After Cut, what is YOUR most important C?

Color is most important to me when clarity is at least SI1.

Since I like fancy shapes and they show color more than RBs, the lowest I would go is F. 
You pay a premium for diamonds in the colorless range though. I've noticed that
price/ct in the J/K range doesn't vary as much, even from IF - SI2.

I have an E .75 marquise, a F 1.47 marquise, a F 3.01 pear, and had a D 2.05 oval.

Colour for me too.  Colour over carat size every time.

I don''t know how to decide where cost comes into the equation because I was given a budget and then I juggled the other three Cs to fit that, so maybe cost was actually the major consideration after all?

Another consideration, re cost, is the ring itself.  I wanted a very plain ring so I could spend more on the diamond.

I''ll also jump onto that color-bound train!! I''m very particular when it comes to color...the whiter the better!

I don''t know how to decide where cost comes into the equation because I was given a budget and then I juggled the other three Cs to fit that, so maybe cost was actually the major consideration after all?

This is my thinking as well. . .I''d have a set budget and then from this figure, I''d see what I could get.  My preference would be better color in a smaller size v. warmer color in a larger size since I''m a fan of more modest sized stones.  I''d rather have a G .80 than a J .95. . .and would stay between the VS1 and SI1.

I'm not sure cut would come before color and clarity for me. On the other hand, VS2 clarity is usually OK with me. And although I *wish* all my diamonds were D colored, I have no D diamonds of over .50 carat and do have one G (which is lower color than cflutist would want).

Deb

I forgot to add that I''ve even gone down to an SI2 to get the F color I wanted (dh was a po'' boy when we met).

I definitely would go for color after cut....before size....

For me Cut, Carat, Clarity, and then Color.

After cut, I definitely go for color since I am also a fan of fancy shapes.

Then clarity, because unfortunately the fancy shape I am fondest of is emerald/asscher- those wide open facets show blemishes a little bit!

then carat...while I lust for larger sizes, I foudn I wasn''t willing to sacrifice the others to go larger...but was wililng to sacrifice a mm or two to get the cut/color/clarity combo...

Date: 4/15/2005 2:12:23 PM
Author: cflutist
Color is most important to me when clarity is at least SI1.

Since I like fancy shapes and they show color more than RBs, the lowest I would go is F. 
You pay a premium for diamonds in the colorless range though. I''ve noticed that
price/ct in the J/K range doesn''t vary as much, even from IF - SI2.

I have an E .75 marquise, a F 1.47 marquise, a F 3.01 pear, and had a D 2.05 oval.

Hey cflutist!!  Can I be nosy and ask to see pics of your four diamonds you''ve listed here?  I LOVE marquise and pear shapes, so they are right up my alley 

After cut, I would have to go with clarity.  You may have a large colorless diamond cut to perfection, but if the clarity is bad, none of that will show up beautifully anyway.  I think that a smaller diamond with VVS1 will look more sparkly (with good cut) than a 1.0 carat with obvious inclusions. I went with a .55 carat marquise in order that I got a better quality diamond at a price I could afford....but hey, that''s just my opinion...that''s what makes this forum so fun!!!!

clarity, carat then color for me. depending on settings and shapes I've loved up to M colors. clarity bugs me almost as much as cut.. the thought of a lot of schmutz in a diamond bugs me.

a bit(say a great vs2-ish si1), i can take but not much. if budget allowed i'd only get vs1 and better. I know it's a head trip mainly but I'd rather have a warmer clean diamond than an ultra white bad si2,si3/I1.

with my first e-ring i got a j color but vs2..which i later read is sort of a mismatch of quality levels but i love not being able to see any crud. with the roval, if i stare under the right light i can see an inclusion. overall i adore my ring so it's not a lethal flaw, but it'd be nicer if it weren't there...even if it meant lowering the color a couple grades.

Color would be mine followed by clarity.  I had an F upgraded to an E and I love it!!

I would go for colour as well, then clarity, but I would still not go too low on clarity.

I agree as well with the color being #2  (even though its not for me... I still look at it.)  my eyes are VERY sensitive to color and I don’t want anything I see as “warm”

As for factoring cost….

