information needed

[bolo]

I am in need of some advice about purchasing a diamond. I recently went to a B/M and viewed a.91-J, S 2 and I liked the way way the diamond looked temporarily set in white gold. The price was $2400,but I like a setting that was 1500 and my budget is only $3500. I am now considering staying with the same specs but going down to K. in color. Is this a bad choice? I am wondering can a J. or K. Color with a good cut produce the same sparkle and brilliance from a H.-S1,.90? Would like to propose soon.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

"Sparkle" is entirely a function of cut. Color has nothing to do with the brilliance or fire of a diamond.

An well cut "K" color, as an example, is going to be a fiery and brilliant stone. I prefer cut over color myself. A stone with some body color doesn't bother me at all, although many purists will turn their nose up at anything lower than an "I" color. Tiffany's, for example, doesn't carry anything lower than an I color, VS2 clarity.

My wife has a "K" color diamond that she has worn and enjoyed immensely for the past 20 years. Most people don't even notice that it's got some body color when they're looking at it.

One note though. Some jeweler's will call any diamond they've got in their stock that has obvious body color a "K" or "KL" color, when in reality those diamonds would properly grade out in the MNOPQRS range. A properly graded "K" color stone isn't that blatantly yellow, especially after being mounted. If you can, see if you can view a "K" color diamond that has been certified by the GIA. Then you'll see what I'm talking about.