Show me your G/H 1-1.5 ct RB! Can''t decide which colour to get for e-ring.

[puravida]

I''m trying to decide whether I''d prefer a G or H coloured stone. I''m leaning towards an eyeclean SI1 about 1-1.5 ct in size. I''ve been looking at the BVD ACA stones and am amazed by them. Lindsey at BGD sent me some photos of some G and H stones. In the photos I can''t tell the difference in colour between them.

But I went to a jeweller on the weekend and compared a G and H stone. Initially I couldn''t tell the difference from the top. But then when viewed from the side I could tell the difference (well, okay the sales guy told me which was which and THEN I saw the difference).

It seems that in person I can see the difference but in the pics sent of BGD stones I cannot. I''m just wondering how different the stone would look in person.

Is the proper way to judge colour from the top or from the side?

I''d love to see pics of other ladies'' stones that are similar to the ones I''m looking at. So if you''ve got an SI G or H stone about 1-1.5 ct in size, please post pics here. Nothing too much bigger than 1.5 bc I know that the bigger the stone gets the more apparent the colour difference is.

Also if anyone had a similar experience trying to pick between G and H, please share your reasoning!

Thanks!

 

[luv2sparkle]

Really, I think you would be ok with either one. Unless you are really color sensitive you probably won''t notice the difference, especially in a stone as well cut as
BGD. Personally, I would go for a VS2 as opposed as a SI1, but again that is simply my personal preference. If Brian and Lesley tell you the stone is totally eye clean,
you can believe them.

 

[yssie]

Date: 1/18/2010 8:05:45 PM
Author:puravida
I'm trying to decide whether I'd prefer a G or H coloured stone. I'm leaning towards an eyeclean SI1 about 1-1.5 ct in size. I've been looking at the BVD ACA stones and am amazed by them. Lindsey at BGD sent me some photos of some G and H stones. In the photos I can't tell the difference in colour between them.

But I went to a jeweller on the weekend and compared a G and H stone. Initially I couldn't tell the difference from the top. But then when viewed from the side I could tell the difference (well, okay the sales guy told me which was which and THEN I saw the difference).

It seems that in person I can see the difference but in the pics sent of BGD stones I cannot. I'm just wondering how different the stone would look in person.

Is the proper way to judge colour from the top or from the side?

I'd love to see pics of other ladies' stones that are similar to the ones I'm looking at. So if you've got an SI G or H stone about 1-1.5 ct in size, please post pics here. Nothing too much bigger than 1.5 bc I know that the bigger the stone gets the more apparent the colour difference is.

Also if anyone had a similar experience trying to pick between G and H, please share your reasoning!

Thanks!

In well-graded stones it should be very nearly impossible to tell the difference between one colour grade top-down. At the jewellers, were you comparing GIA or AGS graded stones? Were they loose or set? Other labs are generally more lenient, so there may have been a greater discrepancy... or you may just be that sensitive

.

Labs grade face-down. You will see more tint (and more difference between grades) from the side, where there's no sparkle to obscure the body colour. Whether this is something to consider depends mostly on your setting - if you're planning to set it high, with a lot of the pavilion showing, it would be more of a concern than a multi-prong or bezel setting..

I originally had a G. For my new stone I debated between a G and an H too, and I wound up with an I, so I'm not really helpful in that regard

 

[stone-cold11]

Diamond color are graded from pavilion, as it is easier to tell colors apart. Once mounted and not side by side, it will be difficult, which is why accurate grading of diamond can only be done loose.

 

[puravida]

If its an eyeclean SI1, for me its not worth the $ to have to sacrifice size for clarity that is not detectable. The pics that I saw of the SI1 are awesome. Lesley says that the H stone I'm looking at is eyeclean. If I become more serious about the stone I'd peruse the issue farther I suppose and get Brian's opinion.

Thanks for the other posts too. Yssie can you post pics of your ring?

EDIT: I forgot, one stone was GIA and the other Gemscan (I'm from Canada).

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Hi Pura Vida-Color and Clarity differences are less noticeable in ideal cut stones. IMO the best value combo is G-H and VS2-SI1 if you want a really white stone, I would get the biggest stone possible for my budget from BGD with any combination of those parameters. it will be amazingly white, and clear, and sparkly. Can''t wait to see what you pick!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I''m sorry to say you won''t be able to judge color from photos, and also you wouldn''t be able to tell a G from an H anyways. Not muc hhelp, eh?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree that photos will not help you judge color. However, there is a great color tutorial with photos here:

http://goodoldgold.com/content.php?c=14

There is not much difference between G and H. But I can see that my F color stone is more colorless than my H color stone. It''s really all a matter of preference, because all ideal cut stones look great from the top view.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Photos make it difficult to judge color. If you are able to tell the difference between a G and H from the side, it sounds like you''re rather color sensitive.

