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General feedback on these lower priced yellow diamonds? Which would you pick?

MustGoFaster

MustGoFaster

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
20
Hi all! I know James Allen is not the "best" and most recommended place to buy yellow diamonds on this forum. However, I thought I would check them out seeing as they are having a) a sale on settings currently and b) tend to carry smaller carat sizes, which also means less overall cost. If I chose to buy a stone, I'd probably set it in an inexpensive solitaire, then upgrade and have it set somewhere else at a later juncture. My budget is size limiting, but i'm a size 5.5, so with an added halo, I think it would be fine, as I've tried on .5 and they looked plenty large for me.

This is just a "for fun" right hand ring, so I don't have a very excessive budget for the stone. Here are my requirements:

Budget (stone only): less than $900
Certification: Must be GIA
Shape: Pear, Cushion, Oval, Radiant (probably in that order as far as most favored to least)
Color: anywhere from YZ to FVY. I don't want Fancy Deep or anything with brown tones
Carat: Probably at least .3c, but overall dimensions and performance are more important
Clarity: VS2 or better
Polish: Very good to excellent
Symmetry: Very good to excellent
Fluorescene: None to Faint

Here is what I've found. If you think any of them are up to PS standards, let me know, as well as which you favor. The less $$ the better, but I've included a range that goes towards the top of the budget. I've included the SKU numbers as well.

Pear:
4185323
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...ear-shaped/0.50-carat-vs2-clarity-sku-4185323
Cost: $610
Carat: .50
Color: YZ
Clarity: VS2
Polish: EX
Symmetry: VG
Fluoro: Faint
Dimensions: 5.93*4.09*2.71
This stone looks pretty good to me? Sparkle seems to be good from base to tip. But the inclusions are right on the table? Not sure how visible this would be irl. This would be favorite probably if not for that.

Oval:
879446
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...ow/oval-cut/0.34-carat-vs1-clarity-sku-879446
Cost: $680
Carat: .34
Color: FLY
Clarity: VS1
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Fluoro: Faint
Dimensions: 5.42*3.72*2.26

Radiant:
879606
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...adiant-cut/0.33-carat-vvs2-clarity-sku-879606
Cost: $760
Carat: .33
Color: FY
Clarity: VVS2
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Fluoro: Faint
Dimensions: 3.97*3.76*2.42

Cushion 1:
4294242
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...ushion-cut/0.51-carat-vs2-clarity-sku-4294242
Cost: $780
Carat: .51
Color: FLY
Clarity: VS2
Polish: EX
Symmetry: VG
Fluoro: None
Dimensions: 4.43*4.16*2.87
This is also one I'm leaning towards as far as overall look, budget, and specs.

Cushion 2
3825234
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...cushion-cut/0.50-carat-if-clarity-sku-3825234
Cost: $830
Carat: .50
Color: FLY
Clarity: IF
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Fluoro: Faint
Dimensions: 4.32*4.20*2.90

Cushion 3
3498763
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...shion-cut/0.38-carat-vvs2-clarity-sku-3498763
Cost: $930
Carat: .38
Color: FY
Clarity: VVS2
Polish: VG
Symmetry: VG
Fluoro: None
Dimensions: 4.01*3.99*2.63
Definite contender as well, but at the top of the budget. Smaller, but no fluoro and FY.

Sorry for the novel. I've looked at DbL and Leibish as well. Just looking for some honest feedback on whether or not any of these are "worth" it. I know much of that is up to personal taste, but cut and performance-wise, this is the place to ask.
 
As a vendor I can neither criticize or recommend a stone. But I can share thoughts in the general spirit of education.
If you are looking for a fancy color, buy a fancy color. Y-Z is not considered a fancy color.
With a fancy color, prioritize color over size.
You have to decide what shape is going to look best for the piece you have in mind (unless you are just collecting the diamond), then it's kind of irrelevant.
Recognizing that I cannot recommend a stone, I will say that Cushion 3 ticks off these boxes.
 
hobbitfancier55 said:
I did see those, but was worried about the strong Fluorescence negatively impacting the color. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
That’s what i was thinking too hobbit, otherwise i probably would have posted them. I wasn’t sure if the fluorescence would affect the color on those or not. I think it usually washes out the yellow under certain conditions.
 
