Would you buy I, VS2 1.7C H&A as an engagement stone?

[stopchia]

Hi, I am a rookie when it comes to buying diamonds. I''ve done so much research over the last several months that my head is blowing up. I need people advice. My budget is 12-14K. I''d like to get an ideal cut, preferably H&A. I found the following stones on Good Old Gold. Would you recommend buying any of these? Is I color too low for an engagement ring? Should I go smaller but with better color? Please help.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3810/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/2372/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3659/

 

[milton333]

Color is a personal preference. Many ladies here have I and J and even K colored stones. Most of them were involved in the decision to go with that color, however, and were comfortable with it. I think you're asking if you should go with an I for a surprise engagement ring. If so, I'm not sure.

I have an H, and it does face up extremely white. Sometimes, from the side, I notice that the stone is not completely clear and colorless, it has a very faint tint to it. It's slightly yellowish beige. Like if you dropped a single drop of food coloring into a large bucket of water. It's not yellow, but once in a while I notice that it's not completely clear and colorless, either.

Now, this doesn't bother me. I was involved in picking this diamond. We had a smaller budget than expected (bad year for bonuses), and I expect to upgrade the stone in the future. 99.5% of the time, I see no color at all in the stone. I may be more color sensitive than most. Unless I'm going out of my way to scrutinize the side profile view of my stone, I'd never notice it. Almost all of the time, I only see the stone from the top, where the facets of my ideal-cut stone return lots of light and make the stone look very white. Side by side with an F stone, I see no color from the top, which is how I see the stone most of the time. You are looking at a larger size stone than I have, though, so there's going to be a larger side profile surface area for your gf to see the side of the stone that might display a tint.

I think the safest bet is to find a b&m store that sells AGS0 ideal cut RBs. Get a G and an H and an I, make sure they're graded excellent/ideal cut from the same lab (I prefer AGS), and have your gf see if she can tell the difference. If she's not bothered by an I, then go for it. If you're determined to keep it a surprise, you have two options. One is to get the I shipped to you, and return it in your return period if it bothers you. I'd have the stone shipped loose, but keep in mind that you're going to notice more color from the sides and bottom view, and you will mostly see it top-down when mounted. Otherwise, if you're being cautious or if you have time constraints, I'd go no lower than H and go a bit smaller. You can also drop clarity to SI1 if you communicate with your vendor about whether the stone is eye clean (no visible inclusions from a distance of about 8-10 inches from the stone).

 

[iheartscience]

I''m going to have to disagree with milton...I think an I/VS2 would be a great choice for an engagement diamond. A well cut I will not look yellow at all, and it will be so sparkly that''s all anyone will see. I have two H&A Is for my earrings and they look white as can be. Sadly, they are not 1.7 carats each, but a 1.7 should still be very white.

I colored diamonds are in the "Near Colorless" grouping and should appear just that...near colorless. You could always try flipping your combo and checking out H/SI1s, too. They may be around the same price.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think I color is on the borderline depending on color sensitivity. On the plus side, hearts and arrows stones are beautiful and face up very white. If your girlfriend has not expressed color preference, then it may very well be that she doesn''t know or care much about the specs. But if her friends or sisters have D-F diamonds, she might not like having an I color. Do you think having a larger stone would be more important to her? Then this would be the way too get greater size and stay within your budget! It would be hard for anyone to really advise you not knowing her preferences. But I think those stones certainly would be beautiful. This one would be my choice of those three:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3810/

 

[Jenn5504]

I would absolutely buy an I color stone as an engagement stone, but as the previous poster said, it's a personal preference/comfort issue. My stone is an AGS000 J color and I LOVE it. I don't think J is for everyone, but I PERSONALLY would be completely comfortable with an ideal cut I stone. This link has several pics of my J: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/together-at-last-signed-pieces-eternity-band-w-elaineh-inspired-wf-tiffany-knife-edge.63994/
Here's a pic of my 1.59 J color stone with my g-h color eternity band for reference:

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Like many variables about diamonds; color is a preference as is fluoresence. Some folks really desire it in a stone, while I would prefer one without. GOG#3810 (I VS2 1.73) has med. yellow fluoresence and hence that would be a deal breaker for me.

cheers--Sharon

 

[lumpkin]

I don''t think it has to be either I color or a smaller stone. What about dropping the clarity one grade and just make sure to get one that''s eye clean? I have an SI-1. I used to think an SI was too included and I wouldn''t like it, but over the years I''ve found I personally am more color sensitive than clarity sensitive. It''s all personal choice, but an I color is not all that tinted. If you put it up to a colorless diamond, though, you will definitely notice a difference.

