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Is a J Color too yellow

Stevie Brazen

Stevie Brazen

Rough_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 13, 2018
Messages
24
Hey team

Not ready to purchase, but still doing my due diligence. Just wondering what your thoughts are on J colour? I will have a limited budget, but want a super ideal, if not an old cut. The old cuts look beautiful in the warmer tones, but is J too warm for a super ideal. Knowing that Tiffany sell down to I color, that would probably be fine, but is J going too far? For a super ideal I would be after a 0.8 to 0.85. I dont know what this style of setting is called, but this is the style I will get made - its a mens ring. I havent decided on metal yet, but I dont like the idea of having to get white gold re-plated every couple of years.

Thats an M-N colour in the pics, but maybe the pics were photo shopped?


upload_2018-5-12_17-32-49.png
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Hi Stevie,

The diamond in the ring will be a warm stone being in the M to N range, no doubt about that, also it could be picking up warmth from all the gold. As to your main query, no, a J colour in a Superideal is not too low at all, as you're probably aware, the ' Supers' tend to face up white for the colour grade due to their cut precision and superior optics, however a touch of warmth might be seen from the side view.

Best thing to do is see exactly where your tolerances lie, if you have a Hearts on Fire dealer near you, go and look at their stones in a similar size and J colour so you can see for yourself. Alternatively, a jeweller that stocks AGS0 cut grade in a similar size and J colour would also give you a good idea or even GIA Excellent. You can look at photos but because computer monitors and colour sensitivity varies so much, it's best to look in person.

Lastly, if you shop online, pick an experienced vendor with a generous return policy so you have plenty of time to see the stone in person, or alternatively, get the unset stone sent to you so you can 'test drive' it first.

I hope this is helpful and please let us know if you have any further questions!:wavey:
 
What @Lorelei said :)

Edited to add. If you go with an antique old cut, make sure your inquire with the vendor about the girdle thickness for setting in prongs. Many old cuts have fragile girdles and should be set in a bezel or other protective setting. You could look at an August Vintage Round, Victor Canera European Cut, etc. They are cut to have the look of a ideal cut antique, but with a better girdle for prongs.
 
In that setting a J would be gorgeous.
 
Not a fan of yellow tinged stones. I would not go lower than an I and only then if it were graded by GIA or even Tiffany.
 
As others have said, this is a very personal decision. We have clients that look at a G color and see it as yellow. On the other hand many of our clients and friends actually prefer a warmer stone to an icy white one.
 
Here is my J from whiteflash. I think it's pretty white! When I initially bought it I thought I would upgrade to an I in time. I am totally in love with this stone and will stick with J!IMG-20180331-WA0002.jpgIMG-20180331-WA0000.jpg
 
Well, through trial and error, for me I know J-color is too warm.

However, echoing other posters above, what may be too warm for me may be exactly right for you.

Be aware that even within an individual diamond color range, color can vary ... for example, within the J-color diamond range, you can have higher Js (meaning closer to I-color) and lower Js (meaning closer to K-color). And setting and metal choice can really affect our perception of diamond color.

Try to visit your local jewelry stores, stores selling new as well as antique/vintage/secondhand jewelry, and check out the various diamonds. It is okay to browse; be sure to look at the diamond against your skin as well as away from the bright spotlighting.

Have fun getting to know your preferences!
 
Stevie Brazen said:
Hey team

Not ready to purchase, but still doing my due diligence. Just wondering what your thoughts are on J colour? I will have a limited budget, but want a super ideal, if not an old cut. The old cuts look beautiful in the warmer tones, but is J too warm for a super ideal. Knowing that Tiffany sell down to I color, that would probably be fine, but is J going too far? For a super ideal I would be after a 0.8 to 0.85. I dont know what this style of setting is called, but this is the style I will get made - its a mens ring. I havent decided on metal yet, but I dont like the idea of having to get white gold re-plated every couple of years.

Thats an M-N colour in the pics, but maybe the pics were photo shopped?


upload_2018-5-12_17-32-49.png
upload_2018-5-12_17-34-43.png
Click to expand...

As the pictures you included clearly show, mounting the diamond in a yellow gold ring make the diamond seem whiter by comparison.

I know that there are stores where the sales staff will not allow you to even see a diamond below an I color. To me this seems a disservice to their clientele. I liken it to a restaurant not allowing you to have ranch dressing on your salad because their kitchen staff does not like it.

You will know when you see such diamonds whether or not you like them. Many do, many do not. Neither is right or wrong, it is a personal preference and we can not tell you what your preference will be, only you can.

Wink
 
Hi! I think it’s what your eye sees and also mentally what you can live with. You may not see color when you see your stone alone, but you may have other diamond jewelry that is G-H-I and when you compare it, you may be able to tell.

I have an H stone and when I bought it. It looked pure white to me. However, when placed next to an eternity or other diamonds, I can see very yellow in certain lights.

Color is very subjective and you need to compare with your own eyes and not in photos. For me, H is the lowest I would go.

