Yellow diamond or yellow sapphire?

[missk8]

I am obviously into the color yellow right now. Any key differences between a fancy yellow diamond or a sapphire (other than from my brief search the sapphire might be less expensive)? I will have whichever stone I select set in yellow gold.

Right now I am loving the style (and price) of these yellow diamond rings from diamonds by Lauren. Any difference between the two that should sway me either way? I am favoring the first one right now.

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-65ct-radiant-cut-fancy-light-yellow-vs2-gia-simply-stunning-r4234

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-70ct-cushion-cut-fancy-light-yellow-vs1-gia-gorgeous-stone-r4236

Any good yellow sapphires out there that would be a better bang for my buck? My max. price would be ~$2500-3000. Anything less than that would work too My ring size is about a 5-5.5 so I can get pretty good coverage from a smaller stone.

 

[chrono]

A yellow diamond will be much sparklier and show rainbow dispersion.
A yellow sapphire can be sparkly depending on cut, but the flash is mostly yellow only. Not only that, it is difficult to find an untreated yellow sapphire that is also an attractive bright yellow colour.

My personal preference is a yellow FCD over a yellow sapphire any day and every day. When it comes to FCDs, as long as it is eye clean, I'm good with that.

Why do those yellow FCDs look dramatically different once set? Unset, they are what I expect they look like per the GIA memo but it looks positively amped up once set. I know a yellow gold bezel will improve the appearance but not by THAT much. I would want more realistic pictures.

 

[LD]

You're comparing apples to oranges! Here are the main differences:-

1. Diamonds typically will be much more expensive than sapphires on a carat for carat basis.
2. Yellow sapphires are difficult to find untreated (not impossible but the bigger you want the harder the search). If you are being sold a natural untreated yellow sapphire that is a considered purchase you should get a lab report (this will ensure you're paying for what you get and NOT what you've been told - the price difference is large so you need to do this for peace of mind).
4. You can get treated diamonds and these cost much less than untreated ones. If you buy from a reputable seller (ie DBL) this is less of a concern but beware of Ebay!
5. A large yellow diamond will be very expensive - so it depends if your search is cost prohibitive.
6. Depending what colour yellow you want it can affect the price if you're buying a yellow diamond. As a general rule, the more saturated/vivd, the higher the price.
7. With sapphires you can buy them in a whole host of colours BUT I dont find them as pretty (colour wise) as diamonds. For me, yellow sapphires can be very grey or brown. The pretty sunny coloured ones are the ones I like but natural and untreated in this colour are a challenge to source.

Edit: Chrono and I were posting at the same time but think we've said the same thing

Edit 2: Of the two DBL links I prefer the first square cut because it doesn't have fluoresence. Whilst I'm a fan of fluor in most diamonds, I don't like it in yellow as it can have a negative effect. It's the one thing that would put me off buying a yellow diamond - the second one has medium fluor and even in the photo there's something that isn't as appealing with the colour.

 

[missk8]

Thanks for the information! You have both confirmed my thoughts that I'd go with a diamond before the sapphire.

To me, the color in those rings are much more vivid yellow than the "light" modifier implies. Is that what you were getting at, Chrono?

See any of the diamonds that look better? Any other sights you suggest I check?

 

[velouriaL]

I personally prefer yellow sapphires, not as diamond replacements but as gorgeous bits of sunshine in their own right.

Some examples:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/richard-homer-yellow-sapphire.106635/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/richard-homer-yellow-sapphire.106635/[/URL]
https://www.pricescope.com/gallery/carre/r1238_4dda802dafaa6
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-yellow-sapphire.30485/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-yellow-sapphire.30485/[/URL]

These photos are mostly well-lit, but give some idea.

But if you want is a diamond, you won't be happy with a sapphire. They're like Penguins and zebras, similar color, totally different. Errr... Or something.

Btw, to complicate things, I also like chrysoberyl...

 

[LD]

I have a light yellow from David at DBL and it looks VERY yellow. The reason for this (and I suspect it's the same with both the rings in the links) is that he always uses the best metal to bring out the colour of the stone and it makes an unbelievable difference. He also knows how to set the diamonds to achieve maximum colour - this is a skill that not all vendors possess.

