Is a "J" color that much more yellow than an "H" color stone?

[asscherisme]

I have a new project. Maybe. I posted before about how my brother was in the market for his wife for a ring. He never got one and shopped at local malls instead. My SIL liked size and he said she had no eye for quality, just happy to have a stone. My brother wants quality cut. He was turned off by the malls even though his wife would have been happy with zales or kay jewelrs.

So, for a woman who liked what she saw in the mall, and a husband who wants quality, how low in color can he go?

Would a J be too low? He and I have been looking online and it seems that for a really reasonable price you can get an AGS "triple zero" stone at a J/SI1 for around 6-7K for just under 1.5ct.

Would that look too yellow in white gold or platinum? For some reason the search function is not working for me but I know I have seen thread on this before.

Is AGS tight on color grades? He is set on AGS "triple zero" since thats what I have in my 1.63 ct stone and I told him if he stays just below 1.5ct he will get almost the same size visually but save a lot because he will be below a big price marker (1.5ct). My stone is an F color and my earrings are an H color so I''m not too familiar with the warmer colors.

I KNOW my SIL will love a J stone if she was happy with mall stones. Its more my brother who wants the quality (he worked hard for the money and he wants to by his wife the best - good man!)

My brother asked me (the family diamond expert LOL) if the average person will think her ring looks yellow. People at her office, people at the grocery store, friends etc. In a normal situation- and especially in the beginning when she is showing off her ring and then later just wearing and enjoying it, will the average person thing "Oh, thats a yellow stone" or will they just see the beauty of a pretty sparkly stone?

 

[angeline]

I''ve never seen a J so I can''t say... here''s a therad on K color stones... I know there''s one on I and J somewhere, I''m still searching...

K color in plat

 

[FireGoddess]

J color stones in platinum

 

[Shay37]

My friends KTiceRN and Alj and I had a get together. Al has a gorgeous H, I have an I, and KT has a 1.76 J. Whiteflash girls that we are, you can bet it was quality ice.

We laid them all next to each other on their sides on white napkins, upside down. I could not see any hint of color in any of them. Neither could they. We knew which was which, but it just did not matter. We did not have a D for comparison but all our melee was F-G and it did not make the color stand out either.

shay
Edited for spelling (or is it typing)LOL

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

well, mall store merchandice can vary drastically from one stone to another. In an Ering where she isn't specifically specifying color, I would use Caution going below I, and would think that an I color would be the safest bet to sacrifice color and improve size when giving it as a gift for someone else. But, given your specific story I am inclined to say that a J might be just the thing.

Perhaps take a couple of options from H to J where the only real sacrifice is in size (I.E. all the same clarity and equivalent cut grades). then get those three stones, one H that is smaller, an I slightly larger, and J the largest of all and do a side by side comparison if you can get them sent to an appraiser.

I would strongly recommend that just for the sake that the size differences are small, and the one step color differences are small, but doing a blind side by side comparison in various lighting and from various angles will allow him to weigh at which point he feels that the best size/color balance is achieved, wherein any of the aforementioned colors would offer an excellent value and allow for a nice ct weight.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''d probably play it safe and go with I color. When my brother-in-law needed an e-ring, I directed him to an H stone. So I is about as low as I''d feel comfortable recommending for someone else.

 

[SuzyQZ]

You are looking at RBs and I'm told that a well cut RB can really mask color well.

I have 3 radiant cut diamonds in my ring. Two "J" side stones and an "H" center. I don't know if I have a really bad "H" or two really good "Js". The fact is, I really don't care.

I'm sure there are those who are very color sensitive who can tell the difference, but to me, and the average observer, all three diamonds look the same. I doesn't matter what the "paper" says they are, they look good to me and I love my ring. No one ever asks me what color they are, or whether or not they are all the same color grade.

So what I'm trying to say here is, if the diamond looks good to your SIL, and she is not color sensitive, then I think you can really get a good deal with the lower colors. Keeping in mind that a good cut is essential.

Here are some pictures. The experts can probably tell the difference, but I can't. And the lower color really saved us a lot of money.

Here goes. 1st picture is in indirect sunlight, I think I was in the car when I took this one.

 

[SuzyQZ]

Here''s a second picture, inside on my kitchen counter with only indirect sunlight coming in.

 

[SuzyQZ]

Here's a side view against a white background, which is normally the "kiss of death" for showing color. All three look pretty consistent, albeit, I can see a "little" difference in this picture. In real life, that is never the case.

I know I'm comparing apples and oranges here (RB to Radiants), but maybe this will help to ease your mind that the "eyes" tell the true story.

 

[KtIceRN]

Date: 9/19/2007 7:35:15 PM
Author: Shay37
My friends KTiceRN and Alj and I had a get together. Al has a gorgeous H, I have an I, and KT has a 1.76 J. Whiteflash girls that we are, you can bet it was quality ice.

We laid them all next to each other on their sides on white napkins, upside down. I could not see any hint of color in any of them. Neither could they. We knew which was which, but it just did not matter. We did not have a D for comparison but all our melee was F-G and it did not make the color stand out either.

shay
Edited for spelling (or is it typing)LOL

I have to second Shay on this one. (Hi Shay

boy did we have fun at that GTG! We have to do it again soon!!)

I have the 1.76 J VS2 RB (strong blue fluro) for my e-ring and a 1.12 J SI2 (no fluro) bellerina pendant. I have to say the I do not see any hint of color. I started out with an H an am so glad that I went with the J. I admit I was a bit nervous at first after hearing people say the a J would be a bit yellow. But I do not regret my decision AT ALL!!!

To be honest most people are not PSers and do not think like we do. We are crazy about diamonds and tend to be ALOT more strict than the rest of the normal world. Most people are used to seeing only poorly cut stones, so when they see ones that are well cut they are so blown away buy the sparkle that there is no issue with the color at all. I have never had anyone say that my stones were yellow. No some people are color sensitive but I tend to believe that they are few and far between.

No the Js are not "icy white" like a D but I am sure that your SIL any all of her friends will be so happy with the cut, sparkle and size of her stone that color will be the last thing on their minds.

Now don''t let too many people know about the warmer colored stones looking so good. We don''t want the secret to get out, then too many people will want them and there will not be enough for us!

Good luck in your search!

KT

 

[asscherisme]

Thanks for all the great replies. I smiled at the though of the get together where you are all laying your rings on whiite napkins. I knew I could help him on the question here LOL.

I tried to convice him to register and post but her does not like posting online. I will certainly send him an email with a link to this thread.

Those links were really helpful too!

Gorgous rings posted- all of them.

And the 3 stone radient is amazing.

diamondseeker, I had never though of lower colors for myself, nothing against them, I just was attracted to the white. But my earring stones look really white to me and only when I hold them right next to my F stone can I barely detect a different. But even that is really slight.

He is definately going to for cut. My stone has convinced him of that. And I have convicned him that an AGS "triple zero" is safer for someone who knows very little about diamonds than a GIA EX cut.

Now, next step is to convince him its safe to buy online.

I''m excited for my SIL. I adore her and I feel excitement like he is getting engaged even though he has been married longer than me.


So it sounds like the best advice for now would be to find a store that is willing to show him an H, I, J side by side or even an I and J side by side that are either GIA or AGS so he can be sure they are appropriate color graded. Then from there he can shop online.

Now I''m hoping he likes the J. I know she will and I think he can get her a really nice 1.5 ct amazing cut well within his budget.