lowest acceptable color

[teobdl]

Hey all,
I'm curious what your personal lowest acceptable color grade is for an ideal cut (AGS or GIA) modern round brilliant. Assume that AGS and GIA grade color the same (I've been told by vendors that it's pretty darn close and not worthing splitting hairs over).

 

[Niel]

At what CTW?

 

[yssie]

Ditto, what carat weight?

For me in the 2-4ct range I like MRBs between I and M. <I is too white for the look I want and >M the colour starts concentrating more than I prefer.

 

[teobdl]

Say, between 0.5 and 1.5 ct

 

[soxfan]

m

 

[SB621]

I personally wouldn't go below an H unless it was an old cut. For MRB's I like to stay higher in color for that carat weight.

 

[FancyDiamond]

I assume the diamond is used for a ring? Depending on the type of jewelry, e.g., necklace, earrings, or bracelet, the answer will vary.

 

[bunnycat]

I may have a bit of a split personality on my preferences. As others have posted it depends on the carat weight.

Around and under 1ct I prefer the look of G/H/I but after say around 7mm, I like stones to bring in lots of interest from their surroundings, and that usually means dropping below J.

 

[yssie]

I may have a bit of a split personality on my preferences. As others have posted it depends on the carat weight.

Around and under 1ct I prefer the look of G/H/I but after say around 7mm, I like stones to bring in lots of interest from their surroundings, and that usually means dropping below J.

I retract my last answer and ditto this one

I have a 0.8ct E (beautifully cut 60/60) that I just flat out dislike - it's too bright blazing white, it lacks 'depth' and 'character' to my eyes. So I would guess G/H/I for <7mm is just right for me too.

 

[Acinom]

Depends on cut:

G-J for MRB's
M- V for OEC's and OMB's

I have a huge preference for warm old cuts

 

[SB621]

Depends on cut:

G-J for MRB's
M- V for OEC's and OMB's

I have a huge preference for warm old cuts

Couldn't agree more!!!! Something so romantic and exotic about low colored old cuts. They make me think of walking the champs elysees in Paris or the canals in Venice...I might be completely biased though

 

[AprilBaby]

F/G/H for MRB for me, higher looks fake, lower to yellow. For an old cut I or below.

 

[msop04]

Agreed that it depends on carat weight and cut... I love my J MRB, but if it was set an anything that exposed the sides, I don't think I'd be as happy...

MRB: >K ...unless I had the chance to get a BIG one - like a 4 or 5 ct or so - then I'd be good with a K and just slap a halo on it
Old cuts: I-M ...love all the beautiful pastels they throw around!

 

[ecf8503]

If you like white, H or above. If you are ok with a "soft" look (not yellow!) then I-J

 

[TC1987]

+1 For "white" stay with H and above. Basis for that answer: If I could only own one significant diamond, and it is for my engagement ring that I will wear daily and show off to everyone, what would I want.

That said and voted, I do have lower color diamonds, J, L, M, and I also wear that "from the stars" simulant/gem which has quite a tint, like K/L range if not slightly green, and some sim stones that are equivalent to O/P range.

 

[mr.ingocnito]

I got my wife an AGS000 H&A RB, I color, 1.7 ct, no fluorescent. Her skin is a light brown. If I could redo it I would probably go H and spend slightly more. If I had more funds I would just go straight G. All in all though the I is pretty darn white most of the time. With certain poor lighting it can get a very slight milky yellowish tint. It's set in a BGD fishtail pave ring, which I believe hold G colored side diamonds.

To answer your question though I think 'I' is an acceptable color. Maybe even J. It really depends on the person. I'm not surprised H was chosen the most since I think on average that would be acceptable all around.

 

[makhro82]

The only two diamonds I've ever owned were H and J. The H looked very white and I never saw it look yellow in any lighting condition. It was .90cts. The J looks very white face up, but I can appreciate some color from the side but it didn't bother me since that part of the setting was rose gold. When I get my "permanent" diamond which will most likely be an MRB I will be going for another H.

