G Color, now H, now I??

[jellybellies]

I had my heart set on getting the best cut 1.5 carat diamond i could find with atleast VS2, G.

I went to a B&M store and saw the G and H and couldn''t tell the difference so i opened my search up to H as well. Now someone at whiteflash suggested i wouldnt be able to tell the difference between I and H. So now I am considering opening up to I color.

When does it stop? Is there any noticeable diffence from G to H or G to I and if not, when do you start noticing the differences??

Im all about saving money but the ring and diamond is really something I dont want to cut corners on.

 

[hedarud]

If you put g next to h h next to I I next to J so on, you would have a tough time differentiating the difference, G next to i or j, probably, especially if the cut is poor, I would suggest online shopping and going to an eye clean si1 and staying with a g or h.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

A lot of it depends on how color-sensitive you are. Both by your eyes and by your ego.

My jeweler has mentioned that I'm one of the most color sensitive people she's ever seen; I can see the difference between E and an F without any effort, face-up, and an a variety of colored backgrounds. My engagement ring is an E color. When I "pricescoped (my) diamond" one time, put in what we paid, same clarity, J color, and no size restrictions, my jaw kind of hit the floor. It actually makes me a little glad that my fiance is not the researching type, because had HE known the difference in cost before going in, I doubt I would have ended up with such a high color.

Date: 10/3/2007 1:22:37 PM
Author:jellybellies

...When does it stop? Is there any noticeable diffence from G to H or G to I and if not, when do you start noticing the differences??

Im all about saving money but the ring and diamond is really something I dont want to cut corners on.

It stops when you tell it to stop. It's as simple as that. Selecting a diamond is just a litmus test to answer the question, "So, how much OCD do I have?"

At some point, the variables have to come to rest. Either you've hit your budget, have a minimal size you're coveting, or something else and you set the boundaries which work for you. (Once you get there, some will find themselves submitting once again to another OCD sensor test to see if you are going to be hypersensitive to a pavillion angle of 40.7 and rejecting of pavillion angles of 40.9... lol.)

IMO, there's some wisdom in that whole "G VS2" thing. For most Americans, it's the mid range of a good and pleasing diamond. Take a look at your budget for G VS2. If you have a 10K budget, you're looking (online) at getting a 1.3 carat or so. If your budget is 12K, you can get a 1.5 carat. The rest is just manipulation of the data to create a better perceived value. If you think a larger stone is the most important variable, you play around with the color and clarity until the scales balance out at 10K; if you'll be crushed if you have to go lower in color, then either up the budget or deal with a slightly smaller stone. (To illustrate, I might be very color-sensitive, but I did not choose a D colored diamond for my engagement ring. To hit that little bit extra meant that either my fiance would be dealing with a price which made him uncomfortable or I'd be going with a smaller stone. The stone which currently sits in my e-ring represents a nice conjunction of factors coming together and I *adore* it.)

 

[Lynn B]

Good question. Good answers, too!

My first diamond was an AGS-0 1.53 G/VS and it was a beautiful stone. I bought a G/VS because I was a nervous newbie and that felt very "safe" to me. But the darn thing kept SHRINKING before my very eyes!!!

After I had been around PS for awhile, I felt like I could open up my parameters a bit and upgrade to a bigger diamond. I looked and compared and ended up with a totally eyeclean, KILLER AGS-0 J/SI2 RB that I adore. Dropping to a J/SI stone let me get a whole lotta SIZE

for not a whole lotta extra money. And I AM a size girl!

No, it''s not ICY CLEAR like a "D", but it ain''t much different than my "G" was, let me tell you!

From the side, it has a very slight *warmth* to it... but no yellow at all. It also has a richer depth of color in the dispersion and the fire, which I also love.

I try to remind people that color isn''t *bad*... it just "IS". A person can be "color sensitive" (noting subtle, minute diamond color differences) but still like, or even PREFER, lower colored diamonds. I''m sure glad I do! Mounted in a platinum setting, my diamond looks beautifully white and I get compliments on it every day.

BTW, here''s a photo of it beside my old G/VS.

 

[marcy]

I agree with everyone''s answers. I would look at G, H, or I and make sure it is eye clean. Going with the ideal cut is the most important thing.