1. Cut  (AGS 0)

---rough budget---

2. Color  (G or better)
3. Clarity (VS2 or better)
4. Carat wt.



---pass out… recover….revise budget---

Date: 4/15/2005 45:31 PM
Author: kaleigh
Color would be mine followed by clarity.  I had an F upgraded to an E and I love it!!

Me too. I went from an F to and E and I can see the difference, but for my ultimate H&A upgrade to 2.5ct, I may be forced drop down to a "H" because of the cost factor.

Yes that pesky C known as cost, it can really get in the way can''t it!!!

I guess having an F and an H and liking them both in their own merits.......I''d have to say that the cut being at least very good to premium (ideal not being a choice because I like fancies), size then color then clarity as long as it''s eye clean and the color doesn''t look yellow. I do like a bigger stone and I''m willing to sacrifice a little for that.

Color!

Combination for me (that''s a C too) of color (H or above), clarity (SI1 eye clean or above) and carat (it was at least 1.5 when we were looking for a ring).  I can''t say that one is more important for me than the other since those were my minimum requirements but if i had to compromise somewhere, it would definitely be size.

RB

Cut = top ideal, true H&A in the sweet spot (specs)
Color = G-H
Clarity = VS 1-SI 1
Carat = 2.5

so....a 2.5ct H VS2 would be great.if i had alot of money i would buy a F VS1 and it would look like a D IF to my eyes.

Color, then clarity...no lower than S12, if it is reasonbly eye clean. 

My preference would be clarity after cut.  I am a perfectionist by nature, so I would sacrifice carat weight for a diamond closer to perfection.  And as I am more fond of the warmer diamonds than the whiter diamonds, color isn''t a big issue for me.  I prefer vvs range stones, but I would go as low as vs2.  Never any lower.  If I can see inclusions easily with a 10x loupe, they bother me, even if the diamond is eye clean.  If I have to "hunt" for inclusions with the loupe in order to see them, I''m ok with it.

Dancing Fire, you described my goal ring....2.5c, H, VS2 (since I would never want to pay for a nice E or F in that size!!)!!!!!

Date: 4/15/2005 9:38:52 PM
Author: Maxine
Dancing Fire, you described my goal ring....2.5c, H, VS2 (since I would never want to pay for a nice E or F in that size!!)!!!!!

if you find a matching pair,let me know. last yr it can be purchase for maybe like $22k but now it might be price out of my range.

I forgot the Cost/budget is the most important factor to me. 

Cost/budget
Cut
Carat
Clarity
Color

If the Cost, Cut and Clarity are straight then I go straight for the carat wieght and then color!  After seeing the "J" folder color it is the least important factor to me if money and value is an issue!

for me it is:

CUT
Carat
Color
Clarity

Oh and COST is always *my* #0, aka there ain''t gonna be no 4c''s if that pre-C isn''t there! 

The prettiest looking stone in the largest size.  So, cost = value in my eyes.  I don''t get hung up on what the paper says - only that I am paying for the correct specs & what my eye finds pleasing. 

Color. I can see body color after H. Face up, it can be hard, as a well cut stone''s sparkle will eclipse any tint. But when I went to see a J 1.5 SuperbCert, I could see color from the side very clearly...Face up, it was close to the G I had next to it for comparision but not 100% the same.  Barry even suggested setting the J lower to hide the color but it''s just not for me.

I know when I see many women''s rings, it is often from a profile view and I don''t want any hint of warmth in my stone--that is just my personal preference. I can see a difference, especially from the side between my H and an E or F, but the different doesn''t bother or reach my personal limit. I think it comes down to getting the biggest stone you can (if carat is an important "C" for you), stopping at the color/clarity threshold you are comfortable with. I am sure many ladies here wouldn''t want an SI1 or 2, and I know for some, it''s D-E-F (and the accompanying icy whiteness) or bust.  It''s very personal but I think we all agree that when a stone is well cut, it is beautiful becasue the cut is most important. I honestly think 99.9% of the rings/stones I see here are beautiful, even if I might not choose a particular ring for myself.

Jennifer, that was very elequently stated!!