Fancy or not?

[caolsen]

Question for y’all? Recently saw a preloved post for a very light pink, brown center RB ring wherein the seller called the center stone fancy. It’s not fancy intensity, but GIA themselves describes fancy colored stones in the link below as anything beyond Z color with identifiable color hue. So, would you call any colored diamond a fancy (lower case) and Fancy (upper case) as a way to describe hue intensity on a cert? I call anything with enough color to be deemed a color beyond Z as fancy, but is that wrong? The speed the seller was told to not mispresenent their stone as FANCY got me thinking….how do we describe colored diamonds in general language?

Fancy Color Diamond Description

Fancy color diamonds come in almost any color you can imagine. Red, green, purple, and orange are generally the most rare, followed by pink and blue. Yellows and browns are the most common fancy colors, but they’re generally less valuable than the rarer colors.

www.gia.edu

 

[maryjane04]

I think anything in the alphabet is not considered fancy coloured. Anything with a colour designation is fancy.

P.s. I love your cluster ring!!

 

[Mreader]

Tagging @Rockdiamond. I can’t remember but I think the GIA report would actually say the word fancy. Alphabets are not. And a brown diamond for example doesn’t fit in an alphabetical range but it’s not fancy either. But @Rockdiamond can confirm I’m sure.

 

[junebug17]

I think Mreader is right, the word "fancy" has to be on the GIA report.

 

[tyty333]

Agree with others that the word fancy has to be on the report for me. The seller of that ring/stone is relatively new and I felt that the issue was a good teachable moment instead of the harsh comment she got.

Let's see what @Rockdiamond and @Karl_K have to say.

Edit...and to the owner of that thread...If it were me, I would hit Report Concern and have the thread deleted and start over.
Stick to the wording on the GIA report for accuracy.

 

[Mreader]

The seller of that ring/stone is relatively new and I felt that the issue was a good teachable moment instead of the harsh comment she got.

I went to look and 100% agree; people should try and be kinder! I also agree to delete and start over. I wouldn’t want to drive ppl away from PS before they even begin! @sbliss6

 

[seaurchin]

This thread?

Fancy pink diamond ring

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings/beautiful-fancy-light-pinkish-brown-bezel-ring;40794

www.pricescope.com

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi all!
the term ”Fancy Pink” has a specific meaning. The term “Fancy Colored Diamond” is far more open to interpretacion.
Is a “Light Pink” (as graded by GIA) a ”Fancy Color”?
I agree we should all be kind The person posting didn’t realize.
I definitely think of Y-Z as a fancy colored diamond. But of course sellers need to be very careful in terminology.

 

[Karl_K]

I think that sticking to the wording of the report is the best way to go.
I think of y-z as a colored diamond but not a fancy colored diamond.
Here is a diagram of blue colored diamonds that makes it pretty clear where fancy begins with GIA.

Fancy Color Diamond Quality Factors

Learn about the factors that make fancy color diamonds so desirable.

www.gia.edu

 

[Karl_K]

Reading the other link sometimes GIA does not even agree with itself as usual.
I would still stick to what the report says and if it does not say fancy then I don't consider it fancy.
Which has little to do with how beautiful the stone is as I have seen letter graded stones that blew away stones with fancy on the report.

 

[Ionysis]

Describe it as anything you like, unless you’re posting it for sale.

If you’re trying to sell it then posting it as a Fancy coloured diamond when it isn’t is misrepresenting it. And that is not OK.

There is a massive difference between “Hi I am new and would like to join the community and show my collection” and “Here is my sale post for a stone which is inaccurately described”.

The first type of post will get a very different reception to the second.

There is an enormous difference in value between a GIA graded fancy pink diamond to a light pink. Hence why it’s so important to be accurate in a post specifically aimed at selling it.

 

[Mreader]

Describe it as anything you like, unless you’re posting it for sale.

If you’re trying to sell it then posting it as a Fancy coloured diamond when it isn’t is misrepresenting it. And that is not OK.

There is a massive difference between “Hi I am new and would like to join the community and show my collection” and “Here is my sale post for a stone which is inaccurately described”.

The first type of post will get a very different reception to the second.

There is an enormous difference in value between a GIA graded fancy pink diamond to a light pink. Hence why it’s so important to be accurate in a post specifically aimed at selling it.

