Yellow Diamond in White Gold

[vince187]

My girlfriend insists on a 2 carat+ diamond, a white gold band and prefers an Emerald cut. Conventional wisdom says get 'H' or better color for the white gold and a VS1 or better clarity as flaws will be noticeable with this cut. This puts me way above budget (roughly $10,000). Possible compromises are a princess cut (with more flaws one color worse), a smaller stone, a smaller house, or a cheaper wife. Another possibility I thought of was to get a very yellow stone (J or worse) and put into white gold to try to maximize contrast instead of trying to minimize it. This will either look awesome or awful. What do you think?

 

[Jax172]

J or K is not going to look "yellow" enough to really make it seem like it was a fancy yellow. Also, typically you have the prongs done in yellow gold for a fancy yellow to make it more "yellow" looking.

I'd be honest with your girlfriend about your budget and what you can reasonably afford. Offer to upgrade on a specific anniversary maybe. I think she'd rather get a smaller but quality ring than something not quite as nice just to hit a carat size.

 

[vince187]

Grades M-Z are available online. How much of a difference is there between a "fancy yellow" and these grades?

 

[madelise]

Does she *like colored diamonds? You don't want to foot the bill for such a large purchase when, from what you've written, she knows what she wants and wants just that. What if she doesn't like yellow diamonds?

That aside, I think the M range are cheapest of all colors, since that bracket isn't considered white at all, and also not considered yellow. They're that in between. There are a lot of BEAUTIFUL M's.. Especially in older cuts.. But again, is that what she wants?

Check out Diamonds by Lauren.. I think their website taught me the most about COLOR.. Then, to learn about cut, watch Jon's videos at GoodOldGold

 

[vince187]

I think more than anything else, she wants something different (which is why a round diamond in yellow gold is almost the worst ring I can pick). She doesn't know very much about diamonds. I don't either, but it seems a shame they charge big bucks for a stone with no yellow, and big bucks with a stone with lots of yellow, but the middle ground is cheap. She has talked about brown and black diamonds, not necessarily for an engagement ring, but she likes them for other jewelry. At least within my budget, she cares most about a large stone, with flaws (color or clarity) being an acceptable trade off for size.

I have also talked to several married female friends - they all can tell me what carat size their ring is. If I ask about the other 3 Cs, they have know idea at all, but have papers somewhere at home.

I will probably buy sight unseen from an Internet site, and send the stone back if I don't like it. If I like it, I will probably do a temporary setting (cheaper engagement band, plastic Perkin's ring, I am still working on this) to propose, and work with her and a local jeweler to do a custom setting for the permanent ring. Even within my budget and with a custom platinum setting, the stone will be 90% of the cost.

The main issue for me is to decide whether a higher color grade in a white setting will look acceptable, or look like crap. If it looks like crap, I need to find the maximum amount of color that is acceptable and pick a stone from there.

 

[daintyG]

Hi. Try finding threads that have pictures of warmer colors in white gold.

This thread has an emerald cut M! [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/got-my-l-color-1-5-ct-diamond-ring-show-me-your-l-diamonds.146560/#post-2644614#p2644614']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/got-my-l-color-1-5-ct-diamond-ring-show-me-your-l-diamonds.146560/#post-2644614#p2644614[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-j-color-diamonds.109806/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-j-color-diamonds.109806/[/URL]
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-s-z-considering-purchasing-a-very-warm-diamond.146848/#post-2649995#p2649995']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-s-z-considering-purchasing-a-very-warm-diamond.146848/#post-2649995#p2649995[/URL]

I would post more but I have to go to work now. If you want more, look at the similar threads in the box to the right side of the page on these links I gave you. I hope this will help some.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The color of the metal is irrelevant here. The tint of the stone will be apparent whether you use yellow or white metal in my experience. You and your gf need to decide how much tint is too much!

In my opinion, a step cut is not a good choice for someone trying to maximize size because they don't face up huge for carat weight and they show body color more than brilliant cuts.

If unique and carat are her middle name, then I totally suggest an oval or a pear. Finding a well cut one can be challenging, but they face up huge.

How does she feel about a halo setting? It really adds a tremendous about of spread.

 

[yennyfire]

Wise advise Dreamer! If you and your gf haven't gone out and tried rings on, I'd suggest doing that first. Insist that she try on multiple shapes (she may be suprised at what she likes/doesn't like on her own hand). Once you narrow down shape, I'd try on as many colors in that shape as possible to determine your tolerance/preference (an H in a round will look different than an H in a radiant, which is why I'm suggesting you figure out shape first). After that, I'd look at stones in a size that is within your budget and decide how many inclusions are too many? Does she prefer eye clean (and what does that mean to her)?

You'll notice I haven't mentioned cut. To me, cut is very important. In a round, you can use a chart to determine optimal cut measurements. Fancy shapes (i.e. everything other than round) can't be judged solely on the #s and have to be judged by both the #s (there are some upper/lower tolerance levels) and by how well a particular stone appeals to your eye. I would suggest multiple trips to determine what appeals to you most over time. I know that when I first joined PS, I honestly couldn't even really see a difference between modern and antique style cushions. Now, I can tell the difference from a mile away (ok, at least 6 ft. away). My eye has been very educated by hanging out here and what I liked 18 months ago, I would not accept today. Good luck and let us know what you end up purchasing!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I also suggest you consider the secondary market.

Jewels by Erica Grace sell many wonderful old cuts, you can get bang for your buck there.

This is killer, and antique marquise. Ignore the carat weight, it is HUGE (10mm spread!) and only $6500 and colorless. Use your money to put a halo around it and she will have a BAM ring!

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/107-Loose-Antique-Marquise/19415471_q7TmFn#1518564829_5Kjb2TG (pricing half way down this page: http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/loose_antique_and_estate_diamonds)

Here is one: http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Rings-Antique-diamonds/181ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/19566443_WvnPGL#1532642216_r5t9qZL (pricing half way down this page: http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/antique_vintage_and_reproduction_rings_page_2)


This one is a little out of budget but you could perhaps try to work out a deal:
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Modern-and-Estate-Pieces/210ct-Emerald-and-French-Cut/16940990_QjMfMG#1280794135_nzJnPXD (pricing half way down this page: http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/modern_and_estate_jewelry_page_2)

You can also find old cuts on Etsy and Ruby Lane and Ebay. Here is a nice one:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74762611/181ct-diamond-1920s-platinum-vintage?ref=sr_gallery_28&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=engagement+ring&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage

 

[MissStepcut]

I don't think your budget & her expectations are as out of sync as you think.

This summer, my SO and I found a secondary market emerald cut, H/VS1, 1.56 carats but 8x6mm (as big face-up as many 2 carats I've looked at) and had it set all for well under your budget.

 

[MissStepcut]

Suggestion: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1424470.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-VS1-Good-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1171218.asp

(I don't like this one but it's spread-y) http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Good-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1393870.asp