To give you an indication, here's my 1.02ct heart before (diamond number 26) and after setting - see the difference?! This is a U-V colour.

 

[chrono]

LD,
I know that bezeling a stone in the same colour metal increases the saturation but how obvious was it in your case? Did it go from light to intense? I'm asking because it looks that way in DBL's pictures.

 

[0-0-0]

Another thing to watch out for is that well cut diamonds have much smaller tilt windows (if any) than sapphires. IMO it's a very noticeable difference in a ring.

From what I have seen in person from Leibish a gold basket (prong set) can bump up a stone's color by a full grade. A fancy yellow set in a gold basket (prong set) looks like the color of a loose fancy intense yellow.

 

[chrono]

Whoa, does that mean my fancy intense purplish pink FCD will look like a fancy vivid when prong set in a rose gold illusion basket setting?

 

[0-0-0]

It may be worth a shot! Where are the pics of your fancy intense purplish pink Chrono? I saw a fancy vivid purplish pink from Leibish but it was set entirely in platinum. I guess a rose gold basket didn't help out the color in that case.

 

[kenny]

Another thing to watch out for is that well cut diamonds have much smaller tilt windows (if any) than sapphires. IMO it's a very noticeable difference in a ring.

Can you explain what a tilt window is please, and which stone, diamond or sapphire, is more "forgiving" of a window? ... if that's the right way to phrase the question.

 

[0-0-0]

A tilt window is where you can see through the stone/facet pattern when looking at the stone at a tilt. Stones with higher refractive indices like diamonds are less susceptible to tilt windows. Stones with lower refractive indices like sapphires are less forgiving. The cut of the stone can help minimize tilt windows (generally higher crowns, smaller tables, and round or square stones in my experience).

Here's a shot of an aquamarine and a diamond at roughly the same tilt. A tilt window is noticeable in the aquamarine near the center (triangular area at 3 o'clock). The diamond doesn't show any noticeable tilt window.


Here's a shot of another aquamarine where a tilt window is more noticeable (the V at 12 o'clock).

 

[kenny]

Thank you.

Beautiful gems and pics, BTW.

 

[LD]

Chrono - the bottom photo of the diamond set in my necklace was taken by me. Honestly it's bumped up far more than 1-2 colours. It looks completely different and is a gorgeous warm yellow (more yellow than vanilla) and edging towards a soft sunshine (hope that describes it well enough for you). I honestly dont know how David at DBL does it but he really is the master of bezelling for a better colour - I would strongly suggest you speak with him/get him to set your pink. He works miracles with the lower colour stones. It's really remarkable what he's done with my diamonds - and you know I'm a fussy beast!

 

[chrono]

LD,
A bezel is a bezel, isn't it? There's really no trick to it - it's just a strip of metal going around the circle, be it totally enclosing the pavilion or having it open. Is yours open backed or close backed? Alas, I have a very specific design in mind for my pink, which is going into a multi-stone antique Art Nouveau ring setting with my two other pinks and one yellowish orange FCDs. I don't know if David's bench is good at wire work (bending wire and shaping them into wavy 3D flower petals).

Thbmok,
I cannot take superb closeups like Kenny but here it is on a neutral white background, taken from umpteen feet away. Was that Leibish fancy vivid purplish pink in a rose basket in a platinum setting? Was it prong set or bezel set? I'm thinking that a bezel amps up the colour because it helps reflect that rosy colour back to the eye. Although mine will be prong set, that metal flower surrounding the FCD should do the same thing.

 

[0-0-0]

Thanks Kenny!

Can't wait to see it set Chrono! The Leibish fancy vivid purplish pink I saw is this one: http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/5868.htm

It's prong set in platinum only. No rose gold that I can see anywhere. The pavilion of the stone can be seen from under the open basket. My guess is that the color is already strong enough that a rose gold basket wouldn't make much difference, so Leibish didn't opt for a rose gold basket.

