What colour grade do you think of these diamonds please?
- Thread starter Maria L
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We're not going to be able to tell you from pictures...does the jeweler have any GIA graded stones in the G/H range and the I/J/K
range that you can compare them with? Because the stones are in bezel settings it's going to be hard to tell.
You could buy it and take it to an independent appraiser if you feel like you really have to know. I'm of the mind that if they're not
bright white but not obviously tinted then they're probably in the G/H/I range. If they're showing some tint then they're probably
in the I/J/K range. Bright white...DEF.
Do you have any stones that are GIA graded that you can compare the necklace with?
Just curious why you are asking. Are you buying it for yourself or someone else?
range that you can compare them with? Because the stones are in bezel settings it's going to be hard to tell.
You could buy it and take it to an independent appraiser if you feel like you really have to know. I'm of the mind that if they're not
bright white but not obviously tinted then they're probably in the G/H/I range. If they're showing some tint then they're probably
in the I/J/K range. Bright white...DEF.
Do you have any stones that are GIA graded that you can compare the necklace with?
Just curious why you are asking. Are you buying it for yourself or someone else?
Thanks for your suggestion. It's for myself but the dealer is in another country therefore I won't be able to compare them myself. I bought from them a few times before, considering them as trustworthy. The dealer wasn't too sure either but just said definitely not DEF. I asked because I hope it's good value for money. £1450 for 3ct G colour sounds great to me. But if they are I or J I will pass and wait for another one.
Dreamer_D
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Thanks so much, I know nothing about cuts. Glad I found this group
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Thanks I didn't know about that .
Dreamer_D
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Well, the short answer is that I just know what well cut diamonds look like and I know what crappy commercial grade diamonds look like! 
The slightly longer version is that in photos like this (crappy photos from your average reseller or estate seller), well cut diamonds should look like bright white circles and the white light return should be evenly distributed across the face of the stone. When you zoom in on the image, you should see an even facet pattern that is symmetrical. There should not be large areas that are dark and the diamonds should not look dull and grey. And well cut diamonds also have distinctive facet patterns that can be recognized if you know what they look like (this is the part I don't think I can teach you in a couple sentences).
What I noticed that made me think these are generic commercial grade diamonds is that they look mostly dark, not bright white, in these photos -- and not dark the way a well cut MRB will sometimes go in spot lighting either; just dark like "not returning light evenly." They look very grey, which may mean poor clarity or it may just mean poor light return. And when you zoom in really close to the first photo you can see the facet pattern and its a pretty telltale sign of poor cut. Like these -- splintery, uneven faceting indicative of poor cut that will look dull and lifeless:
Better faceting (though not ideal, you won't likely find that is these size diamonds):
Or compare the zoomed in image of your potential necklace:
To this zoomed in image from Tiffany:
Obviously some of that difference is professional photography, but in my experience even bad photography of good diamonds looks a heck of a lot closer to the Tiffany diamonds (bright white even light return with symmetrical pattern) than it looks like the necklace you are considering.
And honestly there is no point in buying poorly cut diamonds. Diamonds are supposed to sparkle!! Otherwise don't waste your money on frozen spit.
The slightly longer version is that in photos like this (crappy photos from your average reseller or estate seller), well cut diamonds should look like bright white circles and the white light return should be evenly distributed across the face of the stone. When you zoom in on the image, you should see an even facet pattern that is symmetrical. There should not be large areas that are dark and the diamonds should not look dull and grey. And well cut diamonds also have distinctive facet patterns that can be recognized if you know what they look like (this is the part I don't think I can teach you in a couple sentences).
What I noticed that made me think these are generic commercial grade diamonds is that they look mostly dark, not bright white, in these photos -- and not dark the way a well cut MRB will sometimes go in spot lighting either; just dark like "not returning light evenly." They look very grey, which may mean poor clarity or it may just mean poor light return. And when you zoom in really close to the first photo you can see the facet pattern and its a pretty telltale sign of poor cut. Like these -- splintery, uneven faceting indicative of poor cut that will look dull and lifeless:
Better faceting (though not ideal, you won't likely find that is these size diamonds):
Or compare the zoomed in image of your potential necklace:
To this zoomed in image from Tiffany:
Obviously some of that difference is professional photography, but in my experience even bad photography of good diamonds looks a heck of a lot closer to the Tiffany diamonds (bright white even light return with symmetrical pattern) than it looks like the necklace you are considering.
And honestly there is no point in buying poorly cut diamonds. Diamonds are supposed to sparkle!! Otherwise don't waste your money on frozen spit.
Dreamer_D
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Here is a good thread to educate your eyes. This thread is full of PSers taking photos of their diamond tennis bracelets, which have diamonds about the size you might be looking for. Now some of these PSers are amazing gem and jewel photographers, but most are just average people taking pictures. But virtually ALL of theese diamond tennis bracelets have very well cut diamonds in them -- they were bought by PSers after all 
So you can look through the thread and see how well cut diamonds should look in average photography and average lighting.
EDIT here is a great picture from that thread showing patterning of well cut diamonds that I was talking about -- see how symmetrical the dark and light pattern is on the face of the stones? And this is just a snap in regular lighting NOT a professional Tiffany shot (belongs to @cflutist ):
So you can look through the thread and see how well cut diamonds should look in average photography and average lighting.Show me your tennis bracelets!
I'm waiting for my order to arrive---show me your tennis bracelets!
www.pricescope.com
EDIT here is a great picture from that thread showing patterning of well cut diamonds that I was talking about -- see how symmetrical the dark and light pattern is on the face of the stones? And this is just a snap in regular lighting NOT a professional Tiffany shot (belongs to @cflutist ):
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