I Have a Question about color..

[elle_chris]

This may sound dumb but it’s something that’s been bugging for me awhile now.
Let’s assume two people both have round ideal cut stones. Both are J color, same ct. weight.

One person lives in a sunny climate. Think Tropical where there’s an abundance of sunshine most of the year.

The second lives in the Northwest where it’s cloudy/rainy much of the year.

Wouldn’t the person living in the northwest see the warmth of the stone much more often than the person living in the tropical climate? As the lighting there isn’t exactly optimal for great light return?

I’m wondering if where a person resides should also be taken in account when choosing the color of a stone. I’m thinking that in areas where the weather isn’t exactly great for fire and brightness, you’ll notice the body color in warmer stones more often even if they are ideal cut..

Am I wrong and thinking too much into this?

 

[arjunajane]

Hey Elle chris,
I have no idea how to answer your question technically - but this was my K colour today on a very gloomy, overcast day with almost nil sun...my point being, to me it looks just as white as on a sunny day..

I hope someone has a more informed answer for you !

 

[strmrdr]

Inside lighting was pretty consistent with just a few variations around the 1st world countries up until recently.
The changing of the laws in the US has altered that somewhat.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 9:59:30 AM
Author: arjunajane
Hey Elle chris,
I have no idea how to answer your question technically - but this was my K colour today on a very gloomy, overcast day with almost nil sun...my point being, to me it looks just as white as on a sunny day..

I hope someone has a more informed answer for you !

hey aj. that''s a great pic.

I also have a K. I did notice though that last year when I was in St. Lucia, that my K went crazy with fire most of the time. I didn''t see the body color at all. Here in NYC, where we''ve been having too many gloomy days lately, i started to notice the color much more often. There have been times when I noticed it before but never paid much attention. But lately, and I''m thinking it''s because of the weather, it''s driving me crazy.

 

[jet2ks]

The nice tan you get in the tropics makes the stone appear whiter against your skin?!?!?!?

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 10:02:28 AM
Author: strmrdr
Inside lighting was pretty consistent with just a few variations around the 1st world countries up until recently.
The changing of the laws in the US has altered that somewhat.

I don''t understand?

I guess I don''t mean just indoor lighting. I mean mostly natural light.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 10:06:03 AM
Author: jet2ks
The nice tan you get in the tropics makes the stone appear whiter against your skin?!?!?!?

lol..

I mean like today. It's a rainy day in nyc. When i take my pendant to the window, i can see the body color. On sunny days, it looks white.

 

[soocool]

Staring at my J colored diamond is the only thing that has been "brightening" my days lately with this ugly weather!

 

[LadyBlue]

Date: 6/18/2009 10:04:03 AM
Author: elle_chris

Date: 6/18/2009 9:59:30 AM

Author: arjunajane

Hey Elle chris,

I have no idea how to answer your question technically - but this was my K colour today on a very gloomy, overcast day with almost nil sun...my point being, to me it looks just as white as on a sunny day..


I hope someone has a more informed answer for you !

hey aj. that''s a great pic.


I also have a K. I did notice though that last year when I was in St. Lucia, that my K went crazy with fire most of the time. I didn''t see the body color at all. Here in NYC, where we''ve been having too many gloomy days lately, i started to notice the color much more often. There have been times when I noticed it before but never paid much attention. But lately, and I''m thinking it''s because of the weather, it''s driving me crazy.

When my diamond start getting greasy does not look as white as when is clean. Maybe your ring needs a good wash

some hot water and soap can make your stone look whiter.

 

[elle_chris]

The diamond was much dirtier in St. Lucia since I didn''t take the steam cleaner or ultra sonic with me . But was still "brighter" more of the time. It was kinda funny too because my husband noted how sparkly my pendant was for the first time since i got it. I got it about three years ago!

At home it goes through the US once a week but it doesn''t make a difference if it''s a cloudy/rainy day.

 

[LadyBlue]

Tell me, I''m from NYC too, and this rain is killing me

 

[Kelli]

I see your point. I live in Florida and I''ll take my H e--ring and my M pendant outside and I can''t see a difference. When the sun gets blocked, the difference is more noticeable. I still don''t mind the color of the M, I actually think it''s really pretty. But it does bug me that they don''t really MATCH!

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 12:18:28 PM
Author: Kelli
I see your point. I live in Florida and I''ll take my H e--ring and my M pendant outside and I can''t see a difference. When the sun gets blocked, the difference is more noticeable. I still don''t mind the color of the M, I actually think it''s really pretty. But it does bug me that they don''t really MATCH!

Thanks for posting, Kelli. Glad to know it''s not just me.

 

[LGK]

I live in the northwest, and have an M color OEC. On sunny days in direct sunlight, it looks pretty much the same as any other color of diamond- darkish grey body color, intense fire- and you really can''t tell what the true color might be.

On overcast days, it''s more apparent that it''s an M, but it''s still an attractive color to my eye- hint of offwhite. It really only looks an ugly color when it''s very, very, very dark, like overcast and nearly twilight.

So, yes- I''d say if you spent a *lot* of time outside, it might be something to think about. But, since I am not likely to be lingering outside in the pouring rain looking at my ring, I don''t care much at all. So, practically speaking, it doesn''t really matter too much one way or the other, at least to non-outdoorsy me.

