Help with Fancy Light Yellow

[SoonerSage]

Hi Pricescopers, hoping some of you can give me candid advice. I've been a lurker for a while, soaking up as much information as I can.

I am upgrading my wedding set. My dream ring is a large yellow diamond. Finding out that YELLOW and large aren't in my price range, I purchased a 3.04 FLY. I have been looking for years at yellows on sites that specilize in setting lower color stones through the fancy ranges. So I thought I had a pretty good feel for what a FLY looks like, until this purchase.

I received the stone yesterday and I am underwhelmed by the color. I compared it to a 2.04 O-P that I have, and in person, the difference is not noticeable. I'm wondering if the 3.04, once set in a 22k cup, if it will bring up the color, that the stone will be noticiably yellow in person. To me, it just looks manilla. I am replacing my 2.04 because I am unhappy with the light color. I purchased it without a cert (stupid!) under the guise that it was Y-Z range. I later sent it to GIA.

I am thinking about returning this stone. While it is large and very pretty, it's just not as yellow as I was hoping. I'm not sure if setting it will make the stone pop or not. I don't at all doubt the cert, I just don't know if setting the stone will darken the color much.

The specs on this stone for reference, 3.04 GIA cert FLY, VS1, no fluorescence. For comparison, I photographed it next to a 2.04 GIA O-P, no fluorescence. I took the photos with my iPhone, so they are not great. Sorry! For some reason, both stones photograph much more yellow than they look in person. In person, they look manilla.

I'll try to take some better photos.

Thanks for your help!

 

[SB621]

Well I would consider 3cts large

Are you looking for more of a FIY? I actually really like the FLY coloring, but if you are underwhelmed I would probably return it. Just be aware that the more saturated the yellow obviously the more $$$$$ it will be.

Yes a 22ct gold help will help, however it also traps in dirt - so the diamond looks pretty much dirty all the time and it is near impossible to clean in the cup (trust me I know from experience). So while I think the cup will solve one problem it will also create some others.

Have you check out FancyDiamond.net? They run sales on occassion so I would sign up for their emails and then jump at them when they are running a sale.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Without a doubt it's difficult assessing FLY and lighter stones loose
Even with Intense Yellow, sometimes a stone can look lighter than you expect
Yes , yellow gold underneath will affect the face up- and yes, as Sarah mentioned if the ring has a closed cup it's a nightmare in the long run
I've seems cases of stones that picked up a lot of color after setting- and others that do not

 

[SoonerSage]

Thank you for your comments. I didn't think about the cleaning issues of a closed cup. I was planning on setting it in an open foil back, or open cup. I'm not sure exactly what it is called.

Thanks Sarah, I will sign up with FancyDiamond.net. I think I would be happier with a fancy yellow.

I took a picture of it outside. The pic is more representative of the color in person. I'm driving my husband nuts looking at it in different lighting!

Thanks again!!!

 

[momhappy]

I have to agree with you. I am obsessed with yellow diamonds, but I am not at all a fan of the lighter yellows (for the same reasons that you aren't). Based on the information that you've provided, it doesn't sound like you would be happy/satisfied (nor would I).

 

[SoonerSage]

Oh, I am completely obsessed with yellows too!! I thought this would be my be-all, end all diamond. I love the size and cut of this stone, but not so much the color. I'm either going to return it and down size to FIY, or just wait until the right one comes along.

Thanks for your input!

 

[SB621]

Since Chrono posted this picture the other day of my ring (may she RIP, hopefully not in a dumpster somewhere) on another thread showing the cup so well I thought I would post it. I'm not well versed in the differnt kinds of cups so I'm not sure what this would be described, but it was a PITA to clean. My ring always looked dirty. It did deepend the color a little bit, which was actually what I didn't want. I personally really like the FLY's and wouldn't go any darker then this. Regardless I pretty much hated the cup- though from the top down I LOVED the thin line of yellow gold that seperated the FLY from the rest of the halo. I think when I was having WF make this ring we had some miscommunication so they thought I wanted to deepen the color with a cup when what I really wanted was just a thin bezel of YG.

 

[kenny]

Putting a diamond over a yellow cup can only increase the apparent color saturation if the diamond is leaky.
When diamonds are cut too shallowly light goes right through them like light through a window.
Try to find a diamond with better cut.
This is not easy since colored diamonds are cut for weight retention and to strengthen color.
If the rough is a certain shape they save weight by cutting them too shallow rather than polishing away much more rough to get a well cut diamond that does not leak.

Since you must SEE the cut and color of any FCD, only buy from a vendor with a good no-questions-asked 30-day money back guarantee.
I've bought 20 diamonds form www.fancydiamonds.net and returned 8 with no questions asked or hassles.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-colored-diamond-collection.159746/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-colored-diamond-collection.159746/[/URL]
I love this vendor and strongly recommend them.
Also as a serious diamond macro-photographer and buyer of 20 I can testify that their photos are quiet accurate and honest.
I cannot say this about some other FCD vendor(s).
Unfortunately their videos make the diamonds look very washed out. I wish they'd fix that.

I think they currently have a sale on Yellows.
I know I sound like it but no, I am not a shill for them.

