Ugh, I can''t decide on color!

[JeBri31508]

I went to look at some HOF diamonds today so that I could get a good idea of what my color tolerance is...and I left feeling even more confused then before I went! I am wanting either an ACA or a BGD Signature diamond, and I want to get as big as I can for around $6200--that is most likely the highest I can go. So, yes, this will get me a 1 carat but there''s just something about saying that my diamond is over a carat lol . I''ve been trying to decide between an H or an I diamond, and I''ll do SI1 clarity as long as it is eye clean. Half of me wants to pick an I diamond because I can get really close to 1.20 carats with that, but if I go with an H, then I might not be able to get to 1.10. even I realize these are very small mm measurements, but I swear my husband and I can tell the difference between .10 in diamonds. Now, at first, I couldn''t tell the difference between the H and the I, but then the jewelry guy put them face-down on white paper, and the difference was clear to me. The I was tinted. I should also note that they did not have a HOF diamond in the I color, so they brought me out another "ideal" cut diamond for the I. After I saw that the I was tinted on the bottom, I took both of them to the middle of the store so it was not under those lights, and *thought* I *might* be able to distinguish a bit of difference between the two. So, now, I just don''t really know what to do. Should I play it safe and go for the H, and just get a slightly smaller diamond? Or, go for the I and get a little more carat weight? I should add that the diamond is going in a cushion halo setting, if that helps. I''d just love to hear advice on what any of the PS''ers would personally do.

 

[ms.halo]

How often do you look at people''s diamonds face down? I''m not color sensitive--especially once a diamond is set--so I''d go for the bigger I.

 

[Gypsy]

Depends on your personality. You are going to be looking at the diamonds face up in a halo. That sucker is going to look white. But if you are not the type of person who can ''let go'' of the fact that the diamond is tinted pavillion up, and therefore the stone wouldn''t be mind clean to you, then get the H. Otherwise, once set, you won''t notice the color. That said. In a halo you won''t notice the size difference between the two stones either. So again, whatever you are mentally comfortable with. I think they are going to look exactly the same in a halo face up. The small amount of size and the slight hint of color won''t be visible once set.

 

[HVVS]

For H&A RB, I color with med to strong blue might "blue up" enough to offset the tint. If you set it in a halo, most likely you won't see much of the profile of the diamond unless you pick a halo that has a peg head standing up above the halo. I have a strong blue I OEC and a no-fluor H and both are pretty darned white face up. That H looks brown unmounted and face down, though, lol.

For princess cuts, I'd stay at H & preferably G & up b/c they are deep and they show huge amounts of tint from the side. To me, anyway.

I kind of skip over J and K and then start liking warmer colors like L & M b/c they are definitely light yellow or ivory, and not just a tinted white.

I color threads, and also be sure to look through the Eye Candy huge thread over in Show Me the Ring.
I:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/i-color-stones-in-platinum.9689/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/is-there-thread-for-i-color-stones.39886/

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Of course, it all comes down to preference. You''ll get a myraid of responses so here is mine: you wear the stone face up and honestly if you can''t tell the difference between the two colors by that view then get a larger stone. If you think it will bug you unitl the end of time b/c you "know" the color difference, that perception will not go away once it is set, so get the whiter stone.

You have options if you go with a vendor who as a good upgrade policy: you can get a I colored stone in a larger size now, then upgrade later to a "higher" color of the same size when your budget dictates.

If you don''t ever feel you''ll upgrade, then I''d opt for a higher color. Good luck on your decision.

cheers--Sharon

 

[DianaBanana]

Here''s another $0.02 for you - I have a beautiful pair of earings from BGD - they are a perfect match but one is an H and the other is an I. You literally cannot tell them apart, I''d say go with an I and maximize your size. I also have a K from BGD and you can definitely see a difference between it and the H and I.

