Superideal w/lower color or ideal cut w/higher?

[rubyprincess]

Assuming both stones are basically the same size, which way would you go? Looking at a superideal K and a well cut ideal in an I.

I know it comes down to a person's own preference for warmth in the stone itself but I've never seen the superideal stone in real life (the cutter doesn't have a retailer in my area) so I'm curious if YOU had to make the choice how and what did you do and why and, are you happy with your choice?

Thank you (and please let me know if I need to move if this belongs in a different area of the boards!)

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Assuming both stones are basically the same size, which way would you go? Looking at a superideal K and a well cut ideal in an I.

I know it comes down to a person's own preference for warmth in the stone itself but I've never seen the superideal stone in real life (the cutter doesn't have a retailer in my area) so I'm curious if YOU had to make the choice how and what did you do and why and, are you happy with your choice?

Thank you (and please let me know if I need to move if this belongs in a different area of the boards!)

Comes down to a case by case basis. You have to define "well cut", "ideal", "Superideal"
What grading lab?

PA/CA combination, length of lower halves, girdle variation, optical symmetry, size of table all can be different within the same category.

Gathering a survey of opinions isn't going to bring you any closer to answering that question for the intended wearer who may have their own preference different from the majority.

Also depending on what carat weight we are talking about it may be better to go slightly lower in size in a "Superideal" than drop from near colorless(I) to Faint yellow(K).

One the best ways to decide is to call in two diamonds(purchased from the internet) and look at them side by side in different lighting perhaps in an appraisor's office.

 

[Randall]

As a person who recently returned a diamond for being too warm in "I" color I'd be leery of dropping down to "K" strictly for going from an already great cut (ideal) to super ideal. Take a look at the super ideal specs and ask yourself if you can't find something similar that falls just outside of that category to be considered ideal.

The above poster's advice is sound; there's nothing like seeing it in person, but ask yourself if you think she or any of her friends (assuming it's for a woman) will ever look at the super ideal cut and think, "Wow, that super ideal is sooooo much nicer than ideal and soooo much more sparkly and filled with fire than ideal."

I'm a firm believer that cut is the most important of the 4 C's but because I also believe Color to be second... I have to say that I can't imagine the extra sparkle potential to be substantial enough that people would take notice and overlook the faint yellow color.

 

[D&T]

I used to own an ACA from WF K color (super ideal) and it is NOT a faint yellow color (I'm referring this to a modern round brillant, other cuts may show more of a yellow tint) it is not Super WHITe, but you can say it is more creamy in certain lighting condition, however still faces up beautifully and white to me in other natural lighting condition, and with the sparkle you'd see, won't really notice that its not ICY white. if you set it in White metal, it really will still be amazing.

You have to assess what your color tolerance level is, I will NOT steer you away from a beautiful super ideal K color to go up in color. it also depends on the price point, is that a factor and size?'

ETA:

I was very happy with the stone, however I traded it in only because I love Princess Cut square, otherwise I would have kept that diamond.

ETA: sorry going back to your question, I went for size and price point was a factor, so I Got a Super Ideal K color and added an extra .25ct

really if you put them side by side, of course you are going to notice a difference in color especially in the pavilion and I would venture to say you would choose the I color over the K, but please remember that you will not be wearing two loose stones on your hand, if you do compare diamonds rings to your friends, it will most likely be "how large and how much does it sparkle"

 

[Dreamer_D]

What is your definition of "ideal" and "superideal"? These are not standardized terms.

 

[Randall]

I found the following video to be extremely helpful with regard to the importance of color in diamonds. This and the James Allen color wheel convinced me that if money's an issue it's best go to get the best combination of cut AND color while still retaining the overall carat dimensions you'd like. After everything I read and saw... if you're going to compromise anywhere compromise slightly in carat size and/or clarity (as long as it's eye clean) to make up the difference.

http://www.vimeo.com/3288695

The human eye is amazing and color does have subconscious psychological effects. Movies are color-corrected deliberately for this purpose. Here's a link detailing a bunch of these color "looks." And the creators of these films are aware of these color techniques and use them regularly to set mood and create atmosphere.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18664_5-annoying-trends-that-make-every-movie-look-same.html

My opinion? If color is important enough that Hollywood spends millions just to subtly alter the "look" of movies for emotional impact then there's probably more to color than most realize. Having an ideal cut is crucial but taking into consideration the amount of color in a stone isn't far behind in my (limited) opinion. It was far more noticeable for me than many artifical graphic-driven color grade scales originally lead me to believe.

 

[Dreamer_D]

And just to offer another perspective, I personally find I/J color diamonds lovely, I like larger carat weight for my money, and do not like lower clarity . It is a totally personal decision how your weight the importance of the various characteristics of a diamond. In the end the only way to really know YOUR color preferences is to see diamonds in person, so if you have not done so I recommend that you do.

FWIW I owned a K color and found it too tinted for my liking, but I/J is just right for me.

