Champagne diamonds

[soxfan]

So I've been thinking about my next "project." After I have my bands made for my Emilya, my wedding set will be complete. I don't want a bigger diamond for my left hand ever. Well, unless I hit the lottery....

So, I was thinking about a right hand ring. I have 2 sapphire rings that I love, and was thinking about another stone, and I REALLY love the look of a champagne/cognac diamond in a rose gold halo.

I have been looking at a couple of sites (Leibish, James Allen) and I have a few questions. Are they graded like regular diamonds as far as cut/clarity? They seem to be much cheaper than regular diamonds. I would assume because they are not as desirable? Has anyone ever seen one in real life? Do they sparkle as much as a regular diamond?

It is a ways off, but I love looking at them. I wear a lot of earth tones. I pretty much live in black, brown, and navy blue.

 

[Acinom]

What an exciting next project Soxfan!
Do you want white or brown(ish) melee in the halo.
I have only seen 'honey brown' diamonds in real life and they were of exceptionell quality and very sparkly. I cannot wait to see the final product. Do you already know which designer you will ask to make your new rhr?

 

[soxfan]

What an exciting next project Soxfan!
Do you want white or brown(ish) melee in the halo.
I have only seen 'honey brown' diamonds in real life and they were of exceptionell quality and very sparkly. I cannot wait to see the final product. Do you already know which designer you will ask to make your new rhr?

I want THIS! And it would be Victor, of course...

 

[soxfan]

But I'm leaning towards a different shape- a cushion or maybe a really chubby marquis??? And BIG- at least 3-5 carats.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Good Old Gold carries a lot of low color AVC's and I am also interested in the idea of a lower color in a halo. Brownish tone stones are gorgeous in rose gold! Cut will be important in these stones, absolutely!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi Soxfan,
I'm also a lover of brown diamonds!
You've asked some really good questions.
Are they graded like regular diamonds as far as cut/clarity?
Yes, and no.
Cut: Brown diamonds use different physical methods to achieve color than yellow diamonds- which themselves are judged on a totally different basis than colorless diamonds. For this reason, brown diamonds are generally deeper than other colors. I think most people will look for a good sparkle- and brilliance- although brown diamonds are different from a colorless in the way they shines. Personally I value some aspects - such as nice shape, as well as a good finish lack of external blemishes)- however some buyers place color above these aspects- so there are some brown diamonds on the market that are asymmetrical- and showing external blemishes.
Clarity: Brown diamonds are graded on the same clarity scale- however the implications of clarity are totally different than with other colors in diamonds. The reason is that many imperfections that would be visible on a colorless, or a yellow diamond won't be visible with many of the deeper colored brown diamonds.

They seem to be much cheaper than regular diamonds. I would assume because they are not as desirable?
Another good question- in terms of desirability, it depends on who you're asking. Many people do find brown diamonds desirable- but surely less than colorless, pink, yellow blue green, etc....
But yes, brown is among the least costly colors in natural diamonds

Do they sparkle as much as a regular diamond?
A nice brown diamond will sparkle a lot- but in a different way, than colorless- and the nature of the color itself ( more of an "earth tone" means it's darker than yellow, white, pink green etc.

I hope this helps!!

 

[Acinom]

I learned a lot from your post Rockdiamond! (I hope you will also chime in when I start a thread about a grey emerald cut diamond ring )

Yay!! A new project with Victor!! I love the example you posted Soxfan. It's gorgeous. I would indeed consider a different shape instead of round (and perhaps a deeper brown melee in the halo or no halo) to avoid that the looks are so similar.

Happy project

 

[kenny]

Do they sparkle as much as a regular diamond?

If it's quite dark and light can't get out that can lower the volume on the sparkle.
Just like with white diamond cut affects the sparkle.
Better cut sparkles more; poor cut sparkles less.

Unfortunately colored diamonds are cut to retain weight and get the most desired GIA color grade so they make as much money as possible.
A few white diamonds are cut for good light performance and available at specialized vendors like we have here on PS, but FCDs are not.

But that doesn't stop me from searching out the needle in the haystack FCD with both good color and good cut.
Doing this will piss off the vendors who want to sell every FCD in their inventory, the vast majority of which are not well cut ... but so what.
Be wary of diamond vendors to try to steer you away from seeking good cut.
What must that say about their inventory?

