Mixing diamond color grades in your jewelery wardrobe

[Dreamer_D]

What are your feelings about mixing color grades in diamonds in your jewelery wardrobe?

Do you mix color grades? Do you try and stick to similar colors?

 

[slg47]

I see no problem with it My ring center stone is a G, my earrings are Js, and my pendant is an E.

 

[denverappraiser]

I'm sure the dealers out there would be thrilled if customers were to develop a wardrobe of E's and a separate wardrobe of I's but that's crazy even if you're a zillionaire. In real world conditions, D's look just like J's and unless you're talking about fancy colors I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don't find that Ds look at all similar to Js in most lighting DA

This is not a worry of mine. I am curious how others personally feel about it and if they wear colorless and more tinted stones, for example, at the same time.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I see no problem with it My ring center stone is a G, my earrings are Js, and my pendant is an E.

How about in two rings, slg, where you can see both diamonds at the same time?

 

[sna77]

When I bought my wife's earrings and her wedding band, I made sure that nothing fell below one color grade of her center stone that was an E...

 

[Skippy123]

I personally have different colors. For my ering I have a G and I love my Modern Brilliant being G. My BGD studs are an I and pendant and I. I have a few old pieces and I actually don't care if they are near colorless, one piece is near colorless but my new oec isn't. I think people don't pay that much attention? maybe just ps'ers? I don't know. do you?

eta: I do have to say I think I am sensitive to color. Ellen and I went to look at diamonds at a jewelry store and I picked out the I colored stones w/out the sales associate telling us first. Also I took a girlfriend to see diamonds because she wanted a 2 ct engagement ring and she couldn't tell the difference between and H and a J, so I think people can maybe get away with different colors in their wardrobe.

 

[aljdewey]

I definitely mix mine, and I can't tell the difference.

I have a 5-stone with H and I stones and a pendant with a J. I can't tell a difference in any of them, but I do see color in my vintage stones.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I doubt other people can tell the difference between colorless and near colorless or even faint yellow on *other people*, mostly because as we all know, diamond color is so dependant on lighting and other people don't see you or your diamonds accross many different lighting conditions. They also don't really look at your diamonds up close mostly, I think.

When I asked if people mix colors I suppose I more meant would your or do you wear diamodns that are *noticably* different in tint at the same time; noticable to you. So HIJ are likely not particularly noticably different. But for me, anyways, I can see the difference between G and I/J in many lighiting conditions, when the two stones are in proximity.

I like most color grades on their own, though I prefer less tinted diamonds in modern cuts, but I am a little unsure how I feel about wearing notocably different colors at the smae time in two rings, for example, where you can see and notice the color difference with your own eyes anytime you see both your hands in the same field of vision.

Yes, this is a nitpicky thing to think about But this is PS after all.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

All the diamonds I have bought, as well as the one small family diamond, have all been G or H. I absolutely would go lower for an antique stone. But G-H is just my color preference when buying new diamonds. (My original e-ring diamond is F, though, and that may have something to do with me not going lower in color than H).

I think I could wear my wedding set which is G on my left hand with a RHR with an antique stone of lower color, yes.

 

[Skippy123]

Well it is kind of an interesting question. Like what does Singlestone or Lang do with the high colors and settings? Are they the same colors? Or back in the day did they try to use all G's? I know my brooch is all G/H's if I recall correctly.

 

[aljdewey]

When I asked if people mix colors I suppose I more meant would your or do you wear diamodns that are *noticably* different in tint at the same time; noticable to you. ..........

I am a little unsure how I feel about wearing notocably different colors at the smae time in two rings, for example, where you can see and notice the color difference with your own eyes anytime you see both your hands in the same field of vision.

I do wear noticeably different tints at the same time.......I wear my H engagement ring on my left and my L/M OEC on the right, or my L tranny on the right, or my M OEC pendant. Then again, I also mix metals unapologetically too. My e-ring is YG, and my OEC is platinum; my tranny is WG. I don't have the matchy gene, I guess.

 

[Mara]

Most regular people (aka not PS'ers) can't seem to tell much of a color difference in general when it comes to diamonds. I cannot tell you how many people I have had say that my e-ring stone (a 2.32 J) is a D or E. And my K pendant, most people just say how white and sparkly it is.

Most of my diamonds are lower colors because I like the bang for the buck, I am not color sensitive and I actually prefer them against my skin tone more. But if I had an F or G in a ring, I would def wear it with my J or similar... if I was building a 3 or 5 stone though I'd probably try to stay within 1-2 color grades if the stones are right up against each other.

 

[jstarfireb]

I would not mix stones differing by more than 2-3 color grades in the same ring or in two rings on the same hand. I wouldn't have a problem wearing a different color on each hand or in a ring and a pendant or earrings.

 

[Octavia]

For diamonds worn right next to each other, I'd probably try to stay within 2 color grades or so. My e-ring is an E and my wedding band is F/G, and I don't notice any difference in the color of the stones (though with small melee, I don't know if it would be that noticeable anyway). If I were ever to upgrade my e-ring, I think I'd go for a G/H so I wouldn't have to worry about changing the wedding band. My new studs, which should be in my hot little hands in a week or so, are H. In the size I ordered, H SI1 and I VS2 were pretty much identically priced, so I just picked a pair. Didn't really matter much to me. I wouldn't have minded going lower in color if anything was available, especially since I don't ever plan on holding my hand "just so" next to my ears...I doubt that as a practical matter anyone would ever notice the difference in color even then, though. I would also be very tempted to get an old cut in a lower color to wear on my right hand, or an I/J/K for a pendant.

