Hmmph... yellow, eh?

[ForteKitty]

My H oval diamond started looking more and more yellow to me, and I thought I was just being paranoid... until my friends started mentioning it! and they were guys!! they didn''t mean any harm tho. One said, "i didn''t know you got a yellow diamond! how pretty!"

The others mentioned on two seperate occasions, "is that diamond supposed to look yellow?" and "how come your other one is so white" (smartasses... my marquise is an E, and it has strong blue fluorescence, of course it looks white!!) grrr!!

Could it be something that''s causing the diamond to yellow? I live in L.A., so it can''t be well water, and the appraiser matched it with the GIA report so i know it''s not misrepresented. I keep it very clean, and scrub it daily. it''s set in platinum, so it''s not reflecting any yellow from the mount. What could it be?

I just don''t remember it looking so yellow when I first got it, and it''s been looking yellow in almost all lighting lately. It''s really starting to bother me! I HATE being so color sensitive!!

 

[justjulia]

Your guy friends seem to know a lot about diamonds all of a sudden, eh? It sounds to me like they know what buttons to push to see your reaction--like having a bunch of brothers. I''ve gone through phases like this, where a rock seems to be acquiring some color. Drives me crazy and then it passes... Try putting it in a drawer for a day..

 

[ForteKitty]

I''ve trained them to look at people''s sparklie rings.

Now they point out the big ones before i even see them!

But I really dont think they were trying to push any buttons. One actually thought it was a light yellow diamond, and was embarassed when I said it wasn''t supposed to be. The other two liked my marquise better and thought I should reset this with sapphires or something colorful because the yellow doesn''t look very good on its own. (tho they''re probably just biased becaues they were all there when i met up with the seller in Nor Cal to buy my marquise) My best girl friend mentioned how yellow it looks as well, but she''s pretty color sensitive so i didn''t really count her opinion.

I''m just wondering if there would be something causing it to stain on the outside?

 

[Giangi]

Hi there!

I suppose yellow fluorescence may be one cause. You have already excluded well water, which is most of the times the #1 reason for this kind of staining.
Did you get it professionally cleaned? I suppose there might be stainmarks on girdle or under the prongs that could not be removed with home cleaning.

 

[ForteKitty]

The GIA report stated there is no fluorescence, so that can''t be it either. It was professionally cleaned a month ago, and i''ve been keeping it clean on a daily basis with scrubbing and even steam it once a week!

 

[ForteKitty]

and while i''m complaining... Platinum totally sucks!

My ring is sooo scratched up, and i''ve only been wearing a few weeks. If it''s engraved or studded with melees, it''s fine. But a plain band? OOoohhhh boy. I made the mistake of wearing it to an audit, where I had to dig thru boxes of files. Big mistake. Scratches are everywhere, even on the top of the ring! hmmph... looks like a darned nickel. yuck.

 

[Giangi]

Weird stuff.
Hmmm...I think you may just have very discriminating eyes when it comes to color...Especially if you have D-E-F stones in your collection.
If I remember correctly, isn''t it an SI1 stone? If you have a loupe, it may be a good idea to check if you can find the blemishes to make sure the stone is always the same. Switching is highly unlikely, but since we don''t know the cause, we have to explore every possibility, don''t we?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 9/8/2006 4:56:38 AM
Author: ForteKitty
and while i''m complaining... Platinum totally sucks!

My ring is sooo scratched up, and i''ve only been wearing a few weeks. If it''s engraved or studded with melees, it''s fine. But a plain band? OOoohhhh boy. I made the mistake of wearing it to an audit, where I had to dig thru boxes of files. Big mistake. Scratches are everywhere, even on the top of the ring! hmmph... looks like a darned nickel. yuck.

Well, this is timely for me since I am looking at settings today! Two jewelers have told me that they recommend platinum for pave or engraved pieces but they recommend 18k wg for polished pieces for the reasons you mention. I guess I''ll take that into consideration.

I think your oval looks yellow because you''re comparing it to the marquise. I doubt anyone would think it otherwise.

 

[strmrdr]

have it professionally cleaned a small spot of gunk in the wrong place especially polishing compound from when it was mounted can change the appearance a lot and is next to impossible to remove outside of a US and steam cleaning.

 

[Scintillating]

My ags G (low G, grrr.) looks really yellow when it''s dirty, so I hear ya.
Maybe wash with distilled water? Soak in Ammonia overnight. It could be developing a residue?

Let us know what happens.

Scintillating...

 

[Mexi]

Can you post pics?

 

[Dee*Jay]

I recall from one of the threads that you shouldn''t soak a piece for more than 1/2 hour in amonia (probably more to do with the metal than the stone).

Wasn''t there also a lady who had one of her side stones turn yellow and taking it to a jeweler and getting an acid bath solved the problem? I think she had the issue that Storm was talking about; having some polishing compound or other material left over from the finishing process.

