Yellow Diamond - HELP

[dan2201]

Hi,

I am currently looking to diamond and hope it is the only time i will have to navigate this overwhelming minefield!

I was wondering if someone could tell me how important Symmetry and Polish is for a yellow diamond?
Having done some research i realise buying blind online isnt the best option (james allen wont be able to deliver before the needed date)
The original ring i saw and viewed in person is
https://www.fraserhart.co.uk/18ct-w...ion-cut-yellow-diamond-shoulder-set-ring.html

However the diamond didnt come with any kind of report so figured it may be better to go online and pick up a better quality diamond for less.

the diamond i am considering is
http://www.bluenile.com/uk/coloured-diamond-details/yellow-LD06484692?pid=LD06484692

Any feedback is greatly recieved

 

[SimoneDi]

The best retailer for fancy color diamonds is probably leibish.com I have purchased from them and they are fantastic to work with. Please post your budget and overall requirements, so we can help you with the selection.

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI Dan,
Yellow diamond? COOL!!

As a seller I can not make specific comments on any given diamond offered by another seller.......but in general:
Polish and Symmetry Ratings are not as important as other factors when considering a natural yellow diamond. The main reason is that the differences between G,VG, and EX polish and symmetry won't be possible to spot naked eye. While other aspects will make a visible difference.
For example, fluorescence.

 

[SimoneDi]

Also, please look at Diamonds by Lauren they create some very pretty custom settings as well.

 

[Vogue]

Just went through the process of buying a FY diamond and am happy to share what I learned First, congrats, they're lovely! Second: COLOR is king. You don't want bad symmetry or polish, or lots of visible inclusions. However, if the color is good enough, then you can worry less about clarity and cut than you would with a colorless stone.

The price of a fancy colored diamond jumps literally exponentially as the color intensity increases: a large fancy light yellow with VS1 clarity will cost less (sometimes a lot less) than a smaller fancy vivid yellow with S1 clarity. Size is also a huge factor. You can get a 0.9 ct stone for less than a 1.1 ct stone, even though they'll look the same. Price also jumps at 1.5 ct, 2 ct, etc. Again, exponentially.

I got my yellow diamond (fancy vivid, 0.52 ct) from Leibish and their customer service is great. It's the stone in my avatar! I've heard really good things about Diamonds by Lauren. Never buy a fancy colored diamond without a GIA certificate from a reputable vendor.

Bluenile says that the diamond you linked isn't currently available, so I'm guessing you either purchased it or reserved it already? Is it the color intensity you want? A fancy deep yellow will look very different than the light yellow stone in the ring you linked. Edit: if possible, I'd ask them to send you photos of the actual diamond you're buying. I haven't worked with them, so I don't know if they'd do that, but I don't like buying something as individual as a diamond based on a stock photo.

 

[pinkjewel]

Weird- the link to Blue Nile did not work for me at all. I would never buy the first ring you linked as they are no specs at all on that yellow diamond. I will also echo looking at Leibish and Diamonds by Lauren- I've purchased from both and been very happy. Also, get a GIA report- they are the ONLY cert I would trust for an FCD.

 

[dan2201]

Thank you all for the super quick replies

I have looked into Leibish which has has the best selection by far however we go away on the 8th March and don't want to risk it getting stuck with customs as that would just be my luck! (Bluenile ship from Dublin)
(we are off to Banff which is a last minute get away meaning time is an issue)

I have indeed reserved the diamond and I have asked them to send over some photos of the diamond which should be emailed over tomorrow.
I went for a deep yellow as having read grading isnt exact science and a diamond can just scrape into one grade, I didnt want to order a fancy intense and it be disappointing in colour. As RockDiamond has alleviated some of my worries regarding the polish and symmetry as long as the diamond looks nice then that may be the one i go for.
Was playing on my mind that stones with Vgood/ex sym/polish command so much more ££, I figured there must be something seriously wrong.

 

[dan2201]

http://www.bluenile.com/uk/coloured-diamond-details/yellow-LD06484692?pid=LD06484692

Report Type ...................................................Grading Report
GIA Report Number ........................................ 2175349087
Shape and Cutting Style ......... Cushion Modified Brilliant
Measurements ................................ 4.23 x 4.22 x 3.43 mm
Carat Weight ......................................................... 0.52 carat
Color Grade ........................................... Fancy Deep Yellow
Color Origin ............................................................... Natural
Color Distribution .......................................................... Even
Clarity Grade ..................................................................... VS2
Proportions:
Polish ............................................................................. Good
Symmetry ...................................................................... Good
Fluorescence ................................................................ None

 

[dan2201]

will a depth of 81.2% mean that the diamond shows as black as I believe this is a factor in clean diamonds?

thank you again, touch wood I wont have to go through this struggle again

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thank you all for the super quick replies

I have looked into Leibish which has has the best selection by far however we go away on the 8th March and don't want to risk it getting stuck with customs as that would just be my luck! (Bluenile ship from Dublin)
(we are off to Banff which is a last minute get away meaning time is an issue)

I have indeed reserved the diamond and I have asked them to send over some photos of the diamond which should be emailed over tomorrow.
I went for a deep yellow as having read grading isnt exact science and a diamond can just scrape into one grade, I didnt want to order a fancy intense and it be disappointing in colour. As RockDiamond has alleviated some of my worries regarding the polish and symmetry as long as the diamond looks nice then that may be the one i go for.
Was playing on my mind that stones with Vgood/ex sym/polish command so much more ££, I figured there must be something seriously wrong.

