Color Question for OEC Experts

[Loves Vintage]

As I continue on my search for the perfect ring, I have been told by a few jewelers that OEC stones face up whiter because of their cuts. So, for example, an OEC H will appear whiter from the top than an RB H.

I have also read that super-ideal (ACAs, HoFs, etc.) also face up whiter because of their cuts. So, an ACA H may appear as white as an RB F (is that an overstatement, maybe a G?)

In any event, it is somewhat confusing that such different cuts could both "face up whiter" than a "regular" (is that the right term) cut diamond. Can anyone help me understand how that can be? If so many H''s face up whiter, then when is an H, really an H?

 

[KittenKat]

Hi there, Loves Vintage.

One of my girlfriends has an 2.45ct OMC, and it is an I. It faces up very white. It is absolutely gorgeous.
Maybe it''s the specific cut of her stone, but it looks extremely bright.

Diamonds are graded face down with a white background. No one looks at a diamond this way in ''real life'' so the way they look face-up and mounted can be very different.

 

[peridot83]

I understand it as:

The more light being reflected in crazy witchways becasue of the facets helps distract from the color (that''s why in a lab: diamonds are graded faced down - facets don''t get in the way; also why the easiest way to try and detect color in a set stone is through the sides).

Round brilliants do the most crazy of the facet/light dance, so color is hard to notice. The better cut the round brilliant, the more light dance it does, the more the color is hidden.

On the other hand, emerald cuts for example, don''t do that same crazy facet light dance, and so color is easier to detect face up.

It''s also my understanding the bigger the diamond, the more color it will show. I believe this is because some light gets caught inside the diamond, and bounces back and forth before shooting out..apparently this process is exacerbated the bigger the diamond is. (though who told me this i don''t remember)

Where OECs fit in this I have no idea!

 

[strmrdr]

the face up like game is pure evil.
The color grade of a diamond is the color of the material graded face down except in fancy colors.
Too say an H faces up like a F is fraud in my book it faces up like a well cut H which may be less color than a badly cut F.
What does a super-ideal cut D color stone face up as? invisible?

Then add in that a H in 90% of the lighting where the diamond is sparkly may face up like a comparison F color stone but in the 10% of lighting that shows body color it doesn't.
Does that stone face up like a F?
What if someone works in the environment that shows color? (which is common).

For those an many more reasons if someone is playing the it faces up like game with me they are going to get an earful.

In general and oec will show more color than the best cut RB's.
The real question is will a well cut H oec face up white enough to satisfy most people who want a white diamond then the answer is yes usually it will.

 

[surfgirl]

IIRC, a well cut OEC will face up whiter than a modern RB cut. I have never heard the opposite.

 

[oldminer]

The TRUTH is that all relatively colorless diamonds face up about the same until you get below I color. Appraisers of estate jewelry and old diamonds tend to believe that old cut diamond face up whiter than their body color grade, but truthfully they have come upon this belief by primarily grading diamonds for apparent color in the face-up position for so many years.

If a shopper is considering an old cut diamond for an important ring, they really want that old stone, not a modern one. The visual look and appeal is very different. If you have a reasonable budget and are not a victim of a "cultural" or a "perfection" bias, you can make choices about color and clarity several grades from the top and still get a fine looking diamond.

The story of face-up looking better for COLOR in a round diamond, modern or old cut is mostly the reality that minor tinting is just very concealed by all the rest of the light pattern and sparling going on in the diamond.

Some fancy shapes do tend to intensify more minor tinting to look darker face-up. It isn''t a 100% thing, but it isn''t a rare occurence. Fancy shapes, just like fancy colors are best judged individually and in person. This is most true for marquise, pear, oval, and all non-square, more elongated straight sided diamonds, as well.

 

[diagem]

Date: 12/20/2007 9:12:07 AM
Author: oldminer
The TRUTH is that all relatively colorless diamonds face up about the same until you get below I color. Appraisers of estate jewelry and old diamonds tend to believe that old cut diamond face up whiter than their body color grade, but truthfully they have come upon this belief by primarily grading diamonds for apparent color in the face-up position for so many years.

If a shopper is considering an old cut diamond for an important ring, they really want that old stone, not a modern one. The visual look and appeal is very different. If you have a reasonable budget and are not a victim of a ''cultural'' or a ''perfection'' bias, you can make choices about color and clarity several grades from the top and still get a fine looking diamond.

The story of face-up looking better for COLOR in a round diamond, modern or old cut is mostly the reality that minor tinting is just very concealed by all the rest of the light pattern and sparling going on in the diamond.

Some fancy shapes do tend to intensify more minor tinting to look darker face-up. It isn''t a 100% thing, but it isn''t a rare occurence. Fancy shapes, just like fancy colors are best judged individually and in person. This is most true for marquise, pear, oval, and all non-square, more elongated straight sided diamonds, as well.

I fully agree with you David..., but please allow me to add...

Due to the larger flashes effect coming out of old-cut (simply because of the different brillianteering on modern ones) Diamonds combined with the correct PA and CA..., the face-up appearance could have a whiter/brighter effect!

But since old-cuts are cut in so many shapes and combinations..., it''s on a stone per stone basis!!!

 

[surfgirl]

Dave/DG, thanks for that clarification..DG, that''s exactly what I was remembering. Thanks for the memory jog! I know my I stone faces up a lot whiter than most I color RBs I''ve seen...