Which is more important: color or clarity?

[SparklyRing]

My BF and I have started looking at diamonds. Cut is the most important C for me, followed by carat. I''d like an ideal cut RB of .75 to 1ct, preferably a full carat stone.

Now, which is more important: color or clarity? I''ve heard from some people that color is the least important, since ideal cut RB''s reflect more white light and thus look whiter. I''ve heard from others that clarity is the least important because many inclusions are not noticeable unless you know where they are on the diamond.

I''d like to know what the experts think. Also, I''m not color sensitive, but I also do not want a yellow stone. I don''t mind inclusions as long as they are not blatantly noticeable. Which is the lowest grade for color and clarity that I should look for?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[kenny]

Color and clarity is really personal preference.

I recommend going out to look at lots of stones of various color and clarity grades.

I think this is the only way to determine your comfort zone.

If you buy what the majority likes you may have regrets later when you have more experience.

Keep in mind all labs to not agree on the color and clarity grades.
A stone that GIA or AGS graded as G SI1 may get an F VS2 or even an E VS1 from one of the softer labs.
This is shocking I know, but true.

This makes comparisons of stones from different labs difficult.
At first you may think you got some great deal on a stone till you find out that those grades are from one of those softer labs.

 

[HVVS]

What''s important is, which one is more important to you. Personally, I rank color over clarity. In real life, a diamond ring will have lint, dust, hair spray, etc. on it, except immediately after cleaning, lol. A discrete inclusion or two doesn''t bother me, especially if they are the sort that you only notice really close up. Color, I can see at arm''s length. I have diamonds ranging from VVS1 down to I1 and I really don''t think there is anything wrong with a good SI2 or I1 stone.

If you want white, stay G and up. Or H, maybe. I color will show tint from the side if not from the top, and the rule of thumb is most people start noticing color at I. Lots of people prefer the warmer tones in diamonds. Try some on and see which way you lean.

 

[AprilBaby]

For me clarity trumps color. That said I won''t go below SI1 eyeclean.

 

[E B]

Date: 10/23/2009 10:29:47 PM
Author: kenny
Color and clarity is really personal preference.

This.

I recently realized I was more color sensitive than I''d originally thought. So for me, color ''trumps'' clarity, as long as the stone is eye-clean (meaning I''d take an eye-clean G SI2 over a J VS2).

 

[hihowareyou]

To the average end consumer the only difference between an 'eye clean' SI2 and a VVS1 is the price tag. For some people a very high clarity is a 'mind clean' issue or may have cultural significance (I think I read that on here once) in which case a high clarity may be more desirable.

Therefore I would pick my colour preference and try to find the lowest 'eye clean' clarity in that colour with the cut, shape and size that I desire. In terms of being cost effective this way you will get a stone that looks the way you want (colour) while minimizing the cost.


Like a few people have already mentioned, if you want your stone to always look white then a G or higher is a very safe bet, if you are not colour sensitive then a H or I would also do nicely. I've seen some J's photograph very white here but you'd need to see that in person and make a personal decision on how much of a tint is too much for you. If you don't mind or enjoy a richer or warmer colour then the world is your oyster so to speak and you can save a great deal of money at the same time. Antique style cuts and rings match best with lower colours in my opinion but the possibilities are endless.

 

[tarator]

If you dont mind seeing an inclusion, go with SI2 if you do mind go with SI1.

Color I would look at Is or Js, excellent cuts in these colors show white. If you want a little warmth you could look at Ks, Ls or Ms.

Really though you have to go out and look at diamond color to see what you want.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/23/2009 10:29:47 PM
Author: kenny
Color and clarity is really personal preference.

I recommend going out to look at lots of stones of various color and clarity grades.

I think this is the only way to determine your comfort zone.

If you buy what the majority likes you may have regrets later when you have more experience.

Keep in mind all labs to not agree on the color and clarity grades.
A stone that GIA or AGS graded as G SI1 may get an F VS2 or even an E VS1 from one of the softer labs.
This is shocking I know, but true.

This makes comparisons of stones from different labs difficult.
At first you may think you got some great deal on a stone till you find out that those grades are from one of those softer labs.

Absolutely agree with this.

 

[FB.]

Colour and clarity are difficult.
They don't matter up to a point, but then can matter a lot. For example; I colour and SI2 clarity is the tipping point at which the stone may be noticeably tinted and have noticeable inclusions.
But most people would struggle to tell a D from an F, or a Flawless from a VS. For most people, only their wallet would detect the difference between D/FL and F/VS2.

Some people like the golden tint of lower coloured stones (I-J and lower). Others like the icy white of higher stones (F-G and higher). Colour and clarity are more noticeable ithe larger the stone.
Put a D next to an H and people may well see a difference - with the D being brighter and whiter. But the H on it's own will look white and bright.

