Can you tell the difference?
These are side views of Round Brilliants. A well cut I color will “face up” much whiter than pictured. Look at the color of the crown – it is much whiter than the rest of the body.
Our diamonds’ colors range from completely colorless, D or AGS0, through to where yellow just begins to show, J/3.0. If we believe a diamond is poorly graded when put through our Colorimeter we will not carry it, period. It wouldn’t benefit us to sell you a poorly graded diamond. Its price is dependent on the color listed on the report; not the actual color.
You won’t find any drawings of diamond color charts on our site; never mind the fact that by themselves even a jeweler can’t tell between two grades even when compared to other diamonds of the same lab. How can someone compare a three-dimensional clear object to a two dimensional drawing? Most people can’t tell between three to four color grades. That’s why sellers pass off M-O colored diamonds with strong fluorescence as H-J’s on eBay. Usually AGS, GIA and EGL USA have similar colored master diamonds. Prior to late 2006, EGL had been known to be one color grade off. However, the opposite is also true; we have also seen EGL diamonds that are whiter than GIA diamonds.
Keep in mind that when selecting accompanying diamonds for a setting such as Trilliants or Trillions and Baguettes, women can generally detect shades of color better than men. If you have a stepped cut center diamond like an Emerald cut accompanied by two well proportioned Tapered Baguettes, you’d probably want the Baguettes to be of equal or lesser color than the Emerald because of lights properties in the Baguettes.
Deciding on Diamond Color
The color of diamonds varies from colorless (more rare and more expensive) to many shades of yellow (less rare and less expensive). Some people prefer the personality that a little yellow tint gives a stone of good make and clarity.
Perfection: If you want perfection regardless of cost, go for a D color diamond
Quality: If you want excellent quality and beauty but don't want to pay for a difference you can't see, choose E or F colors (still colorless to any eye)
Larger: If you want a larger stone for your money without sacrificing appearance, choose G, H, or I colors (near colorless, especially when set in a yellow gold ring). We recommend G or H color as the lowest color for white gold or platinum rings. Colors I or J are good choices for yellow gold settings.
Largest: If you like very faint yellow tints, choose colors like J or K (you can see the slight tint when next to a more colorless diamond or when set in a white metal such as platinum). Some people truly prefer a little color and this is entirely based on your personal taste. |