 

[Lorelei]

Yep, it is a personal preference, I would buy an I for an e-ring in a heartbeat, as it would be plenty white for me, but there are some who may see a hint of warmth especially from the side in an I, so it depends. Many of the ladies here have I and even J in some large diamonds and they face up beautifully white, an excellent cut can make all the difference.

If the third diamond is eyeclean, that is the one I would pick.

 

[susi]

stopchia, I feel you or the dealer you have trusted and selected need to look at these 3 stones side by side under differing lighting conditions to see which face up whiter. Cut is the key.....I have an AGS 0 cut stone that's graded I and it faces up whiter than my Lazare Kaplan ideal cut F grade.

I have not compared these two stones from the back, however, which is how they were color graded. I suspect I would see a big difference that way.

But, since I don't wear my stones from the back........

 

[stopchia]

I am pretty sure that my g-friends values size over color. But I am buying this ring once. Hopefully it will stay in my family for generations and will be passed down to my kids and grandkids. So should I get something closer to 1.5C but hight color like a G? I appologize if I am repeating myself.

 

[mrssalvo]

Tiffany's goes down to an I color, so I figure if it's good enough for Tiff's it's good enough for me

seriously though, color is very personal but in an ideal cut stone your going to see sparkle over color, most with the lower color ideal cuts on his forum say they face up very white. Personally,yes, i'd take a I, VS stone in order to go larger.

ETA: it's also great if your going with a stone that qualifies for the lifetime upgrade. if you get an I and over time the color really does bother her, you can upgrade for a higher color.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/22/2008 8:56:24 AM
Author: stopchia
I am pretty sure that my g-friends values size over color. But I am buying this ring once. Hopefully it will stay in my family for generations and will be passed down to my kids and grandkids. So should I get something closer to 1.5C but hight color like a G? I appologize if I am repeating myself.

Let me ask you this first. Is your girlfriend the picky type? Does she notice things many others don''t?

Something else, GOG can run the diamond(s) through a machine that rates the color it''s showing up as. Your I might be a high I, bordering at H, or even come in at H. (rare, but it happens)

For the record, I''d pick the first one.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/22/2008 9:22:21 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/22/2008 8:56:24 AM
Author: stopchia
I am pretty sure that my g-friends values size over color. But I am buying this ring once. Hopefully it will stay in my family for generations and will be passed down to my kids and grandkids. So should I get something closer to 1.5C but hight color like a G? I appologize if I am repeating myself.

Let me ask you this first. Is your girlfriend the picky type? Does she notice things many others don''t?

Something else, GOG can run the diamond(s) through a machine that rates the color it''s showing up as. Your I might be a high I, bordering at H, or even come in at H. (rare, but it happens)

For the record, I''d pick the first one.

Is that the one with the yellow fluorescence? Beautiful cut!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/22/2008 9:37:38 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/22/2008 9:22:21 AM
Author: Ellen


For the record, I''d pick the first one.

Is that the one with the yellow fluorescence? Beautiful cut!

Yes. And I missed it, again.

Good one eagle eyes.

Ok, disclaimer. I would only pick the first one if Jon assures you it is having zero affect on the stone. Which is entirely possible.

 

[stopchia]

Doesn''t fluorescense help low color stones look whiter? Wouldn''t it be a positive thing to have little fluorescense?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/22/2008 9:54:13 AM
Author: stopchia
Doesn''t fluorescense help low color stones look whiter? Wouldn''t it be a positive thing to have little fluorescense?

Yes, if it''s strong enough. And yes, it can be a positive thing. However, that is BLUE Flo we''re talking about.

