Tell the truth. do you like tinted stones b/c..

[Dreamer_D]

I like them because they are cheap in some cases. But cheap makes me really happy, so its not really a compromise I do think some diamonds look better with some tint, though. I can see the patterning and contrast better.

For your example, I too would like to see the two diamonds in question before choosing!

I want to rephrase my response!

I buy more tinted stones because I get more carat for my money. Its not price per se. It's carat!!

I do also happen to find my K-L stone quite beautiful and I don't know if I would like it as much if it was less tinted. I used to covet less tinted diamonds, but I don't anymore.

 

[msop04]

The D for sure. I'm wearing an I only because i want a bigger stone... I am totally happy with the current I stone because it is what i had anticipated. But if money is not a concern, will definitely go for a D...actually, F is good enough.

I agree with GreenBling. I love my J because it is "white enough" for me, throws the coolest pastels, and allowed me to get close to a 2.5 ct stone... if I'd chosen an H or I color, I would have had to compromise the size considerably. Best of both worlds! That said, if the choice was a D or an L... of course I'd choose the D! (but only if I'm paying the price of an L)

 

[msop04]

...and once it's in my little hands, I'd sell it and get an amazing 4-5 ct OEC in G-I color -- and some more bling with the money left over.

 

[junebug17]

I'd take the D - I'll be honest and admit that one reason I chose the stone I did (EGL J, oec) was because of the price - but I guess I'm ok with warmer diamonds because I'm very happy with what I have!

Just wanted to add stone size was also a consideration…I could get a larger stone going with the diamond I chose while staying in budget (and I really wanted a larger diamond )

 

[Dancing Fire]

[quote="Paul-Antwerp|1387372502|
I do wonder if it is correct that icy white is more rare. I wonder who may have true data on this and whether they would be inclined to make them public?

Just my 2 cents.

Live long,[/quote]


Paul
I wonder too...

 

[c-k]

I'd take the D. I would never want an H or below, unless I could sell it and upgrade the color. I would prefer D, E, F or G.
I'd much rather have a G 2 carat than an H, I, J, K or L 3 carat anyday.

OK, you can have the G 2 carat & I will take the H 3 carat anyday.

 

[heididdl]

i want 3.0 studs 3X D color

 

[pyramid]

I'd take the D. I would never want an H or below, unless I could sell it and upgrade the color. I would prefer D, E, F or G.
I'd much rather have a G 2 carat than an H, I, J, K or L 3 carat anyday.

OK, you can have the G 2 carat & I will take the H 3 carat anyday.

Sorted. I would even have a D-G 1.50 carat over a H-L 3 carat. Shows we all like different.
Another thing is that I am in the UK, don't see many if any 3 carats around these parts, mostly half carat diamonds, rarely 1 carat, may see larger in London city. Sensible answer is to take the D and sell it and then buy as Paul said earlier though.

 

[pyramid]

[quote="Paul-Antwerp|1387372502|
I do wonder if it is correct that icy white is more rare. I wonder who may have true data on this and whether they would be inclined to make them public?

Just my 2 cents.

Live long,

Paul
I wonder too... [/quote]


I wonder too. Still like white though, new fallen snow or old dirty snow - new dish washing water or old used. No contest.
Don't mind a bit lower in old cut stones though but would like to see D color large old cut side by side to see what I would think.

 

[Niel]

[quote="Paul-Antwerp|1387372502|
I do wonder if it is correct that icy white is more rare. I wonder who may have true data on this and whether they would be inclined to make them public?

Just my 2 cents.

Live long,

Paul
I wonder too...

I wonder too. Still like white though, new fallen snow or old dirty snow - new dish washing water or old used. No contest.
Don't mind a bit lower in old cut stones though but would like to see D color large old cut side by side to see what I would think.[/quote]

Stark white walls or soft cream walls. Is one more flattering way to put it

 

[pyramid]

White walls on a summers day with nice pictures and curtains.

Well its either large lower color or smaller high color or millionnaire

Just like some pick holidays over new kitchen or new cars over house remodelling.

 

[tyty333]

My pear is a D and to be honest I feel like it is too white. The lower colors are softer
And a little easier on the eye.

I didn't go out looking for a D pear, it just happen to be the right shape and have a
Faceting pattern that I liked. I thought the D color was a bonus but, 14 years later I think
I would enjoy it more if it was a G.

 

[pyramid]

Would really prefer that huge pink oval diamond that sold a few months back to any D color even of the same size.

 

[pyramid]

If I saw some of the 4-5 carat say O-W color rings on pricescope in real life with the beautiful settings, I definitely would find them beautiful too, a sparkling diamond is a diamond. It is all good.
Might even change my mind or want both which is likely but not possible.

 

[0-0-0]

Assuming that cut quality and size are comparable and price is not a factor. Between D and L-M? Most likely I would pick the D. Between D and G-I? I'm not so certain what I would pick.

