lets be honest about color and clarity. if i walk into Tiff & Co....

[Dancing Fire]

and the CEO said congratulations, you're our 10 millionth customer and you can pick out a 3 ct of your choice. i would be a fool to not take a D IF, but if i have to pay for a stone, i'll be fine with F-H color, VS1-SI1 clarity. people talk about how they love warmer color stones, eye clean is good enough,all that will go out the window. in this case i don't think anybody would pick anything lower than D-IF.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/4/2005 5:16:52 PM
Author:Dancing Fire
and the CEO said congratulations, you're our 10 millionth customer and you can pick out a 3 ct of your choice. i would be a fool to not take a D IF, but if i have to pay for a stone, i'll be fine with F-H color, VS1-SI1 clarity. people talk about how they love warm color stones,or eye clean is good enough, in this case i don't think anybody would pick anything lower than D-IF.

I would not because the odds of a d-if asscher being well cut are slim and none.

 

[LadyluvsLuxury]

I agree DF, but I am always willing to spare no expense when it is someone elses money!

 

[perry]

I disagree.

I''d look for the diamond with the most "life" in it. Light return, dazzle, etc rules (I''d even take MB or better flouresence in the right diamond).

D-IF could be such a dog...

Perry

 

[Mara]

I agree with perry, if it was based on what was in the store, I''d choose by my eye and the numbers, and let the color/clarity cards fall where they may!!!

Considering that Tiff doesn''t sell below an I VS....I''d be happy to end up with that if it was excellently cut.

 

[moremoremore]

In this little fantasy land, I think DF saying that all of the stones we have to chose from are identical except for color and clarity and they all look the same as far as cut goes and that they all had the same fire and brilliance and life, correct DF? Your point DF is that everyone wants an icy white stone but that they sacrifice color and clarity for size?


Haha! Interesting scenario DF ! Yes, you are certainly right. * All else equal *, everyone would pick the D IF if it was free. #1 it's the most "valuable" and #2 it's clearlypure ICE. Duh LOL

No one would go down in color if it was free and if they all look identical in terms of cut! (Nice fantasty btw!)

I don't think that people actually like warmer colors better but that it's a function of finding the right size for the price (aside from cut of course) ! Most people want a certain cut quality (thats a given at ps) and next is clearly size when color and/or clarity go on the chopping block. Others will take a smaller stone to get the colorless (I understand that more than going for an IF which seems like a waste to me)

I purchased an E only b/c the stone was "right" (but was looking for a G)... G is the lowest I'll go and I know it gets me a smaller stone than what I'd ideally want.

My next pick is a G b/c I want bigger. It would be an F if I could afford it but I'm not going to buy the smaller D. Size is too important! I'm very honest with myself that way.

But if it's free I'm not picking the G.......and

can I get a matching 3 ct for earrings?

 

[sjz]

Well, you are wrong, MMM...I DO like the warmer colors. I honestly do think that if I could choose any diamond that I wanted, I''d probably still go with something in the G-J range. I just like the look of a little warmth in my diamond. I''m not one of the icy white lovers. I''m not even that hung up on size. Clarity and cut have always been my priorities. I''d say that I agree most with Perry and Mara. If given the choice, I''d probably look at the stones, choose the ones that looked the best, and then ask to see the numbers. I''d go for the IF with the highest scoring numbers cut-wise, just so that I could know that I had something "perfect". And three carats worth of "perfect" that flickered like candle light would delight me to no end!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/4/2005 8:44:25 PM
Author: moremoremore
In this little fantasy land, I think DF saying that all of the stones we have to chose from are identical except for color and clarity and they all look the same as far as cut goes and that they all had the same fire and brilliance and life, correct DF? Your point DF is that everyone wants an icy white stone but that they sacrifice color and clarity for size?


Haha! Interesting scenario DF ! Yes, you are certainly right. * All else equal *, everyone would pick the D IF if it was free. #1 it's the most 'valuable' and #2 it's clearlypure ICE. Duh LOL

No one would go down in color if it was free and if they all look identical in terms of cut! (Nice fantasty btw!)

More
yep,you're 100% correct,that's why you're an attorney. you too smart.

 

[Mara]

As sjz noted, some people really do like the warmer colors. those are the same people who like M''s and seek them out and/or things like light yellows etc.

Having never really seen a D that I was considering, I don''t know if I''d choose a D over a G over a J...but it would be interesting if 5-7 stones were put against each other and people chose.

One comment...when on the phone with Brian at WF once recently....he mentioned something along the lines of when they put two stones in front of people, something like an E or colorless stone and a J or near colorless stone, 9 times out of 10 people chose the warmer stone as the one they liked the best or that appealed to them the most. I would assume both cuts are similar in that they are ideal. I found it interesting that 9/10 people chose the J over the E. It was when he and I were discussing the colors and me jumping from an H to a J.

