F VVs2 or D VS2?

[bananaboat]

Hi all, I recently received a ring from Harry Winston—my husband surprised me while on a trip with it, so I didn’t have much time to evaluate the quality in that moment.

It’s their sunflower ring, and I absolutely loved it at first sight. The entire process, from viewing to packaging, took less than 10 minutes.

During that brief moment however, I did notice a slight yellow tint in the center stone. Since the diamond was graded F VVS2—and knowing Harry Winston’s meticulous standards—I assumed I was mistaken and brushed it off.

Now that I’ve been wearing the ring for two days, I can’t help but notice the slight yellowness more clearly.

Seeing my concern, my husband contacted the boutique. They offered to bring in a D VS2 stone for an exchange if I preferred.

We would need to fly back to the boutique for the exchange, so I’m wondering if it’s worth the trip. I don’t know much about diamonds, so I’d love your advice:

Is it better to keep a VVS2 over a VS2?
Or is a D color worth compromising the clarity from VVS2 to VS2?
If VVS2 is definitely better to keep over VS2, I think I can manage to adjust to the color.

I’d really appreciate any insights or experiences you can share!

 

[EllieTO]

Most people can't see inclusions in a VS2, so if you don't like the F color then I think you'll be happier with a D VS2. Maybe ask to see the certificate for the D VS2 and make sure there isn't an inclusion right on the table (the flat part in the center of the stone).

 

[Kim N]

As long as the inclusions in the D VS2 aren't visible to the naked eye, I would choose that one. Like you, I'm very color-sensitive.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Something is off bc an F won’t look “yellow” by any reasonable standard. Have you owned other diamonds and are you familiar with how they handle color and light? They reflect color in the environment.

 

[bananaboat]

Thank you all for your advices; the satellite diamonds around it, 'leaves', are supposed to be of same spec. Compared to them the center stone looks slight yellow/brownish hue when I tilt around. The satellites stay white(?). After I showed it to my husband, he began seeing it too. I don't have many diamonds to compare to, other than my f/g tennis bracelet which are .2 carat each so hard to compare...

 

[purplesilk]

Thank you all for your advices; the satellite diamonds around it, 'leaves', are supposed to be of same spec. Compared to them the center stone looks slight yellow/brownish hue when I tilt around. The satellites stay white(?). After I showed it to my husband, he began seeing it too. I don't have many diamonds to compare to, other than my f/g tennis bracelet which are .2 carat each so hard to compare...

Although the same color, smaller diamonds tend to look whiter than bigger diamonds.

 

[freddyboston]

Brown hue ? I bet the Center Stone has internal graining.... that would give the effect especially at certain angles.. It's subtle but with the smaller D-F surrounds more obvious...

example this F VVS1 w/ graining has a brown hue

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/23064894

 

[0-0-0]

How big is the center? Color is more visible in bigger stones. Colors in the environment (clothing/decor/lighting etc.) also have a bigger impact on visible color in bigger stones with bigger facets. It’s also possible that the F has a brownish vs more common yellowish tint that stands out more.

 

[lulu_ma]

Honestly, the center doesn’t sound like an F color. F is colorless- there shouldn’t be any discernible yellow tint.

Could you post a pic for us?

 

[bananaboat]

Honestly, the center doesn’t sound like an F color. F is colorless- there shouldn’t be any discernible yellow tint.

Could you post a pic for us?

The center is .7carat so am not sure if they will provide the certificate but will call to ask today.
I tried taking pics, bit harder to see than rl; in rl the points of these brown sort of show in overall view. Is this normal and ok to keep? Or should I ask for D VS2 spec (since it's less than 1 carat they might not have...). I'm willing to fly in to view/exchange if it's required.
Appreciate your advices!

 

[bananaboat]

How big is the center? Color is more visible in bigger stones. Colors in the environment (clothing/decor/lighting etc.) also have a bigger impact on visible color in bigger stones with bigger facets. It’s also possible that the F has a brownish vs more common yellowish tint that stands out more.

