which grade to choose H or I

[watchdoc]

I am looking at round engagement diamonds. It will be about 2.75 to 3.05 carats. I am having trouble deciding on the color. The difference between a H and I is about 10K. I have not seen the diamonds personally and I guess this is probably the best thing to do. I am not confident in my own color grading ability and was looking for comments on the appearance to the average eye of these grades. I am not worried about the investment aspect and am just looking for the largest size for the money while retaing the best look. Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Moh 10]

Some people are very color sensitive, others are not.
Some people even are happy to pay big bucks for very high color and high clarity grades that they admit they cannot detect with their naked eyes.
They just like to know that they have the best.
Many people draw the line at eye-clean.
People vary.

You really have to get out and see these colors for yourself.
The difference is not imaginary, but is slight.
The color grades are VERY close together.

Face up when mounted the difference will be next to impossible for the "average" person to notice, especially if it is a well-cut round which returns tons of light to your eyes which can mask the yellowish tint of a lower-colored a diamond.
You may also consider looking for a stone with blue fluorescence which can shift the color away from yellow and towards a more colorless look when the light has ultraviolet component, such as sunlight.
As an added plus higher fluorescence can lower the price of a diamond.

You are struggling between H and I.
Other struggle between E and F or between L and M.
There is no right choice that applies to everyone.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/11/2009 2:55:18 PM
Author:watchdoc
I am looking at round engagement diamonds. It will be about 2.75 to 3.05 carats. I am having trouble deciding on the color. The difference between a H and I is about 10K. I have not seen the diamonds personally and I guess this is probably the best thing to do. I am not confident in my own color grading ability and was looking for comments on the appearance to the average eye of these grades. I am not worried about the investment aspect and am just looking for the largest size for the money while retaing the best look. Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks.

An I colour in this size might show a bit more warmth than a smaller diamond, although it will still be a ' white diamond'. H will still be very white, I is where you might notice a very slight whisper of warmth from the side. Best thing to do ( I assume you are considering GIA or AGS graded diamonds) if there is a Jareds near you see if they have any diamonds of similar size and same colour grade you can compare, also if there is a Hearts on Fire dealer near you, you could do the same. That way you will know where your own colour preferences lie.

I will also post a video for you, bear in mind a computer monitor cannot depict colour accurately so should be used as a guide only,

http://vimeo.com/3288695

 

[watchdoc]

That was very helpful. Thank you.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/12/2009 12:40:22 PM
Author: watchdoc
That was very helpful. Thank you.

Glad to help

 

[rshannon]

Yesterday we bought a L-M colored diamond 2.66 for 13,900.00 and had to leave it at the store to ship to sc for tax purposes.
I don''t know why we did not just tell them to ship the box. Now I am getting buyers remorse over this color.
I think we paid to much. I wanted a lighter diamond but we had such a hard time finding the larger stones.
I wanted a 3 but they were even more difficult.
Is LM color for a 1920''s ring round cut cv something uncertified to much to have paid?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/12/2009 3:04:03 PM
Author: rshannon
Yesterday we bought a L-M colored diamond 2.66 for 13,900.00 and had to leave it at the store to ship to sc for tax purposes.
I don''t know why we did not just tell them to ship the box. Now I am getting buyers remorse over this color.
I think we paid to much. I wanted a lighter diamond but we had such a hard time finding the larger stones.
I wanted a 3 but they were even more difficult.
Is LM color for a 1920''s ring round cut cv something uncertified to much to have paid?

rshannon, we will help you in the new thread you started rather than using watchdoc''s thread ok?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/11/2009 2:55:18 PM
Author:watchdoc
I am looking at round engagement diamonds. It will be about 2.75 to 3.05 carats. I am having trouble deciding on the color. The difference between a H and I is about 10K. I have not seen the diamonds personally and I guess this is probably the best thing to do. I am not confident in my own color grading ability and was looking for comments on the appearance to the average eye of these grades. I am not worried about the investment aspect and am just looking for the largest size for the money while retaing the best look. Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks.

Are they from the same vendor? Is it a stocking vendor?
I is a wide range and if it is a high I that would tilt the tables towards it for me.