How does an ACA H color compare to excellent cut Gs?

[newbie124]

Do ACA H color stones generally really appear as white as "regular" excellent cut G colors?

I''ve always been able to tell an H color stone apart except one time when I saw one w/ medium fluorescence. So I''m just curious if the ACA cut really makes that much of a difference to make an H color stone appear as white as a G?

 

[Fly Girl]

If you look though the stone from the back, an H is an H, and a G is a G. But, if you look at the stone from the top, the superior light return from an ACA will mask the body color of the stone, making it difficult to distinguish an H from a G. And, generally, diamonds are viewed from the top.

 

[Skippy123]

I would pick the H.

This might be helpful??? http://www.goodoldgold.com/4Cs/Color/NearColorless/

 

[milton333]

My ACA H, no fluor is white-white face up. I don''t really notice a tint from the side, but that is where you''d see a tint in any cut grade stone, where there is no faceting to reflect light back to you and you''re seeing body color. The ACA H was a great value for me, I think it compares favorably with an F.

 

[secondhandnews]

I have had a very good cut G and an AGS0 cut H. I could not tell the difference in the color. I never saw them unmounted so I do not know whether I would have been able to tell the difference that way. Some people are more color sensitive than others but I would feel comfortable recommending an ACA H!

 

[DiamondExpert]

I would venture to say that any two round brilliant diamonds (of similar size & clarity) of excellent cut one color grade apart, would be VERY difficult to see side by side. If you can see that difference, my hat''s off to you!

This "apparent" color difference is a general phenomenon, and can apply to any diamond of superior cut. It is not unique to any particular cutting factory, cutting technique or brand name. It''s when you compare a stone of superior cut with a similar one of mediocre cut that such a difference may become apparent.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Although it's assumed here (since 'EX' typically = GIA) I'd just add that for any apples to apples comparison the grading labs should be of equal strictness. We often have people call in who have seen H I J, or even G color grades at a department store jewelry counters or other commercial markets. The impression they received is that all diamonds in the G-J range show tint or even notable yellow - simply because the lab that graded them was soft.

Often a diamond graded G or H by a soft lab would be given I or J (or lower) if graded by GIA or AGS. Further, since diamonds with the best cut quality are not usually sent to soft labs there can be a "double-whammy" effect in their appearances.

Experienced Pricescopers can testify to how dramatic the differences are (when considering "same" grades on paper) between diamonds with top cut quality & strict grading - versus diamonds that were not well cut and sent to a softer lab.

 

[newbie124]

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

I was recently told that AGS tends to grade slightly softer than GIA on color. Has anyone found that to be the case?

I think I''m one of those people that just happens to be super sensitive to color. I''ve heard that girls can tend to be more perceptive than guys to color differences as well (refrained from making additional gender jabs