Jewelry Blog

Complete Guide to the E Color Diamond

E color diamond rings in artistic layout

Diamond buying can be complicated, especially with fine gemstones and jewelry. In this article, Afshin Shaddaie will leverage his decades of experience to teach you everything you need to know before shopping for an E color diamond.

What Is an E Color Diamond? 

loose E colored diamond on tweezers against black backdrop

An E-color diamond is a natural stone that ranks second-highest on the diamond color grade scale. It sits just below the D-color diamond and is considered a colorless gem. Additionally, the E color belongs in the class of Collection Grade diamonds and is, therefore, a possible investment-level diamond. Because of their position on the color scale and scarcity, E-color diamonds fetch a premium price in the market. 

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created the diamond color grading scale to grade diamonds uniformly and ascertain their value. The scale has become an industry standard where stones receive grades against known-colored diamonds in precise conditions. The color scale ranges from D to Z. D color diamonds consist of gems with no color, while Z color stones have strong yellow hues visible to the naked eye. 

A professional gemologist is the only one who can distinguish between a D-colored diamond and an E-colored diamond. The color differences will not be detectable without advanced diamond training. See below.

E Color on the Diamond Color Scale 

Diamond color scale graph highlighting E color diamond

E color diamonds are ranked second-highest on the diamond color grade scale. See diagram above.

Diamonds obtain their hue from specks of minerals trapped in the gem when forming. The more particles a precious stone has, the more visibly tinted it will be. The diamond color scale has 12 grades and goes from D to Z. The D classification has colorless stones, while Z gems are visibly tinted. The more pigmentation a gem has, the lower it places on the spectrum. 

Each color grade represents a very narrow band of color, and it is hard to distinguish where one ranking begins and another ends. That is why a diamond’s color is established by comparing it to a master stone with a known color. 

Gemologists examine them with their bases pointing up, under specific lighting, and on a white background. Differences in close color grades are almost impossible to distinguish with an untrained eye. However, these variations can add up to a significant difference in price. 

The higher a stone ranks on the color scale, the more valuable it is.

Shop E Color Diamond Engagement Rings

Browse our stunning collection of diamond engagement rings that showcase E color diamonds in the center. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out below.

How Much Does an E Color Diamond Cost?

E color diamond pricing graph
Based on 2024 market pricing.

Because of their scarcity, E color diamonds cost more than all the others in the diamond color scale, except for D colored diamonds. 

The price of a diamond depends on its cut, color, weight, and clarity.

Example: A 1-carat, round cut, E color stone with VS2 clarity will sell for about $8,000. A gem of similar weight, cut, and clarity with an H color grade will cost about $5,200.

Despite their price difference, these two diamonds in the above example will probably look identical to the naked eye. When purchasing a diamond, it is vital to consider all its features to get the best value for money. 

The table below reflects 2024 market pricing based on a VS2 excellent cut round brilliant diamond.

Carat WeightPrice
.50 Carat$1,400
1 Carat$7,500
2 Carats$33,000
3 Carats$82,500
4 Carats$146,000
5 Carats$245,000
6 Carats$294,000

D Color vs. E Color vs. F Color 

graph depicting d color e color f color diamonds

D, E, and F color diamonds are all categorized as colorless on the GIA diamond color scale. It is almost impossible to tell these stones apart with the naked eye. A professional gemologist will require years of training and laboratory equipment to differentiate between these precious stones. D to F stones all appear ice-white without any hint of yellow. 

The diamond color spectrum is narrow, so stones are compared to master gems to find their place on the scale. It is conceivable that a low-end F color rock can pass for a high-end G diamond. With E color stones, you know they will not fall out of the colorless spectrum as they are between D and F gems. 

Although their appearance may not be immediately distinguishable, their price difference can be significant. D color stones will cost considerably more than E and F color diamonds. These extra dollars tacked onto the price tag of the higher-rated gems have more to do with their scarcity than their appearance. 

Therefore, it would be more prudent to buy a lower color-rated diamond as it will look just as stunning as a rock higher up on the spectrum. It will cost less, saving you some money.

Important Note: Although an F-color diamond will look almost identical to an E-color diamond to the untrained eye, its investment potential and sellability will be much lower. If that’s important to you, you should know it before shopping.

Is Buying an E Color Diamond a Good Idea? 

Customer Trying on Diamond Engagement Ring in Showroom on Outstretched Fingers

The value proposition of buying an E color diamond depends on your situation. These diamonds are among the greatest investments, but may not make much sense for a budget engagement ring. 

E color gems sit nearly at the top of the color scale. Their position means that they are stunning. If you are looking for a showstopper of a diamond, you could hardly go wrong with an E color stone. Therefore, these gems make for great investments or high-ticket items as they are rare and retain their value over time. 

The downside of E color gems is their hefty price tag. 

They sell at a premium price even though they look similar to stones several levels down on the color scale. This means that they are way more expensive than lower-rated diamonds that appear just as brilliant as they are. When looking for an engagement ring, it would make more sense to buy a gem that is not as highly rated as an E color diamond as it will be less expensive and look just as good. The cost savings can go towards getting a bigger carat. 

Our Best Tips for Buying E Color Diamonds

E color vintage diamond engagement ring on artistic backdrop

E-colored diamonds are considered investment-grade diamonds, and they have a price tag far above lower-grade diamonds.

