Quick Decision Needed - Color?

[jjred22]

It is my girlfriend''s b-day next week and I think it would be great to propose. I need to decide on a ring fast and am quite a novice so am a bit nervous. Cut is the most important, then Carat and just want the rest to be sufficient.

After my research I am debating the following diamond:
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1182556.htm#

My biggest concern is the J color, especially since I want a platinum setting and I''ve heard some mixed things about going this low. Please those who know more than someone who has done research for more than 3 days offer advice. Thanks!

 

[FireGoddess]

It says sold - are you having them hold it for you?

If so, there are many threads here on I and J colored stones in platinum....and they all look stunning. A quick search should pop up some relevant threads.

 

[FireGoddess]

Here''s a great thread on J stones in platinum

 

[dastewar]

Date: 5/18/2005 6:36:53 PM
Author:jjred22
It is my girlfriend''s b-day next week and I think it would be great to propose. I need to decide on a ring fast and am quite a novice so am a bit nervous. Cut is the most important, then Carat and just want the rest to be sufficient.

After my research I am debating the following diamond:
http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-1182556.htm#

My biggest concern is the J color, especially since I want a platinum setting and I''ve heard some mixed things about going this low. Please those who know more than someone who has done research for more than 3 days offer advice. Thanks!

I haven''t looked at FireGoddess''s threads, but I think you might find them to be J lovefests.

Just to give you a balanced view, I believe I recall a PScope vet commenting that J does not face up white. The J''s I''ve looked at do look yellowish or "warm." You should go to a local jeweler to get a sense of what the colors look like.

 

[hoorray]

Color is personal. I have an "E" e-ring stone, some "G" earring stones, and a K/L original e-ring stone. I can see the difference. It is not offensive to me, but it depends on what I want. I wanted icy white for my earrings and new e-ring, but the warmth of the k/l is also very nice -- just different. Many people are very hapy with I and J colors, but I would say there is also a camp that is not. I know you are running out of time, but if you can get to a store that sells well cut stones to look at the colors in person, it would probably help you make your decision.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/18/2005 7:01:12 PM
Author: Smith

I haven't looked at FireGoddess's threads, but I think you might find them to be J lovefests.

Just to give you a balanced view, I believe I recall a PScope vet commenting that J does not face up white. The J's I've looked at do look yellowish or 'warm.' You should go to a local jeweler to get a sense of what the colors look like.

FYI, it is a thread filled with pictures. Of course people love their rings, or why would they buy them??? However, the pictures can help you to see what various I/J/K colored stones look like in white metal rings, which was the original question.

Having said that, a computer screen is not going to be completely true to life, and every screen is different, as is every person's color sensitivity. Check out some pictures, check out some stones if they are available to you.

ETA: I've had an I color stone, and I currently have a D. Could I tell a difference? Absolutely. I love my D, and don't know how low I could go now after having it. But do I think the J's on that thread look good? I sure do.

 

[noobie]

Date: 5/18/2005 7:14:30 PM
Author: lop
Color is personal. I have an ''E'' e-ring stone, some ''G'' earring stones, and a K/L original e-ring stone. I can see the difference. It is not offensive to me, but it depends on what I want. I wanted icy white for my earrings and new e-ring, but the warmth of the k/l is also very nice -- just different. Many people are very hapy with I and J colors, but I would say there is also a camp that is not. I know you are running out of time, but if you can get to a store that sells well cut stones to look at the colors in person, it would probably help you make your decision.

I find myself agreeing with lop again. You need to go see some properly graded stones. I normally won''t buy a J. However I only decided that after I bought one and looked at it for a week. That''s just me. It''s not yellow by any means, just has a different character.

 

[dastewar]

FireGoddess: Good points ... I hope the term "lovefest" wasn''t offensive, besides, everyone ought to love their stone!

I just wanted to present a counterpoint to the favorable responses I expect he will see on those threads. If he is rushing and just reads those threads and concludes, "Based on these threads, J is the way to go for me!" I don''t think he''d be getting the whole story.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 5/18/2005 7:26:18 PM
Author: Smith
FireGoddess: Good points ... I hope the term ''lovefest'' wasn''t offensive, besides, everyone ought to love their stone!

I just wanted to present a counterpoint to the favorable responses I expect he will see on those threads. If he is rushing and just reads those threads and concludes, ''Based on these threads, J is the way to go for me!'' I don''t think he''d be getting the whole story.

I agree and I think your point is a valid one. I believe Garry H was the "vet" in the other thread that you mention. I think the best advice given so far was to try and see some stones in person...maybe compare a couple to see how color sensitive you are...put a D next to a J and of course the J looks off...but if just putting a J in a platinum ring...it won''t look yellow.

