Help me understand lab diamonds' color

[phoenixgirl]

I'm interested in foraying into the world of lab diamonds, but I want to understand the color that they show, or don't show.

I see a lot of lab diamonds, even lower color ones, display a very gray appearance that I've never seen in a mined diamond. I assume this is from the lack of nitrogen exposure.

But what about the ones that display a yellow (or brown, rust, rose, etc.) hue? How does that happen? How do they face up compared to a mined diamond (which, I know, can also display a yellow or brown hue).

Basically, I've always gravitated towards I, J, K diamonds, and I think I would miss that tint. Is it as simple as buying a lab diamond with a yellow hue when looking at the profile?

 

[Kim N]

HPHT diamonds can sometimes have a blue or grey tint due to the presence of boron. The three stones in the bottom row on the right in your image are examples of that. CVD diamonds can sometimes have a brown or grey tint.

The two stones below are good examples of the more natural yellow hue seen in natural diamonds. IMO stones that display a yellow hue or only a faint brown hue will look most like natural diamonds.

Lab-Created 2.01 Carat round diamond

This 2.01 carat Lab-Created round diamond G color vs1 clarity has Ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from IGI

www.jamesallen.com

Lab-Created 2.09 Carat round diamond

This 2.09 carat Lab-Created round diamond G color vs2 clarity has Ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from IGI

www.jamesallen.com

 

[DejaWiz]

Lab-Created 2.01 Carat round diamond

This 2.01 carat Lab-Created round diamond G color vs1 clarity has Ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from IGI

www.jamesallen.com

This one is appears to be the perfect choice for someone that is shopping for an LGD with a more natural looking tint in the GIA H-I range...nice find, Kim N!

 

[monipod]

I think with either origin, it'll come down to making sure you can see the stone in person if tint is a worry. My CVD L colour Asscher has the same grade of yellow tint as my natural M colour oval.

 

[kris01vb]

Are you looking for a round diamond? Shape can also change how much color is visible when face up. How many carats? In outside cloudy day here is my h color 2.5 round, another of it on a sunny day but not in direct light, and another with inside evening light.

 

[kris01vb]

Are you looking for a round diamond? Shape can also change how much color is visible when face up. How many carats? In outside cloudy day here is my h color 2.5 round, another of it on a sunny day but not in direct light, and another with inside evening light.

I have a great video that shows indoor light but I guess you can’t upload videos. Here is a screen shot of the video, not the best but gives a little idea.

 

[Alybetter]

I’ve had 5 lab diamonds thus far, all IGI F colors, one HPHT and the rest CVD, with some of those certs noting possible post-growth treatment. I have purchased all of these loose, and I’ve scrutinized them on a plain white background under my 40x loupe. I have some degree of color sensitivity, I’ve owned J, K, L and M natural diamonds and I’m able to discern the tone and hue differences pretty well.

I saw nothing in any of my F MMD stones that made me feel like they‘ were anything less than icy white stones. All of them but one were even set into YG. If there was blue nuance, I didn’t see it. If there was a brownish hue, I didn’t see it, not under the loupe or with me eyes, and not once set into metal. My F color CVD AVC is like a cool, clear drop of water. In the right conditions I can see stria, but no colored tones or hues.

I’ve added some 20x loupe/iPhone photos of 3 IGI F colored stones, larger one is HPHT with no evidence of post-growth treatment, others are CVD with possible post-growth… If these are helpful at all. Then the finished product once set (and sold)

 

[phoenixgirl]

I found this post I made from two years ago and made a comparison snapshot. Does anyone else think a lot of rough has gotten . . . yuckier? Look at all these brown and gray hues.

 

[AdaBeta27]

I found this post I made from two years ago and made a comparison snapshot. Does anyone else think a lot of rough has gotten . . . yuckier? Look at all these brown and gray hues.

Certainly. There have been many discussions that say a many more growers went into the CVD growing business to make some fast money, and that they're turning out a lot of hastily-grown product, yes. They don't bother to cut those stones with maximum precision, either. lol

 

[DejaWiz]

Certainly. There have been many discussions that say a many more growers went into the CVD growing business to make some fast money, and that they're turning out a lot of hastily-grown product, yes. They don't bother to cut those stones with maximum precision, either. lol

Fly by night growers = cry by night buyers