 

[diamondsrock]

i''m with you sjz! I actually prefer a little warmth in my diamond as it looks better with my skin tone. For some reason colorles stones look almost fake on me, like a cz. Hard to explain. Also, clairty and cut are my top two priorities as well. I''d take a warmer well cut smaller stone over a large colorless poorly cut stone anyday. It''s all about the sparkle!!!

 

[moremoremore]

"I'd take a warmer well cut smaller stone over a large colorless poorly cut stone anyday. It's all about the sparkle!!!"

Of course diamondsrock! But if there are two free diamonds before you. Same amazing cut. Same sparkle, etc. You're saying you're picking the J over the D? Well, then, my husband wants your phone number

And SJZ- don't be shocked if my hubby wants to leave me for you too

But Mara- the warmer ones were probably #1 bigger and/or #2 cheaper. So yes, a lot of people will pick those for that reason alone, no? But if they were FREE and looked the same- I don't think most will pass up the free D over the same size warm stone. I don't think we would ever be able to do a real study unless the stones truly looked exact which I don't think is possible b/c there are SO many variables. There is always something little, something spcecial, about a certain stone that makes us pick it as the *one* I don't think there are two stones on earth that look that exact...But, LOL, I suppose it is a bigger fantasy to think that Tiffany is giving away free 3ct stones! DON'T WAKE ME UP from that dream !!!!!! SIGH.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Are we approaching this fantasy aesthetically or economically?

If it''s about the look, then I can believe some people might prefer the look of a "warmer" stone. Sure. But economically, the D is faaaaar more valuable. Color influences price the most. While most people don''t buy diamonds for investment purposes (they are poor "investments!"), I know I like to have the best cut, color and clarity I can afford, balanced with size. A perfect example if the 1.56 ct J, SI2 bezel set pendant I just bought. Sure, I would have preferred a F or G but when I weighed the facts (it''s on the neck, in a bezel, no view from side) it was worth it to me because all people are going to see is a fairly big sparkly. The cut was good-distinct arrows, decent crown height, flashes where I wanted them...so I took it and got a great deal. But sure, I would love the same thing F, SI1 (I am not so big on clarity--99% of people don''t notice anything in a well-cut, properly graded SI, IMO)

I would have loved a D or E ering stone but H got me the size I really wanted. I think people will fall into three categories:

1. Those who want the really icy white colorless stones and either can pay for them or will sacrifice one of the other Cs to get it (hopefully NOT cut!);
2. People who''d prefer a D, E, or F but for whom size is most important and wll test the waters as to how warm they can go (I fall here); and
3. Those who will pick out that warmer stone and prefer its look to the more colorless ranges. This group is luckiest becasuse cost savings are built into these choices.

But at the end of the day, I think we can all agree that a D is a D is a D and a J is a J is a J...and cut is critical.

 

[sjz]

Date: 7/5/2005 7:42:07 AM
Author: diamondsrock
i''m with you sjz! I actually prefer a little warmth in my diamond as it looks better with my skin tone. For some reason colorles stones look almost fake on me, like a cz. Hard to explain. Also, clairty and cut are my top two priorities as well. I''d take a warmer well cut smaller stone over a large colorless poorly cut stone anyday. It''s all about the sparkle!!!

Yup. I''ve never seen a D color stone, but I''ve seen several F VVS stones, compared with stones in the near colorless range. You''re right, they kind of do look like CZs, at least to me. Once, when I was at the jeweler "just looking", she showed me several stones for fun. I was kind of shocked, the one I liked the best was an L stone! It had the most amazing sparkle! If I had been in the market for a stone at the time, I probably would have bought it on the spot.

I think the big debate over color is because of all the "C''s", color is the most subjective one. There are no numbers to look at or plots to study like there are with cut and clarity. It''s all about what appeals to the eye with color. Some people like that pure white icy look of the colorless range, while others are more taken with what a hint of tint brings to the stone. I didn''t get married in a white dress, either...my choice was ivory with pink and cream flowers in my bouquet

 

[Dancing Fire]

so in this fantasy scenario,some of you would ask Tiff & Co. to bring out the tray with the 3ct I color only? interesting....humm.we all agree on IF ? or is somebody gonna say they will take a VS2 ? since it''s good enough to be eye clean to most people (not you MMM

) remember, all these stones have the same cut quality.

 

[sxn675]

Well, in this fantasy world, can I get a lower color and clarity in the three carat stone and then use the savings to get a free pair of earrings? Because that''s my vote

 

[sjz]

Date: 7/5/2005 10:56:29 AM
Author: Dancing Fire
so in this fantasy scenario,some of you would ask Tiff & Co. to bring out the tray with the 3ct I color only? interesting....humm.we all agree on IF ? or is somebody gonna say they will take a VS2 ? since it's good enough to be eye clean to most people (not you MMM

) remember, all these stones have the same cut quality.

