near colorless vs colorless

[ryan87500]

What do most people have? The jeweler said that most people purchase near colorless stones, but is that really true? I was set on getting a D-F, but than the jewler showed me a H color that was a 1.83ct oval compared to a 1.5ct oval diamond for the same price.

 

[icekid]

Yes, I would say "most" people have near colorless stones, by virtue of the fact that there are more of them available. Plus, they are less expensive. You don''t necessarily HAVE to get a D-F. I would suggest that you determine how color sensitive you and your girlfriend are. Look at lots of diamonds in varying colors, and then see where you are comfortable.

 

[ryan87500]

In the store under his bright yellow lights, the stone looked yellow, but when he turned them off and only the florecents were one, or when we brought it outside it looked white.

Is that normal for larger stones to look yellow under those lights? I would think jewelers would want lights that make everything look whiter.

 

[Giangi]

Yes, lights can affect greatly the look of a diamond. Generally speaking, an H colored stone should face up quite white, considering it''s a fancy shape. Of course some people are more sensitive to color than others, but H is usually a great compromise between price and look.

 

[ryan87500]

From what I have been reading, this is a EGL H so it might really be an I or J.

 

[valeria101]

Your impressions sound very much like mine - about EGL and the different lighting...

Between D-F and G-H the difference of diamond tint is allot less than that between widely available kinds of ''white'' lighting (like those two kinds in the store). All diamonds pick up colors form the light source and the environment. If side by side tha larger H looked nicer to you overall, I see no reason not to go for it. In that ''nicer'' shape and brilliance could also play a part... there is no reason to regard the difference of color grades as the crucial factor there, IMO at least.

 

[Giangi]

An EGL-H may actually be a GIA I.. I advise you to have a look at the Diamond Labs survey conducted by ps: it''s a good read and will prove some interesting points.
With that said, I advise you to ask your vendor to show you the stone in natural lightning: it gives you a very good idea of its actual body color; most of the times overhead lightings and the general environment, as Ana pointed out, can be mischieving.