Beating a dead horse... (Diamond Color)

[Thegroom]

Okay, I bought a ring that is a very ideal cut, 1.5 carot, H color, VS1. Now that it arrived and I''ve seen it, I am sensitive to the fact that from the side it looks somewhat yellow in good light. Now, assuming that I will not sacrifice anything with regards to cut quality (I only am looking at very ideal cuts), is anyone here of the opinion that I should sacrifice clarity to bump the color up? I feel like I paid more for the VS1 and no one will ever know the difference between that or an SI1. With color, though, you can see the difference.

AND...

If you are of the opinion that it is a good move to go higher in color and down in clarity, how many grades should I go? Is going from an H to a G a waste of time and money? Should I jump at least two grades to an F to see the difference?

Thanks a bunch,

Mick

 

[isthree00]

Do you have the stone set? do you know what kind of setting you'll put it in? personally i would not pay a color premium just so it's whiter from the side. setting will have a part in that as well.

if you're looking to go bigger, i'd look for a VS2-SI1 stone with H or I color and some flouresence. those kinds of stones can be good values.

personally i'd stick with what you've got - it's a nice size. H color is not that bad, still considered "near colorless" and the clarity is great. if the stone is as well cut as you say, it should be very good looking. mount it in platinum or WG and face up nobody will ever be able to tell that it's an H color. In order to get to a noticably whiter stone, you'll have to go up to I'd say at least an F, possibly an E. You'll pay a good premium for that.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Hest88]

You can probably go down to VS2-SI1, if necessary, but go up to F if you're really sensitive about the color. H should be pretty colorless as it is, but if you have sensitive eyes and you're bothered by it, go with F.

 

[fire&ice]

The diamond will very much react to it's surroundings. For example, when I wear blue or black, the stone appears bluer - which translates into whiter. If I am in a room w/ yellow walls & I am wearing khaki - the stone absorbs the light around me - thus, making the stone appear the color of it's surroundings.

Once set, the color difference will not be preceived. *Very* few experts can discern color face up. If it makes you feel better, you can go lesser clarity & better color.

Most importantly is how your to be feels. I know I would not want a smaller stone.

 

[fire&ice]

I ditto isthree. A 1.5c stone is a really nice size. Just big enough to set you apart from the crowd.

 

[Thegroom]

Isthree00, FYI, the stone is set in a tiffany style 6-prong platinum setting. I think the stone is beautiful and it faces up very white to me. I'm not claiming to be an expert on color and it's possible that I'm just imagining the yellow from the side being significant. When I went to have the stone verified someone there commented that they could see the yellow and that they sold most engagement diamonds in the F-G range at the lowest. They did show me a D stone to put next to mine and the color difference was obvious. Of course now they're trying to offer me some stones in the F SI1 range. Do you think they're just trying to bias me on the color so I return it and buy from them? Also, my girlfriend is of Indian decent and has medium brown skin tone. As worn on her will this have any affect on the stone, i.e., will it look lighter in contrast with her skin?

 

[isthree00]

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On 9/11/2003 4:53:21 PM Thegroom wrote:

Isthree00, FYI, the stone is set in a tiffany style 6-prong platinum setting. I think the stone is beautiful and it faces up very white to me. I'm not claiming to be an expert on color and it's possible that I'm just imagining the yellow from the side being significant. When I went to have the stone verified someone there commented that they could see the yellow and that they sold most engagement diamonds in the F-G range at the lowest. They did show me a D stone to put next to mine and the color difference was obvious. Of course now they're trying to offer me some stones in the F SI1 range. Do you think they're just trying to bias me on the color so I return it and buy from them? Also, my girlfriend is of Indian decent and has medium brown skin tone. As worn on her will this have any affect on the stone, i.e., will it look lighter in contrast with her skin?
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is the diamond certed from a lab? if so, what lab? is it possible that the H color rating is inaccurate? Of course you will notice a difference between a D and an H, but I have a hard time believing you can see that much yellow in an H, especially in a 6 prong platinum setting. . . when looking at loose stones the other day, the difference between I and F was only mildly noticable and that was a loose stone in an absolute white paper tray. Tiffany's uses diamonds all the way down to I. I don't know what to tell you about how the diamond will actually look on your gf's finger

based on what you said, i would make sure that it really is an H color. . .

 

[fire&ice]

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On 9/11/2003 5:56:41 PM isthree00 wrote:

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On 9/11/2003 4:53:21 PM Thegroom wrote:

Do you think they're just trying to bias me on the color so I return it and buy from them? Also, my girlfriend is of Indian decent and has medium brown skin tone. As worn on her will this have any affect on the stone, i.e., will it look lighter in contrast with her skin?
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is the diamond certed from a lab? if so, what lab? is it possible that the H color rating is inaccurate? Of course you will notice a difference between a D and an H, but I have a hard time believing you can see that much yellow in an H, especially in a 6 prong platinum setting. . . when looking at loose stones the other day, the difference between I and F was only mildly noticable and that was a loose stone in an absolute white paper tray. Tiffany's uses diamonds all the way down to I. I don't know what to tell you about how the diamond will actually look on your gf's finger

based on what you said, i would make sure that it really is an H color. . .
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Isthree, you make a bunch of sense.

ditto your response from a consumer who has bought 2 digits worth of stones.

 

[Thegroom]

Thanks to all. I think I was being a sucker for someone who wanted me to buy an alternate stone from them. When I look at the stone face up it's white, when I look at it from the side over a white piece of paper it is still quite white. Maybe when I thought I saw yellow it was near something yellow or in a yellowish light and I was just seeing that color reflected in the stone... The stone is GIA certified H and the stone was verified so I have full confidence in the rating. Thanks again,

Mick

 

[NewYorker]

Yup, stick with it - H should not look at all yellow - it was just reflecting something. Good luck!!!

 

[Vynyaca]

I was in Tiffany's over Labor Day weekend. We compared a 1c D to an 1.5 H. Both appeared colorless on top but we could definitely see the warmth in the H from the side. Had it been by itself I wouldn't have noticed. Since no one's going to be holding up a D next to your fiancee/wife's finger I say go for it! It sounds awesome.