First timer!

[Chitown]

Hello, great site. Its my first time posting but I have been reading this site for a while. I have learned so much and it is still so little overall. I am smart enough to know what I don''t know and am seeking some help.

My biggest question is in flouresence. I am looking to go with an F color, VS 2 around 1.25-1.33. Now, to try to keep on budget (7500-8000) I am going to have to sacrifice on cut or flouresence, correct?

I don''t want to make a sacrifice on cut at all so I figured I could reduce clarity and/or play with the flouresence levels.
I have noticed a significant amount of diamonds in my range but at the minimum they have some sort of flouresence. From what I have picked up, this is bad. Can someone help explain to me about flouresence levels in an F color stone? Does the clarity and cut have any impact on it? Any help would be immensely appreciated.

 

[abradabra]

Chitown,

Most people around here don't seem to think flouresence is a big deal. I'm just a consumer myself, so take my advice for what it's worth, but the general rule of thumb appears to be although strong blue flour can make a diamond look oily or cloudy under certain light conditions--this usually is not the case. Many people actually prefer the hue that permeates a flourescent diamond in direct sunlight (I believe the NiceIce folks mention this on their website, and they clearly know their stuff). An honest jeweler (which you should be dealing with anyway), will be able to tell you whether or not it appears oily/cloudy in direct sunlight if you can't see the diamond for yourself first.

I have read some threads however that caution that although blue flourescence is generally not a problem, staying away from other colors is a good idea unless you really know what you're doing.

You should run a search on blue flourescence though, someone posted a picture of what I recall was an F color diamond with strong blue flour in direct sunlight that absolutely stunning.

 

[abradabra]

In terms of your specs, have you considering dropping clarity to an eye clean SI1 or SI2? It'd give you some more flexibility and if it is eye clean, no one would know the difference.

 

[Chitown]

I have no problem dropping the clarity to an SI1 or SI 2 as long as it remains eyeclean and isn't too bad. I know I will have to do that in order to get the size and color. Infact, I also will probably have to go over budget I'm sure.

 

[wonka27]

Also, most people around here have strong thoughts about excellent cut quality. I for one was willing to drop in color and clarity to get a spectacular cut. The cut will ultimately determine how much light return you get from your diamond. If you go in the "Show Me The Ring" forum, you can see many of the spectacular diamonds people have. You will see a variety of color and qualities, but most are ideal and superideal cuts.

If your willing to do so, and drop to a G/H color and SI clarity (bearing in mind you want it to be eye clean), you will be able to get a stunning diamond and save a little money.

The vendors who post on here make a business out of selling these spectacular diamonds. Visit their websites and search the forum for feedback from the members. You will see a great deal of excellent things said about these businesses.

 

[ChooChoo]

Just weighing in... but I would MUCH sooner drop to SI1 in clarity than to G/H in color! In your size of diamond, the difference between an F (colorless) and a G (not quite) CAN be noticeable. If you or your gf are color-sensitive, I think going with an F is a smart decision.

In fact, if you want a STUNNINGLY white diamond... check out this!
Good Old Gold D color for $8200!

 

[Chitown]

Well the setting has D and E rounds in it so I want to stay with a colorless stone. It is a beautiful setting, in the corners between the rounds are smaller rounds so you don't see anything but diamonds in the channel. I will have to get some pics up.

In order to drop to a G it would have to hold up pretty close to an F side by side for me to go with it. It would take a lot of convincing even after that. I will sacrifice on clarity til it isn't eyeclean as long as it isn't too bad. That is why I was wondering about flouresence. I thought I could save some money by that but I'm not sure how it will affect the diamond.

 

[wonka27]

Color is really a touchy subject.

Personally, if I go to a jeweler and look at 5 diamonds from colorless to near colorless I may be able to see slightly between the extremes. Most non-professional, non-diamond buffs can't see a one color difference. Especially if the stone isn't being compared to someone elses. So will you see a difference between a D and an H if they are side by side...probably. Will someone your showing your ring off without a comparison to be able to say "boy you have a G or and H color stone, that is ever so slightly tinted"...unlikely, unless they are die hard about diamonds.

My opinion is...if you want an F...you can go to G without ever knowing the difference.

