Low colored OECs - at what point will they look yellow?

[winnietucker]

Looking at example of low colored OECs. There’s a W-X from I&R that’s on my radar but I’m thinking it might be not quite yellow enough? It’s hard to find examples of these lower colors in OECs online.

 

[Karl_K]

Yellows are a case by case bases.
What one looks like is not a good indication of what another will look like evan with the same grade.

 

[winnietucker]

Yellows are a case by case bases.
What one looks like is not a good indication of what another will look like evan with the same grade.

Well darn... that makes it hard.

 

[oldminer]

You asked your question in a very short and compact way. We need some background to understand better what you have in mind for one OEC diamond or more than one which might match? Do you want to use these contrasting with more colorless diamonds or all by themselves? Many OEC with varying degrees of obvious body color exist, but most will have a secondary brown tint or may be brown with a somewhat secondary yellow tint. Are you looking for purity of color or will a mixed, but colorful one work for you?

Larger OEC from Q/R color down to Y/Z have been subject to re-cutting into modern fancy color diamonds in recent years. Those of pure yellow color have been the ones cutters went after to intensify the face-up color. Brown tinted having a far lower value and market demand, have not been under that sort of demand pressure.

 

[winnietucker]

You asked your question in a very short and compact way. We need some background to understand better what you have in mind for one OEC diamond or more than one which might match? Do you want to use these contrasting with more colorless diamonds or all by themselves? Many OEC with varying degrees of obvious body color exist, but most will have a secondary brown tint or may be brown with a somewhat secondary yellow tint. Are you looking for purity of color or will a mixed, but colorful one work for you?

Larger OEC from Q/R color down to Y/Z have been subject to re-cutting into modern fancy color diamonds in recent years. Those of pure yellow color have been the ones cutters went after to intensify the face-up color. Brown tinted having a far lower value and market demand, have not been under that sort of demand pressure.

The cert (GIA) just says W-X so I assumed it just meant a yellow undertone. I’d like a 3 stone with colorless sides so play up the color. Yellow OEC has been on my wishlist forever but the few I’ve seen (fancy light and fancy, IIRC) were way out of budget. I was curious if this could be a way to get that look without lots of $$.

 

[yssie]

The cert (GIA) just says W-X so I assumed it just meant a yellow undertone. I’d like a 3 stone with colorless sides so play up the color. Yellow OEC has been on my wishlist forever but the few I’ve seen (fancy light and fancy, IIRC) were way out of budget. I was curious if this could be a way to get that look without lots of $$.

It does seem that there's just a huge variance in actual colour, whatever the report might say, as @oldminer points out.

I have a pair of low coloured OECs - GIA S/T and GIA U/V. They don't read light yellow. But they also don't read white. And they're super shifty as lighting changes.

Neither of my stones have colour descriptors on the GIA (which - you're totally right, does in fact mean that GIA noted yellow undertone only yellow undertone) - but I have to say, to my eyes they turn vaguely greenish when I put them next to YG. Next to platinum they're... darker, leaning toward "beige", but no green. Unplated 14k Ni-WG is a perfect face-up match. So I won't be putting YG anywhere near them!

 

[winnietucker]

It does seem that there's just a huge variance in actual colour, whatever the report might say, as @oldminer points out.

I have a pair of low coloured OECs - GIA S/T and GIA U/V. They don't read light yellow. But they also don't read white. And they're super shifty as lighting changes.

Neither of my stones have colour descriptors on the GIA (which - you're totally right, does in fact mean that GIA noted yellow undertone only yellow undertone) - but I have to say, to my eyes they turn vaguely greenish when I put them next to YG. Next to platinum they're... darker, leaning toward "beige", but no green. Unplated 14k Ni-WG is a perfect face-up match. So I won't be putting YG anywhere near them!

Huh that’s super interesting! Have you ever posted photos? I’m curious to see...

I ended up asking my husband his opinion and he said to just get a super ideal so I can upgrade it willy nilly. I&R has an upgrade policy, which is why I was entertaining it, but my husband and I agreed I bore too easily so super ideal vendor upgrade policy is more fitting for me.