 

[Tinabell]

Thanks for creating this post! I have been pondering this same question and have been wondering what others think. I am excited to see others' comments!

 

[beaujolais]

Lowest acceptable - Z, yes in a rb too.

The question for me would be highest acceptable - not a fan of bright white.

 

[CrazyBirdLady]

G is the lowest I would go in any size/shape diamond

 

[maxs.memo]

I think that most people have their cutoff somewhere in the middle of the near colorless range. I doubt it is because people can SEE or PERCEIVE the color -- color vision for white/brown/yellow usually is pretty uniform across populations.. It is probably moreso the preference for the point at which it begins to bother them...

 

[Niel]

Heres a poll i did recently
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/poll-do-you-find-i-colored-mrb-attractive.191976/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/poll-do-you-find-i-colored-mrb-attractive.191976/[/URL]

 

[BhavinJ]

If the ring is made in Yellow Gold then I'd go for J/K color with strong flo and if its in white gold then I'd go for H/I

Rgds,
B

 

[Kelli]

I said L and lower because I have an M and think it's lovely. Then I remembered we are probably talking about an engagement ring... Suddenly the standards go higher since that one is THE ring you'll be wearing every day. Mine is an H and I never once found myself wishing for a whiter stone. If I could do it again I might go for a slightly lower color and a slightly bigger size, but wouldn't go too too low. When I compare the H and the M, they are both beautiful and both fiery as anything, but the H is definitely BRIGHTER.

 

[missy]

Totally subjective answer. It depends on various factors. Skin color/tone, cut and shape and size of diamond, type and metal of setting and probably many more that I cannot think of right now. Making all things equal however for an MRB stone for an ER I would say G is my sweet spot. And all bets are off if we are talking old cut diamond. I have an L OEC and it is perfect for me and that is coming from a color sensitive person who had a G MRB as her ER for many years before that. I still wouldn't go below a G for an MRB ER but for old cuts well, that's a different story and it really depends on the specific stone so I am not sure any generalities apply.

 

[Christina...]

I guess I'm not that fussy when it comes to color and can appreciate the beauty of each color grade. DEF actually looks to cold against my skin, and NOP starts to blend in too much, so for me personally I would want to be somewhere in between, with a preference for G-J. I've recently been lusting over fancy light yellows and have viewed some XYZ range stones for comparisons and I thought they were gorgeous! If we are talking antique cuts, then my preferences are for KLM...but that preference is based on posted photos only. Sadly I haven't been able to locate many great old cuts in my area to truly develop a preference.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'd never recommend going below J in an engagement ring because the tint can begin to be seen in a J. I always recommend the G-H-I range for an engagement ring diamond. I have looked at a couple of J stones but the tint was easily visible. Old cuts are different and I might go lower especially for a right hand ring.

 

[yssie]

I said L and lower because I have an M and think it's lovely. Then I remembered we are probably talking about an engagement ring... Suddenly the standards go higher since that one is THE ring you'll be wearing every day. Mine is an H and I never once found myself wishing for a whiter stone. If I could do it again I might go for a slightly lower color and a slightly bigger size, but wouldn't go too too low. When I compare the H and the M, they are both beautiful and both fiery as anything, but the H is definitely BRIGHTER.

I've compared my (beautifully cut) GIA J MRB to a (beautifully cut) G HoF and the G was indisputably brighter and on first glance definitely looked bigger, despite being ~0.15mm smaller diameter.

I still personally prefer the look of the J/K/L range because I like a 'soft' stone colour in a 'soft' metal colour, but there's no arguing the above!

 

[CharmyPoo]

For an e-ring, I and above for modern or old cuts. I don't want a lower colored stone as an e-ring.

For RHR rings, any color would be perfectly fine for me. I just need to find the right setting for it.