 

[wonka27]

It sounds like the best thing for you to do is go out and compare colors. The only way you will know what you are comfortable with is to try it out yourself. We can all give opinions, but we all have our personal preferences and sensitivities.

Either way, if you are informed and understand the 4 C's, you should be able to find yourself a spectacular diamond.

 

[Chitown]

Its basically what you are willing to compromise on and I'm still learning what is preferable.

I'm going to look more into flouresence, if anyone is familiar with it please let me know.

 

[wonka27]

Try checking this out on Good Old Gold's Website. Jonathan has excellent information on his site. You can also read the tutorial on here to gain more information about everything, including flouresence.

 

[MelanieC]

I agree. Go look at colors. I was bent on only getting a G in color and I ended up with an H. It's beautifully white!! I get so many compliments on it. I also just bought a smaller .35 I and it looks exactly like the H. It's also smaller and harder to see the pavillion, but I am happy with the I as well. My future plans are to never go higher than an H and play around with the I & J's to see if I can lower myself.

I was hung up on clarity too. My 1ct is a VS2, and the smaller one is an SI1. I was so afraid I was going to see something in the SI1 and I cant. No matter how hard I try. If you search for a truly EYE CLEAN SI1 or SI2, you will save yourself so much money. If I had to do it over again I would have gone with an I (maybe a J) and an SI1/SI2 and got a ring that was 1.25 ct instead of 1.085.

Once you have the diamond and you play around with it and see how it really looks in everyday life, you learn that most of what you worried about was all in your head. At least in my case it was.

The fact that your setting has higher color stones in it though, I wouldn't go below an H/G.

 

[ChooChoo]

I third the suggestion to go look at colors yourself. Tiffany's is excellent for this, since they will have ideal cuts in the size you're looking at. I did this myself, and could see the difference between an F and a G EASILY - that's what convinced me to go with an F.

 

[alexah]

Funny, i compared an F and an I at Tiffanys & i couldnt tell the diff - i'd no clue... i actually guessed wrong several times when the salesman mixed them up! I'm just lucky, i guess

I can be v happy w J stones & save bundles... so i can buy more J stones...

 

[quaeritur]

----------------
On 8/3/2004 11:12:51 AM Chitown wrote:

Its basically what you are willing to compromise on and I'm still learning what is preferable.

I'm going to look more into flouresence, if anyone is familiar with it please let me know.----------------

OK, I'm familiar with fluorescence, what is it you want to know?

Here are some threads with pictures that you might find interesting. Also, if you type "fluorescence" in the search box, you'll get pages and pages of info.

Thread 1
Thread 2

Personally, I love fluorescence, especially in colorless stones, but it IS a matter of personal taste. You should see for yourself and decide what YOU like.

I agree with what many have said -go to a store and look at different colors and if possible, stones with fluor as well. Fluorescence (as long as it's blue, stay away from yellow or green, they can make the stone look more tinted)can make a G look like an F, or an F like an E, in lighting that has UV (sunlight for sure, and some "daylight" emulating light bulbs). In strong UV light (like at a nightclub) the stone will actually glow a bluish-lavender color.

Someone here recently purchased an H color w/blue fluor that looks incredibly white - you can see the ring here (it's the fourth one from the bottom).

Let me know if you have other questions. By the way, I'm not an expert, just someone that's taken an interest in blue fluorescent diamonds!

 

[quaeritur]

PS. Also, only you can decide your sensitivity to color. I can easily tell a G color stone, but I think I'm in a definite minority. To be safe, if you want to be sure you're matching the setting, stay in the colorless range. Or, go for a G with blue fluor, because it will look more like an F in daylight!

 

[Chitown]

I am going to look at stones today, actually in half an hour when I get off of work so I well let you know how it goes.

My reasoning on the F color stone is because the stones in the setting are all colorless and it just doesn't seem ideal to mix the stones.

As for flou., this is what I was thinking but now i would like to see how it looks first. I was thinking about maybe getting a stone with some slight flou. to bring the price down some but that it won't be too noticable.

 

[quaeritur]

Slight fluor will probably not affect price in the least. It really only seems to start making a difference when it's stronger than medium, and then only in the greater carat weights...

 

[fire&ice]

Keep in mind when viewing color you must be comparing apples to apples. A poorly cut diamond can show more hue. And, a well cut stone can throw off some hue & "appear" whiter face up.