Calling Kenny! Very light green asscher diamond

[InnaR]

I stepped into unfamiliar territory of colored diamonds. I was looking for an antique asscher and I think I found one. The thing is its also colored.

Its a 4.5mm, with a 53% table and 77% depth.

Its is GIA graded and the color is Natural Very Light Green. It also has a very strong blue fluorescence. I searched high a low and did not find anything written about very light green diamonds and how fluorescence affects them.

So I would be very curious to see what those of you who have far more knowledge on this subject think about it. Sorry for the picture, that is the best I have.

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI Inna,
Green is a very rare color in diamonds, and also a difficult one for many reasons.
One reason is that it's very subtle- so much so that sometimes it's practically invisible.
Other times faint green is obvious when you look at the diamond.
The setting makes a HUGE difference in this regard.

The fluorescence may have a big effect, or not. Sorry there' no way to be more definitive- it's really a case by case thing.
The photo you posted is not sufficient to make any judgment IMO- you need more photos..

 

[InnaR]

David,
I found your forum yesterday and read every topic on a green diamonds, and separately on how fluorecence effects colored diamonds. You have a very informative forum and I learned a lot.
I read that its better if fluorecence matches the color of the stone.
In the case of this do you think that strong blue fluor. would help to intesify the color or will cancel it out? I know that I am takling about very subtle difference, but even from the educational point of view It would be interesting to know. I managed to increase the picture, but its still the same one.

Thanks!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thank you Inna!
One of the prime goals of our team is to educate.

IN terms of fluorescence: This is one of the most "interesting" characteristics of fancy colored diamonds.
I say interesting because this aspect is not consistent.
Sometimes the color change is drastic- when the sun hits a Fancy Yellow Medium Blue, some stones turn almost colorless- yet in other cases of FY with MB, there's incredibly little effect unless the stone is in the dark and hit with a UV light.
Plus, yellow is a far more common color, so we can at least have a far greater pool of examples to see how inconsistent they are


When it comes to very light green, it's a total wildcard- and I mean everything. Color, the way the fluorescence will react, etc.....

 

[kenny]

I stepped into unfamiliar territory of colored diamonds. I was looking for an antique asscher and I think I found one. The thing is its also colored.

Its a 4.5mm, with a 53% table and 77% depth.

Its is GIA graded and the color is Natural Very Light Green. It also has a very strong blue fluorescence. I searched high a low and did not find anything written about very light green diamonds and how fluorescence affects them.

So I would be very curious to see what those of you who have far more knowledge on this subject think about it. Sorry for the picture, that is the best I have.

Thanks for the heads up.
I love green diamonds and I love the asscher shape.
Are you thinking of buying it?

GIA's Very light Green grade won't show very much color.
Of their 9 grades it is the right next to the least-strong color grade, Faint.



It will not scream green.
In certain lighting I believe you won't notice much green, if any at all.
That doesn't mean don't buy it or it won't be beautiful and appreciated.
Sometimes just a blush of color is lovely too; and the price certainly will be VERY lovely compared to a stronger Green.

I agree that the fluorescence may help or hurt the appearance.
Please only buy it if you can get a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.

 

[InnaR]

Kenny,
Based on your topics I figured that this one combines (at least on the paper) two favorite things of yours.
Being an Aquarius I enjoy mostly the exploration part. I learned enough about old cuts for now and ready to explore other sides of the diamond universe.
As I said I was looking for an antique asscher (yes, still an old cut), and stumbled on this one. I am sure that I'm not the only one on this forum who saw it. After I read how rare greens are I thought that owning even a GIA very light green would be nice. I would not get it if it wouldn't be GIA certified. Oh, and I love fluorescence in general. Its large enough to be set in a solitaire tension setting, and I did not break the bank to buy it. I don't wear any colored stones, so slight hue would be nice. Like on that amazing Very Light Green Pear from David's youtube video
By the way GIA calls it "Round Cornered Square Modified Brilliant"
Seller calls it Emerald Diamond
Am I the only one who thinks it looks like an asscher?
Would really appreciate a ballpark price estimates from both of you.
Here are some more specs:
Round Cornered Square Modified Brilliant
Size: .67 (4.76X4.52X3.50)
Clarity: VS2
Color: Very Light Green
Polish: Fair
Symmetry: Fair
Fluorescence: Strong Blue
The seller does have 30 days no questions asked return policy. I'll make sure to post lots of picture when I get it.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I advise against making blanket statements about green, and how it looks.
Suffice it to say that I've seen diamonds GIA graded "Very Light Green" that were dramatic in their color- in the case I'm thinking of the diamond looked blue, but the color was very apparent. ( ETA I was writing as Inna was posting about this stone)
I've also seen stones with the grade that look white.
But again, there's no way to accurately predict how this color will look till you see it


Inna, based on my experience, it's the color that will determine the price.
IOW, a Very Light Green that looks white will fetch a fraction of what a stone that actually shows color will bring.
If you'd like to post the price, I'll be glad to comment on it.

 

[InnaR]

IOW, a Very Light Green that looks white will fetch a fraction of what a stone that actually shows color will bring.
If you'd like to post the price, I'll be glad to comment on it.