Here''s a photo of the H and I......hope it helps!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/10/2010 6:30:50 PM
Author: Gypsy
Depends on your personality. You are going to be looking at the diamonds face up in a halo. That sucker is going to look white. But if you are not the type of person who can ''let go'' of the fact that the diamond is tinted pavillion up, and therefore the stone wouldn''t be mind clean to you, then get the H. Otherwise, once set, you won''t notice the color. That said. In a halo you won''t notice the size difference between the two stones either. So again, whatever you are mentally comfortable with. I think they are going to look exactly the same in a halo face up. The small amount of size and the slight hint of color won''t be visible once set.

Ditto. The halo is the great equalizer. I would opt for the 1.10 H color if I was getting a halo.

 

[JeBri31508]

Thanks for the opinions everyone! I do agree with Gypsy, that honestly either would end up looking the exact same in the setting I want. I''m kind of leaning toward going with the bigger I...for my current engagement ring, we were able to get F-G colored diamonds for a 3 stone setting, but had to compromise on size as a result, and it always bugged me. My center diamond is currently a .38 ct, and I used to just wish that it was at least .40. I know that is very silly, because everyone that sees it thinks it is a half carat, but it did bug me. However, I do wonder if I''ll notice a difference between my 3 stone and the new diamond in terms of color.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/10/2010 11:23:42 PM
Author: JeBri31508
Thanks for the opinions everyone! I do agree with Gypsy, that honestly either would end up looking the exact same in the setting I want. I''m kind of leaning toward going with the bigger I...for my current engagement ring, we were able to get F-G colored diamonds for a 3 stone setting, but had to compromise on size as a result, and it always bugged me. My center diamond is currently a .38 ct, and I used to just wish that it was at least .40. I know that is very silly, because everyone that sees it thinks it is a half carat, but it did bug me. However, I do wonder if I''ll notice a difference between my 3 stone and the new diamond in terms of color.

Probably not face up. I have compared a K and an F that I owned and even then the difference face up was surprisingly small. Color becomes more apparent on the tilt angles and from the side, so a halo setting really makes is easier to go lower in color.

 

[JeBri31508]

Date: 3/10/2010 11:28:46 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 3/10/2010 11:23:42 PM
Author: JeBri31508
Thanks for the opinions everyone! I do agree with Gypsy, that honestly either would end up looking the exact same in the setting I want. I''m kind of leaning toward going with the bigger I...for my current engagement ring, we were able to get F-G colored diamonds for a 3 stone setting, but had to compromise on size as a result, and it always bugged me. My center diamond is currently a .38 ct, and I used to just wish that it was at least .40. I know that is very silly, because everyone that sees it thinks it is a half carat, but it did bug me. However, I do wonder if I''ll notice a difference between my 3 stone and the new diamond in terms of color.

Probably not face up. I have compared a K and an F that I owned and even then the difference face up was surprisingly small. Color becomes more apparent on the tilt angles and from the side, so a halo setting really makes is easier to go lower in color.

THanks Dreamer, and good point on the halo making the size more equal! We will see....I''m probably just going to end up trusting Leslie and Brian on their judgement when it actually comes time as to which diamond is my best bet. From reading about other''s experiences with them, I am very optimistic that BGD will help me get an awesome stone!

 

[betsyp]

I''ve heard people talking about getting a slightly lower color diamond with blue fluo to make it look "whiter," but if that''s true, why do some jewelers talk like fluo is a bad thing? Wouldn''t everyone WANT fluo on H and I color diamonds if that was the case

BP

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 3/11/2010 12:29:04 AM
Author: betsyp
I''ve heard people talking about getting a slightly lower color diamond with blue fluo to make it look ''whiter,'' but if that''s true, why do some jewelers talk like fluo is a bad thing? Wouldn''t everyone WANT fluo on H and I color diamonds if that was the case

BP

http://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-flourescence/

 

[Cehrabehra]

*at first you couldn''t tell the difference - then he placed them upside down on a piece of paper?

When you start wearing your diamond upside down on a piece of paper - then it matters

If you couldn''t tell before - then seriously - it doesn''t matter! However if it is a MINDclean issue for you - don''t fool yourself into believing you will be happy with a lower colored stone if just knowing that turning it upside down on paper will make it obvious to you. It sounds like I''m kidding but I''m really not!!