Warm Or White Diamonds?

[KaeKae]

I had to vote: either/or. Since finding PS two years ago, I've tried debating this, but find it impossible to come to a conclussion. Maybe because I've never had the opportunity to buy a diamond, so I've never sat in a jewelry store and conciously compared colors.

My uncertified K ering was a stone given to DH by his grandmother. I never knew that it was anyting but white. I have two inherited pendants: an H and an I, and grad gift earrings that are Gs. I love them all and again, only see white, unless I am deliberately thinking about it.

Considering all this, if I ever get the opportunity to buy a diamond, I think I'd go for a warmer stone so I could increase the cut, size and/or clarity a bit, but who knows? First I'll have to win the lottery!

 

[Octavia]

I think my sweet spot is right on the cusp -- H/I. I have an E and I'd prefer something with a bit more color. So much depends on the cut, though, as I'm craving one of those creamy vanilla AVOEC stones in the worst way.

 

[Verdy]

Jewelerman - Going on what you said about the K colors, say you had an ideal H&A, RB, K color in a .45 ct size, would the tint be more visible or less since it's a small stone?

Luv2sparkle - A friend of ours got asked recently at a local jeweler's whether her 2.4 ct stone was CZ! She owns a D, VVS2 RB.

Circe - Let's hope you get lucky and I am predicting your future with a fancy yellow! And maybe your husband will convert aftewards

NewEnglandLady - I'm in complete agreement with you, step cuts in my opinion look very defined and crisp when they're in higher colors.

Octavia - We're currently looking at an E color, and I'm second guessing myself as to whether I REALLY want such a high color since I'm not very sensitive to it.

I'm really loving all the discussion going on here - color is sometimes something that not most people take into consideration when they purchase a diamond since cut is the most important part of the process, at least where I live. Kenny did make a good point, lower colors open up the option of size, but there's some out there such as myself, that would go to a lower carat for a whiter stone. I do wonder how low most people would go just on a budget though! I'm really falling for AVCs and OECs in particular, the creaminess of those cuts is so captivating!

 

[Circe]

....
I'm really loving all the discussion going on here - color is sometimes something that not most people take into consideration when they purchase a diamond since cut is the most important part of the process, at least where I live. Kenny did make a good point, lower colors open up the option of size, but there's some out there such as myself, that would go to a lower carat for a whiter stone. I do wonder how low most people would go just on a budget though! I'm really falling for AVCs and OECs in particular, the creaminess of those cuts is so captivating!

Ah, but there the interesting thing is that the price premium for cut evens out the differential of a warmer color. For cut nuts and warm color lovers, they're awesome, but it's a great way to force the realization that if you're not the former, you must be the latter ....

 

[Gothgrrl]

I like cooler colored diamonds. D looks best on me.

 

[MrsBettyBoop]

I have very brown skin so I prefer warmer diamonds (even my wedding dress was champagne)... I would take a D if it were given to me of course but I would never pay for it, even if it were the same price. My favorite is a J, it's my D.

 

[Phoenix]

I voted white. I'm very colour-sensitive (can def see very subtle shades of colour differences, both in diamonds as well as in other things non-bling). Am also colour-tolerant, so like Kenny said, I buy diamonds within a certain budget and at times have chosen lower colour bigger ones subject to the price I'm willing to pay (of course as long as the cut helps to mask the face-up appearance). I prefer D-E-F diamonds, because they look more appealing to my eye (but I strongly suspect a part of that is subconscious, ie. that preference is intrinsic = it's built into my perception, brainwashed by the diamond industry, lol). But it is true also that these whiter diamonds def look better on my whiter slightly yellowish sallow Asian skin .

 

[m-2-b]

D-H most definitely!

 

[kcoursolle]

I love them both, but in different cuts. In step cuts I love icey white, or last least generally white (above J). I tend not to like colors below J in step cuts. In modern rounds I like J and above, but icey white isn't necessary. I love the antique warm white look of antique stones and cut styles.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I can honestly say that my preferences on diamond color don't waver much if they were all the same price. I REALLY would want an LMNOPish cushion even if a D was the same price. For an asscher I would probably want a pretty white stone. For oval I could go either way.

But what I *really* would want to see is for attitudes to change. Instead of thinking - what if a D cost as little as a J, then would you get it? try thinking, what if a J was as expensive as a D - then would their value truly be equal? I'd like to think so. I think the whole rainbow of shades are beautiful and we should choose the STONE we think is beautiful as a whole rather than focusing on the very old fashioned idea that white is inherently better than yellow.

