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The Perfect Color: D?

B

braveneo

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 30, 2020
Messages
7
One of the 4Cs is the color of the diamond. From what I know, the difference between the grades in the Colorless range (D, E, F) is very very subtle. Some buyers would insist getting a "perfect" D stone while others say an F stone would be distinguishable in practical.

What do you guys think? If you insist getting a D, what makes it so special that you are willing to afford more for it instead of getting a cheaper F? Are there any practical but difficult-to-observe benefits or advantages?
 
I am VERY color sensitive and come from a family who would only purchase "D" color. E is fine by me.. but with F, I start to see color. Now this only holds for rings.. earrings I'm not that picky.. nor with bracelets.
 
It depends greatly on the cut type and size.
20ct F has obvious tint.
2ct F crushed ice shows color
3ct ideal round - its hard to see.
The F 3ct I gave Drena looks D+ in good lighting because of the fluoro - hundreds of people have seen it because we keep it in the shop safe for reasons those who know me know. Everyone who sees it gets the fluoro thing.
 
The 'perfect' colour is very subjective.
I am also colour sensitive and can consistently tell the difference between a D and an F in the many average-sized diamonds I have seen in real life.
I find D's look blue (regardless of flourescence), cold, sterile, and clinical.
I would choose a G,H,I coloured diamond every time over a D,E, or F.
So, for me, 'perfect' is around an H.
 
The perfect color is the perfect color for you. I like F. Any higher I can’t see. Any lower than H I can see. I don’t want to pay for what I can’t see.
 
I have from a D to a K and I am loving my K right now, and I consider myself to be tint sensitive.

A vendor once told me that in his experience, when most people pick out stones in person, they go with an H over a D.

There is really no one right answer here.
 
It is definitely personal and not a matter of one being better than the other. I am color sensitive and while I can see the color I still prefer an G/H to a D. D's just look way too white.
If It's an old cut even more color is acceptable.
 
Different shapes show color differently, as does size. So I have no one single “perfect color”. Except for antique cuts, I don’t like to see warmth but also don’t want to pay for something I can‘t appreciate. Which for me means generally no lower than GIA graded I for MRBs up to a 1ct or so, H up to 2ct, and G in the over 2ct range (though hitting the 4-5ct range I might need F LOL). Fancy cuts and old cuts are different ballgames all together.
 
A high color grade is not about "perfection", rather it is about rarity of the diamond. The bigger the diamond in D color, the more rare it is. You pay for rarity. If you really wanted a white diamond, you could easily get an E and get the same white effect. But an E, although rare, is not as rare as a D. D, to me, also looks too plastic-like.... too white, too perfect. I prefer G/H - they always appear more real to me, with some life=color in it.
 
My mind clean colour is G/H, and the last diamond significant diamond I bought in 2005 was an E.

To me, G/H are very white on their own. However I can see a tint when they are next to my E.

Would I spend extra money to get Ds? No for the same reason I would not spend extra to get IFs or VVSs (VS is my mind clean for clarity) in that I am not discerning enough to appreciate them or be able to tell the differences.

It took me ages to find the inclusion in my EC that is an E VS1 with a 20x loupe!

I won't compromise on cut grade though.

Personal preferences and all that.

DK :))
 
Garry H (Cut Nut) said:
It depends greatly on the cut type and size.
20ct F has obvious tint.
2ct F crushed ice shows color
3ct ideal round - its hard to see.
The F 3ct I gave Drena looks D+ in good lighting because of the fluoro - hundreds of people have seen it because we keep it in the shop safe for reasons those who know me know. Everyone who sees it gets the fluoro thing.
Click to expand...
https://cutwise.com/diamond/55849 5ct H
https://cutwise.com/diamond/71025 1ct H
https://cutwise.com/diamond/71025 1ct pearshape
 
If money was no object I would adopt a 1-2ct D/IF/3X just to say that I have the 'ultimate' stone but it's not something I'm aspiring to own.

I really only wear yellow gold so D/E/F stones are kinda pointless for me. I have an F set in yellow gold and I love it, but I couldn't say it's better/whiter than my H/G stones that are also in yellow gold. I have a 2ct M oval that I love because it's just a chunk of imperfection (in the diamond world) but it's still so awesome to look at. Very personal I think!
 
Personally, I feel diamond color is extremely subjective. Its based on a multitude of factors. An ideal/excellent cut d color diamond is not more beautiful than say an j color ideal/excellent cut diamond. The d color is more rare. And one pays a premium for that rarity.

