The most underrated colour grade

[treasurehunter]

What in your opinion are the most underrated diamond grades out there, the ones people avoid due to its a 'bad grade' but actually looks good in terms of colour.

 

[Rhea]

K. My mother had a family ring appraised by a PS appraiser that I swore was white white who named it as a K. We were sitting in his office and the appraiser had some time so helpfully explained and showed up how he came to that determination. I was shocked and surprised but it all made sense. I really couldn't see the colour when it was set and I'd happily buy and own a K. I have earrings which are L and M and I can see the colour in them. It doesn't bother me at all, but compared to my mother's K they are noticeably more coloured. K is still very white to my eyes.

 

[30yearsofdiamonds]

Without a doubt, I color.

 

[Niel]

K. My mother had a family ring appraised by a PS appraiser that I swore was white white who named it as a K. We were sitting in his office and the appraiser had some time so helpfully explained and showed up how he came to that determination. I was shocked and surprised but it all made sense. I really couldn't see the colour when it was set and I'd happily buy and own a K. I have earrings which are L and M and I can see the colour in them. It doesn't bother me at all, but compared to my mother's K they are noticeably more coloured. K is still very white to my eyes.

I have a K. Its not that i can't tell the difference between it and a G, or an I, because of course i can. But to call it yellow would be inaccurate, in my mind.

Ive said it a million times I'm sure, but it often comes off as a soft bone color. Not stark white, but still essentially neutral when it comes to color.

It changes in many different lighting situations, as i know all diamonds do, but the changes are interesting. Making the stone almost moody.


I think anyone with a stone lower than a G will say the color stone they have is the one thats most underestimated.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I never thought I would go below a G for an e-ring so I am pleasantly surprised I am very much enjoying my H OEC.

 

[Rhea]

K. My mother had a family ring appraised by a PS appraiser that I swore was white white who named it as a K. We were sitting in his office and the appraiser had some time so helpfully explained and showed up how he came to that determination. I was shocked and surprised but it all made sense. I really couldn't see the colour when it was set and I'd happily buy and own a K. I have earrings which are L and M and I can see the colour in them. It doesn't bother me at all, but compared to my mother's K they are noticeably more coloured. K is still very white to my eyes.

I have a K. Its not that i can't tell the difference between it and a G, or an I, because of course i can. But to call it yellow would be inaccurate, in my mind.

Ive said it a million times I'm sure, but it often comes off as a soft bone color. Not stark white, but still essentially neutral when it comes to color.

It changes in many different lighting situations, as i know all diamonds do, but the changes are interesting. Making the stone almost moody.


I think anyone with a stone lower than a G will say the color stone they have is the one thats most underestimated.

I suppose that before learning it was a K I'd never compared anything to my mother's ring side by side, but we both walked into that appointment thinking it'd be in the near colourless range of H and I and were surprised that it wasn't. I can see the colour it when held next to my diamond, an uncerted one which is supposed to be H I think, but I can recognise colour in my L and M stones without anything next to them in a way that I can't with the K. So that's why I picked K. Neutral is good term for it!

 

[patricias]

KLMNOP. Many people won't even consider these stones, which is a shame. There's no such thing as a bad color.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I am going to agree with the general J and below. i think a lot of it has to do with viewing actual GIA graded lower color stones. Many people seem more than accepting if an EGL graded stone which is often equal to a GIA graded stone of "lower" color. I have a GIA "L" graded asscher and no one has ever mentioned anything about the color. It also happens to be in a GH halo and it still doesn't stick out. I'm generally all about getting the most bang for my buck and color is the first thing I will go lower on to get bigger.

 

[treasurehunter]

I find that hard to imagine as in H colour the yellow tends to bother me in asscher cuts , Im colour sensitive though.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I find that hard to imagine as in H colour the yellow tends to bother me in asscher cuts , Im colour sensitive though.

I feel like color shows more in a step cut versus a brilliant cut. I had zero issues with H in an ideal cut round, but I can see the color a little in my H asscher. It is small, though, and that may be why (it is in a right hand ring, so I don't really care).

I will have to say I and J color to answer the original question. I can see the tint in a J, but I have seen enough I stones now that I can handle I color in ideal cut stones (including my AVR). Prior to this, I wouldn't have considered under G-H. But I color is fine, and J can work for those who are not color sensitive. (Antique stones are different, and each stone has to be evaluated for it's overall appearance.)

 

[Gypsy]

I-J-K. But especially I and K.

 

[GreenBling]

I feel that F is underrated. It is not just white but icy white that you don't see in G and below. For those who want white white, i think F has a lot to offer.

 

[Gypsy]

I feel that F is underrated. It is not just white but icy white that you don't see in G and below. For those who want white white, i think F has a lot to offer.

There's no color in G either. Not really. Not even in a Radiant.

