D, E and F are the top three grades on the D to Z colour scale that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created for diamonds, and together they form the "colourless" group. Once a moissanite is set and worn, most people will not see a difference between D, E and F. All three read as clear and white. The differences are found by trained graders comparing loose stones under controlled light.
Where D, E and F sit on the colour scale
The scale runs from D, colourless, to Z, which shows a light yellow or brown tint. GIA's guide to the scale groups the letters into five bands. The descriptions below summarise GIA's own guide to the scale.
| Grades | GIA group | What GIA says about visible colour |
|---|---|---|
| D, E, F | Colourless | The highest grades on the scale |
| G, H, I, J | Near colourless | Colour often unseen except by trained graders |
| K, L, M | Faint | Still difficult for an untrained eye to see |
| N to R | Very light | Can be seen in larger stones by an untrained eye |
| S to Z | Light | Seen in many sizes, distinctly yellow or brown |
Read that table from the top down and the useful point stands out. GIA itself says colour is often unseen by an untrained eye until well past F. D to F is a narrower span still, all inside the top group.
How a colour grade is assigned
For diamonds, GIA grades colour with the stone table down, under highly controlled lighting, and compares it against a set of master stones, each one representing a letter grade. Charles & Colvard, a moissanite maker, describes the same method for its moissanite: stones are graded loose, not set, against a white background under special lighting. It also makes a point worth remembering, that a colour grade measures a stone's lack of visible colour.
Two things follow from this method. A grade describes a loose stone in ideal viewing conditions, not a stone in a ring on your hand. And the differences between neighbouring grades are judged side by side against reference stones, which is not how anyone looks at jewellery in daily life.
What D, E and F look like once the stone is set
In a setting, a D, an E and an F moissanite look the same to most people: bright, white and clear. What changes the look far more than one letter of grade is the metal around the stone.
GIA's buying advice for diamonds is that a D, E or F stone shows off its lack of colour best in white metal, and that yellow or rose gold reflects warmth into the stone and can make it look warmer than its grade. You can expect the same effect with any colourless gem, moissanite included. This is a normal, industry-wide effect, not a flaw in the stone.
In practice that gives you a simple choice. If you want the iciest white look, choose a white metal. If you like a warmer glow and gold suits your skin, a gold setting gives you that, and the stone underneath is still graded colourless. The Mariqe Eterna ring and studs come in both finishes, platinum plated 925 sterling silver or 18k gold plated 925 sterling silver. Our guide to sterling silver with plating versus solid gold explains what each finish is.
Why nearly all moissanite is sold as D, E or F
Moissanite is grown in a laboratory, and modern growth produces colourless material reliably. That is why the grade you see on most listings today sits in the D to F band. Mariqe's own FAQ describes lab grown moissanite as producing colourless (D to F) stones, and lists every Mariqe stone as D colour.
Not every seller grades only at the top. Charles & Colvard says all the moissanite it sells falls between D and K, and its Forever One range is offered in two grades: D-E-F, which it calls colourless, and G-H-I, which it describes as having "a slight icy hue". A near colourless grade is a legitimate choice, not a defect.
Who assigned the grade?
This matters more than the letter itself. GIA grades natural and lab grown diamonds. It does not grade moissanite, which is a different material, silicon carbide. So a moissanite colour grade is borrowed from the diamond scale and assigned by the seller or by a moissanite laboratory such as GRA.
Mariqe jewellery comes with a GRA report and a unique certification code in the box. The report records the stone's specifications, colour included. It is a record, not a GIA report and not an independent valuation. We explain exactly what it does and does not tell you in what a GRA certificate is and what it is worth.
What Mariqe lists, checked today
These details are taken from the live product pages on 29 October 2026. Mariqe runs sales, so the product page is always the final word on price.
| Piece | Colour | Clarity | Cut | Metal | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eterna Ring, six-prong round solitaire | D | VVS1 | Excellent | Platinum plated or 18k gold plated 925 sterling silver | $79 (1 carat stone, 6.5 mm, silver) |
| Eterna Stud Earrings, six-prong | D | VVS1 | Excellent | Platinum plated or 18k gold plated 925 sterling silver | $78 (0.5 carat in each earring, silver) |
Stud weights are per stone. A "1 carat x 2" pair carries 1 carat in each earring. The full set of optical and physical numbers, including refractive index (2.65 against a diamond's 2.42) and hardness (Mohs 9.25 against a diamond's 10), is in our moissanite specification table.
Can a moissanite's colour change over time?
Mariqe's Lifetime Moissanite Warranty covers changes to the stone's optical properties, including its colour. If a Mariqe moissanite discolours, the warranty replaces the stone. To claim, you email service@mariqe.com with your order number and a photo or video.
The warranty covers the stone, not the metal. Plating on any plated jewellery tones gradually with wear, water and chemicals, and that is a matter of normal care rather than a change in the stone.
What this means for you
If you are choosing between D, E and F, you can relax. Once the stone is set, you are unlikely to see the difference, and so is anyone admiring it. Choose the metal that suits you, check the stone size in millimetres, and ask who assigned the grade. If a seller tells you all three clearly, the colour question is answered.
Eterna Ring
A six-prong round solitaire with a D colour moissanite in platinum plated 925 sterling silver, from $79 (checked 29 October 2026), backed by the Lifetime Moissanite Warranty.
See sizes and pricesFrequently asked questions
Can you see the difference between D and F colour moissanite?
Most people cannot, once it is set and worn. D, E and F are all in the colourless group of the D to Z scale. Differences between them are judged by trained graders comparing loose stones against reference stones under controlled light.
Is a G, H or I moissanite a bad choice?
No. G to J is the near colourless group, where GIA says colour is often unseen except by trained graders. Charles & Colvard, for example, sells moissanite in G-H-I as well as D-E-F.
Does GIA grade moissanite colour?
No. GIA grades natural and lab grown diamonds, not moissanite. A moissanite colour grade uses the diamond scale and is assigned by the seller or a moissanite laboratory such as GRA.
Will a gold setting make a D colour moissanite look yellow?
A yellow or rose gold setting reflects warmth into any colourless stone, so it can look warmer than its grade. The stone itself is unchanged. For the whitest look, choose a white metal.