I dont feel that it is about advantage or disadvantage. It is about personal taste. A diamond purchase is a fine and delicate balance between the 4 c's
cut
color
carat weight
clarity
within a diamond make/shape

ask 10 different people and you will likely get 10 different listed order of the 4 c's

D and E color diamonds are very bright and at times appear to have a cool/cold brightness

F color diamonds are very bright and have slightly less cool/cold brightness

G color diamonds are bright and have far less cool/cold brightness. To most its a very white diamond. Apparently, G color diamonds are in certain demand. As a consumer can stay at G color and maximize the other 3 c's without venturing too far down the near colorless color range.

H color diamonds, to my eyes do not appear to have any cool/coldness. It appears neutral bright. It leans warmer when set in yellow gold and appears neutral set in platinum.

Another aspect of selecting color in diamonds is really about what you wish to see day in and day out. Do you want to see that very bright at times coolness or do you wish to see more of a neutral brightness or is it a warm bright glow???

I think that the cut or make of the diamond has a bearing on color or in other words what color or color range will be best with which diamond cut or make.

I feel diamonds are beautiful in all colors. Its just about what you will commit to.

I tend to be clarity sensitive and feel that typically vs2 and higher is safe but i have seen some vs2's that I am uncomfortable with. Yet, I have seen some very "clean" si1's.

Bear in mind that in the near colorless range ags and gia might differ in the grading of these colors as the lower you get down the color scale the wider the range of each perspective color. It is my understanding that colorless d,e,f diamonds have a narrower range within the perspective color grade as the color grade goes up.

I wear diamonds ranging in color from d to h. Personally, with a larger diamond i will tend towards a higher color grade just for peace of mind.

Just my thoughts and opinion. Hope it helps
 
It's very subjective. I'm extremely color sensitive, so I definitely see color in a G. H's look very tinted to me. F's are fine, but they don't seem crisp and white. I adore the icy whiteness of D's and E's. That doesn't mean I don't find the other colors attractive though. Of course cut, size, etc all play a part. The only opinion that really matters belongs to the person wearing the diamond. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.
 
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I’m at the other end of the scale in that I’m not colour sensitive at all. I wear an L coloured OEC on my left hand, and an H coloured marquise on my right hand.
 
Austina said:
I’m at the other end of the scale in that I’m not colour sensitive at all. I wear an L coloured OEC on my left hand, and an H coloured marquise on my right hand.
Click to expand...

OECs in UK are very rare - I have only seen them in the high end jewellery shops like the ones in Burlington Arcade in London, usually second hand.

I hope to be able to ogle at yours when we finally meet up for a UK GTG!

DK :))
 
I’m looking forward to ogling your gorgeous bangle @dk168 :bigsmile:
 
Color is definitely subjective. I prefer warmer diamonds over icy white ones. I will say that I’m probably not very color sensitive because I have a .71 D color diamond and a 2.53 I color diamond and I can rarely see any difference.
 
braveneo said:
One of the 4Cs is the color of the diamond. From what I know, the difference between the grades in the Colorless range (D, E, F) is very very subtle. Some buyers would insist getting a "perfect" D stone while others say an F stone would be distinguishable in practical.

What do you guys think? If you insist getting a D, what makes it so special that you are willing to afford more for it instead of getting a cheaper F? Are there any practical but difficult-to-observe benefits or advantages?
Click to expand...

It depends how colour sensitive you are, and also, what your colour preference is.

I can tell the difference between a D and an F.

But I do not necessarily prefer a D colour. In fact, I like warm colours (J+) in most shape, and higher colours only in step cuts.
 
Everyone is different in what they can see in terms of color and also in what they prefer.

Another thing to consider is if tint looks good (or not so good) against your skin tone. I'm very pale, so a warmer stone looks awful against my complexion. On the other hand, a super white stone really pops (in a good way) against my skin. Its all about contrast. My husband has an olive complexion and can wear warmer stones.

I can pick out a D from an E from an F and I personally greatly prefer a whiter diamond. I love the look of an icy cool pool of water. I live in a warm climate and so I crave the coolness. For me, a D is definitely worth it. I chose a higher color over larger size for my budget for both my e-ring and my studs.

I also have bad associations with the color yellow, so seeing any tint in my own diamonds gives me the heebie-jeebies.
 
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