Please explain why my diamond is yellow to the newbie

[nicoliae]

I''ve been reading these boards for a few months now. I think I understand the 4Cs and table/depth, etc. but I''m confused on my own diamonds.

I have a pair of RB diamonds set in 3 prong basket platinum studs that my dad bought me. According to the appraisal I have (which was done by the jeweler he got them from

) they''re .32ct each, G-H color, SI3. No information on cut, table, or anything else. They have fire and look good from afar but when I look at them I see yellow up close. I thought yellow was caused only by color and not bad cut/clarity.

I''m just wondering if this is all caused by color and I need to go up higher in order for my eyes not to see yellow or am I missing something? I''m in the market for a new diamond ring and sadly these are the only diamonds I own so I''m trying to find out my preferences before ordering online. I''ve looked at own local jewelry stores but none of them carry much higher then a G.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/5/2009 1:30:01 PM
Author:nicoliae
I've been reading these boards for a few months now. I think I understand the 4Cs and table/depth, etc. but I'm confused on my own diamonds.

I have a pair of RB diamonds set in 3 prong basket platinum studs that my dad bought me. According to the appraisal I have (which was done by the jeweler he got them from

) they're .32ct each, G-H color, SI3. No information on cut, table, or anything else. They have fire and look good from afar but when I look at them I see yellow up close. I thought yellow was caused only by color and not bad cut/clarity.

I'm just wondering if this is all caused by color and I need to go up higher in order for my eyes not to see yellow or am I missing something? I'm in the market for a new diamond ring and sadly these are the only diamonds I own so I'm trying to find out my preferences before ordering online. I've looked at own local jewelry stores but none of them carry much higher then a G.

Welcome!

First question, do these diamonds have an EGL grading report? If so, do you know if it is EGL USA or an overseas EGL lab such as Israel? EGL are thought to grade more leniently in some cases than GIA, so this is a possibility that they are lower coloured than G, however even if I or J unless you were incredibly colour sensitive with this size, I wouldn't have thought they would look distinctly yellow... Also cut does make a difference as to how body colour shows itself, generally well cut diamonds will face up whiter than not so well cut.

Also are the diamonds scrupulously clean? Earrings especially are grease magnets, it could be a good cleaning will make them look better.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 7/5/2009 1:30:01 PM
Author:nicoliae
I've been reading these boards for a few months now. I think I understand the 4Cs and table/depth, etc. but I'm confused on my own diamonds.

I have a pair of RB diamonds set in 3 prong basket platinum studs that my dad bought me. According to the appraisal I have (which was done by the jeweler he got them from

) they're .32ct each, G-H color, SI3. No information on cut, table, or anything else. They have fire and look good from afar but when I look at them I see yellow up close. I thought yellow was caused only by color and not bad cut/clarity.

I'm just wondering if this is all caused by color and I need to go up higher in order for my eyes not to see yellow or am I missing something? I'm in the market for a new diamond ring and sadly these are the only diamonds I own so I'm trying to find out my preferences before ordering online. I've looked at own local jewelry stores but none of them carry much higher then a G.

G-H aren't yellow. While you may be color sensitive, I'm thinking the stone are not true G's or H's. When you get an appraisal from the same place buy, they're usually inflated in value, color, clarity etc.

There's really no way to be 100% sure unless they come with trusted lab reports/ and or are appraised by someone independant before being set.

eta: what Lorelei said

 

[nicoliae]

Okay, my appraisal is a piece of letter head paper from the jeweler. I have no EGL, AGS, or any kind of official report. So I'm going to guess that the jeweler just lied. Maybe they aren't G-H like the paper says. Wouldn't shock me much since I never cared for this jeweler to begin with but that's where my dad went. Would it be worth trying to find a good appriser and paying to have them do a new one for personal info and insurance reasons? According to the papers I have the earrings are only worth $730.

ETA: Would a new appriser be able to figure out my 4Cs without any other documents?

 

[stone-cold11]

Yap, they should be able to do that.

Find an independent appraiser though this link. These are not affiliated to any jewelers or selling jeweleries so they are only working for you and should be impartial.
https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/5/2009 1:48:04 PM
Author: nicoliae
Okay, my appraisal is a piece of letter head paper from the jeweler. I have no EGL, AGS, or any kind of official report. So I'm going to guess that the jeweler just lied. Maybe they aren't G-H like the paper says. Wouldn't shock me much since I never cared for this jeweler to begin with but that's where my dad went. Would it be worth trying to find a good appriser and paying to have them do a new one for personal info and insurance reasons? According to the papers I have the earrings are only worth $730.

ETA: Would a new appriser be able to figure out my 4Cs without any other documents?

An appraiser would be able to give you a good idea on the C's certainly as mounting permits, an appraisal will probably cost in excess of $100 so it depends on whether you feel you want to pursue this or not. Also SI3 is an invention of EGL's, this clarity grade is not recognized by GIA or AGS. Also it depends on the skill of the grader, someone might have declared these G colour and SI3 clarity and might not have had much in the way of diamond grading training.

Here is an appraiser tool should you feel you want to do this.

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

Also if you have homeowners insurance you might find at this type of value the earrings would be covered under that, read your small print if so or check with your insurer.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 7/5/2009 1:48:04 PM
Author: nicoliae
Okay, my appraisal is a piece of letter head paper from the jeweler. I have no EGL, AGS, or any kind of official report. So I''m going to guess that the jeweler just lied. Maybe they aren''t G-H like the paper says. Wouldn''t shock me much since I never cared for this jeweler to begin with but that''s where my dad went. Would it be worth trying to find a good appriser and paying to have them do a new one for personal info and insurance reasons? According to the papers I have the earrings are only worth $730.

ETA: Would a new appriser be able to figure out my 4Cs without any other documents?

Not accurately, no. But it''s because your stones are set. They can give you an educated guess with an estimated worth but that''s it.

 

[nicoliae]

Thanks to everyone for all your help.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Date: 7/5/2009 1:30:01 PM
Author:nicoliae
I''ve been reading these boards for a few months now. I think I understand the 4Cs and table/depth, etc. but I''m confused on my own diamonds.

I have a pair of RB diamonds set in 3 prong basket platinum studs that my dad bought me. According to the appraisal I have (which was done by the jeweler he got them from

) they''re .32ct each, G-H color, SI3. No information on cut, table, or anything else. They have fire and look good from afar but when I look at them I see yellow up close. I thought yellow was caused only by color and not bad cut/clarity.

I''m just wondering if this is all caused by color and I need to go up higher in order for my eyes not to see yellow or am I missing something? I''m in the market for a new diamond ring and sadly these are the only diamonds I own so I''m trying to find out my preferences before ordering online. I''ve looked at own local jewelry stores but none of them carry much higher then a G.

A few things:

(1)Diamond body color face up can be masked by great cutting...I have a couple J''s that face up beautifully.
(2)Since the appraisal came from the seller who had a interest in making a sale, depending on his/her ethics your stones could be
I-J, I-1.
(3)A good appraisal will probably be a small percentage of what the original earrings were purchased for...
So wether ot not it would make a huge difference on knowing would be up to you..Earrings in this size and quality range I would not be too worried about..
A good appraiser would be able to tell you concretely depending on how the stones are set what "range" the body color, make and clairty would be. Si-I1 stones are typical to earrings because of the smaller size and distance from the viewer...