I suggest going no lower than G colour and SI1 clarity.
F colour and VS2 clarity would be better.
If you like the slightly off-white stones (which will save you $$$), then just worry about being SI1 or better (preferably VS) clarity.

 

[diamondringlover]

I prefer clarity over color, I have a SI2 and while the normal person cant see the inclusions (its eye clean) I can see them because I know where they are

and if I dwell on them it drives me batty, but it was bought pre-pricescope days and I cant afford to upgrade

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have a threshold of G/VS2 and then it is color for me.

 

[ct-appr]

A lot of this depends on the "5th C", cost. My diamond priorities are ideal or excellent cut, H or better color, SI1 or better clarity, with faint or no fluorescence and a lab report from GIA or AGS. Then the biggest you want and/or can afford. Most "real" SI1''s are eye clean when viewed face up.

The ideal cut will mask clarity characteristics and lower color. I would stay away from strong fluorescence but faint will pick up the UV in the sunshine. GIA and AGS reports are credible, other reports sometimes vary in grading accuracy.

 

[SparklyRing]

Thanks for all of your input! I will definitely go look at many stones with a wide range of color and clarity and see where my threshold is.

 

[Dreamer1116]

As some have already said, it is a personal preference. With that being said, COLOR trumps CLARITY for me. Like you, CARAT is my second most important C, following CUT. I am color sensitive, so I opted for a G colored stone and an SI2 diamond for clarity. I have a 1.58 eye-clean SI2, which I couldn''t be happier with. I feel I got the biggest bang for my buck, with balancing out the Cs in a way that I was completely satisfied with.

 

[FB.]

Date: 10/24/2009 11:42:40 AM
Author: ct-appr
A lot of this depends on the ''5th C'', cost. My diamond priorities are ideal or excellent cut, H or better color, SI1 or better clarity, with faint or no fluorescence and a lab report from GIA or AGS. Then the biggest you want and/or can afford. Most ''real'' SI1''s are eye clean when viewed face up.

The ideal cut will mask clarity characteristics and lower color. I would stay away from strong fluorescence but faint will pick up the UV in the sunshine. GIA and AGS reports are credible, other reports sometimes vary in grading accuracy.

I agree with everything that you say - and I also agree that people should make sure that they understand how fluorescent stones may "look" before buying.

I know that diamonds are a personal thing and most owners will not agree on what is best

, but I''d very much like to hear why you recommend avoiding stones with strong fluorescence.

Regards,

 

[Gleam]

Clarity was the least important C to me.

 

[glitterata]

I have no interest in diamonds with clarity higher than SI (my sweet spot is I1, but I have to like the inclusions).

I put the Cs in this order:

1. Cut
2. Cost
3. Color (I like very white diamonds and very yellowish ones more than ones in the middle)
4. Carat
5. Clarity (Actually, I'm picky about clarity--I like it low)

(Edited to clarify: I have no interest in OWNING high-clarity diamonds. I'm delighted to admire everyone else's, though!)

 

[Gleam]

Date: 10/24/2009 4:23:14 PM
Author: glitterata
I have no interest in diamonds with clarity higher than SI (my sweet spot is I1, but I have to like the inclusions).

(Edited to clarify: I have no interest in OWNING high-clarity diamonds. I''m delighted to admire everyone else''s, though!)

glitterata, I find this very interesting! Can you explain why? Is it just because you know you can''t see the inclusions with a naked eye (although I don''t know about I1 as I''ve never seen anything below SI2 in person).

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 10/24/2009 5:10:43 PM
Author: Gleam

Date: 10/24/2009 4:23:14 PM

Author: glitterata

I have no interest in diamonds with clarity higher than SI (my sweet spot is I1, but I have to like the inclusions).


(Edited to clarify: I have no interest in OWNING high-clarity diamonds. I''m delighted to admire everyone else''s, though!)

glitterata, I find this very interesting! Can you explain why? Is it just because you know you can''t see the inclusions with a naked eye (although I don''t know about I1 as I''ve never seen anything below SI2 in person).

It''s definitely a personal preference, but typically color is more noticeable from a distance than clarity.

--Joshua

 

[Gleam]

Date: 10/24/2009 5:16:58 PM
Author: serenitydiamonds

It''s definitely a personal preference, but typically color is more noticeable from a distance than clarity.


--Joshua

Interesting. I think both seem equally subtle from a distance. The farther my diamond gets from my eyeballs, the whiter it seems to look. On the other hand, I don''t think 99% of laymen could see any inclusions in a SI1 and above no matter how close it is to you.

 

[elle_chris]

Like Kenny said, it''s all a personal preference and you''re going to get many different opinions.