I don't understand people that won't go down to G. In general I think that they are just uneducated and need to go see some correctly graded well cut diamonds. Especially if you are talking ideal rounds.

I have an F. I love my F. But it was a pre-PS buy. And even then I was open to G. Because I had gone to a hearts on fire dealer and seen their I's and J's and by then, I knew that ruling out G was just silly.

 

[treasurehunter]

How about S-T , U-V, W-X, Y-Z grades people anyone here fans of those?

 

[GreenBling]

I feel that F is underrated. It is not just white but icy white that you don't see in G and below. For those who want white white, i think F has a lot to offer.

There's no color in G either. Not really. Not even in a Radiant.

I don't understand people that won't go down to G. In general I think that they are just uneducated and need to go see some correctly graded well cut diamonds. Especially if you are talking ideal rounds.

I have an F. I love my F. But it was a pre-PS buy. And even then I was open to G. Because I had gone to a hearts on fire dealer and seen their I's and J's and by then, I knew that ruling out G was just silly.

Yes I have both G and F stones. G definitely no color. But if want to go for icy white I would take F over D and E for the savings.

 

[Roxy]

I think "G" is the most underrated color grade. For those who love the icy whites, they can get a super white stone w/out the markup for the "jump" to the D/E/F level.

 

[arkieb1]

I think H is an under-rated colour people either cheap out and go for an I or a J or they want the mind clean thing of buying a purer F or a G.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

How about S-T , U-V, W-X, Y-Z grades people anyone here fans of those?

I own y-z cushion earrings so yes they have fans. Great way to get yellow without paying for "fancy". I also usually prefer the lighter yellows with my skin tone. Other than that brownish yellows are actually my total fav. They are often the color of golden honey. Delish.

 

[Niel]

^ had me thinking.

Brown.

Brown hues or just fancy brown is totally underrated.most people I know that aren't into diamonds but talk about brown stones are like "why would I want a $%*# colored diamond?!"

I find that somewhat offensive as I think a brown colored diamond can be such a yummy caramel delicious color.

 

[MarionC]

I think "G" is the most underrated color grade. For those who love the icy whites, they can get a super white stone w/out the markup for the "jump" to the D/E/F level.

I'm with you there! I was a D-E girl, but now that I have a G I don't even look for higher range colors. It's very white, but seems to have a bit more personality than my D.

 

[Andelain]

I think E is underrated. People who want a completely colorless stone will insist on a D, when most people can't tell a D from and E. I can, but have to be looking for it.

 

[ChristineRose]

The faint yellows. They're the cheapest and they are spectacularly beautiful, just not what people think they "should" be wearing.

 

[dk168]

I would say "I".

DK

 

[missy]

I think this question is impossible to answer objectively. It depends on the person's color preference and the individual stone in question. Not all cuts with the same color and lab grade face up the same color. You have to see each stone in person to make that decision.

 

[Laila619]

J + K. Love them and would never pay for higher color again.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have a E, G, H, J, K, L ....... got all the underrated colors!

 

[Andelain]

I have a E, G, H, J, K, L ....... got all the underrated colors!

I had them all, got rid of the L. I also have D's and F's!

 

[ChristineRose]

I think this question is impossible to answer objectively. It depends on the person's color preference and the individual stone in question. Not all cuts with the same color and lab grade face up the same color. You have to see each stone in person to make that decision.

I guess it depends on whether you read "look good" as "look white enough not to raise mother in law's eyebrows." You can get good looking stones in every color of the rainbow. Except maybe indigo. Is the Hope indigo? You can't buy that anyhow.

 

[Acinom]

How about S-T , U-V, W-X, Y-Z grades people anyone here fans of those?

Yay! Big fan here. My 5.3 ct OEC is a U-V and I love it's creamy vintage lace color
It also gives diamonds a understated chic vintage look. Which I love as I live in a jewelry-conservative and the U-V color makes my big diamond easier suitable for everyday wear

 

[missy]

I think this question is impossible to answer objectively. It depends on the person's color preference and the individual stone in question. Not all cuts with the same color and lab grade face up the same color. You have to see each stone in person to make that decision.

I guess it depends on whether you read "look good" as "look white enough not to raise mother in law's eyebrows." You can get good looking stones in every color of the rainbow. Except maybe indigo. Is the Hope indigo? You can't buy that anyhow.

Yes I agree but what I mean is not all J's look the same for example. I have seen "white" looking J's and not so white looking J's. Same for I and K and L and so on. Nothing wrong with color at all (and some prefer it) but what I took this question to mean is what is the lowest color grade that still looks high(aka white) enough in color even if it is not technically a high color. That's why I think it is difficult to generalize and say what is the most underrated color because it really depends on the cut and the individual stone itself.
Sorry I am not doing a great job of explaining myself too clearly but hopefully you get what I mean.

ETA: here is my GIA L. It faces up as a higher color than L IMO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9W0VGN_fGw