I agree but it just came across as sharp instead of pointing it out in a nicer way

 

[caolsen]

Yup, that’s the one. Given the seller posted a copy of the GIA report, I was hard pressed to think it was anything but newbie not knowingness…

This thread?

Fancy pink diamond ring

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings/beautiful-fancy-light-pinkish-brown-bezel-ring;40794

www.pricescope.com

 

[Rockdiamond]

Personally/ the chart Karl posted doesn’t really clarify anything ( Sorry Karl
It outlines the different saturation levels awarded to blue diamonds.
So is a “Light Blue” as graded by GIA ( which might be equivalent to a J color in terms or saturation) is that Light Blue a “Fancy Color”?
As others have pointed out- when offering diamonds for sale it’s incumbent upon the seller to accurately describe the diamond, using GIA terminology.
But when someone is wearing a Y-Z yellow diamond and someone asks “Is that a yellow diamond?”
They can answer as they wish….without breaking any “diamond rules” imo

 

[caolsen]

Personally/ the chart Karl posted doesn’t really clarify anything ( Sorry Karl
It outlines the different saturation levels awarded to blue diamonds.
So is a “Light Blue” as graded by GIA ( which might be equivalent to a J color in terms or saturation) is that Light Blue a “Fancy Color”?
As others have pointed out- when offering diamonds for sale it’s incumbent upon the seller to accurately describe the diamond, using GIA terminology.
But when someone is wearing a Y-Z yellow diamond and someone asks “Is that a yellow diamond?”
They can answer as they wish….without breaking any “diamond rules” imo

Agree, a lot of the diamond rules are dumb. I’m a grammar pedant, so I’m coming down on the capital F versus lower case f fence. My Fancy stones need a piece of fancy paper. My other colored diamonds are just fancy pretty pants.

 

[Ionysis]

I was probably too blunt in my response. I just think people need to ensure if they are selling something they are accurate. Whether a trade or private seller.

If I was on a car enthusiast website and posted that I had a Porsche 911 Turbo for sale then put up photos of a Boxter I’m sure there would have been a similar reaction.

But you’re right I should have been more polite.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Did not read everything but for clarification:
GIA does colored diamond grading reports for rare and expansive colors like pink, blue, green, orange, purple etc from K down. being Faint, Very Light and then Light as per the blue chart Karl posted.
The word Fancy is never used however until the diamond is stronger than Z in color.
GIA does not offer the K to Z grades for yellow and brown as diamond color reports.

 

[caolsen]

Did not read everything but for clarification:
GIA does colored diamond grading reports for rare and expansive colors like pink, blue, green, orange, purple etc from K down. being Faint, Very Light and then Light as per the blue chart Karl posted.
The word Fancy is never used however until the diamond is stronger than Z in color.
GIA does not offer the K to Z grades for yellow and brown as diamond color reports.

Really helpful @Garry H (Cut Nut) The clarification on the color reports in stones lighter than Z add all the dominos fall in my mind as to color reports I’d seen in the past that were not even near the Z range And appraisal reports of a say MN solo red stone with pink tones.

 

[Rockdiamond]

We all agree sellers need to use the specific GIA grade to identify what they are selling.
For the sake of discussion- I think use of the word “Fancy” is a total non issue. Is a “Faint Blue” a Fancy Colored Diamond? It will have a colored diamond GIA report. Bit not the word “Fancy”.
But if we’re going to be that strict than a “Fancy Intense Yellow” technically isn’t a “Fancy”.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

We all agree sellers need to use the specific GIA grade to identify what they are selling.
For the sake of discussion- I think use of the word “Fancy” is a total non issue. Is a “Faint Blue” a Fancy Colored Diamond? It will have a colored diamond GIA report. Bit not the word “Fancy”.
But if we’re going to be that strict than a “Fancy Intense Yellow” technically isn’t a “Fancy”.

FIY is a fancy color diamond David

 

[Rockdiamond]

FIY is a fancy color diamond David

What about “Light Blue”?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

The report will say light blue David, not Fancy Light Blue.
There is no GIA grade for diamonds S to Z.
Then more saturated than Z will be Fancy Light Blue.