 

[chrono]

Wow, you can see the colour from miles away in that hand shot so it definitely does not need any help at all! I'll be over the moon if the setting can make my FCD look like that.

 

[0-0-0]

Oh yes it's quite impressive in person, although the color doesn't pop as much in fluorescent lighting and is closer to the color in the video.

Is the FCD for the setting you are currently working on?

 

[chrono]

Yes it is, it is one of the 4 FCD stone ring in an antique Russian Art Nouveau inspired design that I'm getting quotes on.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi All!
Thanks LD- that was a lovely heart shape........
Chrono- with regards to setting a pink diamond..... it really depends a lot on individual stones.
Pink is less predictable then yellow. In my experience sometimes the color changes a lot, sometimes not.

In terms of bezels, and how much they can "amp up" color: Setting can make a HUGE difference in the color of a yellow.
I've found a large variance in metal color from one bench to the next- indeed, using exactly the right combination of alloys to get the best color for pink or yellow diamonds is an extremely specialized skill.

Then we have the shape of the bezel, how the inside is finished, how much of the stone is covered, how secure it is, porosity.... it's really not as simple as "a bezel is a bezel" any more than "a diamond is a diamond"

 

[chrono]

Thanks for your explanation, David.

 

[GregS]

A tilt window is where you can see through the stone/facet pattern when looking at the stone at a tilt. Stones with higher refractive indices like diamonds are less susceptible to tilt windows. Stones with lower refractive indices like sapphires are less forgiving. The cut of the stone can help minimize tilt windows (generally higher crowns, smaller tables, and round or square stones in my experience).

Here's a shot of an aquamarine and a diamond at roughly the same tilt. A tilt window is noticeable in the aquamarine near the center (triangular area at 3 o'clock). The diamond doesn't show any noticeable tilt window.


Here's a shot of another aquamarine where a tilt window is more noticeable (the V at 12 o'clock).

Apologies for straying from the main topic, but I have to ask... Who set that aquamarine for you? It's stunning. I have an Indicolite Tourmaline I want set in a similar manner.

 

[0-0-0]

Apologies for straying from the main topic, but I have to ask... Who set that aquamarine for you? It's stunning. I have an Indicolite Tourmaline I want set in a similar manner.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/

I posted more pictures of the setting from different angles that may be helpful: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-pieces-on-a-cloudy-day.174649/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-pieces-on-a-cloudy-day.174649/[/URL]

Do you have pics of your indicolite to share?

 

[chrono]

A bit off topic, but I have to say again, I never tire of seeing the your pendant too, thbmok. At a quick glance, one might think it a generic design with double prongs, or even that it is kite set, but with the unique bale (which eliminates flipping, allows a change of chain and there's no unslightly mickey mouse ears) and everything put together, just makes the entire package special.

 

[JaneSmith]

I am obviously into the color yellow right now. Any key differences between a fancy yellow diamond or a sapphire (other than from my brief search the sapphire might be less expensive)? I will have whichever stone I select set in yellow gold.

I'm not sure if this will help, but I stumbled across this beautiful yellow sapphire and yellow gold ring.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-long-overdue-wf-yellow-sapphire-engagement-ring-pics.148366/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-long-overdue-wf-yellow-sapphire-engagement-ring-pics.148366/[/URL]

 

[GregS]

Apologies for straying from the main topic, but I have to ask... Who set that aquamarine for you? It's stunning. I have an Indicolite Tourmaline I want set in a similar manner.

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/

I posted more pictures of the setting from different angles that may be helpful: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-pieces-on-a-cloudy-day.174649/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-pieces-on-a-cloudy-day.174649/[/URL]

Do you have pics of your indicolite to share?

Got it from Roger Dery, he is an absolute pleasure to deal with.

 

[chrono]

Nice! What's the stats of your indicolite?

 

[0-0-0]

I like the color!

Thanks Chrono, credit goes to Brian for putting everything together. He convinced me to go with split claws and I simply told him elements of what I liked in his other settings, and specifically no fixed chain, no mickey ears, no flipping, and no cutlet on skin.