Is it higher clarity or color that results in bigger price jump?

[diamondlove4]

What causes a bigger price increase, a step above in color or a step above in clarity? For example, all things being equal, what would cost more, a stone that is E VS1 or one that is F VVS2? My understanding is that as soon as you go from VS to VVS, the price of the stone jumps up significantly. Is the same true when you go from F to E?

Thanks!

 

[HopeDream]

Here's the most recent price report (generated from a link on the front page)

It looks like clarity may have slightly more influence than color

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/19/2009 7:17:36 PM
Author:diamondlove4
What causes a bigger price increase, a step above in color or a step above in clarity? For example, all things being equal, what would cost more, a stone that is E VS1 or one that is F VVS2? My understanding is that as soon as you go from VS to VVS, the price of the stone jumps up significantly. Is the same true when you go from F to E?

Thanks!

It has always been my understanding colour has the most impact on price, I assume it still does.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

I do not think that there is a definite answer to your question. It often depends on the area of colour-clarity-combos that you are comparing.

For instance, in colours like K, L and M, going up one or two clarities has a very limited influence on price. Then again, going from D-VVS1 to D-IF might warrant a 40% increase.

In the same way, price-jumps because of colour might be more dramatic in the higher clarities, while in the lower clarities, it makes a minor difference.

And very often, some invisible borders might lead to higher price-jumps, such as going from VS1 to VVS2, or from SI1 to VS2, and in the same way, from G to F and from I to H.

Live long,

 

[Demon]

According to these charts, a J VVS1 is more expensive than an I VVS1. Why would that be??

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 11/20/2009 10:59:40 AM
Author: Demon
According to these charts, a J VVS1 is more expensive than an I VVS1. Why would that be??

This is probably due to a glitch in the script that creates the price grid because it is not accurate... At the moment, there is about a 22% price difference between 1.00 - 1.49 carat, VVS-1 clarity, I to J color, rounds, normal make and J color obviously is lower Price Per Carat than I color.

Ditto what Paul said... But want to add that availability of specific range of goods will create fluctuations of price and thus there are no hard and fast rules for whether clarity or color will have more of an effect on price - so much has to do with what is actually available at the moment, what is limited at the moment, and what there is an abundance of.

 

[LGK]

When I had my 3.55 ct M colored OEC appraised, the appraiser told me that fixing the chip on the edge (which was the clarity-grade-maker) and thus taking it from VS2 to IF would make very little difference on the price.

 

[Demon]

Date: 11/20/2009 1:33:54 PM
Author: Todd Gray

Date: 11/20/2009 10:59:40 AM
Author: Demon
According to these charts, a J VVS1 is more expensive than an I VVS1. Why would that be??

This is probably due to a glitch in the script that creates the price grid because it is not accurate... At the moment, there is about a 22% price difference between 1.00 - 1.49 carat, VVS-1 clarity, I to J color, rounds, normal make and J color obviously is lower Price Per Carat than I color.

Ditto what Paul said... But want to add that availability of specific range of goods will create fluctuations of price and thus there are no hard and fast rules for whether clarity or color will have more of an effect on price - so much has to do with what is actually available at the moment, what is limited at the moment, and what there is an abundance of.

That makes more sense. Thanks.