 

[Kaleigh]

I''d have it professionally cleaned. Have it steamed, etc... Hope that works.

 

[Rod]

Date: 9/8/2006 8:22:41 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 9/8/2006 4:56:38 AM
Author: ForteKitty
and while i''m complaining... Platinum totally sucks!

My ring is sooo scratched up, and i''ve only been wearing a few weeks. If it''s engraved or studded with melees, it''s fine. But a plain band? OOoohhhh boy. I made the mistake of wearing it to an audit, where I had to dig thru boxes of files. Big mistake. Scratches are everywhere, even on the top of the ring! hmmph... looks like a darned nickel. yuck.

Well, this is timely for me since I am looking at settings today! Two jewelers have told me that they recommend platinum for pave or engraved pieces but they recommend 18k wg for polished pieces for the reasons you mention. I guess I''ll take that into consideration.

I think your oval looks yellow because you''re comparing it to the marquise. I doubt anyone would think it otherwise.

Now, mind you, I''m super careful with my platinum ring, but almost a year after getting my ring, it looks as shiny as the day I got it. I had to have it resized because I''ve lost weight (on purpose) and the jeweler accused me of not wearing my ring, which I do every day of the week. Plus, even if a platinum ring does scratch, you can have it polished as often as you like and platinum doesn''t wear off during polishing. That said, if you go the 18K white gold route, just make sure they use another alloy like palladium in the mix as opposed to nickel, so they won''t have to Rhodium plate the ring. Maybe, it''s my skin, but both white gold rings I''ve owned had to be plated too often because they yellowed, which drove me batty! I vowed then and there to never own WG again.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/8/2006 10:32:26 AM
Author: Rod

Now, mind you, I''m super careful with my platinum ring, but almost a year after getting my ring, it looks as shiny as the day I got it. I had to have it resized because I''ve lost weight (on purpose) and the jeweler accused me of not wearing my ring, which I do every day of the week. Plus, even if a platinum ring does scratch, you can have it polished as often as you like and platinum doesn''t wear off during polishing. That said, if you go the 18K white gold route, just make sure they use another alloy like palladium in the mix as opposed to nickel, so they won''t have to Rhodium plate the ring. Maybe, it''s my skin, but both white gold rings I''ve owned had to be plated too often because they yellowed, which drove me batty! I vowed then and there to never own WG again.

yesterday I tried to find unplated white gold to see how yellow it was and couldn''t find any. How yellow is it? between yellow gold and platinum is it *closer* to yellow gold or plat?

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/8/2006 9:55:59 AM
Author: Scintillating
My ags G (low G, grrr.) looks really yellow when it''s dirty, so I hear ya.
Maybe wash with distilled water? Soak in Ammonia overnight. It could be developing a residue?

Let us know what happens.

Scintillating...

weird... my stone looks whiter when its dirty LOL

 

[Rod]

Date: 9/8/2006 10:39:15 AM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 9/8/2006 10:32:26 AM
Author: Rod

Now, mind you, I''m super careful with my platinum ring, but almost a year after getting my ring, it looks as shiny as the day I got it. I had to have it resized because I''ve lost weight (on purpose) and the jeweler accused me of not wearing my ring, which I do every day of the week. Plus, even if a platinum ring does scratch, you can have it polished as often as you like and platinum doesn''t wear off during polishing. That said, if you go the 18K white gold route, just make sure they use another alloy like palladium in the mix as opposed to nickel, so they won''t have to Rhodium plate the ring. Maybe, it''s my skin, but both white gold rings I''ve owned had to be plated too often because they yellowed, which drove me batty! I vowed then and there to never own WG again.

yesterday I tried to find unplated white gold to see how yellow it was and couldn''t find any. How yellow is it? between yellow gold and platinum is it *closer* to yellow gold or plat?

No, it''s not closer to yellow gold, it just takes on a yellowish tint. What you notice is it doesn''t have that super white luster that platinum ''always'' has, but begins to look slightly yellow. For a total and complete Anal Retentive, such as myself, it just won''t do. I wound having my ring plated like every three months. Plating isn''t difficult. It just sits in a elctrode driven Rhodium bath, sort of like an ultrasonic. But having to take it to a jeweler every three months was annoying. And I just like the heftier feel of Platinum anyway. It just feels more substantial and elegant to me.

 

[woobug02]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO are you wearing them at the same time. I have the same problem with my I colored RB and my J colored marquise... If I wear them alone my marquise looks really white but if I wear them together my marquise looks warm.... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I wear them seperate WOOOOOO

 

[Beacon]

Giangi made good point - when you sent it to be professionally cleaned - have you carefully checked the stone over to be sure there was no possibility of a switch? Yes, it does seem paranoid, but best to cover all bases.