Well, it's a learning forum after all. I paid $ 2,000.

 

[Rockdiamond]

The price sounds entirely reasonable- especially with a money back guarantee.

 

[kenny]

I always try to shy away from price comments on FCDs.
Each one is unique and (unlike white diamonds) they are so rare that there just are not enough examples to say what is a "fair" price.
In my collection of 12 FCDs a few were prices astronooomically high but one was priced what I think was quite low, even for its color.

Like RD says, it's all about the color and GIA's color grades are so wide you can drive a Mac truck through them.

Yours is a lovely diamond and I'd love to see more pics.

So, is your plan to put it in a tension setting?
Great idea!!!
I'm seriously considering putting my little green round into a tension setting too.

With small colored diamonds I want to see as much as possible of what I paid for.

 

[InnaR]

The price sounds entirely reasonable- especially with a money back guarantee.

David and Kenny,
Thank you for your comments. I'll post pictures in the Colored Stones soon.
Kenny,
I like to see the sides of the diamond especially if its a deep one (like OMCs and OECs). This one is very deep. I was browsing your topics and saw a nice tension setting and a link to the vendor you recommended. I don't like sending my diamonds after I get them, but i'll ask my jeweler to work with the vendor.
I'm getting more and more excited.

 

[kenny]

The price sounds entirely reasonable- especially with a money back guarantee.

David and Kenny,
Thank you for your comments. I'll post pictures in the Colored Stones soon.
Kenny,
I like to see the sides of the diamond especially if its a deep one (like OMCs and OECs). This one is very deep. I was browsing your topics and saw a nice tension setting and a link to the vendor you recommended. I don't like sending my diamonds after I get them, but i'll ask my jeweler to work with the vendor.
I'm getting more and more excited.

It's up to you but USPS Registered mail, return receipt requested is VERY safe.
But if there is a claim be sure you have proof of the value like your sales receipt or a recent appraisal.

Just expect it my take up the 15 days to arrive regardless of what the postal clerk tells you, and don't pay extra for "priority, express, or next day.
It's a rip off.
Registered packages move like snails since they are signed for every step and sleep in safes.
This is if you are in the USA; if you are outside then the USA I am totally clueless on the safety of shipping.

I have had 3 tension settings set by http://www.boonerings.com/stone.htm
They are titanium and much less expensive than gold or platinum.
Bruce is also VERY fast.

I've also had one diamond beautifully tension set by http://www.gelinabaci.com/html/tension_collection.php
Gelin Abaci does not deal with the public, only through their dealer/jewelers, so there's another mouth to feed and Gelin Abaci only works in gold and platinum so we're talking about thousands, not hundreds of dollars like with a titanium Boone Ring.

I'd also trust http://stevenkretchmer.com/ or the German company http://en.niessing.com/jewellery/tension-rings/ though these two sources are much more expensive - perhaps totally worth it.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Kenny's had some great experience with tension settings- they look really nice.

I agree that USPS Registered mail is the safest method overall-BUT.....
The difference is microscopic- that is to say, the incidence of loss by UPS or FEDex is small enough t make up for the obvious benefits.
The added security of knowing it's going to get there tomorrow- IOW.... if there is a problem, you know right away. Registered mail insurance take along time to resolve.

Our insurance company prefers us to use UPS all in all- but we get the packages picked up at our office by armed guards- which elimintes the rick from here to the post office.
Still, I prefer expediency, and the ability to track the package along the way

 

[InnaR]

Well, I got it today. Took it out for a walk and took few pictures in the afternoon. It's not green. If I look really close and look for that slight greenish hue, then i can see it. I doubt that without knowing the color grade it would be possible to guess it.

I like the cut. The contrast of the faceting looks very sharp. I like to open culet. It is very fiery too.

I haven't decided yet if I am going to keep it. I need to see it under few more lighting conditions first. So here are few pictures I took today.

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. I'm not seeing green. If those pics are what you see with your eye. Totally return it.

 

[kenny]

I'm not too surprised.
Again, Very Light Green is next to the most pale grade of GIA's 9 grades.

If you want a stronger green you are going to have a raise your budget or get a smaller diamond.

If that's your budget and you want that size and cut, that's how much natural green your budget can buy.
Green is a very expensive hue in diamonds that GIA has graded to be fully natural in material and color origin.

 

[InnaR]

Kenny,
I am not surprised or upset either. I found it when doing my regular search for antique asscher/emerald cut, so its not a long planned project for me, but rather a impulsive buy that I have 30 days to return.
My eyes can barely spot very very minimal hue under regular day light (can it be that strong blue is canceling out the color), and i'm still not sure if I'm not just imagining it. I see more green now inside under electrical light, but my camera is dead. Will post more picture later.
What do you think about the cut?
Gypsy,
I heard you are an asscher expert, do you hate the cut of this stone?

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI Inna,
I can see the color in the pictures.
Faint, but I definitely see it.