No, I wouldn't limit myself to one particular color or color range at all! I'd ask them to bring out ALL of their 3ct IF stones, regardless of color, then I'd choose the ones that looked the best to me. After choosing the ones I like best, I'd have the numbers run and see how they fared cut-wise to narrow it down further. Even then, I'd probably end up chosing the one that looked the most sparkly and beautiful to my eye out of that lot. I think, because of their reputation, I'd be pretty comfortable with the quality of the cut on a Tifanny stone. So ultimately, I choose the stone that looked the most beautiful to my eyes. The IF clarity would just be the icing on the cake...the ultimate "mind clean".

I'd just be awfully suprised, knowing what I've gravitated toward in the past, if I chose a D,E,or F stone, that's all. I have other diamond jewelry besides my Ering, and have had the luxury of choosing what I wanted, and always ended up with stones in the near colorless range. Not because I was "sacrificing" for size, because I actually don't go for the larger stones most of the time, anyway. This latest diamond purchase from WF...the SI2...is also the lowest clarity diamond I've ever purchased, so I don't normally sacrifice clarity, either. My so called "sweet spot" for diamonds is H VS1. But lately, since getting the H SI2 from WF, my clarity parameters are widening

. But heck YEAH, I'd take a 3 ct IF stone! The color would only matter as far as whether or not it looked pretty.

 

[moremoremore]

You''re all cheating LOL. What I think DF is doing with his thread is saying that in this fantasy land, you have diamonds that look the same, perform the same, the sarin is the same, everything is the same except color and clarity!

It''s interesting that you''d pick the warm stone over the D.

 

[sjz]

Date: 7/5/2005 11:32:29 AM
Author: moremoremore
You''re all cheating LOL. What I think DF is doing with his thread is saying that in this fantasy land, you have diamonds that look the same, perform the same, the sarin is the same, everything is the same except color and clarity!

It''s interesting that you''d pick the warm stone over the D.

I''m just saying that I would pick the 3ct IF diamond that I liked the best. It could very well turn out to be a D, but I wouldn''t limit myself to only a D...I''d look at all of the 3ct IF stones, and choose the one I liked best. If it''s a D, fine. It it''s E,F,G,H, or I...that''s fine, too. I''d just be surprised if the one I liked best was a D, that''s all. If I had to predict what I''d choose, I''d say probably a G or H because that''s what color range most of the other diamonds I''ve choosen have been. I have other colors, too, but most of mine are G or H. But I''m not predjudiced on the basis of color alone. I''m an equal opportunity diamond gal.

 

[moremoremore]

I dig. ..... Hey- when did a G or H become warm?

 

[sjz]

Date: 7/5/2005 11:51:12 AM
Author: moremoremore
I dig. ..... Hey- when did a G or H become warm?

It only became warm when we started talking about D being the ideal of perfection, I guess. And to those who are cursed with color sensitivity! Thank heaven, I don''t have that malady! It saves my hubby lots of moola.

 

[Mara]

Date: 7/5/2005 9:21:04 AM
Author: moremoremore


But Mara- the warmer ones were probably #1 bigger and/or #2 cheaper. So yes, a lot of people will pick those for that reason alone, no?

No, they would put same size stones side by side and not tell them anything about the stones. They'd choose what their eye preferred. 9 times out of 10 they chose a warmer colored stone. Go figure.

Personally, the devil in me likes to debunk the myth that D IF is everyone's dream.

I would also choose by eye as final decision maker even if they TOLD ME all the stones were the same, I'd still ask to see the numbers and the stones side by side and eeny meeny mynee mo!

 

[strmrdr]

make mine blue or red or orange please.
If the cut is the same on all of em forget the D give me color!
vs2 is fine also as long as its eyeclean.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/5/2005 11:45:27 AM
Author: sjz

Date: 7/5/2005 11:32:29 AM
Author: moremoremore
You''re all cheating LOL. What I think DF is doing with his thread is saying that in this fantasy land, you have diamonds that look the same, perform the same, the sarin is the same, everything is the same except color and clarity!

It''s interesting that you''d pick the warm stone over the D.