For me it was a balance. Color and clarity were equally important.

 

[glitterata]

Date: 10/24/2009 5:10:43 PM
Author: Gleam

Date: 10/24/2009 4:23:14 PM

Author: glitterata

I have no interest in diamonds with clarity higher than SI (my sweet spot is I1, but I have to like the inclusions).


(Edited to clarify: I have no interest in OWNING high-clarity diamonds. I''m delighted to admire everyone else''s, though!)

glitterata, I find this very interesting! Can you explain why? Is it just because you know you can''t see the inclusions with a naked eye (although I don''t know about I1 as I''ve never seen anything below SI2 in person).

I''m sure I''m very unusual in this, but I don''t mind seeing some inclusions, as long as they''re attractive to my eye. I find them interesting. Also, my eyesight is not that great and I usually can''t see the inclusions in SI diamonds anyway, unless I use a loupe.

It''s a question of personal preference. All diamonds have inclusions, it''s just that the ones in so-called flawless diamonds are very small. I don''t mind the thought, or the look, of inclusions if they''re not intrusive. To me they''re just part of the gem. They can even make it more interesting. So I would never pay the huge mark-up for the absence of something when I don''t object to its presence.

 

[Gleam]

Date: 10/24/2009 6:48:14 PM
Author: glitterata
So I would never pay the huge mark-up for the absence of something when I don''t object to its presence.

I agree completely.

 

[JSRNM]

I might be old school her but both color and clarity matter to me. What is important in diamonds seems to go in trends. There was a time when everyone had to have a VVS and now it is an excellent cut. What matters is what matters to you. For me personally my threshold is VS2 color F. Though a friend of mine who is an expert in exceptional jewelry says it is better to drop to H then ever go below VS1. He says (he has 35 years experience) even if you can not see the inclusions they will impact the stones performance. He is amazing at telling the cut, color, clarity of a stone just from seeing a diamond being worn by someone at dinner. he says he has been wrong about a diamond but I have never experienced that.

 

[marcy]

I prefer color over clarity. It is all personal preference.

 

[jstarfireb]

All a matter of personal preference and the sensitivity of your own eyes to color vs. inclusions.

I think I have a good eye for picking up inclusions, but I''m not all that color-sensitive, so my initial preference was for clarity over color (hence the choice of an I/VVS2). Now that I''ve become a tad more color-sensitive, they''re about the same to me. If I had to upgrade, I''d probably go for F/G, VS1-2.

 

[cindygenit]

It should be a balance.

No sense in going for a D stone, if you have to drop clarity to SI1 (eventhough it might be eye clean).

Personally, i would pick colour over clarity though.

 

[BAM54321]

I''m far from an expert, but would advise you to take a look at some stones. I started off thinking I must have atleast an E VS2. After taking my wife too look at some stones, it has become G or H SI 1 ''eyeclean'' would be fine. She likes bigger better, and can''t tell the difference enough to be concerned at all. In fact, she said she like the way the G-H looks better on her skin. I would have never thought that.

 

[HVVS]

Date: 10/25/2009 8:33:22 PM
Author: JSRNM
I might be old school her but both color and clarity matter to me. What is important in diamonds seems to go in trends. There was a time when everyone had to have a VVS and now it is an excellent cut. What matters is what matters to you. For me personally my threshold is VS2 color F. Though a friend of mine who is an expert in exceptional jewelry says it is better to drop to H then ever go below VS1. He says (he has 35 years experience) even if you can not see the inclusions they will impact the stones performance. He is amazing at telling the cut, color, clarity of a stone just from seeing a diamond being worn by someone at dinner. he says he has been wrong about a diamond but I have never experienced that.

At least he admits that he's been wrong at some time, lol. I'm not sure that I buy the argument about SI-grade inclusions always detract from performance somehow. And even if they do, but it's measurable by some instrument but not detectable to most eyes, does it matter? Here are some GOG SI2 stones, just for examples:
SI2 recently purchased and now has pics in SMTR forum
another G SI2 gemex.com and enter br158gsi216773853
F SI2
SI2 GOG gemex.com and enter br119gsi214811671
I could live with this one, too

5. Clarity (Actually, I'm picky about clarity--I like it low)

I have excellent eyesight, and I'm with Glitterata on clarity.

 

[sphenequeen]

Since your first priority is a well proportioned RBC, and size is a close second, I would really consider color over clarity- You are not sacrificing beauty if you go for an eye clean SI stone and you may be able to bump up the size of your stone, depending on your budget if you go this route. What people notice first is how that diamond sparkles from across the room (cut), then how large that stone is (carat). When they get closer to your hand, they will notice if the stone has any warmth to it, and IF they have bionic vision

, they will see the inclusions on an SI stone.