 

[Haven]

I have to say, after reading so much about I and J stones here on PS I was all about getting an I or J for my diamond so I could get a heavier stone, but I ended up with a G cushion because the I and J cushions were too warm **for my eye**. (As for seeing the difference between color grades, I''m no expert but I believe cut has a lot to do with how much color shows--right, guys? I think I''ve read that certain fancies show more color than RBs, but I''ve read so much that I could just be confusing the information at this point. Perhaps an expert can weigh in on this.)

I think it definitely depends on what you like, and as Lynn said--color isn''t bad, it just is. Just look around PS--we have tons of PSers with gorgeous warmer colored stones, and we represent the most informed, obsessive diamond consumers on the planet! So, you need to decide if you a) like a lower colored stone, and b) maybe you may not prefer a lower color, but does your desire for more weight outweigh your desire for higher color?

While it sounds like you''re definitely a size gal (I am too, trust me!) I''d just caution you to be very sure that you''d be happy with an I in the long run--that diamond is going to be big, but will you be too distracted by its warmth to notice its size? If you''re not color sensitive, then go for it, but if you are, take some time to look around and really consider your options.

It really seems like color preference is similar to cut preference in that everyone likes something different. Heck, I wanted a crushed ice cushion more than anything, and everyone around here seems to think the crushed ice look is BAD! Just goes to show you--there is no right or wrong when we''re talking about diamonds.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I also started with G and went to H. I think that was a good choice, but I made the decision for that to be my limit. Everyone has to draw a line depending on preferences and budget.

 

[Lorelei]

An I grade is where the industry believes that the average person may be able to perceive a hint of tint, particularly from the side, however for many people an I and J are plenty white; you need to decide where YOU need to draw the line from a visual and ''mindclean'' point of view. I would jump all over a well cut I or J to get extra size in an instant, this may not be you though. Also as Miss Lynn says, colour isn''t bad, it just is - I also prefer a tint of warmth in my diamonds, so it can be a preference thing too.

Depending where you purchase from, if you include an I colour in your search, and they have a good return policy you will be able to tell quite quickly if an I is wrong for you.

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

Date: 10/3/2007 5:24:52 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis

It stops when you tell it to stop. It''s as simple as that. Selecting a diamond is just a litmus test to answer the question, ''So, how much OCD do I have?''

At some point, the variables have to come to rest. Either you''ve hit your budget, have a minimal size you''re coveting, or something else and you set the boundaries which work for you. (Once you get there, some will find themselves submitting once again to another OCD sensor test to see if you are going to be hypersensitive to a pavillion angle of 40.7 and rejecting of pavillion angles of 40.9... lol.)

IMO, there''s some wisdom in that whole ''G VS2'' thing. For most Americans, it''s the mid range of a good and pleasing diamond. Take a look at your budget for G VS2. If you have a 10K budget, you''re looking (online) at getting a 1.3 carat or so. If your budget is 12K, you can get a 1.5 carat. The rest is just manipulation of the data to create a better perceived value. If you think a larger stone is the most important variable, you play around with the color and clarity until the scales balance out at 10K; if you''ll be crushed if you have to go lower in color, then either up the budget or deal with a slightly smaller stone. (To illustrate, I might be very color-sensitive, but I did not choose a D colored diamond for my engagement ring. To hit that little bit extra meant that either my fiance would be dealing with a price which made him uncomfortable or I''d be going with a smaller stone. The stone which currently sits in my e-ring represents a nice conjunction of factors coming together and I *adore* it.)

I love this post! It describes exactly how I feel about the whole diamond selecting process. I had an E VS2 and a J SI1, and finally decided that an H SI1 was where I felt my compromise on the 4 C''s and price was best for me. It''s different for everyone, so I just looked at a lot of stones in stores and in other ladies rings until I found variables that looked good to me. But I have to say, I had to make some finite boundries and stick to them. Otherwise the whole diamond buying thing, and wondering if I got "The perfect stone" was driving me crazy. I too "Adore" my ring, and am at peace with my final selection.

 

[gracie33]

I agree that it is totally up to your eyes. I was going to go with G, but when I actually saw an F beside 3 G''s, I chose the F, before I was told the grades. There was something about that F that looked prettier to me. Now, when it came to choosing between F and E, I couldn''t tell much difference. So I am going with an F. I figure I''ll be looking at it for the next 50 years, might as well get something I like!