Platinum scratches, that is just how it is. After a while some people like the patina of an older platinum piece. If you don''t like it, they can polish it out in just a couple minutes. Sorry it is all getting to your nerves

 

[gailrmv]

I love plat for the same reasons Rod mentioned. I just didn''t realize the time and expense involved in having it polished. I would like to have it done more often, but didn''t realize (at my local jeweler, haven''t shopped around) that it takes all day and $65 PER RING. That''s just too much to justify having it done every few months as I would like. (My rings are thick and get scratched practically when I look at them). Still, I am glad to have plat.

 

[Rod]

Date: 9/8/2006 1:32:40 PM
Author: gailrmv
I love plat for the same reasons Rod mentioned. I just didn't realize the time and expense involved in having it polished. I would like to have it done more often, but didn't realize (at my local jeweler, haven't shopped around) that it takes all day and $65 PER RING. That's just too much to justify having it done every few months as I would like. (My rings are thick and get scratched practically when I look at them). Still, I am glad to have plat.

Wow..........It's never cost me a dime to have my ring polished, nor has it ever taken a day. While my ring was made by a custom jeweler in my area, they are not exactly next door. So, I've always had a great relationship with our local Mayor's (I even gave them the opportunity to make my ring, but they're price was more than double what I paid). But, I've intentionally made sure that I occassionally buy from them, like a Tag Heuer watch, or batteries for one of my watches, or earrings for my mom, that they actually offer to clean and polish my ring for free. Do you have a local jeweler you've made purchases with who might offer the same courtesy? Also, when they do steam and polish, it only takes a few minutes, not a whole day.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/8/2006 10:49:34 AM
Author: Rod

Date: 9/8/2006 10:39:15 AM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 9/8/2006 10:32:26 AM
Author: Rod

Now, mind you, I''m super careful with my platinum ring, but almost a year after getting my ring, it looks as shiny as the day I got it. I had to have it resized because I''ve lost weight (on purpose) and the jeweler accused me of not wearing my ring, which I do every day of the week. Plus, even if a platinum ring does scratch, you can have it polished as often as you like and platinum doesn''t wear off during polishing. That said, if you go the 18K white gold route, just make sure they use another alloy like palladium in the mix as opposed to nickel, so they won''t have to Rhodium plate the ring. Maybe, it''s my skin, but both white gold rings I''ve owned had to be plated too often because they yellowed, which drove me batty! I vowed then and there to never own WG again.

yesterday I tried to find unplated white gold to see how yellow it was and couldn''t find any. How yellow is it? between yellow gold and platinum is it *closer* to yellow gold or plat?

No, it''s not closer to yellow gold, it just takes on a yellowish tint. What you notice is it doesn''t have that super white luster that platinum ''always'' has, but begins to look slightly yellow. For a total and complete Anal Retentive, such as myself, it just won''t do. I wound having my ring plated like every three months. Plating isn''t difficult. It just sits in a elctrode driven Rhodium bath, sort of like an ultrasonic. But having to take it to a jeweler every three months was annoying. And I just like the heftier feel of Platinum anyway. It just feels more substantial and elegant to me.

I don''t want that super white luster, I want like french vanilla LOL Not to be confused with cornflake yellow gold LOL! If I''d gotten a D med flour stone I think I''d want plat!

 

[Rod]

Date: 9/8/2006 2:39:10 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 9/8/2006 10:49:34 AM
Author: Rod

Date: 9/8/2006 10:39:15 AM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 9/8/2006 10:32:26 AM
Author: Rod

Now, mind you, I''m super careful with my platinum ring, but almost a year after getting my ring, it looks as shiny as the day I got it. I had to have it resized because I''ve lost weight (on purpose) and the jeweler accused me of not wearing my ring, which I do every day of the week. Plus, even if a platinum ring does scratch, you can have it polished as often as you like and platinum doesn''t wear off during polishing. That said, if you go the 18K white gold route, just make sure they use another alloy like palladium in the mix as opposed to nickel, so they won''t have to Rhodium plate the ring. Maybe, it''s my skin, but both white gold rings I''ve owned had to be plated too often because they yellowed, which drove me batty! I vowed then and there to never own WG again.

yesterday I tried to find unplated white gold to see how yellow it was and couldn''t find any. How yellow is it? between yellow gold and platinum is it *closer* to yellow gold or plat?

No, it''s not closer to yellow gold, it just takes on a yellowish tint. What you notice is it doesn''t have that super white luster that platinum ''always'' has, but begins to look slightly yellow. For a total and complete Anal Retentive, such as myself, it just won''t do. I wound having my ring plated like every three months. Plating isn''t difficult. It just sits in a elctrode driven Rhodium bath, sort of like an ultrasonic. But having to take it to a jeweler every three months was annoying. And I just like the heftier feel of Platinum anyway. It just feels more substantial and elegant to me.