The stone is .7carat; it is definitely more brownish, apologies on saying yellow earlier, I wasn't too familiar with color designation for diamonds. I posted pictures above; would you mind checking for me? Thank you heaps!

 

[MissGotRocks]

A GIA graded F color should not be yellow or brown. I would be very interested to see the certificate for the diamond - if one exists. Bottom line is that if you are not happy with the ring, don’t keep it. You might want to go see what they are offering you in exchange, but I wouldn’t fully commit to it either. I would want to know exactly what I was buying with a GIA grading report. If the F looked yellow or brown due to modifiers or graining, the D may be just the same.

 

[freddyboston]

I disagree... F and other colorless can have brown hues which GIA doesn't mention...
I found my example easily... and then drill in to the report and Bingo (internal/surface graining)

 

[MissGotRocks]

I disagree... F and other colorless can have brown hues which GIA doesn't mention...
I found my example easily... and then drill in to the report and Bingo (internal/surface graining)

Well, if the report doesn’t list it, my eyes could see it! I would be very disappointed with an F color diamond with brown hue and wouldn’t accept it.

 

[freddyboston]

If you're paying for an F not so great.... In lower colors it's not always such a bad effect - this 3ct I is almost a pinky brown vibe vs the usual yellow.... (Internal Graining) and again no color tone/hue comment from GIA

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/18532153

 

[0-0-0]

Sorry I don’t really see anything conclusive from the pictures. If you are sure it’s not environmental and it bothers you go for the exchange! I exchanged a GIA/AGS F with brown tint for a GIA/AGS D myself. The difference may be subtle but there’s certainly a difference.

 

[bananaboat]

Thank you all for your advices

 

[freddyboston]

Blue Nile F and your F.... ironically it's kinda like a Sunflower Color....

 

[bananaboat]

Blue Nile F and your F.... ironically it's kinda like a Sunflower Color....

Ahahahaha you know what, I was thinking the same thing! telling myself that at the end of the day it IS a sunflower so the color matches. I am curious to learn what D VS2 looks like on this setting, at the same time be happy with what I have.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Does the diamond have a lab report? It is not particularly well cut and I’m wondering if it’s an in-house graded diamond. If GIA would grade it as an Item or J colour for example that could explain what you’re seeing.

It may also looks darker because larger diamonds do reflect more of the environment, but also the poor cut means it’ll just be a darker stone because it’s not reflecting as much light back to your eyes the side stones. But very small diamonds like the ones used in the floral surround on your tennis bracelet tend to just look like white dots all the time anyway. It just has to do with how diamonds handle light. So even if you had a well cut GIA graded F in the centre it would always look different than the side stones and reflect the environment more than this than the sides do.

I think part of what’s going on is a poorly cut diamond with questionable colour grade, combined with just the natural optical differences between larger and smaller diamonds.

 

[lulu_ma]

If you're paying for an F not so great.... In lower colors it's not always such a bad effect - this 3ct I is almost a pinky brown vibe vs the usual yellow.... (Internal Graining) and again no color tone/hue comment from GIA

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/18532153

I wish GIA would denote the brown tint!

 

[lulu_ma]

Ahahahaha you know what, I was thinking the same thing! telling myself that at the end of the day it IS a sunflower so the color matches. I am curious to learn what D VS2 looks like on this setting, at the same time be happy with what I have.

Just curious-is from a Harry Winston store or a reseller?

FWIW, if it were me, I’d probably fly back and exchange it.

 

[bananaboat]

Just curious-is from a Harry Winston store or a reseller?

FWIW, if it were me, I’d probably fly back and exchange it.

It was from the HW store; guess we'll fly back T.T hopefully the DVS2 is better cut and the inclusion is not in the table... I learnt so much here thank you all!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Ask to see a GIA lab report for any diamonds they offer. Diamonds this size should come with one. Choose Excellent cut grade.