After Cut, what is YOUR most important C?

[jaysonsmom]

Carat weight, Color, Clarity, Cost?


Mine would have to be color. I''m very partial to color, and the lowest I''d go on a H&A Round would probably be an H, for all other shapes I''d probably stop at "G". I''d up my budget, lower the carat weight just to get the color I want.

 

[cflutist]

Color is most important to me when clarity is at least SI1.

Since I like fancy shapes and they show color more than RBs, the lowest I would go is F.
You pay a premium for diamonds in the colorless range though. I've noticed that
price/ct in the J/K range doesn't vary as much, even from IF - SI2.

I have an E .75 marquise, a F 1.47 marquise, a F 3.01 pear, and had a D 2.05 oval.

 

[cinnabar]

Colour for me too.  Colour over carat size every time.

I don''t know how to decide where cost comes into the equation because I was given a budget and then I juggled the other three Cs to fit that, so maybe cost was actually the major consideration after all?

Another consideration, re cost, is the ring itself.  I wanted a very plain ring so I could spend more on the diamond.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

I''ll also jump onto that color-bound train!! I''m very particular when it comes to color...the whiter the better!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I don''t know how to decide where cost comes into the equation because I was given a budget and then I juggled the other three Cs to fit that, so maybe cost was actually the major consideration after all?

This is my thinking as well. . .I''d have a set budget and then from this figure, I''d see what I could get. My preference would be better color in a smaller size v. warmer color in a larger size since I''m a fan of more modest sized stones. I''d rather have a G .80 than a J .95. . .and would stay between the VS1 and SI1.

 

[AGBF]

I'm not sure cut would come before color and clarity for me. On the other hand, VS2 clarity is usually OK with me. And although I *wish* all my diamonds were D colored, I have no D diamonds of over .50 carat and do have one G (which is lower color than cflutist would want).

Deb

 

[jaysonsmom]

I forgot to add that I''ve even gone down to an SI2 to get the F color I wanted (dh was a po'' boy when we met).

 

[Maxine]

I definitely would go for color after cut....before size....

 

[lmurden]

For me Cut, Carat, Clarity, and then Color.

 

[jenwill]

After cut, I definitely go for color since I am also a fan of fancy shapes.

Then clarity, because unfortunately the fancy shape I am fondest of is emerald/asscher- those wide open facets show blemishes a little bit!

then carat...while I lust for larger sizes, I foudn I wasn''t willing to sacrifice the others to go larger...but was wililng to sacrifice a mm or two to get the cut/color/clarity combo...

 

[shoemortgage1979]

Date: 4/15/2005 2:12:23 PM
Author: cflutist
Color is most important to me when clarity is at least SI1.

Since I like fancy shapes and they show color more than RBs, the lowest I would go is F.
You pay a premium for diamonds in the colorless range though. I''ve noticed that
price/ct in the J/K range doesn''t vary as much, even from IF - SI2.

I have an E .75 marquise, a F 1.47 marquise, a F 3.01 pear, and had a D 2.05 oval.

Hey cflutist!! Can I be nosy and ask to see pics of your four diamonds you''ve listed here? I LOVE marquise and pear shapes, so they are right up my alley

 

[shoemortgage1979]

After cut, I would have to go with clarity. You may have a large colorless diamond cut to perfection, but if the clarity is bad, none of that will show up beautifully anyway. I think that a smaller diamond with VVS1 will look more sparkly (with good cut) than a 1.0 carat with obvious inclusions. I went with a .55 carat marquise in order that I got a better quality diamond at a price I could afford....but hey, that''s just my opinion...that''s what makes this forum so fun!!!!

 

[kaylagee]

clarity, carat then color for me. depending on settings and shapes I've loved up to M colors. clarity bugs me almost as much as cut.. the thought of a lot of schmutz in a diamond bugs me.

a bit(say a great vs2-ish si1), i can take but not much. if budget allowed i'd only get vs1 and better. I know it's a head trip mainly but I'd rather have a warmer clean diamond than an ultra white bad si2,si3/I1.

with my first e-ring i got a j color but vs2..which i later read is sort of a mismatch of quality levels but i love not being able to see any crud. with the roval, if i stare under the right light i can see an inclusion. overall i adore my ring so it's not a lethal flaw, but it'd be nicer if it weren't there...even if it meant lowering the color a couple grades.

 

[Kaleigh]

Color would be mine followed by clarity. I had an F upgraded to an E and I love it!!

 

[sparklish]

I would go for colour as well, then clarity, but I would still not go too low on clarity.