And though I found the videos on GOG's site very informative, in my experiene diamonds look less tinted IRL than they do in the video.

Finally, be aware that there is a difference between detecting the body warmth of a diamond and finding it unpleasant. Many people like a little warmth in their diamonds.

 

[Randall]

And just to offer another perspective, I personally find I/J color diamonds lovely, I like larger carat weight for my money, and do not like lower clarity . It is a totally personal decision how your weight the importance of the various characteristics of a diamond. In the end the only way to really know YOUR color preferences is to see diamonds in person, so if you have not done so I recommend that you do.

FWIW I owned a K color and found it too tinted for my liking, but I/J is just right for me.

And though I found the videos on GOG's site very informative, in my experiene diamonds look less tinted IRL than they do in the video.

Finally, be aware that there is a difference between detecting the body warmth of a diamond and finding it unpleasant. Many people like a little warmth in their diamonds.

I completely agree with this!

If it feels like I'm trying to sway you towards color it's only because that stems from my own personal deep-rooted belief that the "traditional dimaond" should appear colorless and that I detect color easily. Everyone is different. Everyone seems to value an aspect of the 4C's (as well as florescence) differently so it's just a matter of determining which of the 4C's you value most and prioritizing them.

Don't just read or listen to what you're told by the vendors themselves. As Dreamer just suggested, go into a diamond store and look at them under different lighting conditions with your own eyes. It's the ONLY way to make an informed decision.

In closing, I'm a firm believer now that one of the main reasons diamonds became so popular in the first place was because (a) they appeared clear which seemed special... (b) they exuded sparkle, especially when craftsmen learned how to maximize light... (c) They were extremely hard and resistant and (d) they were once hard to find. I believe that when most people think diamond they think colorless. It's arguably the first characteristic the mind conjures up when thinking of diamond in comparison to other gem stones which are more known for various color characteristics (as commonly seen in birth stones for example - ie: Green emerald)

Now, having said that, I completely understand the appeal to "fancy colored" diamonds if you're rich enough to get them because of their rarity and the fact that you'd know you had something rare. However, maybe it's because I could never afford something like a "fancy colored" blue but when I see a "fancy colored" blue diamond I sort of just think, "reminds me of sapphire" rather than it being the other way around. Colorless gems like cubic zirconium remind people of diamonds because the top of the line in colorless is diamond. Colored diamonds, however, probably remind most people of the various birth stones they saw growing us as children. You think of ruby you think red. You think emerald you think green. I realize this is a weak argument but I'm just using it to illustrate how the words "colorless" and "diamond" are ingrained in us as synonymous at a very young age.

 

[malnik]

I would take Ideal cut with I. It's the best of both world. You'll get a supeior cut and a white color diamond. Superideal of course is a better cut, but I don't like K color very much.

 

[rubyprincess]

You have all given such sound advice. Thank you so much.
Oh and the K is a Crafted by Infinity (superideal). The I is a GIA with triple ex grading. The I stone is a 1/4 carat smaller than the CbI and the I is $1K more. I guess we have our work cut out for us. Not a bad problem to have I suppose.

 

[Fly Girl]

Having seen a number of Crafted by Infinity diamonds in person, they are indeed very special stones. They have a crispness and sparkle that is second to none. I'm not a fan of the K color, though. I wear an E or F for ring stones, because I like them to look colorless when I see them from the side. A K won't be.

It really is a personal decision and I don't envy you trying to make it without seeing the diamonds in person. BTW, my largest diamond is a well-cut (not even ideal) 1.5 ct F VS2. It is a beautiful stone, but it does have a different look than an ideal or superideal.

Good luck to you.

 

[slg47]

do you have the GIA report number (or all of the angles?) if you post that we can (or you can) see how the I diamond does on HCA.

also have you seen diamond colors in person? that might help

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think in that case I would try out the infinity stone and then if I did not like it, save up and upgrade (assuming you buy from somewhere with a really good upgrade policy like HPD or Nice Ice). I personally like the policies that accompany branded cuts, and I also do think there might be slight differences in the appearance too that I appreciate. I also like *knowing* I have a really well cut stone. I also prefer a .25ct increase in size for a lower price!! I made the same choice a while back and ended up upgrading from the K, but others have been perfectly happy with a K and a spectacular cut.

That said, to most people, a GIA triple Ex with good proportions will likely look about the same as an H&A branded cut (though some do differ in their opinions of this).

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

I think in that case I would try out the infinity stone and then if I did not like it, save up and upgrade (assuming you buy from somewhere with a really good upgrade policy like HPD or Nice Ice). I personally like the policies that accompany branded cuts, and I also do think there might be slight differences in the appearance too that I appreciate. I also like *knowing* I have a really well cut stone. I also prefer a .25ct increase in size for a lower price!! I made the same choice a while back and ended up upgrading from the K, but others have been perfectly happy with a K and a spectacular cut.

That said, to most people, a GIA triple Ex with good proportions will likely look about the same as an H&A branded cut (though some do differ in their opinions of this).

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