 

[kenny]

I can honestly say that my preferences on diamond color don't waver much if they were all the same price. I REALLY would want an LMNOPish cushion even if a D was the same price. For an asscher I would probably want a pretty white stone. For oval I could go either way.

But what I *really* would want to see is for attitudes to change. Instead of thinking - what if a D cost as little as a J, then would you get it? try thinking, what if a J was as expensive as a D - then would their value truly be equal? I'd like to think so. I think the whole rainbow of shades are beautiful and we should choose the STONE we think is beautiful as a whole rather than focusing on the very old fashioned idea that white is inherently better than yellow.

Fascinating subject: What makes something inherently better vs. made-up-and-agreed-with better?, - and how the later factor gets forgotten.
Constructs of the mind catching on to where they are no longer seen as constructs of the mind intrigue me to no end.
There are a zillion examples once you start looking for them.
People get so passionate about them that they'll fly jets into buildings.

What is inherent in a D and a J, after all?
Color and rarity, but not desirability or price.
Desirability and price are assigned, not inherent and are the result of a social process not a geological one.

We could wish people placed no value judgement on color or on rarity.
We could wish supply and demand did not affect price.
Then everyone could feel their diamond is equal regardless of color.
Heck, we could say the same thing about size.
But then the folks who paid a million bucks for their large D would feel ripped off; that's not nice.

Good, bad, right or wrong seeing all diamond colors as equal will never happen.
When money is at stake that shoots to hell the equality thing.
Diamond specs are not like human hair, eye or skin color where all should be thought of as equal; humans are not sold (well, not anymore) so commerce can not inform us of what is considered more desirable.

The moment commerce enters the equation everything changes.
What ends up costing more will be widely seen as "better".
Sure some DO prefer warmer diamonds even if they all were the same price and may resent Ds being considered "better".
You could go in circles asking, "Does it cost more because it's better or is it better because it costs more?" A futile chicken and egg question.


Ds cost more.
Larger diamonds cost more.
You can wish for equality all you want but reality will hit you in the face when you walk into Graff to buy a 100 ct D insisting it should cost the same as 1 ct J.
You may find yourself escorted out by security.

Owning a 100 ct D IF does not make you a better person, it just means you own a more expensive diamond.

 

[Circe]

I can honestly say that my preferences on diamond color don't waver much if they were all the same price. I REALLY would want an LMNOPish cushion even if a D was the same price. For an asscher I would probably want a pretty white stone. For oval I could go either way.

But what I *really* would want to see is for attitudes to change. Instead of thinking - what if a D cost as little as a J, then would you get it? try thinking, what if a J was as expensive as a D - then would their value truly be equal? I'd like to think so. I think the whole rainbow of shades are beautiful and we should choose the STONE we think is beautiful as a whole rather than focusing on the very old fashioned idea that white is inherently better than yellow.

Fascinating subject: What makes something inherently better vs. made-up-and-agreed-with better?, - and how the later factor gets forgotten.
Constructs of the mind catching on to where they are no longer seen as constructs of the mind intrigue me to no end.
There are a zillion examples once you start looking for them.
People get so passionate about them that they'll fly jets into buildings.

What is inherent in a D and a J, after all?
Color and rarity, but not desirability or price.
Desirability and price are assigned, not inherent and are the result of a social process not a geological one.

We could wish people placed no value judgement on color or on rarity.
We could wish supply and demand did not affect price.
Then everyone could feel their diamond is equal regardless of color.
Heck, we could say the same thing about size.
But then the folks who paid a million bucks for their large D would feel ripped off.

Good, bad, right or wrong seeing all diamond color as equal will never happen.
When money is at stake that shoots to hell the equality thing.
Diamond specs are not like human hair, eye or skin color where all should be thought of as equal; humans are not sold (well, not anymore) so commerce can not inform us of what is considered more desirable.

The moment commerce enters the equation everything changes.
What ends up costing more will be widely seen as "better".
Sure some DO prefer warmer diamonds even if they all were the same price and may resent Ds being considered "better".
You could go in circles asking, "Does it cost more because it's better or is it better because it costs more?" A futile chicken and egg question.


Ds cost more.
Larger diamonds cost more.
You can wish for equality all you want but reality will hit you in the face when you walk into Graff to buy a 100 ct D.
If you insist it should cost the same as 1 ct J you may find yourself escorted out by security.

Two words, though: artificial scarcity. One of the ways that the diamond industry increases the desire for high-color stones is by stemming their tide. We all know diamonds, as such, are not particularly rare: what's still a dangling question-mark is just how carefully De Beers built its stockpiles back in the day, and the extent to which Rio Tinto, Leviev, etc. have modeled themselves on that template.

