Assuming that you selected a 1.00 carat diamond of J color and VS Clarity, when you move up to an H color, then the price will increase approximately another $1,700 per carat. By moving further up to F color, the price will again increase with approximately another $1,100 per carat. And again a further improvement to D color will result in yet another increase of about $900 more per carat.

If you are looking for a way to save some money on your diamond purchase or if you would like to increase the size of the diamond within your outlined budget, it makes the most sense to start your compromise on the color grade. The utmost difference in price between two color grades is between D color and E color. Again, because the prices in diamonds are based on their rarity, D-color diamonds which are quite rare to begin with are always more expensive, especially when they are of higher clarity grades.

Try to compare it could be that you'll find that you really prefer the color of a K rather then the whiter colors. Also remember that the color of the setting has a lot of impact on the way diamond's look and appear. If you like a yellow gold ring setting rather than the whitish platinum or white gold ring settings, you can easily take a warmer colored diamond.

Color tends to be more visible and obvious in bigger diamonds. For example, when comparing two diamonds of equal weight but different and wider shapes such as rounds and princess alongside each other, the  J-color .50 ct round diamond may appear to have less color than a J-color .50 ct princess diamond. Color is also more obvious in a step-cut such as emeralds and asschers than in brilliant-cut diamonds.