 

[Rockdiamond]

We’re really just discussing semantics.
The “Light Blue” diamond gets a GIA “Colored Diamond Report”.
By that metric, it’s a “Fancy Colored Diamond”

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

We’re really just discussing semantics.
The “Light Blue” diamond gets a GIA “Colored Diamond Report”.
By that metric, it’s a “Fancy Colored Diamond”

Incorrect David. A light colored diamond has a Colored Diamond Report, but not a Fancy colored diamond report. A Fancy Light xxxxxx is a Fancy colored diamond.

 

[Rockdiamond]

The only difference between those two reports is the word “Natural” on the newer report. I chalk that up to the new prevalence of lab grown diamonds with GIA reports.
Otherwise they’re identical in terms of format. Both have the fancy color scale. Then we have the fact that dealers and buyers will pay a lot more for light blue than the equivalent tinted stone with a yellow cast- which will get the regular GIA report.
So it seems the world at large- including GIA considers the “Light Blue” to be a “Fancy Color “
But it’s all semantics anyway

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

The only difference between those two reports is the word “Natural” on the newer report. I chalk that up to the new prevalence of lab grown diamonds with GIA reports.
Otherwise they’re identical in terms of format. Both have the fancy color scale. Then we have the fact that dealers and buyers will pay a lot more for light blue than the equivalent tinted stone with a yellow cast- which will get the regular GIA report.
So it seems the world at large- including GIA considers the “Light Blue” to be a “Fancy Color “
But it’s all semantics anyway

David the only semantics is that GIA never call an S-Z yellow or brown or gray diamond a Fancy....... ........
And the K-Z grades only apply to very very rare colors.
Thats the semantics I am pointing out.
You wrote
You should have written
By that metric a Light Blue diamond is diamond GIA issue a colored diamond report for.
GIA do not call light blue diamonds Fancy Light Blue. They call the Light Blue.
Come on mate - you knwo this stuff better than anyone.
If you want call it a fancy Light Blue diamond with no F!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Of course in describing a blue or pink ( or any color) diamond the specific grade is crucial. The concept of “Is it a fancy color” isn’t well defined.
This specific subject/ question has come up with consumers. Why should a diamond with a faint blue or pink hue cost exponentially more than one with a faint yellow or brown hue?
Desirability, and rarity cause GIA and the trade at large to treat faint or light pink, blue and green diamonds as “Fancy Colors”
The difference in price between a “Fancy Light Blue“ and “Light Blue” is massive. Two totally different grades. But both exist in the realm of Fancy Colors, in my opinion.
From my perspective, I’m thrilled that Y-Z is not considered a “Fancy Color“. The grade is so close to Fancy light yellow that the darkest Y-Z is darker than the lightest FLY stone. Yet because Y-Z is NOT considered ”Fancy” they are as cheap as dirt. (Expensive dirt)

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Desirability, and rarity cause GIA and the trade at large to treat faint or light pink, blue and green diamonds as “Fancy Colors”
Desirability, and rarity cause GIA and the trade at large to treat faint or light pink, blue and green diamonds as “fancy colors” (with colored diamond grading reports or certs.)

 

[Rockdiamond]

I see your point old buddy.
Interesting distinctions

 

[caolsen]

Of course in describing a blue or pink ( or any color) diamond the specific grade is crucial. The concept of “Is it a fancy color” isn’t well defined.
This specific subject/ question has come up with consumers. Why should a diamond with a faint blue or pink hue cost exponentially more than one with a faint yellow or brown hue?
Desirability, and rarity cause GIA and the trade at large to treat faint or light pink, blue and green diamonds as “Fancy Colors”
The difference in price between a “Fancy Light Blue“ and “Light Blue” is massive. Two totally different grades. But both exist in the realm of Fancy Colors, in my opinion.
From my perspective, I’m thrilled that Y-Z is not considered a “Fancy Color“. The grade is so close to Fancy light yellow that the darkest Y-Z is darker than the lightest FLY stone. Yet because Y-Z is NOT considered ”Fancy” they are as cheap as dirt. (Expensive dirt)

This. This is exactly the tricky issue I realized is at the heart of my confusion. What does a consumer call fancy stone? And while we are at it, what about in Europe where GIA is not the most certification body…?