Does yellow/warm lighting affect diamonds of all color grades?

[kal2021]

I have a 2 carat ACA in I color. In the sun it looks stark white and the same in many other lighting conditions. In Target and the mall today with more yellow lighting and beige floors it looked warmer to me. Is this because it’s an I or would it happen even if it was a higher color (H and above)? I guess I’m wondering if it was a higher color would it always look white no matter what, or does lighting affect diamonds of all colors?

 

[Morenita21]

Not sure if I’m any help but my diamond is an I too. Weird thing is that I recently upgraded my diamond and was weary of going down to I color (my diamond before was H) so I was expecting to see more warmth in the stone. You know what? This new I stone is much whiter than my previous one. Both are GIA graded. Both were triple excellent and no fluorescence. I think it’s the difference in clarity and the cut proportions. I don’t see any warmth in “store lighting” but very rarely, I see a little warmth which I like. I don’t like icy diamonds. Weird. Not sure I’ve been helpful.

 

[the_mother_thing]

Is it picking up environmental color and reflecting that, perhaps? I know my ideal cut MRB will reflect back whatever it ‘sees’ (is facing it). So if I’m wearing a blue shirt, it will show some blue when the diamond’s table is facing the direction of my shirt.

 

[kal2021]

Is it picking up environmental color and reflecting that, perhaps? I know my ideal cut MRB will reflect back whatever it ‘sees’ (is facing it). So if I’m wearing a blue shirt, it will show some blue when the diamond’s table is facing the direction of my shirt.

What color is your diamond?

 

[kal2021]

Not sure if I’m any help but my diamond is an I too. Weird thing is that I recently upgraded my diamond and was weary of going down to I color (my diamond before was H) so I was expecting to see more warmth in the stone. You know what? This new I stone is much whiter than my previous one. Both are GIA graded. Both were triple excellent and no fluorescence. I think it’s the difference in clarity and the cut proportions. I don’t see any warmth in “store lighting” but very rarely, I see a little warmth which I like. I don’t like icy diamonds. Weird. Not sure I’ve been helpful.

Everything is helpful! I also just went from an H to an I but my H was set in a three stone whereas my I is in a six prong solitaire so I can see it more from the side. Both super ideal.

 

[the_mother_thing]

What color is your diamond?

The MRB is a K color; OEC is an M. Both pick up environmental colors quite a bit. I read on here recently to think of a diamond’s table as a mirror. It will reflect back what it sees.

 

[Morenita21]

Everything is helpful! I also just went from an H to an I but my H was set in a three stone whereas my I is in a six prong solitaire so I can see it more from the side. Both super ideal.

I wonder if that’s why. Mine has a “hidden halo” so I don’t see the side of the stone too much.

 

[Karl_K]

Happens with any diamond. d color i color j color k color even a fancy vivid yellow.
Someone once said:
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting

 

[kal2021]

I’m curious what people with stones higher in color than I have to say...

 

[kal2021]

Happens with any diamond. d color i color j color k color even a fancy vivid yellow.
Someone once said:
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting

Thank you for chiming in! This is great to hear. Didn’t see your comment before I said I’m curious what people with diamonds higher than I had to say.

 

[Karl_K]

Lets look at this for a second.
Other than some reaction to UV light in some diamonds, diamonds have no source of generating light so all the light they send to your eyes has to come from around the diamond.

 

[clcat120]

Lets look at this for a second.
Other than some reaction to UV light in some diamonds, diamonds have no source of generating light so all the light they send to your eyes has to come from around the diamond.

@Karl_K: does this “reflection of surrounding” effect more prominent in cuts with large facets? Sorta make sense to me if it is the case. Mirror vs. smashed mirror... lol.... Thanks.

 

[kmoro]

While I have no doubt that actual yellow light will reflect yellow in any diamond. I have a D and it has never looked tinted in the mall, or in any of the stores. *shrug*. Maybe I have to go into more stores, lol.

 

[Karl_K]

Mirror vs. smashed mirror... lol.... Thanks.

Exactly.. large virtual facets vs small virtual facets.
They all do it, you just notice it more in larger virtual facets.

This article is about step cuts but it allies to all diamonds:
https://www.pricescope.com/articles/virtual-facets-and-patterns-discussion-about-step-cuts

 

[kal2021]

While I have no doubt that actual yellow light will reflect yellow in any diamond. I have a D and it has never looked tinted in the mall, or in any of the stores. *shrug*. Maybe I have to go into more stores, lol.

So no matter what your diamond always looks totally white?

 

[kmoro]

So no matter what your diamond always looks totally white?

Nope - it does reflect the colours around it, just haven’t noticed tint in mall lighting.

 

[kal2021]

Nope - it does reflect the colours around it, just haven’t noticed tint in mall lighting.

Got it. I think it might be hard for me to describe what I saw. It’s not that it looked yellow, just warmer than an icy white. Maybe it was just reflecting colors around me?

 

[kmoro]

Got it. I think it might be hard for me to describe what I saw. It’s not that it looked yellow, just warmer than an icy white. Maybe it was just reflecting colors around me?

