Hard for me to tell color

[HPLouis]

Hi,
I''ve noticed that it is very hard for me to tell the difference in color between diamonds. I''ll see a G/H/I and they all look the same to me. Is there some sort of secret to seeing the color in a diamond or am I color blind?

Should I be looking for yellowing or brown in a diamond as the colors gets higher in the alphabet or will the diamond look more blue as the letters get lower?

Can anyone post pictures of diamonds of different colors side by side as a sort of comparison? When I go to the jewelers, they all look the same. I''m hoping that it''s the lighting in the stores that''s throwing me off.

Thanks,
Henry

 

[Ellen]

Hi HP,

This link might help you. You want to view diamonds in natural light to get the true picture. Outside if a shop will let you, or near a window.

D E F and G, maybe H, won't show much of anything face up or from the side. I is where some may begin to see something. And a well cut stone will appear whiter/brighter than a so so cut.

 

[Lorelei]

Colour perception depends on the viewer; some are very colour sensitive and some aren't. I will also mention that cut makes a big difference, you are less likely to see a difference between well cut diamonds, and those with a poorer cut. Shape and size plays a part too, lighting conditions and also the lab which has graded the colour. As a very general rule, in the colourless and near colourless grades, they will still face up very white, you may begin to see a hint of tint from the side in around I and J. Once you get past K it may be easier still to see a little tint, M onwards is apparently where you will begin to see more of a definite tint. Out of interest. blue fluorescence is believed to help a lower colour diamond face up whiter. I can discern faint, but some say med blue onwards is where it can be beneficial. But to answer your question, don't worry about it! It is an extremely subtle thing to determine colour, it is best to go with a grade you find pleasing to you, whether that is a D or a k.

Here is a comparison for you to see, work through the pages, but bear in mind that computer monitors can vary.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/Color/Colorless/

Oooh Ellen, we posted the same info!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/5/2007 12:44:24 PM
Author: Lorelei
Oooh Ellen, we posted the same info!!

Great minds and all that.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/5/2007 12:47:54 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/5/2007 12:44:24 PM
Author: Lorelei
Oooh Ellen, we posted the same info!!

Great minds and all that.

 

[HPLouis]

Thank you Lorelei and Ellen,
I read the tutorials and now I can see the differences easier. When the near colorless grades (G,H,I,J) are placed next to the D graded stone, they look so much more yellow.

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 12/7/2007 11:46:42 AM
Author: HPLouis
Thank you Lorelei and Ellen,
I read the tutorials and now I can see the differences easier. When the near colorless grades (G,H,I,J) are placed next to the D graded stone, they look so much more yellow.

True, but keep in mind that once an I or J is placed in the setting, you aren''t really going to see any warmth (if there is any) anyway. Nor is your H-I-J diamond going to be placed next to a D-E-F stone, unless you are going for really high color sidestones.

This thread may be helpful:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/j-color-stones-in-platinum.24731/ It''s J/K''s in platinum that was started a couple of years ago. It''s this thread that made me decide to try a J diamond.

 

[Fly Girl]

The better colors have a certain crispness to them. Like fresh fallen snow crispy white. Personally, I love all shades of diamonds, so color is a great place to save some $$$. Another way of thinking about it is to compare a couple of random sheets of white paper. Both look white, until you get them together and compare. Then one will look grayer or yellower than the other. These sheets of paper likely are far more different in color than a few color shades of white diamonds.