 

[lost on 5th]

I agree as well with the color being #2 (even though its not for me... I still look at it.) my eyes are VERY sensitive to color and I don’t want anything I see as “warm”

As for factoring cost….

1. Cut (AGS 0)

---rough budget---

2. Color (G or better)
3. Clarity (VS2 or better)
4. Carat wt.

---pass out… recover….revise budget---

 

[jaysonsmom]

Date: 4/15/2005 4

5:31 PM
Author: kaleigh
Color would be mine followed by clarity. I had an F upgraded to an E and I love it!!

Me too. I went from an F to and E and I can see the difference, but for my ultimate H&A upgrade to 2.5ct, I may be forced drop down to a "H" because of the cost factor.

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes that pesky C known as cost, it can really get in the way can''t it!!!

 

[Christy42]

I guess having an F and an H and liking them both in their own merits.......I''d have to say that the cut being at least very good to premium (ideal not being a choice because I like fancies), size then color then clarity as long as it''s eye clean and the color doesn''t look yellow. I do like a bigger stone and I''m willing to sacrifice a little for that.

 

[bluedawg]

Color!

 

[elepri]

Combination for me (that''s a C too) of color (H or above), clarity (SI1 eye clean or above) and carat (it was at least 1.5 when we were looking for a ring). I can''t say that one is more important for me than the other since those were my minimum requirements but if i had to compromise somewhere, it would definitely be size.

 

[Dancing Fire]

RB

Cut = top ideal, true H&A in the sweet spot (specs)
Color = G-H
Clarity = VS 1-SI 1
Carat = 2.5

so....a 2.5ct H VS2 would be great.if i had alot of money i would buy a F VS1 and it would look like a D IF to my eyes.

 

[sluke]

Color, then clarity...no lower than S12, if it is reasonbly eye clean.

 

[sjz]

My preference would be clarity after cut. I am a perfectionist by nature, so I would sacrifice carat weight for a diamond closer to perfection. And as I am more fond of the warmer diamonds than the whiter diamonds, color isn''t a big issue for me. I prefer vvs range stones, but I would go as low as vs2. Never any lower. If I can see inclusions easily with a 10x loupe, they bother me, even if the diamond is eye clean. If I have to "hunt" for inclusions with the loupe in order to see them, I''m ok with it.

 

[Maxine]

Dancing Fire, you described my goal ring....2.5c, H, VS2 (since I would never want to pay for a nice E or F in that size!!)!!!!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 4/15/2005 9:38:52 PM
Author: Maxine
Dancing Fire, you described my goal ring....2.5c, H, VS2 (since I would never want to pay for a nice E or F in that size!!)!!!!!

if you find a matching pair,let me know.

last yr it can be purchase for maybe like $22k but now it might be price out of my range.

 

[lmurden]

I forgot the Cost/budget is the most important factor to me.

Cost/budget
Cut
Carat
Clarity
Color

If the Cost, Cut and Clarity are straight then I go straight for the carat wieght and then color! After seeing the "J" folder color it is the least important factor to me if money and value is an issue!

 

[Mara]

for me it is:

CUT
Carat
Color
Clarity

Oh and COST is always *my* #0, aka there ain''t gonna be no 4c''s if that pre-C isn''t there!

 

[fire&ice]

The prettiest looking stone in the largest size. So, cost = value in my eyes. I don''t get hung up on what the paper says - only that I am paying for the correct specs & what my eye finds pleasing.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Color. I can see body color after H. Face up, it can be hard, as a well cut stone''s sparkle will eclipse any tint. But when I went to see a J 1.5 SuperbCert, I could see color from the side very clearly...Face up, it was close to the G I had next to it for comparision but not 100% the same. Barry even suggested setting the J lower to hide the color but it''s just not for me.

I know when I see many women''s rings, it is often from a profile view and I don''t want any hint of warmth in my stone--that is just my personal preference. I can see a difference, especially from the side between my H and an E or F, but the different doesn''t bother or reach my personal limit. I think it comes down to getting the biggest stone you can (if carat is an important "C" for you), stopping at the color/clarity threshold you are comfortable with. I am sure many ladies here wouldn''t want an SI1 or 2, and I know for some, it''s D-E-F (and the accompanying icy whiteness) or bust.

It''s very personal but I think we all agree that when a stone is well cut, it is beautiful becasue the cut is most important. I honestly think 99.9% of the rings/stones I see here are beautiful, even if I might not choose a particular ring for myself.