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Annual March Diamond Madness - Round 2 - Up to 9% Off
Annual March Diamond Madness - Round 2 - Up to 9% Off
What color diamond should I buy?

What color diamond should I buy?

“I’ve read your tutorial on diamond color grades, and feel that I have a good grasp of the basics. However, what I’m trying to figure out is what color diamond should I buy? I understand that D-color is the highest color grade and that is considered to be colorless. But then I’ve read posts by people who purchased I-color, J-color and even K-color Brian Gavin Signature diamonds and been quite happy with them.

One person even said that her K-color diamond faces-up white, apparently the cut quality has something to do with this. But then I looked at a K-color diamond in a jewelry store, and it seemed like it had a hint of color. Is there a good middle ground that you can recommend for what color diamond I should buy to maintain that white look, without breaking the bank?”

Perception of Diamond Color:

How is it possible for one of our clients to feel that her K-color, Brian Gavin Signature diamond faces-up white, while another person looks at a K-color diamond and sees a hint of color?

One reason is because the cut quality of Brian Gavin Signature diamonds tends to create a higher volume of light return and more intense sparkle than most diamonds exhibit. Thus the higher volume of light return and sparkle factor of the diamond is likely to distract our eyes from seeing the body color of the diamond

This is why diamonds are color graded under laboratory conditions with controlled lighting that diminishes the sparkle effect. The diamonds are also viewed upside down and from a side profile, and against a stark, white background. This is very different from how we view diamonds in the real world, which encompasses a variety of lighting conditions.

Which brings me to the next point, which is that our perception of diamond color is influenced dramatically by the type of lighting in the room. This video created by one of our clients, shows how different types of lighting affect the overall appearance of his Brian Gavin Signature round diamond with strong blue fluorescence as he moves from room to room in his house:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lzkPLyqZVg

Which color grade offers the best value?

I suppose that what you’re really asking me, is which color grade offers the best value? How far can you venture down the color grading scale, without detecting a hint of color? For most people, H-I color diamonds are going to face-up nice and white. One of the strictest diamond buyers I know selected an I-color diamond for his wedding ring for this reason. It enabled him to afford a larger carat weight, while still maintaining the white appearance of the diamond.

But if you think you might be especially sensitive to diamond color, then you might want to step-up to F-G color, which is going to face-up even whiter and brighter. And if you’re not all that sensitive to subtle differences in diamond color, then you might venture over to J-K color, which will enable you to pick up some size, with the chance that you’re likely to see a hint of warmth in the diamond if you happen to be looking for it.

Which brings me to another point, diamond color is most visible to us when we happen to be looking for it. Which means that we’re more prone to see the subtle differences in hue and saturation when we’re making an effort to do so. The rest of the time, people only tend to focus on the sparkle factor of their diamond.

Which is why there are thousands upon thousands of satisfied, Brian Gavin clients, running around out there with K-L-M and even warmer color diamonds. At the end of the day, all anybody really cares about is the sparkle (and that’s guaranteed, no matter what color you choose).

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