I''m looking at diamonds right now and will be looking in the SI1 range and really I''ll be looking at cut and then *if* I find a diamond within that size that is a G and one that''s in my budget, I would pick that. Chances are that I''ll end up with an H since I''m on a tight budget and I will be happy with that

 

[puravida]

Thanks for the additional replies. I guess I should have expected to be told that photos won''t really show the diff between a G and an H

I guess I''m looking for more reassurance that the H BGD stone I''m looking at will look colourless. The only reason I think I might be able to tell the difference between G and H is that I saw a difference in person. Though one was a GIA stone (Ex/Ex/Ex) and one was a Gemscan stone (Ideal). Maybe the GS stone doesn''t have as tight grading and what they called an H could be a low H or even an I.

It''s actually very good news to hear people say that I probably wouldn''t be able to tell the difference.

I did use the GOG site to research colour. I guess bc I saw more of a difference when they compare D to H vs. comparing D to G, I figured this means I could tell the difference between the G and H.

 

[tyty333]

Date: 1/18/2010 8:22:50 PM
Author: puravida
If its an eyeclean SI1, for me its not worth the $ to have to sacrifice size for clarity that is not detectable. The pics that I saw of the SI1 are awesome. Lesley says that the H stone I''m looking at is eyeclean. If I become more serious about the stone I''d peruse the issue farther I suppose and get Brian''s opinion.

Thanks for the other posts too. Yssie can you post pics of your ring?

EDIT: I forgot, one stone was GIA and the other Gemscan (I''m from Canada).

Got any pics to post? I''d love to see them!

 

[wsblue430]

I have a gorgeous Brian Gavin 2.39 ct. stone H/SI1 - completely eye clean, and it is amazing! No color can be detected no matter what! Both G and H will be identical, so go for either one! Good luck to you!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I don''t think you are going to notice color in a BGD H at all. It will probably look whiter than the G you looked at in the store.

 

[shine4me]

I myself am very color sensitive, when I picked out my first stone after my original stone (SI H 1.21) chipped

it was an SI I color 1.68 round and I could see a little color but it initially did not bother me. When it was mounted and shipped to me and I could see it in all different lights I realized how color sensitive I was. So I talked to the lady I had been working with and I swapped it out for a SI H 1.54 round and I love it. I am so much more happy with my H. I see NO color at every angle and in several different lights just sparkles! My personal pref and sweet spot is a H in color. I like I said earlier am very color sensitive and I couldn''t tell the diff between some of the H''s and G''s I tried on and like some of the other ladies said with a well cut stone you should be a ok whatever you choose!

 

[puravida]

That''s right! I remember your gorgeous stone! I came across it on PS and on BGD''s website.

This is such great news about the H....with the $ I''ll save on going down a colour I can go a teensy bit up in ct weight....yahoo!

 

[puravida]

Now I feel silly even worrying about a gorgeous pic like this!

 

[nicoleanne]

While I don''t have a 1 ct stone to speak of, I do have an H from BGD. While I can see the color against white paper, it is so faint that I don''t think it is worth talking about, especially since the cut is so fantastic. It faces up brilliantly. I can''t speak about comparing to a G, but I wouldn''t worry about going with the lower color.

 

[puravida]

Oops just realized I didn''t quote properly above, lol.

My "That''s right!..." comment was directed at wsblue

 

[wsblue430]

Date: 1/19/2010 6:26:18 PM
Author: puravida
Oops just realized I didn''t quote properly above, lol.

My ''That''s right!...'' comment was directed at wsblue

I got it

Puravida.. I promise you.. you will be so thrilled! No matter what lighting, it will be white and so darn sparkly!!! Look at that image..its perfection!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I chose to go with a G color (bordering F according to Brian) diamond and do not regret that choice. I am sure than an H will be very colorless in all but the least forgiving lighting environments, but there is a crispness to the truly colorless diamonds that I am not sure an H will have? Some H''s are closer to G''s and some closer to I''s too. Lesley and Brian will tell you where the diamond you are considering might fall in that spectrum. Brian is apparently very good at judging color.

For me there was the "mind clean" issue for color to. I just wanted a G. If you want a G, then perhaps don''t copromise. The price difference in not *huge* in that size range between a G and an H, though 1 to 1.5 ct is a wide range encompassing about a $6k difference in price between a 1ct G SI1 and a 1.5ct G SI1.