 

[elle_chris]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, LittleGreyKitten.

I''m not outdoorsy but realized I spend enough time out to notice the warmth.
Just from walking to and from the subway, going shopping, lunch hour etc. I wind up spending a few hours outside each day. So these last few weeks with the nasty weather, the color''s become pretty obvious to me. (I''ve actually taken it off a few times to take a look and make sure it''s not in my head.)

Maybe it''s just time for an upgrade

 

[swingirl]

If you are unhappy with the warmth of your H I don''t think it''s going to matter where you live. With the warmer colors you either like them or you don''t because you will see the color in certain lighting environments.

I think you need to call WF and see what''s available in your size!!

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 5:35:09 PM
Author: swingirl
If you are unhappy with the warmth of your H I don''t think it''s going to matter where you live. With the warmer colors you either like them or you don''t because you will see the color in certain lighting environments.

I think you need to call WF and see what''s available in your size!!

hi swingirl.. It''s actually a "K" that I keep seeing the color in. I have a few loose H''s that I got really anal about last week after constantly noticing the color in the K. The H''s still look white to me regardless of the lighting (phew).

But like I said, it''s only happening now because, it''s been so gloomy here over the last couple of weeks and I took the time to really look closely at all my stones. In nice sunny weather, the K looks great.

 

[LD]

I would say yes because my diamonds look different in the UK (think grey, overcast skies - sunshine if we''re lucky) and in Turkey (bright skies, strong sunlight). The grey cast of the lighting in the UK overall has an effect on my diamonds and they certainly look more white when I''m abroad.

 

[elle_chris]

Hi LovingDiamonds-

I don''t know what color your stones are, but I''m very familiar with UK weather (there at least once a year). Aside from it not being optimal lighting for fire or brilliance, would yoiu say you can better see the body color?

 

[4ever]

I never really thoort about it before but I think what you are saying is ture.

My E-ring is a 3 stone with H (i think) coloured sides and a yummy M coloured center stone. Inside and in dimmer conditions the M colour is really obvious (yummy peachy golden colour) but if I take it outside in bright sunlight there seems to be much much less obvious difference between the M and the side stones ....which actually buggs me I like it best when the difference in colour is most obvious

.

I guess if you were super colour sensitive and lives somewhere with lots of gloomy weather it might be better to go for a whiter stone.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 7:21:49 PM
Author: 4ever
I never really thoort about it before but I think what you are saying is ture.

My E-ring is a 3 stone with H (i think) coloured sides and a yummy M coloured center stone. Inside and in dimmer conditions the M colour is really obvious (yummy peachy golden colour) but if I take it outside in bright sunlight there seems to be much much less obvious difference between the M and the side stones ....which actually buggs me I like it best when the difference in colour is most obvious

.

I guess if you were super colour sensitive and lives somewhere with lots of gloomy weather it might be better to go for a whiter stone.

I never thought about it either until a few weeks ago. Now it''s driving me crazy.

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 6/18/2009 10:02:28 AM
Author: strmrdr
Inside lighting was pretty consistent with just a few variations around the 1st world countries up until recently.
The changing of the laws in the US has altered that somewhat.

Storm - Are you referring to the laws encouraging the use of compact flourescents, and outlawing incandescents in a few years? BTW, I think CFs make gemstones look UGLY. Give me Reveal lighting!!

 

[Siamese Kitty]

I''ve noticed this, Elle. My "I" ering used to be so blazing white in direct sunlight when I was walking to school, but the minute I walked inside I could see the tint. I ended up switching to a G. I just got back from abroad where it was overcast and rainy many days (London and Paris) and thought my G looked a little less than bright white outside. Back in the Southern US, it''s super white again.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I would say you''re correct in your observation.

The standard for color grading of diamonds for many decades was the light coming in from the window with northern daylight. The body color of diamonds could be most easily seen in this light.

From my experience, it''s more difficult to spot the color when you''re using southern daylight, or in a region closer to the equator.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 8:53:48 PM
Author: Siamese Kitty
I''ve noticed this, Elle. My ''I'' ering used to be so blazing white in direct sunlight when I was walking to school, but the minute I walked inside I could see the tint. I ended up switching to a G. I just got back from abroad where it was overcast and rainy many days (London and Paris) and thought my G looked a little less than bright white outside. Back in the Southern US, it''s super white again.

I know what you mean. Once you notice it enough, i guess it is better to switch.

My e-ring is also a G. On dreary days, i still can''t see the body color. It definitely doesn''t look it''s best, and like you said- it''s less than "bright white" but it''s still white.. know what i mean?

 

[3Rocks]

thats a K? It looks icey to me.

It''s strange. My FI gave me a J color diamond promise ring. Beautiful stone but the color is too warm for me. How could your K shows no warm whatsoever? Not only your stone but I''ve seen lots of K, L, and M color that don''t show any warm at all here. How could that be? Just curious.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 6/18/2009 9:33:57 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
I would say you''re correct in your observation.

The standard for color grading of diamonds for many decades was the light coming in from the window with northern daylight. The body color of diamonds could be most easily seen in this light.

From my experience, it''s more difficult to spot the color when you''re using southern daylight, or in a region closer to the equator.

Thanks Richard.

I never thought that the weather where I live would play a role in the color of the stones I decide to purchase. I''m thinking it will in the future.