Being "color sensitive"

[somedaysunday]

Hi All,

This is my first post over here in Rocky Talky, making my way over from SMTB and LIW! I have some questions about color. This past weekend, my BF and I went out for the first time to look at diamonds (!!). The salesperson was very patient and helpful, walking us through the entire process. After looking at a ton of settings, the conversation turned to color. The salesperson showed me several stones, ranging from D to J. I think the objective was to see how "color sensitive" I am. I wasn't sure what she was asking me to do, but I could, in fact see a difference in color, and I told her so. She determined that I am color sensitive. She discussed with us that maybe it would be best to stay in the d-e-f range and compromise somewhere else, like clarity or carat (she did say that cut is not a good place to compromise, which I agree with) Is this something that every salesperson does?

Are some people unable to see a difference in color grades?

The thing that is weird, is that I see tons of rings over in Show me the Bling that are not in the "colorless" category - that don't look at all warm to me. Is true color not shown properly in photographs?

Thanks for any insight or advice you can give me!


SDS

 

[Christina...]

It's not possible to determine color from a photograph. Although you may in fact be color sensitive it's important to consider how the stones color was shown to you. Were the stones all loose and placed upside down next to each other on a white background? If the SA showed you a D colored stone next to a J then it would be super unlikely that you couldn't see the color difference, this does not imply that you are color sensitive. To me color sensitive means that you can clearly see the difference in color when for example a D is next to a E or F, or a G placed beside an H. If the lower colors didn't bother you before she placed them next to a color stone then you probably aren't as color sensitive as she suggests. It's also important to remember that diamonds face up whiter when set, so a J that appears to have a lot of body color loose won't appear the same way when it's set in your ring. SA often do this comparison to stear you toward the more expensive stones in their inventory. I would go back and look with fresh eyes again and look at different colored stones when they are set as well (if this wasn't the case). Your right in thinking that you don't want to compromise cut, it is by far the most important quality of the stone and the one that will determine the light performance of your diamond.

 

[Amys Bling]

It's not possible to determine color from a photograph. Although you may in fact be color sensitive it's important to consider how the stones color was shown to you. Were the stones all loose and placed upside down next to each other on a white background? If the SA showed you a D colored stone next to a J then it would be super unlikely that you couldn't see the color difference, this does not imply that you are color sensitive. To me color sensitive means that you can clearly see the difference in color when for example a D is next to a E or F, or a G placed beside an H. If the lower colors didn't bother you before she placed them next to a color stone then you probably aren't as color sensitive as she suggests. It's also important to remember that diamonds face up whiter when set, so a J that appears to have a lot of body color loose won't appear the same way when it's set in your ring. SA often do this comparison to stear you toward the more expensive stones in their inventory. I would go back and look with fresh eyes again and look at different colored stones when they are set as well (if this wasn't the case). Your right in thinking that you don't want to compromise cut, it is by far the most important quality of the stone and the one that will determine the light performance of your diamond.

totally agree! pictures dont always show the whole picture...

I think that if you are color sensitive- then you need to look at ideal cut stones in person and in a setting to see your comforta level. I would never compromise on cut- the better the cut, the more sparkle and brillance the stone will have- and if you can see color differences and prefer the higher colors- then I wouldn't compromise on color.

for me- clarity is the area I was willing to compromise on as long as the stone was eyeclean.