 

[SoonerSage]

Thanks Kenny. I'm on my way to fancydiamond.net now. Your collection is beyond gorgeous! If I had just a few of the stones, I would do nothing but look at them all day!

I just checked the cert, and this stone is VG/VG, with a depth of 63.9%. Shallow for sure, but is it leaky? I don't see any dark spots when I look at it.

I purchased from JA, I'm sure they will take back. They have been great to work with. When I purchased, I told the rep that I wasn't sure if I would keep it or not, I had to see it first.

Sarah, what happened to your ring?!? It was beautiful. You've convinced me to not go with a cup.

Thanks again!

 

[kenny]

Thanks.

Leaky may not mean dark unless it is above a dark object.
VG/VG may have nothing to do with light performance.
Polish and symmetry are more about how well the cutter followed the recipe ... but what if it is a crapy recipe because the owner just wanted the heaviest polished diamond possible from that rough. .... very common.
Good light perfomance is the result of all the facet angles being intelligently and precisely placed and angled to send maximum light back up to your eyes, not leaking out the bottom or side, and presenting a pleasing pattern as you rock the stone a little.
GIA does not measure or grade light performance or "cut quality" on FCDs ... ever!

To see if a diamond is leaky use a tweezers to hold it over some colored paper or object, let's say purple since it is far from yellow
If you see purple when looking into the top of the diamond, then it leaks.
I wouldn't worry much about small areas, but I'd rather not buy any diamond with a large window under the table.
Many people place it on the back of their hand between two fingers.

What is leakage?
When a light ray passing through a diamond hits a facet it can either pass through the facet and out the bottom or side (bad) and or bounce back into the diamond and eventually make its way out the top of the diamond. (good).
Which one the light does depends on the angle between the ray and the facet.
If the angle is too close to 90 degrees the light does not bounce, it just passes right through the facet and out the bottom of the diamond.

Again, depending on the shape of the rough, cutting an FCD so it doesn't leak may polish away more of the precious weight.
Every shopper knows what 2 carat means, but few understand what better cut means, or that while difficult it is not impossible to get an FCD with good light performance.
Finding one may takes time.
Like I said I bought 20 but returned 8.
Some of mine have poor light performance, but as a collator I kept them for their hard-to-find color.

One filter is to reject diamonds that are more shallow than, oh, say, 60% ... maybe KarlK can give us a better number.
I would think 63% depth would not be leaky but I'm no cut expert like Karl is.
Maybe there are different depths that are safe for different shapes.

I don't really blame cutters for doing what makes the more profit.
I'm just an informed customer which must annoy them.
They want to sell every diamond they carry.
Many people are happy with a leaky diamond in a cup.

If I was to buy only one FCD that was to wear in a ring I would not buy a shallow one that windows, especially in Yellow since it is one of the most plentiful FCD colors.

 

[SB621]

Thanks Kenny. I'm on my way to fancydiamond.net now. Your collection is beyond gorgeous! If I had just a few of the stones, I would do nothing but look at them all day!

I just checked the cert, and this stone is VG/VG, with a depth of 63.9%. Shallow for sure, but is it leaky? I don't see any dark spots when I look at it.

I purchased from JA, I'm sure they will take back. They have been great to work with. When I purchased, I told the rep that I wasn't sure if I would keep it or not, I had to see it first.

Sarah, what happened to your ring?!? It was beautiful. You've convinced me to not go with a cup.

Thanks again!

Eh I lost it wondering around NYC over Thanksgiving. I didn't want to wear my ering set so I threw it on my left hand which is a half size smaller then the ring is. I guess somewhere between taking gloves on and off, fixing scarves, getting kids situated it fell off or got caught on something. I'm just hoping someone found it and is wearing it vs. getting swept up and thrown out

 

[momhappy]

Oh, I am completely obsessed with yellows too!! I thought this would be my be-all, end all diamond. I love the size and cut of this stone, but not so much the color. I'm either going to return it and down size to FIY, or just wait until the right one comes along.

Thanks for your input!

A fancy yellow will be my forever ring someday in the not-so-distant future. Like you, I know what I want and a light yellow simply won't do (no matter how you set it, it's still going to be a light yellow...). I would absolutely size down to get the right color. Keep us posted!

 

[SoonerSage]

Happy St. Pat's!

Oh Sarah that is terrible!!! The same exact thing happened to me with my ering! Heartbreaking. This is my first big diamond purchase since I lost it. I did get a small replacement, but not the same.

Kenny-great advice. Thank you. I did check the stone in my possession for windowing, and it does window around the edges. I've made my mind up that it will go back.

I looked at Leibish, and found two that I might like.

I like this one, but I'm not sure about the med blue fluorescence. The photos are not great, and not sure if it will wash out in UV.

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/11685.htm

I also like this stone, though I can do without the setting. I already have a three stone ec in white. It is not the awesome IF grade as the other but looks very clean, and has faint fluor. However, I am not educated enough to judge the cut of either stone.

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/12564.htm

I am so indecisive. I've also had my eye on a beautiful OMB with pink halo. I might put the yellow on hold and go with a stone/setting like this.

https://www.artofplatinum.com/vault/pink-halo-diamond-ring

 

[SoonerSage]

Oh shoot, I only looked at the sale stones last night.

I found a couple more this morning that I like much better that I am going to call on.

I'll keep you posted!