Orange diamond color look like gold! Help Please!

[maxspinel]

I posted this thread on the Rocky Talky Forum and did not get much response. I''ll try this on the colored stones forum. It is sometimes very confusing where to post questions on colored diamonds; Rocky Talky or Colored Stones.

Anynow, I ordered an orange diamond with the certification (IGI) stating the color is intense yellowish orange. It came last night and the color looks like GOLD.

I have never seen a yellowish orange diamond so I don''t know what to expect. I was a little disappointed because I thought the orange color would be more prominent.

When I first looked at it, I thought the primary hue of the stone is yellow with the secondary either orange or brownish orange. I am not sure I can spot any brown in it but heck, orange is so close to brown and I am confused.

To summarize it, it looks golden. The color is very different from the fancy yellow and I don''t think it is as attractive.

I need some advice from people that have more experience with color diamonds. Does yellowish orange diamond or orange yellow diamond look golden?

Also, is a golden diamond normally classified as champagne diamond, not orange diamond.

Confused and need help. PLEASE.

 

[kroshka]

Is there anyway you could take a couple of digital snapshots and post here? I would say that some can look more "golden".

It sounds like the stone is more of a yellow with orange as a secondary modifier and possibly brown as a modifer as well - at least from what you describe. Because it only has an IGI report, my guess is that if the stone were sent to GIA, the color grade would be very different from what IGI graded the color to be. I''ve found IGI to be all over the place in regards to color grades for fancy colors - even from just posted images on websites that sell fancies with IGI reports. Because they are not consistent enough, I don''t really take stock on what their report states. However, if a color were to be pleasing enough to me despite what was on the paper, I might still be interested if it was the right price and I felt comfortable enough that the stone was natural - even then though there is still some risk as to whether the color is completely natural.

 

[maxspinel]

Kroshka,

I tried to take some pictures last night w/o much success. Here is an attachment of the picture from the web and does represent the color of the stone.

The color is unusual. I thought that the color might be champagne too but on the other hand, I have not seen too much champanges to categorize it in one way or the other.

So what do you think about the color? Yellowish orange, orange yellow, brownish yellow, brownish orange yellow or any combination of the color orange, brown and yellow. Most people that saw it related it to gold. 50% of my friends like the color better than the fancy yellow and they are mostly men. The rest of them don''t care for it.

It is so hard with colored diamonds.

 

[Gemklctr]

I agree with Kroshka. I wouldn''t pay the premium for a non-brownish fancy without a GIA color report. That photo sure looks like it has brown in it, which is what I would expect from something described as golden or amber. I would definitely put it in the champagne category (C 3-4?), but "champagne" is not a color you will find on a GIA report. Rather, a so-called champagne diamond would typically be described as some variation of brown, brownish yellow or yellowish brown, sometimes with an additional modifier such as orange. This one doesn''t look like the other pure yellow-orange diamonds I have seen.

I also agree with your friends who like it better than fancy yellow, but I know few women seem to share that preference. However, the bottom line should be that it isn''t what you were looking for. To paraphrase another PSr, it''s not a deal unless it''s what you want.

 

[maxspinel]

I don''t like the golden color. It crashes with my skin tone. I think the stone is priced reasonably but it is just not for me.

I already talked to the dealer about returning the stone. It was interesting that one of my co-workers (a guy) absolutely falls in love with the color and he wants to purchase it for his wife but I told him that it is unlikely that women would have the same taste.

.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/8/2006 5:43:00 PM
Author: maxspinel

It was interesting that one of my co-workers (a guy) absolutely falls in love with the color and he wants to purchase it for his wife but I told him that it is unlikely that women would have the same taste.

For someone who likes yellow gold, this might be great.

With how popular white metals are... you must be right.

 

[colorchange]

I definitely like this diamond, as I like sapphires of the same color but wouldn''t call color intense !

 

[maxspinel]

My co-worker really likes the stone even though I told him his wife most likely does not share his passion. He said his wife does not have any heart shape diamond and a color one would be very special for her.

He wants to purchase it but I think the price should refect the color grade. First, as the picture has depicted, the color is not "yellow orange" but rather "brownish orange yellow"

. Also, it looks that it is only fancy, not intense. The IGI graded it as VS2 and with the loupe, it is relatively clean but assuming that IGI is loose also on the clarity grade, then this will be SI1.

Assuming that the stone would be actually "Fancy brownish orange yellow" SI, then what would be a fair price for it? The stone is 1.0 ct heart shape but the depth is >72% so it looks like a ideal heart of ~ .85 ct.

If he wants it, I''d like to negotiate a fair price with the dealer (at least try). The last thing that I need is for him to blame me later on of getting a diamond that is too expensive and his wife probably does not like.

 

[dkodner]

Hello all,

Here is a picture of a GIA intense orange-yellow. The picture of the ring is not good, but the color of the stone is right on. This is more like what your stone should look like if graded intense yellowish orange. I hope this helps. Be well.

 

[maxspinel]

I returned the stone today to the dealer. He said he''ll promptly refund my money after receipt of the diamond.

As for the picture that Dkodner posted, even though GIA graded it as intense yellow orange but somehow it appears to me the primary hue has more yellow instead. I like the more orange dominant stones but of course, not the golden ones. It is so hard to distinguish between orange and light brown; all of the color combinations of yellow, brown and orange just make it so confusing

Also, I am not sure if orange stones clashes with my skin tone. Pure fancy yellows are a lot easier and they are lovely.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/9/2006 8:23:41 PM
Author: maxspinel


As for the picture that Dkodner posted, even though GIA graded it as intense yellow orange but somehow it appears to me the primary hue has more yellow instead. I like the more orange dominant stones but of course, not the golden ones.

