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Diamond color (among other) questions...

ndc923

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
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I was wondering if somebody can clear something up for me... I have been trying to do a lot of research on here, and keep reading about JA, and have a concern. While I keep reading that cut is most important, and color is typically the category you can play around with most, I have noticed that every single stone I look at with an I color grade on the JA website seems to give off a very yellow color on the video. I have not noticed this with diamonds on other websites with the same specs. I am wondering if this is just the way they are appearing on the video or if this is what I should expect with a stone with an I color grade? ( I am not in anyway trying to bash JA, I am just trying to understand the reality of the stones I am looking at/for). Here are a few links, hopefully you guys see what I see.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-242826
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-227706



While I have your attention, being that I don't know much about diamonds, besides what I have read so far on here (which is somewhat overwhelming), what is everyone's recommendation for a round stone 1.5-2ct between 8-12k ( I'm looking for a combination of quality and size, however I would rather go with 1.5 and get quality if there is a significant difference) in terms of the Four C's? I am aware cut is most important and intend on on dealing with ideal/excellent cuts. As well, I am a little lost when it comes to an ideal girdle thickness and table? I appreciate information as well as actual numbers so that I don't have to keep bothering you guys, whatever information you can offer! Thank you all in advance for taking the time to read this and help me out!
 
Here are the numbers I use when looking for a modern round brilliant. These will generally keep you in the ideal cut range.

Table: 54-58%

Depth: 60-62.3

Crown angle: 34-35

Pavilion Angle: 40.6-41.0

Girdle: thin, medium, slightly thick (or a combination of those)

Diamonds that are I color will vary. Some are high I color and show less tint, and those closer to the J range will show more. Yet ideal cut stones will face up pretty white in most lighting, but they also will take on environmental colors as well. My I color stone looks more tinted in my car that has tinted windows. It looks brilliant white outside in sunlight and natural lighting in the shade.
 
Color is graded from the bottom, and the JA stones your looking are 360 views on a white background. She will never be viewing her diamond upside down, nor I imagine on a stark white background. In real life, its going to be plenty white.
 
Ok, that's what I pretty much figured, but I wasn't sure if I was being "deceived" by the other websites and they were showing it for exactly what it is. Thank you both for your quick responses, I really appreciate it!
 
some caveats:
-- the I color grade is where most people can start to see tint, most definitely from the side if not face up
-- a larger diamond has more mass than a smaller one and thus the larger the stone, the more you may need to go up in color in order to keep it white enough for you
-- some people are more color sensitive than others
-- tint in diamonds is something that you can train yourself to see, and what looks "white" to a novice may not look as white to you if you keep studying diamonds a while
-- medium blue or strong blue fluorescence will help the face up color look whiter, the way that laundry bluing makes whites look whiter

Go to a jewelry store and look at some AGS or GIA graded I color diamonds in your size or larger. Try to gauge how color sensitive you (or she) are. I have an I color diamond, about 1ct size, and I never noticed tint in it at all until after I had hung around PS a while. I see tint in it now, but it doesn't bother me.

Also, I is supposed to be the narrowest color grade per the way GIA defined it. There's supposed to not be a high
I / low I thing, the way there are high and low Js. The grades seem to have a wider range as you go down the scale. D / E are very narrow.
 
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