No I can't scientifically define 'good cut'.
I guess it's like porno, you know it when you see it.

 

[msop04]

But I'm leaning towards a different shape- a cushion or maybe a really chubby marquis??? And BIG- at least 3-5 carats.

Here's a vote for the chubby marquise!!! Champagne diamonds are beautiful, esp when you can play up the pink undertones with RG!! I'm excited like it's my project! LOL

 

[msop04]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Do they sparkle as much as a regular diamond?

If it's quite dark and light can't get out that can lower the volume on the sparkle.
Just like with white diamond cut affects the sparkle.
Better cut sparkles more; poor cut sparkles less.

Unfortunately colored diamonds are cut to retain weight and get the most desired GIA color grade so they make as much money as possible.
A few white diamonds are cut for good light performance and available at specialized vendors like we have here on PS, but FCDs are not.

But that doesn't stop me from searching out the needle in the haystack FCD with both good color and good cut.
Doing this will piss off the vendors who want to sell every FCD in their inventory, the vast majority of which are not well cut ... but so what.
Be wary of diamond vendors to try to steer you away from seeking good cut.
What must that say about their inventory?

No I can't scientifically define 'good cut'.
I guess it's like porno, you know it when you see it.

Old saying...better to be pissed off than the opposite

True that there's a lot of badly cut stones on the market.
But vendors that actually own their inventory can use a selective eye which can allow a better level of cut within their inventory.
And as I wrote, "light performance" judgments on FCD's and brown diamonds in particular, are totally a different ball of wax as compared to the methods and goals of colorless diamonds.

 

[soxfan]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

NO E/W- makes my fingers look fat.

 

[arkieb1]

You might be better going to somewhere like Good Old Gold to get a better cut one. Typically stones in the brown colour range are poorly cut because they are worth less to begin with and they cut them purely for max weight rather than to get a nicer cut stone.

The darker the colour the more they absorb light and reflect less light back. Really dark brown stones will appear to have less fire than a lighter brown or a champagne stone, that being said the better the cut quality the more fire and sparkle any stone should have. I love all the tones in yellows, and champagnes and light to mid browns. The darker browns do nothing for me at all, but it's a very personal choice.... Good old Gold cut some killer August Vintage Rounds and some August Vintage Cushions in brown tones recently!!! I believe that they would cut you a brown hearts and arrows stone too if you asked.

 

[soxfan]

Re:

You might be better going to somewhere like Good Old Gold to get a better cut one. Typically stones in the brown colour range are poorly cut because they are worth less to begin with and they cut them purely for max weight rather than to get a nicer cut stone.

The darker the colour the more they absorb light and reflect less light back. Really dark brown stones will appear to have less fire than a lighter brown or a champagne stone, that being said the better the cut quality the more fire and sparkle any stone should have. I love all the tones in yellows, and champagnes and light to mid browns. The darker browns do nothing for me at all, but it's a very personal choice.... Good old Gold cut some killer August Vintage Rounds and some August Vintage Cushions in brown tones recently!!! I believe that they would cut you a brown hearts and arrows stone too if you asked.

I did see one cut at GOG in an and AVC and I loved it. Or maybe it was an AVR? I want one that is lighter, kind of similar to the one in the halo I posted.

 

[arkieb1]

I think they have both AVRs and AVCs in brown tones. They will recut a brown H & A stone into a AVR for customers;

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10585/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10591/

They have lower coloured ones that are brown as well in AVCs;

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9509/


This one is smaller than you want but check the colour of it;

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8153/

You will need to keep in mind Victor will not work with a AVCs because he is cutting his own and possibly not AVRs in the future because he is now cutting these too.

 

[soxfan]

They have lower coloured ones that are brown as well in AVCs;

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9509/



You will need to keep in mind Victor will not work with a AVCs because he is cutting his own and possibly not AVRs in the future because he is now cutting these too.

OMG that one is to DIE for!

hmmm.....I thought I had read Victor wouldn't work with the GOG stones- I forgot. I wonder if he will be able to cut a brown one? Like I said, it's a ways off (unless I hit the lottery or DH gets a huge bonus- not TOTALLY out of the question...)