It sounds like you are after a straight orange stone with no yellow modifier at all, of something pinkish orange (which is a flower-like color if light and rusty if deep. I don''t know how or if GIA dispenses these names on their certs - there seem to be quite a few deep ones with IGI paper. Whatever they call the color, it isn''t brown and it isn''t ugly. If they were in danger of being called ''brownish-orange'' by GIA, I want to believe that beauty wins over paper for these fellows.

I am a bit confused by the choices: started brownish-pink, went yellowish-orange which is going towards the pink end of orange rather than the yellow end again. It looks like you don''t like orange, from how the posts here turn around.

Was yellow out of the race from the beginning?

If the idea was to look for a fancy that isn''t the relatively common yellow but doesn''t have its own listing on Wall Street either, both brownish pink and yellow-orange make sense (if you like them). And the one that didn''t get in the running yet is greenish yellow.

Probably the first choice would be the furthest possible from yellow-looking though.

What I would hope... is that one of the sellers you called gets to surprise you with a beautiful stone with a long name for color and charming looks. It happens. Sometimes it sounds like no dye factory could reproduce (or understand) what one or another lab calls diamond colors (try ''greenish pink''). Which usually mean the rocks didn''t win the lottery, but didn''t get ugly in the process. Wishful thinking? Maybe...

A random 2c thought.

I hope you do not give up on this - it may take a bit before the right surprise turns up.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/9/2006 12:31:50 PM
Author: maxspinel


He wants to purchase it but I think the price should reflect the color grade.
Assuming that the stone would be actually 'Fancy brownish orange yellow' SI, then what would be a fair price for it? The stone is 1.0 ct heart shape but the depth is >72% so it looks like a ideal heart of ~ .85 ct.

I don't think the SI1-VS2 border makes allot of difference if the stone is eye clean. I wouldn't worry about the extra depth too much - meaning, I doubt this will ever be priced as if it were .8cts. There will be a premium per carat, most likely with the argument that cut shallower, this stone would not be as deeply colored.

Whether 'intense' or not... only GIA knows after they rolled the dice. For yellows, around the border of fancy and fancy intense I could never tell. Fortunately, at least some of the time prices follow the looks not just the paper.

If it were fancy brownish yellow... looking distinctly brownish, w/o the 'orange' and 'intense' the price couldn't be that much, even if the shape is cute. (here's one). I suspect that if the seller presented this to you after a request for orange, the diamond does not look like frozen whiskey after all.

There is an example of GIA graded fancy brownish-orange-yellow HERE. I don't find the price objectionable. If this were 1 carat even for the very same size, there would be some premium. That, is up to your guess....

for ... say G/VS, that would be from 25% to more than 100% depending on shape. My guess is, everything is blown out of proportions about the ever popular rounds, so forget the higher end on that bracket.

At least, this is how much I would know for myself. Hope better info will come down this thread.

 

[maxspinel]

Date: 3/10/2006 1:25:18 AM
Author: valeria101

I am a bit confused by the choices: started brownish-pink, went yellowish-orange which is going towards the pink end of orange rather than the yellow end again. It looks like you don''t like orange, from how the posts here turn around.

Was yellow out of the race from the beginning?

Well, Val, sorry to confuse you. The fact is I have a fancy yellow and a faint pink diamond already. I love the yellow but the faint pink does not look pink enough. I was thinking to reset it in rose gold to bring out the pink or upgrade it to a fancy light or fancy pink. That is why I was interested in the brownish pink. In the meantime, typical of women, while I was looking for pink, I got attracted to the orange which is also an usual color. Well, the greenish yellow is not in the running because the color looks funny but who knows, I might see a stone that clicks.

Since I am not a collector and I mount/wear every stone that I purchase, I''d prefer the diamond to be at least 1 ct so it doesn''t look too tiny on my finger.

I''ve been looking at the web for more orange stones. I posted the pictures with stones rated from Fancy Deep, vivid and intense yellowish orange. It seems that fancy deep exhibit more vibrant orange but I am not sure if the Deep is too dark. What do you guys think?

 

[valeria101]

Good God! Is this your doing !!?

LINK

Even allowing for some 'dealer's optimism' about the photos... 'can't imagine what on Earth could have cause that much enthusiasm

 

[colorchange]

WOW, would someone show me such a diamond my fisrt thought would be for sphalerite !!!!!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 3/29/2006 3:04:13 AM
Author: colorchange

... would someone show me such a diamond my fisrt thought would be for sphalerite !

Maybe the picture... in person, I doubt the two cold be confused.

Wouldn''t you wish sphalerite would be more wearable? Now that''s a pleasant thought.

 

[colorchange]

I fell they may... but I don''t know anything about diamond to be honnest !

 

[MINE!!]

Date: 3/28/2006 6:30:13 PM
Author: valeria101



Good God! Is this your doing !!?

LINK

Even allowing for some ''dealer''s optimism'' about the photos... ''can''t imagine what on Earth could have cause that much enthusiasm

OOOOHHHHHH THAT IS PRETTIFUL!!!! I think the orange diamonds are pretty... finding the perfect one, I am sure that would prove difficuilt!