Hi Dan,
To put my remark in context: Many lovely stones have Good Polish and or Symmetry....BUT....what I maybe should have made more clear is that there's many other aspects that can be detrimental. So having G Pol/G Sym is not a guarantee of getting a good stone. In many cases, the price is an indicator. The cheapest stones on the list generally are cheapest for good reason. Regardless of Polish Symmetry ratings.

As a general statement- Fancy Deep Yellow is very much a wildcard.
There's some that are really nice, and others that are.....not.

 

[SimoneDi]

I am sorry, but I don't find that diamond attractive at all. First off, a depth of 81.2 means that the diamond will face up as small as can be - most of the carat weight is retained at the bottom of the stone where you can't see it. I have a fancy intense yellow diamond that is 0.39ct radiant cut and has similar "face-up" measurements. Second, and it should also be mentioned that Blue Nile's pictures are not as accurate as other vendors', but even with the one presented, the stone has a brownish hue. This, in general, is not desirable in fancy yellow diamonds. I understand that you are chasing a date and have a tight timeline, but do you really want this purchase to be a rushed one!? You SO will potentially enjoy this diamond for the rest of their life, do you not want it to be the best that you can possibly select?
Please look at Vogue's pear stone - that is the kind of fancy yellow diamonds that the dreams are made of (Vogue, I am secretly obsessed with your pear, I can't wait to see it set- clearly, I have been stalking your thread )
In all seriousness, please give us your budget if you really want help and some general requirements, and everyone here will be more than happy to help you find a phenomenal yellow diamond!

 

[Vogue]

I was going to post a couple of reference pictures of my pear, but for some reason the "insert picture" icon doesn't seem to be working for me. But here's my thread (photos of the pear appear about halfway down the first page): https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-help-choosing-a-yellow-diamond.228352/

My pear is a good example of a fancy vivid yellow. I should add that I was fortunate to get an amazing deal on it--it was cross-listed on Brian Gavin for over $1000 more than I paid with Leibish! So DEFINITELY shop around because sometimes the exact same stone is available in different places!

Also, while fancy vivid is generally the most expensive intensity for any colored diamond (except red, but whatever), that doesn't mean it's the one you are required to like best. Lots of PSers prefer lighter colored yellow diamonds. You can also make a lighter yellow diamond look more intense with a basket and prongs in yellow gold, even if the rest of the ring is white gold or platinum. Lots of options!

I think fancy deep yellows are a bit of a crapshoot, frankly. It might look great, or it might look brown in a way you don't want. This stone is actually classified as a fancy deep yellow, believe it or not, and there's a reason it's so cheap even though it's well over a carat and has nice clarity: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...ushion-cut/1.71-carat-vs1-clarity-sku-2504847 It's just not what most people are looking for in a FYD.

Might it be worthwhile to propose with a "placeholder" ring or something, and then you and your fiancee can have more time to find exactly the right FYD without feeling you have the pressure of a deadline? I know several PSers have done that.

And yeah, show us your budget. I want to help you shop! It will help tide me over while I wait for my jeweler to finally send me the CAD for my setting...

 

[Rockdiamond]

"Fancy Deep Yellow" is a very tricky grade.
The reason is that sometimes a stone getting this grade is very close to a Fancy Vivid Yellow. Sometimes even more vivid than a vivid- I've seem a few remarkable Fancy Deep Yellow diamonds over the years.
In such cases the price can be even higher than a vivid.
But in other cases, a stone getting a Fancy Deep Yellow grade from GIA is just....deep. Dark. In a way many would find much less attractive than a Vivid, if they're looking for a "Canary" diamond
If there's modifying colors, such stones can be almost opaque, they're so dark. Such stones can also have great beauty in some people's eyes.
But in general, I would not compare a Fancy Deep that GIA adds brownish or greenish to a "pure" Fancy Deep yellow.

So,the grade itself is just less consistent. A"crapshoot", as Vogue aptly called it.

 

[acebruin]

a lot of great advises here... i just was going to add, NEVER buy fancy colored diamonds based on numbers on paper alone... you need photos and sometimes videos in different lighting to decide...

 

[SimoneDi]

I am just adding a few fancy yellows that I like to use as a comparison:

http://www.leibish.com/yellow-diamonds/fancy-intense-yellow-marquise-28676 - love the shape and the color, great presence for its size at 7.5x4.04

http://www.leibish.com/yellow-diamonds/fancy-vivid-yellow-oval-26561- I actually had my eye on this stone..luff the color, even though I can see a hint of brown

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-yellow-diamond-79ct-fancy-vivid-yellow-vvs2-oval-shape-diamond-gia-r7270 - gorgeous stone - look at that saturated color!