I would think so ... I mean, while I say that I haven’t seen tint in my diamond in the mall, it really doesn’t mean anything unless I know I’m in the exact same lighting as you are ... oh and yes, I refer to a slight buttery color when talking about diamond color - it is definitely not “yellow.”

There is no doubt that it is lighting lighting lighting ... there is also a noticeable (to me) tint in an I color (do not mean it looks yellow). I don’t think you can expect to never ever see the tint in an I, but I realize that might not be what you’re seeing either.

If you’re in a tinted room and you see the same tint in your diamond that you usually don’t see, I think it’s safe to say it’s the lighting.

Sorry, I wish I could be more helpful!

 

[MissGotRocks]

I have a three stone ring with a 2.53 center stone and side stones of .33 each which are all G color. When I am in wonky lighting and see the beige, yucky color you are referring in to in certain environments, I see it in the center stone as well as the side stones. Because I am looking at three stones at the same time, I am assured it is the lighting environment and not the diamonds.

As Karl says, diamonds don't have their own lighting so can only reflect back the environmental lighting they are in. While we all wish our diamonds would look white in all places, it is simply not possible as the stones truly act as mirrors.

 

[Katya DXB]

Exactly.. large virtual facets vs small virtual facets.
They all do it, you just notice it more in larger virtual facets.

This article is about step cuts but it allies to all diamonds:
https://www.pricescope.com/articles/virtual-facets-and-patterns-discussion-about-step-cuts

It sounds logical. But why the old cuts with larger chunkier facets often face up whiter than MRBs of the same color grade?

 

[Morenita21]

I agree with all the comments about lighting. Here’s my ring in three different lighting conditions.
1) outdoor overcast lighting with my navy coat in the car
2) in store retail lighting
3) my home lighting in the dining room

Again my diamond color is I and it really is lighting, lighting, lighting.

 

[Karl_K]

It sounds logical. But why the old cuts with larger chunkier facets often face up whiter than MRBs of the same color grade?

Partly simpler light paths and partly they dont.
Remember you only see body color when light return is low and large virtual facets are better at returning light in low light conditions.

 

[kal2021]

I would think so ... I mean, while I say that I haven’t seen tint in my diamond in the mall, it really doesn’t mean anything unless I know I’m in the exact same lighting as you are ... oh and yes, I refer to a slight buttery color when talking about diamond color - it is definitely not “yellow.”

There is no doubt that it is lighting lighting lighting ... there is also a noticeable (to me) tint in an I color (do not mean it looks yellow). I don’t think you can expect to never ever see the tint in an I, but I realize that might not be what you’re seeing either.

If you’re in a tinted room and you see the same tint in your diamond that you usually don’t see, I think it’s safe to say it’s the lighting.

Sorry, I wish I could be more helpful!

It’s definitely helpful! I appreciate your thorough response.

 

[cflutist]

I’m curious what people with stones higher in color than I have to say...

I’m curious what people with stones higher in color than I have to say...

Karl is correct, environmental lighting and what you wear plays a huge part in what you see.

In overcast lighting outside, my 2.79 F-VS1, 2.21 F-SI1, .53 F-VS1, .53 F-VS2 all CBIs are very white.

When I compare my 3.01 F-SI1 pear (GIA graded), the CBIs face up whiter, but the body colors are all similar from the side.

When I stand under incandescent lighting, they all look yucky. 5500 degree Kelvin is very nice and white.

 

[kal2021]

Karl is correct, environmental lighting and what you wear plays a huge part in what you see.

In overcast lighting outside, my 2.79 F-VS1, 2.21 F-SI1, .53 F-VS1, .53 F-VS2 all CBIs are very white.

When I compare my 3.01 F-SI1 pear (GIA graded), the CBIs face up whiter, but the body colors are all similar from the side.

When I stand under incandescent lighting, they all look yucky. 5500 degree Kelvin is very nice and white.

Thank you for chiming in! I will pay more attention next time to whether it’s the lighting or the environment. I wish I could go to the same store with an F and my I!

 

[cflutist]

Thank you for chiming in! This is great to hear. Didn’t see your comment before I said I’m curious what people with diamonds higher than I had to say.

Two F color diamonds, 3.01 F-SI1 Pear, 1.50 F-VS1 Marquise (don't wear this ring anymore).
In one photo Pink, the other Violet,





Photos DO lie,
Outdoors, Marquise has SBF, Pear has Medium



Same rings, yucky colors

 

[kal2021]

Two F color diamonds, 3.01 F-SI1 Pear, 1.50 F-VS1 Marquise (don't wear this ring anymore).
In one photo Pink, the other Violet,





Photos DO lie,
Outdoors, Marquise has SBF, Pear has Medium



Same rings, yucky colors

Awesome photos and comparisons - thank you! And in none of them do your diamonds look yucky!! Very pretty how they picked up the pink and violet.

 

[cflutist]

@kal2021

Color also shows in the CBI glamour shots, all of the same 2.79 F-VS1 diamond with different backgrounds

 

[cflutist]

Just go to Home Depot and Costco, all of our diamonds will look fabulous.

 

[kal2021]

Just go to Home Depot and Costco, all of our diamonds will look fabulous.

So funny I noticed the same thing at Home Depot recently!! Why is that?!