 

[Rockdiamond]

We buy stones every single day- and always look for softer colors- as I wrote, it's sometimes more difficult to find softer colors.
To check my gut feelings, I checked on the wholesale database- and boy, did it prove my point.
Search parameters;
GIA graded
3.00-3.20
Cushion ( all- includes Cushion Brilliant Cushion Modified Brilliant)
Clarity IF-SI2
D color- 60 stones
O-P color- 1 stone
Increasing color range - start at L and down to T color- the total number of stones on the market is 33

We can point to the fact that many of the stones in this range may not get sent to GIA. I did a search including all the EGL's and HRD_ still only got 41 diamonds between L and T color

Goes to show that price is not necessarily based on rarity

 

[insured]

We buy stones every single day- and always look for softer colors- as I wrote, it's sometimes more difficult to find softer colors.
To check my gut feelings, I checked on the wholesale database- and boy, did it prove my point.
Search parameters;
GIA graded
3.00-3.20
Cushion ( all- includes Cushion Brilliant Cushion Modified Brilliant)
Clarity IF-SI2
D color- 60 stones
O-P color- 1 stone
Increasing color range - start at L and down to T color- the total number of stones on the market is 33

We can point to the fact that many of the stones in this range may not get sent to GIA. I did a search including all the EGL's and HRD_ still only got 41 diamonds between L and T color

Goes to show that price is not necessarily based on rarity

Your stats don't necessarily reflect natural rarity, just market availability. i.e. Many people looking for those larger sizes want the more budget-friendly lower colours, while the extremely expensive high colour stones of that size sit waiting for a Saudi prince, lol.

 

[Rebecca0388]

I picked my diamond because of it's peachy hue and I love it! Before I found it I had always preferred coloured stones. It's just personal preference I never really see my self owning a D E F cause I have never been drawn to them.

 

[Rockdiamond]

We buy stones every single day- and always look for softer colors- as I wrote, it's sometimes more difficult to find softer colors.
To check my gut feelings, I checked on the wholesale database- and boy, did it prove my point.
Search parameters;
GIA graded
3.00-3.20
Cushion ( all- includes Cushion Brilliant Cushion Modified Brilliant)
Clarity IF-SI2
D color- 60 stones
O-P color- 1 stone
Increasing color range - start at L and down to T color- the total number of stones on the market is 33

We can point to the fact that many of the stones in this range may not get sent to GIA. I did a search including all the EGL's and HRD_ still only got 41 diamonds between L and T color

Goes to show that price is not necessarily based on rarity

Your stats don't necessarily reflect natural rarity, just market availability. i.e. Many people looking for those larger sizes want the more budget-friendly lower colours, while the extremely expensive high colour stones of that size sit waiting for a Saudi prince, lol.

Good point- and true to a certain extent.
Maybe there's a lot more L color rough coming out of the ground, but it never reaches market.
OTOH, given that the only way to obtain diamonds is on the market, rarity in the market does equal rarity in practice

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

We buy stones every single day- and always look for softer colors- as I wrote, it's sometimes more difficult to find softer colors.
To check my gut feelings, I checked on the wholesale database- and boy, did it prove my point.
Search parameters;
GIA graded
3.00-3.20
Cushion ( all- includes Cushion Brilliant Cushion Modified Brilliant)
Clarity IF-SI2
D color- 60 stones
O-P color- 1 stone
Increasing color range - start at L and down to T color- the total number of stones on the market is 33

We can point to the fact that many of the stones in this range may not get sent to GIA. I did a search including all the EGL's and HRD_ still only got 41 diamonds between L and T color

Goes to show that price is not necessarily based on rarity

Hey David,

With many lower colors not being lab-graded, but rather sold uncerted, often not even as single stones but in parcels or businesses, such a search does not seem valid to check rarity.

Live long,

 

[bgray]

I'd take the D. I would never want an H or below, unless I could sell it and upgrade the color. I would prefer D, E, F or G.
I'd much rather have a G 2 carat than an H, I, J, K or L 3 carat anyday.

I have to agree. I love the crisp white of DE stones. I can often see color even in F stones that annoys me. I particularly like step cuts in DE. That being said I dont mind a G, H, I in a antique cushions or OECs because the stones look a little softer which somehow mirrors the irregularities that exist in those cuts. I would rather a smaller stone in a higher color.

I would like to add that much of my varying feelings about lower colored stones fluctuates depending on the actual undertone or tint. A brown or sepia tint is more appealing to me than yellow.

 

[Niel]

We buy stones every single day- and always look for softer colors- as I wrote, it's sometimes more difficult to find softer colors.
To check my gut feelings, I checked on the wholesale database- and boy, did it prove my point.
Search parameters;
GIA graded
3.00-3.20
Cushion ( all- includes Cushion Brilliant Cushion Modified Brilliant)
Clarity IF-SI2
D color- 60 stones
O-P color- 1 stone
Increasing color range - start at L and down to T color- the total number of stones on the market is 33

We can point to the fact that many of the stones in this range may not get sent to GIA. I did a search including all the EGL's and HRD_ still only got 41 diamonds between L and T color

Goes to show that price is not necessarily based on rarity

Your stats don't necessarily reflect natural rarity, just market availability. i.e. Many people looking for those larger sizes want the more budget-friendly lower colours, while the extremely expensive high colour stones of that size sit waiting for a Saudi prince, lol.