Selecting a diamond in this category has to be done strategically to ensure the highest return on your stone. The gem’s cut, weight, and clarity will go a long way in determining its ultimate value.

These are some of the factors insiders say you should consider when buying E-color gems. 

1. Buy the Correct Shape for Your E Color

E-color diamonds are so high-quality that choosing any second-rate, experimental, or fancy cuts is a big mistake. With a diamond this white, you don’t want to look like you’re overcompensating. You want to buy a well-established diamond.

We recommend buying a round, emerald, cushion, or Asscher cut diamond. These shapes will proudly showcase the diamond, showing just how white it is.

2. Pick the Correct Diamond Size

E-color diamonds are available in all carat sizes, but there are better sizes to pick if you want to maximize your investment. A diamond at the top of a lower bracket will be much better than a similar diamond at the bottom of a high bracket.

For example, a 0.99-carat diamond will look almost identical to a 1.00-carat diamond but is considerably cheaper. This is an incredible hack for saving a lot of money on diamonds.

That being said, if you want to sell the diamond later, a higher-bracket diamond will be far more desirable.

3. Don’t Use the “Accenting Diamond” Hack

In lower-color diamond rings, it is common for jewelers to add accent diamonds with lower overall grades than the center diamond. So, for example, a center diamond with J color will have accent diamonds that are L or M color. This gives the illusion that the center is much whiter than it truly is.

However, you must not do this when dealing with E-color diamonds. The center diamond is already so white that having lower-colored diamonds next to it will draw negative attention to the jewelry.

If you’re buying an E-color diamond, make sure that all the accenting diamonds are also nice and white.

4. Avoid Diamond Fluorescence

Fluorescence is a factor that diamond traders consider when determining a gem’s value. A diamond with high fluorescence will appear cloudy, making it less desirable. Low fluorescence in a lower-grade stone makes it seem more transparent, increasing its appeal. 

Diamonds with fluorescence are strongly devalued in the market and will deprecate much more than non-fluorescence diamonds. Therefore, it is essential to investigate a gem’s fluorescence before making a purchase. You can easily find fluorescence on a GIA certificate. Alternatively, there are little lights that you can shine on the diamond, and it will turn the diamond blue if it’s fluorescing.

5. Balancing Color and Clarity in an E Color

As mentioned multiple times already, the E color diamond is the second most desirable colored diamond. Because of that you will want to pair the diamond with a clarity ranking that it deserves.

Going for a low-grade clarity ranking on such a white diamond is a really big mistake.

We recommend trying to find clarity ratings of VS1 or higher. Anything lower will intensely hurt your investment. (It will also look a little strange to family and friends who start examining the diamond.)

If you’re considering a lower grade clarity because the price is getting too high, we recommend compromising on carat size instead of going lower than VS1 clarity.

6. Negotiate with the Jeweler

We have an entire article dedicated to teaching how to negotiate with a jeweler, but here’s a quick summary. You can easily negotiate with jewelers, and if you’re respectful, they will work with you to negotiate a better price.

When selling an E-color diamond, the jeweler’s profit margin will be much smaller, so you can’t expect such a big discount, but it’s very rare that you won’t get any discount at all.

Give it a try.

7. Pick the Appropriate Setting for E Color

When finding a good setting for an E-color diamond, two things to consider are presentation and metal color.

The presentation is important because, unlike with less significant stones, in this ring, you’ll want most of the focus to be directed towards the center diamond. You do not want to place an important diamond inside a mounting that will steal the spotlight.

Most jewelers recommend staying with platinum (or white) and avoiding yellow gold for metal color. You don’t want the yellow gold to reflect on the diamond and give the appearance that the diamond has yellow inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Antique Diamond Loose in Diamond Box

Are E Color Diamonds Considered Collection Grade Diamonds?

The E-color diamond (along with the D-color and F-color diamonds) is a collection-quality gemstone. Of course, the clarity must also be FL Clarity to VVS2 Clarity to be Collection-Grade.

Collection Grade diamonds is a term for diamond connoisseurs describing the market’s highest-graded diamonds. 

Do you need a GIA for an E Color Diamond?

Yes. Do not buy a D, E or F color diamond without a GIA certificate.

Should you Buy an E color Lab-Grown Diamond?

No. Never buy lab-grown diamonds. We believe them to be bordering on a scam product. Learn more.

Talk to a Diamond Expert

Estate Diamond Jewelry Showroom with Afshin and Customer

E color diamonds are a premium purchase. When making that kind of investment, it would be best to talk to an expert to ensure you get value for money. Our expert jewelers at Estate Diamond Jewelry will walk you through the best cut, weight, and setting for your stone.

D Color | E Color | F Color | G ColorH Color | I Color | J Color | K Color | L Color | M Color

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About Afshin Shaddaie

Afshin moved to New York City in the 1980s, and a few years later, he began his career in the fine and rare jewelry scene. He teamed up with Michael Khordipour, and they've been curating vintage jewelry ever since. He also regularly contributes to Forbes, Rapaport, CNBC, The Knot, and Insider. Afshin constantly travels to international shows and private viewing events in the hope of finding rare vintage rings that will be important enough to make an impression. He is available for appointments at our New York showroom when he's not traveling. Afshin authored his book called The Engagement Ring Guide for Men. He is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on vintage jewelry and antique diamonds. His favorite jewelry era is Art Nouveau, and he loves rare Italian jewelry from the 1950s - 1970s. The Natural Saltwater Pearl is his favorite precious jewel.