just barely falls in the “faint” category, K-M, meaning that there may be a slight yellowish tint of color, but the coloring isn’t very obvious.

In fact, a K color diamond can often look just as colorless as higher color ratings depending on the cut and the ring's angle. They are immediately adjacent to H-J ratings, which are considered nearly colorless.

Why does color matter? In the diamond business, four categories determine the general diamond quality. These categories are the 4 C’s: cut, color, carat, and clarity grade.

Color indicates the pigment (or lack thereof) of a diamond, and because colorless diamonds are rare, they are considered the most valuable. However, a diamond with a bit of color can often look just as alluring—it varies from stone to stone and depends on the jeweler.

K color diamonds fall in the mid-range of the diamond color scale, and as such, they do have some very mild yellow undertones, though this isn’t as noticeable unless they are placed next to a top-tier D-grade diamond and magnified. Some K color diamonds may look more yellow than others when they lack in other areas, such as being poorly cut or having low clarity. 

Round diamonds, for example, are cut in a way that prioritizes the brilliance of the gemstone, meaning they reflect light much better than other shapes.

When a diamond is well-rated in terms of clarity, it means it has little blemishes that might interrupt the shine and iridescence of the ring. So under a magnifying glass, you may notice a very slight yellow tint, but when the diamond has a rounder cut and few blemishes, the yellow is less noticeable, if at all.

Here’s where K diamonds really start appealing to couples: price point.

Where a K-grade color is comparable to other colorless options and far more affordable, a beautiful K color diamond may be the best option. There may be a mild yellow tint, but if you want to save a couple thousand dollars, it often looks better to pay for a slightly less colorless diamond rather than sacrificing the cut, clarity, or carat weight.

But what are the actual price ranges of K color diamonds, especially compared to more luxurious options? The coloring itself can greatly affect the price of a diamond. For example, a D-grade diamond that has the same carat, clarity, and cut quality can be thousands of dollars more.

Let’s say there’s a D color diamond for about $4,000; you could find a similar carat, cut, and clarity quality ring that falls under the K color rating for $1,600 to $2,000. Plus, this is just one example—other price gaps can be several thousand dollars.

For so many couples, a K color diamond is their ideal gemstone and is absolutely worth buying. The right jeweler, shape, and style of the ring can make a K-diamond feel just as sparkling and captivating as alternative colorless diamonds. If you don’t like any level of tint or color, a K color diamond may not be for you.

Rose Gold or Yellow Gold Setting

If you are already leaning towards rose gold settings or maybe a yellow gold setting for your ring, even high-end colorless options will look a bit more yellow because of the material. If you like yellow gold or rose gold metals, choosing a K diamond will save you a lot of money and look just as good.

Keep in mind that, no matter if you choose a rose gold setting, platinum or white gold, you should consider how the cut will impact the reflective quality and pigment of a K color diamond. Round k color diamonds hide color best, so a round cut center stone is recommended if you want to conceal as much color as possible in color K diamonds.

A Platinum or White Gold Setting

K color diamonds are both beautiful and affordable, two qualities which make any diamond "good." And whether you prefer a bit of warmth to your diamond or want something with less color, both options are possible with a K color diamond.

Yes! K color diamonds sparkle just as beautifully as any other quality diamond. A diamond's sparkle has more to do with its cut quality than anything else, so if you want a diamond that sparkles you should look for a round brilliant. A well-cut round brilliant diamond will sparkle no matter if it's a D color diamond or a K color diamond.

Maybe you’d rather spend more money on the weight of the diamond than the color. Maybe you actually enjoy the warmer hues of a faint-colored gemstone. If so, you may want to see our selection of yellow diamonds. But whatever your reasons, at Clean Origin we sell diamonds that will perfectly capture the timeless, classic spirit of your engagement. Shop now!