Would I regret buying this K color diamond?

[OneExample]

Well, I have been on this site trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible over the past couple weeks in an effort to find a great engagement ring for my girlfriend. I have now stumbled upon this round brilliant...

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1465047.asp

Based on what I've learned, I think it might be a nice looking ring. What do you think?

But now the elephant in the room, its K color. In reading numerous threads on this site, I can tell that opinions vary on whether you should ever buy a low color ring such as this, let alone an engagement ring.

In short, am I going to regret buying this ring? Also, is there anything I can ask for from James Allen that may shed a little more light (pun intended) on how yellow or couldy this ring would look? Thanks everyone!

 

[0-0-0]

The cut of the stone looks nice. Have you seen a GIA K in person before? How will you be setting the stone?

It's still likely to face up pretty colorless most of the time. But it's also likely to look slightly tinted at an angle most of the time. IMO setting it in yellow or rose gold or in a bezel helps mask the tint somewhat.

If you are unsure, I think it's best to order it loose and see it in person before setting it.

 

[Blessed1]

Hi OneExample and Welcome!! I personally think that the stone is beautiful and having a 1.61ct L colored Ags0 diamond in my ering, I don't notice any yellow at all or cloudiness. A well cut stone usually will hide body color of warmer color diamonds. I love my diamond in all lighting and it sparkles like mad!! . I think that if your intended is not color sensitive and doesn't mind the lower color it can be great buy. This is just my .02 cents hth

 

[OCgirl]

Is there a reason why you want the clarity to be this high?
I would probably drop the clarity and up the color if this is an engagement ring.
You can drop to a VS2 or even an SI1 and you won't see the difference as long as it's confirmed eye clean to your standard by James Allen.

1.61 ct J SI1 Ex/Ex/Ex HCA: 2.6 $9,160 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1495577.asp
Will need to get ASET and IdealScope on this one. Not sure if cut is ideal.
1.51 ct J SI1 Ex/Ex/Ex HCA: 1.4 $9,062 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1463673.asp

 

[GMUAlum08]

I think it really depends on how color sensitive your Fiance is.

K and higher will definitely have a tint to them, especially from an angle.

Personally, I sacrificed clarity vs color because i know my Fiance is more color sensitive than clarity sensitive. I know she didn't want to have a diamond with any yellow so I went with a G color and sacrificed on clarity. .02 cents

oh yea, as long as you don't sacrifice on cut then you will be good either way

 

[E B]

It looks like a nice cut, but in certain lighting conditions, a diamond of that size will show some tint. Whether that's okay depends on the wearer.

Have you and your girlfriend talked about rings? If so, has she expressed any preferences?

 

[Doonester]

Two years ago I found a lovely L colored diamond that I got really close to buying. It's body color leaned silver-grey rather than yellow-brown. It looked great in vintage mountings, in white gold. Whether the stone leans warm or cool will make a difference, but it's a personal preference for certain. Without seeing it in person, you really won't know...

 

[yssie]

No one but you can possibly answer that.
Have the stone shipped out loose, play with it for a couple of days at home, find out what your eyes think.

I do not think a stone of that size will look icy white on close inspection or comparison to say a G/H/I unless you are particularly colour-insensitive.

 

[OneExample]

Thank you all so much for the responses. I think you have confirmed what I was thinking: I would just have to buy it and take a look. I have never seen a K in person, so I am just going off what I have seen and read in the forums.

The good news (or I think its good news) is that my girlfriend is not picky. She doesn't own a diamond, and knows knows almost nothing about them. She owns almost no jewelry, and she has told me she would be happy with whatever I get her.

OCgirl: With respect to lower clarities, I am certainly not opposed. The reason I gravitatad toward this particular stone is that it looked like many of the "signature" or "preferred" diamonds advertised by sites. Knowing as little as I know, I have shyed away from stones that look white faded, or blue tinted on the close-ups, even though I have no real basis for doing so. Many say "ideal" or "excellent" but look so different. You all just have a better sense of things. I'm still learning.

I guess I will have some thinking to do. I suppose James Allen has a reliable return policy so I would not be out anything by taking a look.

I will let you know how my adventure plays out!

 

[yssie]

Thank you all so much for the responses. I think you have confirmed what I was thinking: I would just have to buy it and take a look. I have never seen a K in person, so I am just going off what I have seen and read in the forums.

The good news (or I think its good news) is that my girlfriend is not picky. She doesn't own a diamond, and knows knows almost nothing about them. She owns almost no jewelry, and she has told me she would be happy with whatever I get her.

OCgirl: With respect to lower clarities, I am certainly not opposed. The reason I gravitatad toward this particular stone is that it looked like many of the "signature" or "preferred" diamonds advertised by sites. Knowing as little as I know, I have shyed away from stones that look white faded, or blue tinted on the close-ups, even though I have no real basis for doing so. Many say "ideal" or "excellent" but look so different. You all just have a better sense of things. I'm still learning.

I guess I will have some thinking to do. I suppose James Allen has a reliable return policy so I would not be out anything by taking a look.

I will let you know how my adventure plays out!

JA is definitely a reputable vendor and they do have a generous return policy. They don't spend as much on the photography of each stone as other boutique vendors do, but they also have lower pricepoints - different business models. It does mean you can't assume a stone that's a bit wonky in the pic is actually wonky IRL - could well just be that the photography was a bit off..

A couple others you may want to look into if you decide you'd prefer a higher colour, request review and IS photos -
1.4 I VS2 $9.1k http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1485561.asp
1.41 J VS2 $8.3k http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437504.asp