This is yellow, that''s different. We rarely see anything but blue. So you need to talk to Jon about that one.

 

[stopchia]

uhh, I see. Thanks a lot for the advice. I''ll talk to Jon.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/22/2008 9:42:41 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/22/2008 9:37:38 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/22/2008 9:22:21 AM
Author: Ellen


For the record, I''d pick the first one.

Is that the one with the yellow fluorescence? Beautiful cut!

Yes. And I missed it, again.

Good one eagle eyes.

Ok, disclaimer. I would only pick the first one if Jon assures you it is having zero affect on the stone. Which is entirely possible.

LOL - for some reason the yellow fluoro rang a bell with me with that diamond!

 

[milton333]

Again, I have to get back to the whole surprise engagement aspect of this. Personally, I''m very much against the surprise engagement ring, but I''m a stranger on the internet so take that for whatever it''s worth.

The easiest way for you to resolve your situation would be to go diamond shopping with your gf, have her try on several diamonds that are certified (I''d go with AGS0 ideal cut), in the G, H, and I range, and see if she is bothered by color. That, and/or I''d ask her, hypothetically, if she could get a slightly bigger diamond with a slightly lower color grade, would she prefer that to a slightly smaller diamond with a slightly higher color grade. Otherwise, you''re asking for prognostications from strangers about what your gf will prefer - it makes more sense to go to the source. You''re spending a lot of money, I''d want to be sure that she, and not a bunch of strangers on the internet, will be happy with your purchase.

That said, if you''re determined to go the surprise route, I would go H SI1 or G SI1, you ought to be able to get a 1.5 ct. That''s a "safe" play, and you''re still getting a very large and lovely diamond. You''re looking at GOG - they have an upgrade policy, so you could get a larger stone from there in the future if your gf wants one and finances allow. We often do advice guys to get I, J, or K color stones when they have an extremely limited budget. If you have $1500 to spend, you''re going to have to make some serious compromises. You, on the other hand, have a very respectable budget. I''m not sure that the small size difference between 1.7 and 1.5 is worth going down a color grade from the "safer" zones, particularly if you won''t enlist your gf''s participation in the process to be sure of her comfort level. Some people will notice some tint at I. There are passionate advocates for I and J, particularly if you are tightly constrained by budget, but there is a reason that higher color grades are more expensive, they are more generally perceived to be more desirable. Unless you know that your gf would be in the statistically smaller group that likes or prefers a lower-color grade stone, the safest thing to do is to stay higher. I come back to - enlist her participation in this process, or play it safe.

 

[stopchia]

Thanks to all. I am leaning towards a higher color now. Will try to look for G-H stone.

 

[phillystudent]

I never thought I''d go lower than a G or H until I took the trip to GOG and met with Jon. He pulled out various stones and the one I liked was an I in color and after he told me that I was worried and asked him to show me the difference. I''ll tell you its VERY hard to notice the difference when looking at the stone alone, even along side an D or an F stone. Only when placed upside down and in the right lighting was the color difference a little more obvious. In most lighting conditions and viewing distances, you''ll be hard pressed to notice the color. I felt it was alot like shopping for TVs in a circuit city or similar store. When comparing a bunch on a wall you can notice various different characteristics, but if viewed alone you''ll never see it. I''m on a tightish budget so this got me a great stone at a fantastic price and I will sleep easy knowing that this stone doesn''t look yellow. If everything else is right about one of those stones above, don''t let I stop you.


http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3941

 

[gulliverseyes]

/\ I guess it would depend on the setting as well, my setting really doesn''t show the underside of the stone at all, so maybe I could get away with a little lower letter? ... does that make sense?

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

It's really hard to see the lower color on round-shaped diamonds. It usually shows up in the points of pears, etc. You really cannot go wrong with anything from GoodOldGold.com. Everything Jonathan sells is first class. I definitely would buy an I color diamond for an e-ring, especially a well-cut and LARGE one!

I want to add that I used to say I only wanted diamonds colored F and above, VS clarity and above. However, I ended up with a proprietary cut in H color/SI1 and I am very happy with my choice. And I will probably be wearing it for the rest of my life, happily.