I don''t want that super white luster, I want like french vanilla LOL Not to be confused with cornflake yellow gold LOL! If I''d gotten a D med flour stone I think I''d want plat!

Oh my dear, you may not know it, but you have all the classic symptoms of DOCD (see below) and I''m not buying your ability to tolerate white metal yellowing for a single moment!!!! LOL

____________________________________________________________________________________________
"Diamond Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (DOCD), is an illness many of us suffer from on this forum. DOCD, discovered by Dr. Brillianteering in the early 1900''s, is a manifestation of mental anomolies when perfectly sane individuals become the owners of high quality diamonds and the settings those diamonds sit in. What typically occurs for an accurate DOCD diagnosis is euphoria upon the purchase of a nice gem or setting, followed by self doubt, and ultimately downright concern that the purchased stone or setting has somehow magically shrunk or changed in appearance while the owner slept. While there are no known medications available to combat DOCD, many people have reported the symptoms are reduced or completely eliminated by purchasing larger, higher quality diamonds or visiting chain jewelry stores, such as Zales or Kay, or having lunch with a friend who has jewelry of poorer quality than the DOCD sufferer."

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/8/2006 2:44:21 PM
Author: Rod



Oh my dear, you may not know it, but you have all the classic symptoms of DOCD (see below) and I''m not buying your ability to tolerate white metal yellowing for a single moment!!!! LOL

____________________________________________________________________________________________

My white metal shouldn''t yellow since I plan to NOT have it rhodium plated to begin with! It should just stay the same LOL I''ve had yellow gold for my whole life, I don''t think a little yellow will offend me incidentally, the diamond guys yesterday really tried to poop my diamond because it was so yellow... I never once said anything other than "it''s a j" and they''d say things like "oh no WONDER it''s so yellow" pfffft if I had gone on any longer I would have ended up with an M! I *like* the tint!

 

[ForteKitty]

Nope, zero possiblity of a switch. I know my diamond''s inclusions by heart, and can identify them (at least this one) instantly. The inclusions are in a slightly tilted square, and the bottom corner of the square is right next to the bottom left prong in the pavillion when you look thru a loupe. I''m insanely paranoid when it comes to switches.. i always check!

Woo''s probably right tho... i need to stop wearing it with the marquise. it''s making the oval look bad.

I''m *thinking* of resetting this with sapphire pears and 18kt white gold. Maybe that''ll make the still appear whiter?

My white gold rings hold up so much better, and still don''t require any replating after about 3 years... and they''ve never been polished either! grumble grumble stupid platinum. or maybe palladium?

 

[RockDoc]

Sounds like some of your critics, are just "color snobs". If your stones sparkles more than what they may have bought, they are probably just envious, and want to pick on the slightest thing they can grasp at to make you feel bad.

Rockdoc

 

[ForteKitty]

Hahah.. nonono.. these are all guy friends I have from college. All geeky science types, single, and not the least bit snobby. Never bought a diamond, not very tactful, but very honest people!

They say it''s pretty and *very* sparkly, but just not as pretty as the marquise. (which i totally agree, but don''t tell my oval) They love my jewelry obsession, because every time i get a new bauble, they get to discuss the lighting & reflecting properties of crystals and whatever blah blah blahs they talk about. One even used my rb in a computer simulation project to demonstrate lighting and shadowing. nerd.

 

[RockDoc]

LOL Forte


Remember the thread from the lady in NY that there was obvious "snobbery" in the boardroom meeting ?

It does exist, though maybe not with the fellows who are commenting, and because your other stone looks so ''white'' as compared to the oval, that it seems "too apparent" to a viewer.

Here in my area, there is tons of big pet rock snobbery and bling bling bling stuff, each trying to out do the other.

My setter just set an almost 6 carat vivid yellow diamond, that was ideal proportioned just the other day.


Rockdoc

 

[ForteKitty]

I think I missed that one, but luckily my co-workers don''t care much for jewelry. I work for the government right now, so it''s rather inappropriate to wear large items, especially when I''m out auditing companies.

Also, my fingers are rather thin (3.25), so rings tend to look larger on my hands.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/8/2006 6:46:08 PM
Author: ForteKitty
I think I missed that one, but luckily my co-workers don''t care much for jewelry. I work for the government right now, so it''s rather inappropriate to wear large items, especially when I''m out auditing companies.

Also, my fingers are rather thin (3.25), so rings tend to look larger on my hands.

I do not have small fingers and my 2.7 carat stone looks about like a 1 carat oval might on the average woman... I don''t think people will see it as big when I''m wearing it but if I take it off to show them it might or if they put it on their finger next to theirs or something... stones are weird... I think if I''d gotten 1 carat I''d be more likely to want to show it off... there''s something so not humble about showing off an outrageously large stone vs a modest stone... you can show off modest stones freely!