Personally, I'm pretty sure that some things actually are rare - fluorescence, for example, given that it's not in particularly high demand, and it's still only 30% (or so) of what's available. But high color? That I'm not so sure of ....

 

[kenny]

Yes, rarity on the market may not be the same as rarity from the earth, but that does not change the point of my post how cost is an unavoidable factor.

What is more expensive will be perceived as "better".

 

[Circe]

Yes, rarity on the market may not be the same as rarity from the earth, but that does not change the point of my post.

What is more expensive will be perceived as "better".

Oh, very true - I was just thinking about this paragraph:

"What is inherent in a D and a J, after all?
Color and rarity, but not desirability or price.
Desirability and price are assigned, not inherent and are the result of a social process not a geological one."

So, really, only the color is inherent, and the rest is manipulated. It's the degree to which we're aware of it that's intriguing: I mean, the rock-bottom truth is, these little shiny things have only the value we ascribe to them. Yet I find them aesthetically pleasing enough to be considering spending the equivalent of a year's stipend on one! But not the kind I'm strongly encouraged to see as most desirable by the market. Eeenteresting ....

It's that intersection of market forces and individual psychology that fascinates, every time.

 

[kenny]

Yes, it IS fascinating how many ways we are manipulated especially when there is money to be made.
The more I look the more I see.

Awareness is a wonderful thing, not that we can do much to change the state of things.

 

[Black Jade]

There are some people who are exceptions, but I think Kenny has hit the nail on the head here.

I think a crucial aspect was left out of the question . . . Warmer colors cost much less.
To learn people's true color preference you have to ask, "If they were all the same price would you prefer warm or white diamonds?"

Warmer colors allow a much larger diamond for the same budget.
So it's not that all J owners prefer J to a D E F, they prefer the larger size that J allows for a given budget and don't mind the warmer color.

Sure, it's possible someone actually would pick a J over a D at the same price, but i'm guessing the majority prefer what the market has established to be more desirable, via the higher price.

 

[Black Jade]

Of the diamonds I have seen in person, I love the whiter colors better. The first time I ever saw a truly white diamond, it was the F color that I bought after being on Price scope. In real life, I rarely see a diamond as white as mine. Combined with the sparkliness (It's an AGS 000), the whiteness looks amazing to me and I especially love looking through the side, at the way it looks like ice.
I have warmer diamonds that also are very pretty, but they don't have the iciness and while I like to look at them from the top, I don't like to look at them from the side in the sunlight.
I think the warmer diamonds look amazing in the photos on Pricescope, but I want to reserve an opinion on them until I see a well-cut warmer diamond in person. Things can look so different in photos and in person, and definitely very different online and in person. The lower color diamonds I HAVE seen tend to be greyish, which does not appeal to me. Unless they are champagne, which looks more like mud in my opinion, from what I have seen so far. I can imagine liking a fancy yellow, or even an X Y Z, but nothing in the L-V range, although I could be wrong about this, and am willing to admit that seeing them in person might change my mind.

 

[liarudd]

D - F I love icy white diamonds... they are so breath taking and to me stand out in photos (and even MORE in person)... lower diamonds still look white but they are not as crisp when comparing

I remember when I saw my first ICY white diamond I was blown away and could totally tell the difference between the lower graded diamonds but it comes down to personal preference

 

[AGBF]

Of the diamonds I have seen in person, I love the whiter colors better.
The first time I ever saw a truly white diamond, it was the F color that I bought after being on Price scope. In real life, I rarely see a diamond as white as mine. Combined with the sparkliness (It's an AGS 000), the whiteness looks amazing to me and I especially love looking through the side, at the way it looks like ice.
I have warmer diamonds that also are very pretty, but they don't have the iciness and while I like to look at them from the top, I don't like to look at them from the side in the sunlight.
I think the warmer diamonds look amazing in the photos on Pricescope, but I want to reserve an opinion on them until I see a well-cut warmer diamond in person. Things can look so different in photos and in person, and definitely very different online and in person. The lower color diamonds I HAVE seen tend to be greyish, which does not appeal to me. Unless they are champagne, which looks more like mud in my opinion, from what I have seen so far. I can imagine liking a fancy yellow, or even an X Y Z, but nothing in the L-V range, although I could be wrong about this, and am willing to admit that seeing them in person might change my mind.

I just agree with the things Black Jade wrote: I associate diamonds and ice, like so many other people. Ice is clear, not yellow or warm. The clearer and more crystalline the better. That's it.

Deb/AGBF


PS-My solitaire is also an AGS F color with the triple 0 polish rating!