I really love a round, but I feel like it will be too close to my e-ring, know what I mean?

 

[arkieb1]

They have lower coloured ones that are brown as well in AVCs;

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9509/



You will need to keep in mind Victor will not work with a AVCs because he is cutting his own and possibly not AVRs in the future because he is now cutting these too.

OMG that one is to DIE for!

hmmm.....I thought I had read Victor wouldn't work with the GOG stones- I forgot. I wonder if he will be able to cut a brown one? Like I said, it's a ways off (unless I hit the lottery or DH gets a huge bonus- not TOTALLY out of the question...)

I really love a round, but I feel like it will be too close to my e-ring, know what I mean?

You could probably ask him if he would cut you one. A round shape in a cushion shaped halo might work instead.

 

[msop04]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

NO E/W- makes my fingers look fat.

Ah, okay... maybe a chunky oval? If you could find an old cut oval, that would be gorg too! I'm like you in that I'd want something totally different from my ering.

 

[misskittycat]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

THIS THIS!!!!

Gorgeous!!

 

[waity-katie]

That's my ring!! I'm so excited that you like it! Well really it's not quite mine yet... I picked the stone (from Leibish) and we had the ring made by Victor. I got to hold it for a brief moment when it arrived, but now it's tucked away in a safety deposit box until the moment is right. My boyfriend wants the actual proposal to be a surprise, but was wise enough not to think he could pick the ring on his own! I'm not supposed to be lurking around the internet staring at pictures of it, but I obviously can't help myself Victor took a really nice picture, but I assure you the real life version is even better!!

 

[soxfan]

That's my ring!! I'm so excited that you like it! Well really it's not quite mine yet... I picked the stone (from Leibish) and we had the ring made by Victor. I got to hold it for a brief moment when it arrived, but now it's tucked away in a safety deposit box until the moment is right. My boyfriend wants the actual proposal to be a surprise, but was wise enough not to think he could pick the ring on his own! I'm not supposed to be lurking around the internet staring at pictures of it, but I obviously can't help myself Victor took a really nice picture, but I assure you the real life version is even better!!

OMG!!! The rose gold one????

 

[msop04]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

THIS THIS!!!!

Gorgeous!!

OMG!! YESSSSS!!!!

 

[Niel]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

THIS THIS!!!!

Gorgeous!!

OMG!! YESSSSS!!!!

Mm mm yes please and thanm you.

 

[soxfan]

I'm not supposed to be lurking around the internet staring at pictures of it, but I obviously can't help myself

I love it.

 

[msop04]

CHUBBY MARQUISE IN AN EAST-WEST HALO!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I die.

THIS THIS!!!!

Gorgeous!!

OMG!! YESSSSS!!!!

Mm mm yes please and thanm you.

I was hoping you'd see this one, Niel -HA! It. is. devine.

 

[waity-katie]

That's my ring!! I'm so excited that you like it! Well really it's not quite mine yet... I picked the stone (from Leibish) and we had the ring made by Victor. I got to hold it for a brief moment when it arrived, but now it's tucked away in a safety deposit box until the moment is right. My boyfriend wants the actual proposal to be a surprise, but was wise enough not to think he could pick the ring on his own! I'm not supposed to be lurking around the internet staring at pictures of it, but I obviously can't help myself Victor took a really nice picture, but I assure you the real life version is even better!!

OMG!!! The rose gold one????

yes! Yes! YES!

 

[soxfan]

That's my ring!! I'm so excited that you like it! Well really it's not quite mine yet... I picked the stone (from Leibish) and we had the ring made by Victor. I got to hold it for a brief moment when it arrived, but now it's tucked away in a safety deposit box until the moment is right. My boyfriend wants the actual proposal to be a surprise, but was wise enough not to think he could pick the ring on his own! I'm not supposed to be lurking around the internet staring at pictures of it, but I obviously can't help myself Victor took a really nice picture, but I assure you the real life version is even better!!

OMG!!! The rose gold one????

yes! Yes! YES!

And you, Maa'm. Are my new best friend..

 

[misskittycat]

Ermagerd!!! Waity-Katie that ring is FABULOUS!!! I remember your thread on your Leibish stone! To die for!!

I can't wait to see hand shots!!!