 

[cflutist]

Date: 5/18/2005 7:26:18 PM
Author: Smith
FireGoddess: Good points ... I hope the term 'lovefest' wasn't offensive, besides, everyone ought to love their stone!

I just wanted to present a counterpoint to the favorable responses I expect he will see on those threads. If he is rushing and just reads those threads and concludes, 'Based on these threads, J is the way to go for me!' I don't think he'd be getting the whole story.

Smith, well said. The Diamond Color Poll on Pricescope which can be found here shows that only 7% of respondents have a "J" colored diamond and that 86% of respondents have "I" or better. The poll also shows that "G" (19%) and ""H" (18%) are the most popular colors.

 

[jjred22]

Thanks for the replies to my original posting. I actually took the early advice and went to check some out. While the J I saw looked quite nice I don''t want to be too cheap with this once in a lifetime decision so may go with a smaller yet higher quality color (H+), and she can upgrade to bigger later.

 

[Islandia]

I don''t know if you are still reading this thread but I wanted to let you know that I just finished my engagement ring search. Based on the pictures I saw in the thread mentioned earlier, I thought at first I would be willing to go as low as J on the color to find a superb diamond. But after looking at a few stones locally that were J in color, I really felt like I could tell a difference between J and G types in color so I went with a higher color. I think pictures don''t really capture the color difference very well and you will need to see for yourself before going for a J. Based on just looking at the pictures of all those really exquisite rings in the J color stones thread, I would have purchased a J colored stone as well. Then again I haven''t seen a really ugly or deformed diamond on this forum. Everyone has such lovely stones so I am going to feel self concious posting a picture of my engagement ring when it gets here. What if I am the first to break the only really beautiful stones trend!?!

 

[Maxine]

I think it can be a totally "different" look.....Not good, not bad...just a matter of preference....

 

[MissAva]

Personally I did the same thing you did. I saw the J thread and went WOW these look great. I saw maybe 10 j stones and they all looked a yeelow or warm to me. I would rather have a smaller H then a bigger J any day. That is not to say that J diamonds arent pretty, just not my taste. What color are you shooting for now?

 

[pqcollectibles]

Noting the difference can be attributed to several things. Quality of make. Hue of the rough the diamond was cut from. (Color is graded in levels of hue saturation. The hue can be brown, yellow, grey, blue, blue-green,........., etc.) The individual person''s color perception.

Mental is also a huge factor. Preconceived notions of the characteristics you must or want to have.

Did you KNOW they were J''s when you were viewing the diamonds?? Or were some diamonds blindly placed in front of you for you to look at and play with?? Someone who thinks they must have IF or VVS may "see" inclusions in an eye clean SI if they know the clarity grade in advance.

And yes, I love my J. Most people, including jewelers, think it''s much higher color. I was a bit of a color snob before PS, but not any more. Now I wouldn''t trade the value of a beautiful J color diamond, just like I would readily consider a great I1. It all depends on the diamond.

 

[catcher]

I am recently engaged and received an I stone. It turns out that I am very sensitive to color so we chose to exchange that stone for a G, just slightly smaller (went from a 1.51 to a 1.41) with an even better cut (H&A). It really is a matter of personal preference. I love my new G and personally would like to have a D or E in the future. If you''re not sure on the color, I would maybe go a tad smaller and better in color. The warmth of the I stone that I had bothered me, but the stone was beautiful.

Good Luck!

 

[Dancing Fire]

i''am in teh H color camp,G color, if i had a lot of money. if you show me some well cut G and D stones one at a time,i will not be able to tell which is which.now...table down side by side, then YES, i will be able to tell the difference.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Ideal cut diamonds in "lower" colors, can be dazzling and appear very white, but I agree that there is perceptible warmth to most people beyond an H or even an F or G to some very keen eyes. I''ll never forget how shocked I was when I viewed a 1.5 ct J Superbcert (one of the best cut diamonds you can get--amazing stones)... yes, face up, it was close the G I had next to it but from the side--no doubt--very warm.

It''s a personal thing. All these diamonds are beautiful. I know my H isn''t as white as an E or high F. For me, H was the limit to get size balanced with the whitest stone I could afford in that size range. Sure, i''d love an E but for me (key word me) I wanted more size and the balance was struck at 3 cts, H.

Just like it''s okay for people to love J diamonds, it''s okay that for some, the whiter grades are preferred and are, indeed, whiter. That''s just the way it is.