Good point- and true to a certain extent.
Maybe there's a lot more L color rough coming out of the ground, but it never reaches market.
OTOH, given that the only way to obtain diamonds is on the market, rarity in the market does equal rarity in practice

Could it be that they are just graded by softer labs and on the market as K or something.

 

[Acinom]

With the discovery of Russian mines, diamonds became less rare isn't it?
And 'certain companies' started to regulate the market (ie keep the prices at a certain level) by keeping a large number of diamonds in stock. Perhaps it's this regulation that also determine what colors we see on the market in certain quantities...

The De Beers business case is fascinating. I wonder how market dynamics would look like if all diamonds would enter the market! Prices would drop dramatically and more people would look for rare stones like rubies instead of white diamonds?

 

[Rockdiamond]

We buy stones every single day- and always look for softer colors- as I wrote, it's sometimes more difficult to find softer colors.
To check my gut feelings, I checked on the wholesale database- and boy, did it prove my point.
Search parameters;
GIA graded
3.00-3.20
Cushion ( all- includes Cushion Brilliant Cushion Modified Brilliant)
Clarity IF-SI2
D color- 60 stones
O-P color- 1 stone
Increasing color range - start at L and down to T color- the total number of stones on the market is 33

We can point to the fact that many of the stones in this range may not get sent to GIA. I did a search including all the EGL's and HRD_ still only got 41 diamonds between L and T color

Goes to show that price is not necessarily based on rarity

Hey David,

With many lower colors not being lab-graded, but rather sold uncerted, often not even as single stones but in parcels or businesses, such a search does not seem valid to check rarity.

Live long,

Hi Paul!
My experience in the NY market is that the business has undergone a lot of changes specifically regarding lower colors.
Years ago, one could find "cape" parcels readily on the market- without GIA reports.
But the prices were so much less than they are now. Such stones were arguably less in demand years ago.
This has had a number of impacts as I see it
Increased technology has combined with the higher prices, along with increased demand, by a pool of more educated buyers- the results I see are that far less truly horrible makes ( poorly cut stones) come to market. There are still some less than desirable makes out there- but a higher percentage are reasonably well cut. ( speaking specifically of fancy shapes) This has had the effect of making these capes more desirable stones- which in turn has led sellers to sell them singly- and generally with lab report.

I re-searched the database- and eliminated the check boxes for any lab- meaning all stones on the DB- regardless of report between L-T color.
From 33 we went up to 44.
If I do the search and include colors D-F we go from 60 D colored stones- to 295 diamonds D-F color.
This does not exactly prove anything- but it does show what's available to a certain extent.
My experience here in NY bears this out- parcels of larger diamonds, without GIA reports, in lower colors are not as readily available as in years past.... of course you may find differing results in Antwerp

 

[WinkHPD]

With the discovery of Russian mines, diamonds became less rare isn't it?
And 'certain companies' started to regulate the market (ie keep the prices at a certain level) by keeping a large number of diamonds in stock. Perhaps it's this regulation that also determine what colors we see on the market in certain quantities...

The De Beers business case is fascinating. I wonder how market dynamics would look like if all diamonds would enter the market! Prices would drop dramatically and more people would look for rare stones like rubies instead of white diamonds?

I think you are still thinking of DeBeers in the past, when they did indeed keep a large supply of diamonds from reaching the market. At that time they controlled a huge percentage of the market.

Somewhere along the line, they went public and then after many years decided they did not want to be public anymore and sold most of that overhang to buy back their shares. They now control less than 30% of the market last time I heard, and look to control even less in the future. In fact, it was partially this selling of the overhang that kept the market price of diamonds from raising for a period of time.

Perhaps Paul can illuminate us more with this part of the marketing history of diamonds, as he knows it much more closely than I do.

Wink

 

[Rockdiamond]

Interesting new discovery- by searching for round, as opposed to Cushion, we find 703 diamonds- these search parameters
Shape: Round; Size: 3.00-3.20 ct.; Clarities: IF-SI2; Colors: L-T; No treated diamonds; NO lab report required ( although stones with lab reports are included)

Changing the color to D-F we find 2007 diamonds available- still quite a bit more colorless-- but a higher percentage of "cape"-

 

[Niel]

So the rough may not be more rare, but the idea of a well cut stone in that range is more rare than a well cut colorless?

 

[Smith1942]

Like Niel, I'd have to see them. I've had a bad experience with the colour in my engagement ring, but the warmer colours that I see posted on PS often look really nice, like Niel's marquise. I also quite like peachy-brown tints rather than sunnier ones. I dunno, I've never seen a 3-carat L-M. Maybe I would like it. Depends on the cut, I suppose.

 

[beaujolais]

Bright white stones remind me of people who talk too loud, wear too strong of perfumes or fluorescent lights. It is completely not about the size or money.

To each his own or you know Kenny's phrase.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I wore a E for the past few years (was told it is closer to a D) and in the past few weeks I started wearing an H. My husband says the H is way more yellow. However, I discovered that I like the H more than the E. I think my sweet spot is F-G.