He gave me the ok to buy a diamond from either vendor whenever I want so I might buy the cheapest one available and start my journey there. The yellow OEC will just remain a dream for me, I guess.

 

[Polyhex]

It depends on the cut. I have an informally WX graded transitional that faces up white!! I have seen GIA graded Ms that face up distinctly yellowish. Because there is a ton of diversity in old cuts, there is a ton of diversity in face up coloration, much more so than in the standard round brilliant IMO.

In its battered old mounting:


Freed from mounting (to become earrings) and viewed from the side:


Edit, and here it is next to a white facing GIA OP which is becoming its earring match. It's on the left.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think going super ideal with the trade in policy will be your best bet for earrings that can be worn with anything. Not to mention, whiter, well cut studs are going show up much more on your ears than low color OECs.

 

[winnietucker]

It depends on the cut. I have an informally WX graded transitional that faces up white!! I have seen GIA graded Ms that face up distinctly yellowish. Because there is a ton of diversity in old cuts, there is a ton of diversity in face up coloration, much more so than in the standard round brilliant IMO.

In its battered old mounting:


Freed from mounting (to become earrings) and viewed from the side:


Edit, and here it is next to a white facing GIA OP which is becoming its earring match. It's on the left.

In the photos I don’t see much color at all. Looks pretty on par with a pair of Ms I had... I am clearly not color sensitive at all.

 

[winnietucker]

I think going super ideal with the trade in policy will be your best bet for earrings that can be worn with anything. Not to mention, whiter, well cut studs are going show up much more on your ears than low color OECs.

Oh not earrings - my ears can’t handle the weight of anything but tiny earrings, unfortunately...

I just wanted a yellow OEC & one that I thought might be a viable option popped up. But it’s a decent amount of money and my husband prefers I put that into a super ideal. He thinks I’d have more fun with the upgrade policy.

 

[Polyhex]

I think going super ideal with the trade in policy will be your best bet for earrings that can be worn with anything. Not to mention, whiter, well cut studs are going show up much more on your ears than low color OECs.

I'm the person getting earrings, not the OP, and for my taste I feel confident the beautifully cut 1.74 + 1.89 transitional studs will show up on my ears better than what the same money would buy in much smaller white modern brilliants (probably 1 + 1.)

 

[monipod]

Alex Park on Instagram sets a lot of U-V to W-Z but always uses a yellow gold cup to bring out the tint to a point where it looks like a light fancy yellow. On their own, they are tinted to me, not fancy yellow, and there's always the hue to consider with most lower colours having that typical Cape colour as opposed to the canary yellow that you want in fancy yellows.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'm the person getting earrings, not the OP, and for my taste I feel confident the beautifully cut 1.74 + 1.89 transitional studs will show up on my ears better than what the same money would buy in much smaller white modern brilliants (probably 1 + 1.)

Read through too quickly! I see that she was looking for a ring stone. When she said her husband was encouraging her to go superideal, I was just confirming other positives of that decision for her. I am sure you are making the choice that will make you happiest!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh not earrings - my ears can’t handle the weight of anything but tiny earrings, unfortunately...

I just wanted a yellow OEC & one that I thought might be a viable option popped up. But it’s a decent amount of money and my husband prefers I put that into a super ideal. He thinks I’d have more fun with the upgrade policy.

I have two and the only way to really get them to look yellow is to set with yellow gold surrounding the stone.





Bottom picture shows and I color and then the light yellow is O color. I have a Y-Z that faces up just about the same but it also has a little yellow gold surrounding it.

 

[monipod]

I have two and the only way to really get them to look yellow is to set with yellow gold surrounding the stone.





Bottom picture shows and I color and then the light yellow is O color. I have a Y-Z that faces up just about the same but it also has a little yellow gold surrounding it.

Stunning ring and stone... I like how golden the hue is. Yellow gold definitely helps.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Very few Cushion Brilliant and or old mine brilliant are cut to increase perceived color.
In almost all cases a cushion modified brilliant will appear to be much more yellow then an older cut the style stone of the same GIA color grade.
Florescence is another factor – if stone is medium or strong blue, the chances of it looking yellow and normal lighting are very slim. Hope this helps!