I''m just saying that I would pick the 3ct IF diamond that I liked the best. It could very well turn out to be a D, but I wouldn''t limit myself to only a D...I''d look at all of the 3ct IF stones, and choose the one I liked best. If it''s a D, fine. It it''s E,F,G,H, or I...that''s fine, too. I''d just be surprised if the one I liked best was a D, that''s all. If I had to predict what I''d choose, I''d say probably a G or H because that''s what color range most of the other diamonds I''ve choosen have been. I have other colors, too, but most of mine are G or H. But I''m not predjudiced on the basis of color alone. I''m an equal opportunity diamond gal.

i would be very happy with a G/H stone but, in this fantasy scenario i just tell them to bring out all their D IF 3ct and i''ll pick one.

you can call me "Mr Greedy"

 

[moremoremore]

Hey- if that''s what they say people like, that''s cool. Odd to me, but cool b/c they get to save $ and/or get a bigger stone. Me? It has to be ICE.

 

[Mara]

Okay DF I changed my mind.

I'd get the 3c D IF and then sell it privately for 3/4 of what the value is (it's Tiffany!) and then buy a new Lotus Elise, an H/I/J SI2 eye clean 4c stone and a pair of big honkin' 5ctw ideal-cut diamond earrings and matching 2c pendant!!!

By the way, a 3c D IF from Mondera is about $115k so a Tiffany would command what, $160k? That's alot of $$!!

 

[sjz]

Date: 7/5/2005 11:11:42 PM
Author: Mara
Okay DF I changed my mind.

I''d get the 3c D IF and then sell it privately for 3/4 of what the value is (it''s Tiffany!) and then buy a new Lotus Elise, an H/I/J SI2 eye clean 4c stone and a pair of big honkin'' 5ctw ideal-cut diamond earrings and matching 2c pendant!!!

By the way, a 3c D IF from Mondera is about $115k so a Tiffany would command what, $160k? That''s alot of $$!!

Ok Mara, when you put it THAT way...I''ll take the D IF, too and do the same...only I would buy a 2 carat J SI eye clean stone and use the rest of the money to pay off my mortgage! I didn''t realize reselling was an option in DF''s fantasy...

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/5/2005 11:11:42 PM
Author: Mara
Okay DF I changed my mind.

I''d get the 3c D IF and then sell it privately for 3/4 of what the value is (it''s Tiffany!) and then buy a new Lotus Elise, an H/I/J SI2 eye clean 4c stone and a pair of big honkin'' 5ctw ideal-cut diamond earrings and matching 2c pendant!!!

By the way, a 3c D IF from Mondera is about $115k so a Tiffany would command what, $160k? That''s alot of $$!!

Mara
glad to hear you''re finally coming to your senses. thought i might need to hit you over the head with a baseball bat,hee,hee....sounds familiar?.

hate to tell you but,even if you sell that 3ct D IF,it wouldn''t be enough money to buy all that other stuff.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/6/2005 12:35:47 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 7/5/2005 11:11:42 PM

Author: Mara

Okay DF I changed my mind.


I'd get the 3c D IF and then sell it privately for 3/4 of what the value is (it's Tiffany!) and then buy a new Lotus Elise, an H/I/J SI2 eye clean 4c stone and a pair of big honkin' 5ctw ideal-cut diamond earrings and matching 2c pendant!!!

By the way, a 3c D IF from Mondera is about $115k so a Tiffany would command what, $160k? That's alot of $$!!

Mara

glad to hear you're finally coming to your senses. thought i might need to hit you over the head with a baseball bat,hee,hee....sounds familiar?.

hate to tell you but,even if you sell that 3ct D IF,it wouldn't be enough money to buy all that other stuff.

a 3ct blue would and definatly a red and most likely an orange.
A pink would work too :}
but might be hard to sell quick lol

 

[Mara]

Date: 7/6/2005 12:35:47 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 7/5/2005 11:11:42 PM
Author: Mara
Okay DF I changed my mind.

I'd get the 3c D IF and then sell it privately for 3/4 of what the value is (it's Tiffany!) and then buy a new Lotus Elise, an H/I/J SI2 eye clean 4c stone and a pair of big honkin' 5ctw ideal-cut diamond earrings and matching 2c pendant!!!

By the way, a 3c D IF from Mondera is about $115k so a Tiffany would command what, $160k? That's alot of $$!!

Mara
glad to hear you're finally coming to your senses. thought i might need to hit you over the head with a baseball bat,hee,hee....sounds familiar?.

hate to tell you but,even if you sell that 3ct D IF,it wouldn't be enough money to buy all that other stuff.

Prove me wrong DF.

I don't know, everyone always says Tiffany holds their value way more than any other jewelry...so assuming I buy into that...and I could find a buyer...and I had the time to wait...well you NEVER KNOW until you try.

Oh and if we are doing COLORED DIAMONDS, yeah I'd take a blue or pink 3c!!! Then we wouldn't have to quibble over D/E/F/G/H/I/J!!!

 

[MissAva]

Just the lotus would be 43 grands....add in all the other stuff even if you got full retail for the Tiffany ring it would not be possible to get all of that. Nice thought though.