Does ''H'' color really appear colorless?

[hinese]

I''ve been hung up thinking that I need at least a ''G'' color in my search for a PRINCESS cut diamond. I''ve noticed a significant price break in my search when I drop down to ''H''.

Is ''H'' an acceptable color....does it really appear colorless? Is it that much worse than a ''G''?

Thank you all.

 

[hinese]

Also, I''d be mounting this in a platinum cathedral setting.

 

[MissAva]

You would be fine IMO but as many others here will tell you, color sensitivity is a personal issue. Many here have Js set in platnuim and are thrilled with them. HTH.

 

[dazedland]

I have a H that has faint fluoresence and it faces up a G. The flour. can really help in some cases to make the stone appear whiter.

 

[valeria101]

You might want to consider these two:

... that these grades are just 'cuts' into a continuum of shades so there are stones that could go either way. Labs only guarantee color grades' repeatability up to one grade or half a grade - so H could turn G (or I) upon regrading, in theory. Meaning... there isn't such a huge difference.

... and diamonds graded in setting for appraisals are given split grades (say, 'G-H', or 'H-I' or larger intervals sometimes) in recognition of the difficulty to distinguish color grades outside standard grading conditions (which imply loose diamonds sitting upside down on white background and under controlled lighting).

These being said, unless you are looking for a stone 5 carats or so, I sincerely doubt that you will find the difference between G and H stryking. The cut of the stone makes a tremendous difference for how it looks, color - not as much in these high grades. GIA's 'colorless' (D-F) and 'near colorless' (G-J) groupings are already a fine cut for visual purposes alone. G has this special status for being the in-between grade and a wider range than the very (crazy) narrow D-F grades, but the psichological effect makes for a tremendously efficient magnifying glass in this case IMO.

The best thing to do is get out there and see some diamonds

You may agree with this or not, after all.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

1. guess why there is a big price difference

2. Princess cuts show faint color much more obviously than rounds

The difference between G and H in my hundreds of demonstrations to shoppers is that 50% of people can see color in H compared to D. Less than 20% can pick a G from a D.
But 90% of those surveys were done with rounds.

I would go to G in a white setting

 

[valeria101]

Date: 9/19/2005 4:24:54 AM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

... 50% of people can see color in H compared to D...

But 90% of those surveys were done with rounds.

Loose ?

If not, I would be counted with the other 50%

 

[VuittonGal]

Color sensitivity is definitely a personal issue. For example, my *first* engagement ring was a round H ideal cut. I never noticed any color. However, it was set in a yellow gold band with platinum prongs. AND this is before I discovered Pricescope!

My upcoming engagement ring is a princess cut E and will be set in all platinum. I originally tried an H and I''m not sure if it wasn''t cut as well as the E or what, but seeing the two diamonds side by side definitely made me realize that I''m more color sensitive than I originally thought.

This is definitely a personal choice and as long as it''s a well cut diamond, I''m sure an H will be beautiful!!

 

[moremoremore]

Hinese- you should go out and see two well cut princess stones in each color grade. To answer your question, and as you can see from the replies, it depends on who you ask. My first ering was an H princess. Poorly cut. EGL. It was VERY yellow to me. To *me*. Princess stones do show more color than rounds to begin with. Poor cut doesn't help. EGL Isreal didn't help...The only way to know for sure is to see the stone yourself!

But an H princess definitely is "acceptable"!!!

 

[ame]

Assuming it''s cut properly, a H will show no color from the face down, at least from my experience, but a little from the sides.

 

[qtiekiki]

I have a H color in my ering and it faces up white. But I can definitely see color when it''s next to a higher color grade diamond. My fiance isn''t as color sensitive and he doesn''t noticed the different as much as I do.