In terms of the cut, I like it.
of course that's a personal opinion, based on limited info.
Also- I should also say that my experience with Square emerald Cuts- and Asscher cuts has been that....well thank goodness there's no "standard."
Some of the most unusual variations have proved to be the most attractive to me.
Not that I don't love the classic "Royal Asscher"- which is smaller table, high crown, perfectly square. It's an awesome look.

But I have seen other awesome variations with large tables, shallow depths- even rectangular stone that really got the point across.

SO- if you want the classic Asscher, this does not look like that based on the photos- but I personally would not use that as a benchmark.

Also- I'm jut commenting as a fellow diamond lover- I don't know who's stone it is or I could not make any comments at all.

 

[InnaR]

David,
I was waiting for your reply.
It sits next to me now with couple OMCs on each side and I can see with my own eyes very light bluish greenish hue to it. Soooo, can it be that under direct sunlight Strong Blue Fluorescence cancels out green the same way it would cancel out yellow in a I-J color stone? But inside and under dim electrical light the body color is more obvious since fluorescence doesn't affect it anymore?
I'll wait till my husband will be home from his soccer game and will make him to look at them and tell me what he sees (he doesn't know yet ).
I owned an asscher before from JA and returned it since it did not produce enough fire for my test. It was a perfect cut by PS standards.
I am looking for a steep crown/small table combo (even on account of spread). Oh, and i love old stones. This one has characteristics of asscher, but it's not perfectly square and has an open culet. It's kind of wonky, but wonkiness is part of the old stones charm

 

[Rockdiamond]

Inna- just curious, but why are you basing search on aspects like high crown small table?
Put another way- have you seen a large variety of emerald cut and square emerald cut and Asscher stones?

Here's my take:
Asscher cuts- indeed emerald cuts in general- are rare in fancy colors, other than brown.
For this reason, I'm inclined to look at every single one I get the chance to see.
Sometimes a large table shallower crown can surprise you in how it performs in conjunction with the pavilion and corners to fool the eye.
No, it won't perform exactly like a small table through a range of tilt- however in return you may get another 10% in square footage- spread.

Now if we consider D colors- or any color- and you love step cut diamonds, why not look at any combo you can, if it's possible to do so.
If you can do this first, in person- that will make correlating photo online a lot more meaningful.

just sayin', why limit one's self?

eta- I'm really interested in your experience and how you like it after a day or two considering you have a basis of reference with another Asscher you lived with.

 

[DiamondBrokersofFlorida]

We had a few green diamonds in at Christmas time for some of our clients. In a very light green color, I doubt you will notice the color of the diamond very much at all. I had fancy intense ones in and some of those were not real real green.

 

[InnaR]

David,
I was not very really clear in my earlier reponse. Let me first say that i most definately haven't seen enough of an emerald and especially Asscher cut diamonds to form a taste of my own. In fact the only asscher that I saw in a real life was the one that I owned.
I don't remember exact specifications, but it had table in lower 60% and about 66-67 depth.
My limited experience with diamonds of all shapes tells me that my eyes don't find larger tables attractive in rounds, cushions and ovals.
I don't like when I tilt it, I can see a almost a large flat mirrow on the top of the diamod. Additinally it seems to me that smaller table leaves more space on the crown to produce flashes of fire. Being a complete novice in step cuts, I assumed that same will apply for them.
Being an old cut addict, I was looking for an old step cut diamond (without specific measurements). It was just a coinsidence that the one I stumbled upon had GIA certificate and measurements right away. I listed them in the first post of this topic and it might have created an impression that I was specifically looking for a stone with those specs.
It's the other way around - the stone I found happened to have those specs.
I'm still in the "pick the stone with your eyes" mode, rather then "go by the numbers".
Actually now when I think about this, does it look like an old cut? The vendor specializes mostly in antique/vintage cut stones, but what do you think?

 

[InnaR]

by DiamondBrokersofFlorida » 06 Jun 2012 11:59
We had a few green diamonds in at Christmas time for some of our clients. In a very light green color, I doubt you will notice the color of the diamond very much at all. I had fancy intense ones in and some of those were not real real green.

DiamondBrokers,
I notice indoors and in the car, and don't notice it at all under the direct sunlight. But again, there is a big chance its just my wishful thinking.

 

[Christina...]

by DiamondBrokersofFlorida » 06 Jun 2012 11:59
We had a few green diamonds in at Christmas time for some of our clients. In a very light green color, I doubt you will notice the color of the diamond very much at all. I had fancy intense ones in and some of those were not real real green.

DiamondBrokers,
I notice indoors and in the car, and don't notice it at all under the direct sunlight. But again, there is a big chance its just my wishful thinking.

I don't think that it's wishful thinking. Even in near colorless diamonds, you can see body color more easily in the car or indoors, so, to me, it makes sense that you would see the same body color from this green in these same environments.

I am NOT an asscher expert, but I've owned them as well, and to me, this definitely looks like an old cut, and I only base that on my opinion that it lacks the very precise angles and steps than a modern square step cut would have. There corners are much more rounded than clipped and even the windmill pattern is quite wonky. But I think that its charming, and looking at it, it says romantic to me. I really like it. Kenny, David and Gypsy would be far better qualified to address it's age and specific cut characteristics than I would be though.