I also like Cushion #3. It has a beautiful rich yellow tone!
 
Cushion 3 is gorgeous!
 
Cushion 3 is lovely!

Would me a lovely centre for a daisy flower type ring with white diamonds all around it!
 
Texas Leaguer said:
As a vendor I can neither criticize or recommend a stone. But I can share thoughts in the general spirit of education.
If you are looking for a fancy color, buy a fancy color. Y-Z is not considered a fancy color.
With a fancy color, prioritize color over size.
You have to decide what shape is going to look best for the piece you have in mind (unless you are just collecting the diamond), then it's kind of irrelevant.
Recognizing that I cannot recommend a stone, I will say that Cushion 3 ticks off these boxes.
Click to expand...
It really depends on who is doing the considering Bryan. The difference in shade between Fancy Light Yellow and the best Y-Z stones can be imperceptible. In fact because they are so close and grading is done by humans, the darkest GIA graded Y-Z is darker than the lightest stone GIA graded FLY.

Consider that if a stone has as much pink, blue or green as a the depth of yellow in a Y-Z is would absolutely be considered a “Fancy Colored Diamond”

In general, I avoid light yellow stones with Fluorsence as it tends to dull the yellow color.
 
I'm a fan of cushion 2 and 3. I tend to like lighter stones (personal preference and I know this is not for me) so I* would probably go with cushion 2
but if you like a lot of color, cushion 3 is quite lovely.
 
I found it helpful to see the diamond in comparison to others of the same color grade. When you see them next to each other it is easier to make a decision. Is that at all possible?
 
Rockdiamond said:
It really depends on who is doing the considering Bryan. The difference in shade between Fancy Light Yellow and the best Y-Z stones can be imperceptible. In fact because they are so close and grading is done by humans, the darkest GIA graded Y-Z is darker than the lightest stone GIA graded FLY.

Consider that if a stone has as much pink, blue or green as a the depth of yellow in a Y-Z is would absolutely be considered a “Fancy Colored Diamond”

In general, I avoid light yellow stones with Fluorsence as it tends to dull the yellow color.
Click to expand...
You make a good point David, and you certainly have a ton of experience in fancy color diamonds. My comment was in the context of a shopper who is considering both - stones with a technical GIA grading designation as Fancy, and stones that fall slightly short of that grade. If you ever want to sell or trade, the paper does have some bearing.

However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Shape and cut quality can result in huge differences in eye appeal. So, in regards to your comment, I agree it would be a mistake not to consider options in the XYZ range as they might very well be more attractive than some options in FLY.

Some very basic info here for those new to colored diamonds:
https://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/fancy-color-diamonds-1451.htm
 
Texas Leaguer said:
My comment was in the context of a shopper who is considering both - stones with a technical GIA grading designation as Fancy, and stones that fall slightly short of that grade. If you ever want to sell or trade, the paper does have some bearing.
Click to expand...
Interesting point Bryan- and I've heard it said before.
But to put this in perspective, the selling price must be taken into account.
For example- say someone buys a 1ct Fancy Yellow for $5k. Compare that to a person buying a Y-Z 1ct for $2500.
A case could be made that it's far easier for a consumer to sell or trade the less costly diamond. In any event, they'd have to recover a lot less. If both lose the same in terms of percentage, the FY buyer just lost twice as much as the Y-Z buyer.
Not saying your point is "wrong"- but there are two sides to it.
AND.... glad to be discussing with you my friend- you always bring an intelligent, reasonable point of view to the table.
 
Oooh this is so fun! I've been wanting a fancy coloured pear halo for a RHR. I'll be following to see what you choose in the end.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone! I will report back if I decide to purchase one of these, or another diamond. Always glad to hear the multiple opinions of everyone.
 
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