 

[0-0-0]

As others have suggested, I think it really depends on the cut/size of the stones and how you go about wearing them. I don't think mixing color grades with stones that are noticeably different in cut/size and worn on different parts of the body to be an issue.

I think mixing color grades on the same ring/finger/hand can be problematic if it doesn't look like it's done on purpose, but IMO it can look really cool if done well. For example stacking rings with a D, a K, and a S stacked in order, or perhaps a channel band with alternating D/K stones. In general, I think the bigger the difference between color grades, the more likely that it'll look like it's being done on purpose and the better it looks.

 

[kenny]

What exactly is the concern?
I can imagine two:

1. A person may feel that diamond colors worn together simply should match for aesthetic reasons.

2. A J worn alone may pass as fairly colorless, but wearing that same J next to a D makes the J's color more noticeable and that truth is too painful for some people - as if having a J is a bad thing that they want to keep secret.

Can anyone think of any other possible downsides to wearing very different-colored white diamonds together?

 

[Dreamer_D]

What exactly is the concern?
I can imagine two:

1. A person may feel that diamond colors worn together simply should match for aesthetic reasons.

2. A J worn alone may pass as fairly colorless, but wearing that same J next to a D makes the J's color more noticeable and that truth is too painful for some people - as if having a J is a bad thing that they want to keep secret.

Can anyone think of any other possible downsides to wearing very different-colored white diamonds together?

No, I think those would be the only reasons. For me, I enjoy G and J colors by themselves, but next to each other, somehow it clashes to my eye.

 

[NTave]

Admittedly Im not very color sensitive, but I wear J next to G sin my three stone. Maybe its the way the basket covers the sides, but I cant pick up a difference. I wear my J/G three stone with my F studs. And I plan on wearing both with J when I finally make it into a pendant. No one can tell the difference.

 

[Phoenix]

I am extremely colour-sensitive and for example can tell an E from an F, even face-up.

I've been fairly colour-tolerant though and have bought lower colours including J's (even K's but the K's turned out to be too tinted for me).

When I first got my BGD H pendant and wore it next to my BGD J studs, the J studs looked tinted to me (but of course they all face up very white to everyone else and of course the stones are incredibly firey and beautiful! ).

Similarly, the last few days, my new E-F huggies look very white when worn close to the H pendant.

My fave/ soft spot is definitely E-F and most of my diamonds are in this range. I wish I could upgrade all diamonds to this range but that ain't gonna happen any time soon - if at all. Plus, all this is in my mind I know (mind clean issue and all), so I wonder whether it'd even be worthwhile or sensible to do so.

Like some have stated, I may end up not wearing colours that are more than 2-3 grades apart close to one another, cos it "bugs" me a little. I know crazy, huh! I'm sure only PS'ers (and again only some) are this OCD!

 

[Jennifer W]

I rather like to wear different color grades together. I can see the difference, and I enjoy it. I like each diamond for different reasons - I chose each stone / piece because it had an aspect I love and I enjoy their individual personalities.

I have one three stone ring with an L centre and H sides, although because of the fluorescence in the centre, the difference in a lot of lighting isn't as marked as I originally expected. Generally though, the diamonds in a single piece / pair of earrings match in terms of color and other specifications.

 

[decodelighted]

Differences in color say two things to me ....

1) the diamonds are real

2) the diamonds are collected over time and not a "matchy-matchy" set

 

[JuneRose]

Differences in color say two things to me ....

1) the diamonds are real

2) the diamonds are collected over time and not a "matchy-matchy" set

Couldn't have put it better myself!

 

[Dandi]

My tennis bracelet and eternity ring are both 'F'-'G', my 3 stone engagament ring is a 'J' flanked by 2 'I's, and my studs are an 'I' and a 'J'. And when all worn together it looks pretty much equal to me. Given that, I doubt I'd ever shell out for higher than 'I' colour for anything.

I've come to the conclusion that I am just not colour sensitive

 

[lknvrb4]

If it was an ering and a wband I would want them within 2 color grades but as far as a necklace and earrings, I would not care.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I have a three stone ring and am sure I've committed a PS sin by having an E center stone and H sides. It would be silly to say there's no difference btwn them, otherwise they'd all be graded the same and I can see the difference myself, but because my stones aren't that big, I can only tell if I have my eye right up to it. The casual observer would never be able to to tell from just a normal glance.

 

[Farleysmom]

I don't have a problem mixing colours. My 3-stone has an L center and J sides and I wear it with an eternity band with F-G color stones. On my right hand I wear an M color solitaire with a variety of bands including a 5-stone ring with F-G color stones, an F colour eternity ring and Dreamer's pre-loved band with F-G or G-H colour stones (sorry I can't remember).

 

[Enerchi]

Differences in color say two things to me ....

1) the diamonds are real

2) the diamonds are collected over time and not a "matchy-matchy" set

Couldn't have put it better myself!

I am a three-peat of that sentiment. I like the individuality that a collection represents. It shows you have purchased each item for its unique merits.

 

[diamondringlover]

I have no problem with it my e-ring is an I and my 5 stone are F's.....and I am now going to be resetting these to combine them into one ring

 

[Enerchi]

oooooh --- diamondrnglover --- do give us all a hint of what you are up to.... Enquiring minds want to know!