Good luck!
 
An ideal cut J color stone would still look "white". Only the people who are color sensitive would notice the warmth and most of them wouldn't care. The setting is something to consider st this point; that can change the look of the diamond. Size of the stone matters too, with larger stones having more noticeable color/warmth.

Good luck!
 
By the way, in the link above with JKL colored stones, the first photo is a diamond next to an eternity. This is exactly what I mean by you can clearly see the yellow in the diamond next to the eternity which is probably G-H-I.

Be sure to “compare” and not look at a single stone. Also think about your other jewelry in the future. I have F earrings and my H ring, and it bugs me to see the faint yellow. J is even several notches lower which will show more yellow. It’s like white. By itself, all white is white. Placed next to each other, there are tons of tints of “white”. Diamonds are usually big purchases so be sure and plan for future bling. And ask your fiancé too. My husband saw the yellow before I did. When I tried on an eternity, he said it made my H diamond’s yellow stand out more.
 
I just wanted to add if you do decide to go for an vintage diamond, just be aware some do come in warmer colours and if they're ungraded or graded by a lab other than GIA, the colour might be lower than stated so just something to keep in mind. For example, an I or J colour could in fact be a K or even L or lower depending on the grading lab or accuracy of whoever assigned the colour grade.
 
Miki Moto said:
By the way, in the link above with JKL colored stones, the first photo is a diamond next to an eternity. This is exactly what I mean by you can clearly see the yellow in the diamond next to the eternity which is probably G-H-I.

Be sure to “compare” and not look at a single stone. Also think about your other jewelry in the future. I have F earrings and my H ring, and it bugs me to see the faint yellow. J is even several notches lower which will show more yellow. It’s like white. By itself, all white is white. Placed next to each other, there are tons of tints of “white”. Diamonds are usually big purchases so be sure and plan for future bling. And ask your fiancé too. My husband saw the yellow before I did. When I tried on an eternity, he said it made my H diamond’s yellow stand out more.
Click to expand...

This is an excellent point, and definitely worth keeping in mind. As @Miki Moto alluded to, jewelry is rarely worn in isolation, so definitely consider the color of any other diamond(s) you may be wearing in the future with the ring. Most of the melee stones used in decent-quality jewelry such as eternity bands, tennis bracelets, etc. are F-G or G-H in color, and smaller stones typically look whiter than larger ones, so some color-sensitive individuals even see a slight mismatch in an H E-ring stone compared to their other jewelry (as is the case with Miki). Other, less color sensitive individuals may see no difference even between a D and a J (or not mind the difference). Just depends.

Also keep in mind that many women have a few costume pieces with Cubic Zirconias, which tend to be completely colorless (equivalent to D if they were graded). Lower-colored diamonds may exhibit quite a start contrast to CZ jewelry, so it may be best to stick to H or higher if the ring is going to be worn somewhat close to any CZ pieces.

Just more food for thought. :)
 
I proudly wear a P color in 18kt yellow gold. Even professionals guess in the H-I range unless I take it off and hand it to them for close inspection.

Of course it is REALLY well cut...

Wink
 
I think that there is beauty in all colors. It all depends on what you are looking for.
Until recently all six of my ering diamonds were F in color, that includes 4 CBI diamonds, my 3.01 F-SI1 pear and a 1.50 F-VS1 marquise. Then I went and bought a Q-VVS2, yes Q as in Quebec . That diamond is as beautiful as my largest CBI diamond and was $50k cheaper.
 
Thank you all so much for your input, advice and opinions. I really appreciate it.

Thanks Austina, I checked out that link, and there are so many great pics of beautiful warm stones.

Thank you Lorelei for your advice. I will check out J stones at a local retailer. And if I get a super ideal, I will definitely go to one of the highly reputable traders who contribute here on Pricescope.

Thanks Rockysalamander. I'll look out for the girdle size if I go antique. Do you think they will all be too fragile for the setting I want, unless I go new antique style cut?

Ceg, your ring is stunning. What size is the stone, and where is the ring from?

Thanks for your advice Marym. I will definately check out J colour in person.

Wink, I saw your P colour ring on youtube. Beautiful, and thank you for your input.

Thanks Miki Moto and Tree Scientist. Being a dude, I dont have any diamonds or other clear stones at this point in time. Though I did recently sell a pave ring which didnt fit me any more, and couldnt be made larger. I plan to change that though, so thank you for your advice.
 
Stevie Brazen said:
I'll look out for the girdle size if I go antique. Do you think they will all be too fragile for the setting I want, unless I go new antique style cut?
Click to expand...

Not all antique stones will have a problematically thin gridle, but some may. Its just something in inquire about from a knowledgeable vendors. Old Wold Diamonds, JewelsbyGrace, LoveAffairDiamonds, and IvyRoseVintage all are pretty often mentioned.
 
Thank you @Stevie Brazen. My stone is an ACA from whiteflash, 3.122ct, J, VS2. The setting is by CvB.
 
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