 

[Skhii]

Thank you all for the super quick replies

I have looked into Leibish which has has the best selection by far however we go away on the 8th March and don't want to risk it getting stuck with customs as that would just be my luck! (Bluenile ship from Dublin)
(we are off to Banff which is a last minute get away meaning time is an issue)

I have indeed reserved the diamond and I have asked them to send over some photos of the diamond which should be emailed over tomorrow.
I went for a deep yellow as having read grading isnt exact science and a diamond can just scrape into one grade, I didnt want to order a fancy intense and it be disappointing in colour. As RockDiamond has alleviated some of my worries regarding the polish and symmetry as long as the diamond looks nice then that may be the one i go for.
Was playing on my mind that stones with Vgood/ex sym/polish command so much more ££, I figured there must be something seriously wrong.

What has you afraid FIY may have a disappointing color? Are you familiar with hue, saturation, and tone? If not, please see the attached chart. FDY does not give you greater saturation- it only means the stone is darker (i.e., lower tone means more black is added to the hue).

I assume that this diamond is going into an engagement ring. Does your intended LOVE the colors that you've selected? If you are not 1000% sure, verify what she likes before proceeding! I am going to repost what I told another member:

Fancy-colored diamonds (FCD) are priced by hue, then by color saturation. FCDs are often not purely one color, and minute undertones will also affect pricing. For yellow diamonds, the presence of green or orange secondary tone typically increases the price, while brown decreases it. Color grading is also very subjective and the greater the saturation, the wider the grading scale becomes. Also, FCDs are graded face up, so the side of the diamond may not look the same color as the top due to cutting.

Colored stones are usually on the deep side because they are cut to enhance color (often at the cost of brilliance). Cutters aim to have light bounce around inside the diamond rather than directly reflect it back towards your eyes, which is why many FCDs are duds. I would not shop with the mindset that certain measurements are required other than the wearer's desired face-up measurement. Shallow or deep diamonds don't necessarily sparkle less. You need to look at each diamond on a case by case basis, especially in fancy shapes.

Since this diamond is for your SO, I recommend getting her opinion on all the options you are considering because she may be able to see different color nuances than you, and color preference is very personal. When looking at photos and videos, keep in mind that slight color shift can occur for different camera equipment, and different monitors (yours and the vendor's) can show slight color differences unless they are calibrated. If the vendor shows you photos that contain white/gray color, you might be able to do a rough color correction and eliminate any significant red/blue shift. Like always, the best is to see a diamond in person, which is especially important for colored diamonds. Make sure the vendor has a great return policy in the event the color ends up different from your SO's expectations once she sees it in person.

 

[chrono]

I went for a deep yellow as having read grading isnt exact science and a diamond can just scrape into one grade, I didnt want to order a fancy intense and it be disappointing in colour. As RockDiamond has alleviated some of my worries regarding the polish and symmetry as long as the diamond looks nice then that may be the one i go for.
Was playing on my mind that stones with Vgood/ex sym/polish command so much more ££, I figured there must be something seriously wrong.

Going for a Fancy Deep is WAY more risky with a very high chance of being disappointed than going for a Fancy Intense. Buying by the numbers is like shooting a dart in the dark. Impossible to know what you are getting since there is no guarantee of the cut quality.

 

[Vogue]

Come back, OP! I want updates...

I am just adding a few fancy yellows that I like to use as a comparison:

http://www.leibish.com/yellow-diamonds/fancy-intense-yellow-marquise-28676 - love the shape and the color, great presence for its size at 7.5x4.04

http://www.leibish.com/yellow-diamonds/fancy-vivid-yellow-oval-26561- I actually had my eye on this stone..luff the color, even though I can see a hint of brown

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-yellow-diamond-79ct-fancy-vivid-yellow-vvs2-oval-shape-diamond-gia-r7270 - gorgeous stone - look at that saturated color!

These are wonderful suggestions, assuming they fit your budget. I love the two ovals especially--in fact, I had my eye on the DBL one when I was shopping. You can't go wrong with any of them if you like fancy cuts. I know some people are on the fence about marquises, but I've seen some lovely settings with that shape.

Here's a cushion cut on James Allen that I almost bought: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...ushion-cut/0.79-carat-vs2-clarity-sku-2284553 (I know you say JA can't deliver by the right date, but they might be able to hurry it up if you contact them; or, again, you could find a placeholder ring to propose.)

It's got very good symmetry, since that seems to matter to you. Also nice clarity and color. A JA rep assured me it's eye clean, even though you can see a little scratch at full magnification. And it doesn't cost the earth.

 

[SimoneDi]

That JA cushion one is really pretty as well! It also seems to fit his budget (judging based on the previous links shared).

OP let us know what you are thinking!