HELP! H color looks yellow only sometimes!

[tuesdaem]

My boyfriend is about to purchse an engagement ring for me that I have picked out. It is not certified but the jeweler is sending it to be certified by an independent GIA Gemologist. It is a 1.85 Marquis cut set in platinum. She says the stone is an H color and it looks very, very slightly tinted during the daytime, but when I went to look at it last night it looked noticeably tinted yellow. WHAT IS GOING ON? Color is more important to me than clarity but I have decided to sacrifice color a little to get a bigger stone but still, absolutely do not want one that I will not be happy with. It is priced at $7500. I am considering a drive into NYC to see what else is out there for that price but I really had my heart set on this diamond.
First...is anyone else here concerned about the non-certification? She says she cannot have it GIA certified for me but will send it to a GIA Gemologist.
Second...Why does it look more yellow at night? She said the lighting wasn''t good at the store but I''m skeptical!
PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[marvel]

If color is more important to you then clarity, you should pass on this stone. The yellow is always going to be there and you should love your stone. I''m sure you can find a beautiful stone for 7K. Keep looking.

 

[FireGoddess]

A lot of times it is the lighting. Yellowish lighting can make any stone look tinted. And diamonds reflect the color that is around them. So it could be the lighting conditions or the wall color. However, this is where mind clean comes in...at least for me. I had an I colored stone and I could see tint more than I wanted to. Was it the stone or the lighting or both?! When I upgraded I went for a colorless stone. Now, even if the lighting is yellow or what have you, I know the tint on the stone is coming from the conditions, and not the stone. That''s mind clean to me.

If it''s going to bother you, maybe you should pass on the H and go for a higher color. Remember that fancies like marquise cuts show more color in the tips than a round would.

 

[decodelighted]

If you see ANY color EVER I doubt very much it is an "H" color according to the GIA or AGS standards.

I have a GIA cert H Asscher (open step cut- so it shows color more easily) and I can't see a bit of tint.

I would keep looking because it seems like seeing what you saw "at night" would bother you. Once you find a "flaw" your mind will keep fixating on it. At least mine does.

Stick to stones with GIA or AGS certs so you KNOW what you're getting!


ETA: It worries me that the jeweler says she "can't" get the stone certed by GIA. ANYONE can. You just have to pay for it. And it takes time. I'd guess that maybe she wouldn't like how it would come out & would lose the sale. But that's just my guess.

 

[ff]

Date: 10/25/2006 1:53:01 PM
Author:tuesdaem
She says she cannot have it GIA certified for me but will send it to a GIA Gemologist.

sending it to a GIA Gemologist is NOT the same as having it GIA certified. If you find a stone, like this one, that you really like and are about to spend $7K on it, I''d offer to pay (a very small price compared to what you''re about to invest) for the GIA cert if she''s unwilling to have it certified herself. I would not buy any diamond that big without it being certified by GIA or AGS. If she refuses, I''d walk away from it and find another diamond.

In terms of color, compare it side-by-side to an equal sized stone of higher color and see if they both show up the same yellow you are seeing in the darker conditions of that particular environment. If they both are, it''s not the diamond. If the higher color stone is still whiter, you''ll know it''s your stone.

Good luck!

 

[cutes814]

I would have the stone sent to GIA and have it certified. Don''t purchase a stone unless it is certified or at least appraised by a third party you trust, not just some recommended appraiser form the jeweler.

Don''t rush into buying a stone. You have a great budget to work with. I''m sure you''ll find a beautiful stone that you will love in the end.

 

[kcoursolle]

Two possibilities:
1) Since it''s not graded, it''s possibe it''s not an H. You will see if this is the case when it comes back from getting graded.

2) The diamond is picking up the environment around it. I have an F that looks yellow sometimes!! I like in a house with yellow walls and yellow lights and my diamond looks YELLOW sometimes because it is picking up what is around it.

 

[jayreneepea]

I have an I colored round brilliant and I have never seen yellow. Sometimes it seems warmer than others, but I can''t say I have ever seen any yellow color.

I would be very hesitant to buy an uncertified diamond. $7500 doesn''t actually sound like that great of a deal for uncertified. Maybe for EGL, but not uncertified.

The jeweler telling you she can''t send it to GIA seems like a huge red flag!

I think you should keep looking. Don''t forget about an upgrade policy. Even if you get something a bit smaller than you wanted now, with an excellent upgrade policy, you can get a bigger stone later. I wouldn''t count on her upgrading an ucertified diamond.

 

[Scintillating]

If you''re seeing yellow now and it''s bugging you - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE with time! Trust me!
Pass on this stone and find one that makes you happy.

Scintillating...

 

[pinkrose]

I agree, its probably not an H color. Good thing its getting graded.

 

[sandymonet]

I don''t know where you are in NYC, but I know a jeweler in Lockport NY that only deals with CERTIFIED STONES and came highly recommend for his work. His name is
George @ Mills jewelers
email millsjewelers.com
I have spoken with him many times and was very pleased with his knoweledge of diamonds and to boot he is a designer.

He has done much work for Jostens the company who makes the super bowl rings. Prices on diamonds were very good and much cheaper than here in Chi-town.

Also try Dimend Scaasi where I just got my 20th wedding anniversary ring (YEAH!!!!!)
His website is beyond amazing. You can actually view the diamond with him on line live. They also have a live chat and use all of the great and lastest equipment for you to view your diamond.

Last but not least. Yellow in a diamond is not a good sign, med. blue but not yellow that usually means J-L color.
Do some research on this site. They have a great diamond educational tutorial. You have got to educate yourself to protect yourself when making such a large purchase!!!!!

Have fun looking,

try these guys out and read, read, read....then look,look,look...then buy.

Sandymonet

 

[Lorelei]

It is anyone's guess what colour this diamond actually is, as it doesn't have a grading report from GIA which is the industry standard. I would expect a large Marquise to show some colour, but in a properly graded H not as much as you describe. Yes having an appraisal done by a GIA gemologist is NOT the same as a GIA grading report. I would keep looking, in my experience if a diamond looks " yellow" or too warm and a colour tint is not what is wanted, it will eat away at you over time, I have seen this here so often, like FireGoddess says, it may never be mindclean for you. There are lots of diamonds out there, don't settle on a diamond as important as this, at least look around at others before you pull the trigger. It is so easy to settle for a diamond, something about it you dislike, it bugs you, then you want to trade in, then you can't sell it or it is difficult to find a jeweller to take it, get one you love the first time.

By the way, if you are willing to pay the GIA fee, the jeweller could have it GIA certified for you, but maybe she is concerned about what colour and clarity it might come back as....

Sandy, I just wanted to clarify part of your post which may be misleading to some.

Last but not least. Yellow in a diamond is not a good sign, med. blue but not yellow that usually means J-L color.

By med blue do you mean fluorescence in a diamond? Seeing med .blue in a diamond which is body colour would mean a very rare diamond indeed. Also properly graded round diamonds and some fancies will in no way look yellow in a J to L colour. Many very white looking J's here and I have an extremely white looking large L colour.