 

[Haven]

I voted "Either/Or" because I am an extremes sort of gal.
In step cuts, I prefer colorless.
In old cuts, I prefer very low, M+.

Side-by-side, I'm consistently drawn to very low colors in non-step cut fancies. Anything up in the D-H range looks pretty comparable to me, and I never like them as much as the warm fancies. The IJKL range starts to look off-white to me, not warm, and I don't particularly like the off-white effect, and then we start to get warm in the M+ and .

ETA:
I read the additional question asking what I'd prefer if all colors cost the same. I'd still prefer the lower colors. When it comes to big purchases like diamonds, I like to get exactly what I want. If I hadn't been able to afford the size AND color I wanted, I would have waited until I could afford it. For me, this is not the area for compromise. I'd rather compromise when it comes to far less important things, like which car to drive where I buy my socks.

 

[MyDiamondSparkles]

If two diamonds were the same price, one was a D and the other was an N--I would choose the N--and just to make things "clear as crystal" (lol) I can afford both, even if both were priced like a D. Of course I really only like old cuts --rose cut, OEC and OMC, so I think I might feel differently about an emerald cut N and I might not like that at all. Hmmmm..... an N color OEC is my hands down favorite--I adore that color!

I really think higher colors in diamonds are rather common. I mean in reality I think a lot of consumers have G or above diamonds-- I guess it's because that's what everyone has, so that is what everyone thinks they should have too. Ya know? I love PS because not everyone has the same thing and I love seeing all the differences.

Anyway, I'm a twin, so I like things that aren't what everyone else has-- and maybe to a fault-- I probably should lay on a sofa and have therapy...lol.

 

[Imdanny]

Warm and if it's an antique reproduction cushion, please, give people the choice of a culet that's not the size of a pinprick. In other words, if it's supposed to look like the Hope or Cullinan II, I think it should have an appropriately sized and oriented culet. That's a big part of what the originals looked like. But, yes, I love warmth in diamonds. To me, it's so beautiful, like the color of straw. I think D,E, and F are great, also, and personally G is pretty much "white" to me, but I'd choose warm, especially in an antique reproduction cushion. I love warmth in square cuts, too.

 

[Lulie]

In general, I prefer colorless diamonds. I have D & J, will not play favorites

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Either color--aka fancy; or none at all. In my dreams, of course...

cheers--Sharon

 

[Imdanny]

I want to like warmer diamonds... but I just don't. Luckily for me, I am not very color sensitive, and don't start to see tint until the J-K-L range.

I am in the PS minority in that I like inclusions. I find them charming, depending on the type and placement. I would rather save money with an I1 or I2 than with a J or K diamond.

Interesting! I hate inclusions.

 

[mrs taylor]

Having had diamonds up in the E range all the way down to M I hands down prefer the warmer. Nothing to do with price for me! But, what I love about my GIA M is the fact that it's surrounded by F melee. The contrast makes my heart sing.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i am in the F-H color camp.

 

[Jennifer W]

Yes, rarity on the market may not be the same as rarity from the earth, but that does not change the point of my post how cost is an unavoidable factor.

What is more expensive will be perceived as "better".

This is the crux of it, I think. There's a whole mystique around D colour that will probably always persist! I love it, personally. There's nothing quite like an icy white diamond. However, I also love each and every other colour every bit as much. There's nothing quite like a warm, glowing pale antique white diamond either.

I personally think that some shapes look nicer in warm colours and others look nicer without a tint, but it's personal taste. I don't value one colour over another, although I know that objectively the industry does and that's reflected in pricing. I'm just as capable of falling in love with a very white stone as I am with a very warm stone, though. It doesn't really feature in my choice or preference. Cut, shape, clarity, overall personality and a lot of fire are all more relevant to me.

 

[Imdanny]

DBL as I'm sure you know has or had some light yellow newly cut antique diamonds on the site that are stunning. I saved pictures of these on my iPhone along with lots of other eye candy.

I'd take a light yellow in a heartbeat.

I'm interested in the fact that many people seem to put G and H in the same category. I'm saving to buy SO studs. He likes white diamonds. I can't decide on F, G, or H.

 

[Jennifer W]

Yes, and sadly, I haven't seen one of our new signature cuts in person yet. Working from home is fantastic in every other job in the world. When you work for a diamond vendor, it flat out sucks not to be in the office every day.

Having had diamonds up in the E range all the way down to M I hands down prefer the warmer. Nothing to do with price for me! But, what I love about my GIA M is the fact that it's surrounded by F melee. The contrast makes my heart sing.

I too really do enjoy the contrast between a warm stone and crisp, icy melee. Such a cool look.