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Q&A: Is M Too Low? The Best Color Grade for a Yellow Gold Solitaire Setting.

By Mike Fried,

I’m looking for the best valued solitaire, round cut, 1.5 – 2 carats, under $8K.

I am liking this one…

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.90-carat-k-color-si1-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-6077765?a_aid=dmnd1357

The diamond you selected is not a good choice. It’s poorly cut and will lose a lot of its brilliance. For a round brilliant I wouldn’t settle for anything less than an EX (Ideal) cut as the cut is what makes the diamond brilliant and beautiful.

Also, K color is already pretty low on the scale, are you planning on using a yellow gold solitaire? If not, I’d recommend going higher in color if you want to have a colorless impression. I’m happy to suggest some options for you if you like.

The solitaire diamond will be set in yellow gold, which is why I thought K was fine. However, I definitely welcome any suggestions you can provide.

Then we can focus on a beautiful K color diamond, thank you for the info.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.53-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-5790762?a_aid=dmnd1357
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.55-carat-k-color-vvs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4178055?a_aid=dmnd1357
These two diamonds are nicely cut and either of them will make a fantastic ring.

What do you think?

They’re both very nice. So just to confirm, K is fine as long as it has an excellent cut and the setting is yellow gold? How low could I go on the color for a white gold setting?

K is fine for a yellow gold solitaire setting (no additional diamonds in the band). Should there be melee diamonds, you’d have to up the color grade. White gold solitaire setting goes well with a J color diamond, white gold pave with an I color and for a halo, I wouldn’t go below an H.

Generally, M has a very strong yellow hue. You’d have to see some Ms in person to make sure you’re ok with that.

The cut on the one you sent me is off, the table % of 61 is too high. It’ll lose some of its brilliance (i.e. look even yellower).

Thanks – I do see a lot of yellow. If 61% is too high, what is acceptable? The table was 58% on the 2 you suggested.

Ideally, the table % should be between 55 – 59%. The lower the color grade is, the more important the cut parameters are as great cut helps hide the color a bit.

Got it. Can you please look again for diamonds in the 1.7 to 2 carats range (round, yellow gold setting) for under $10K. Do you think the price difference between a 2 carat and a 1.7, 1.8, or 1.9 is worth it?

I’m happy to.

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.82-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6070585?a_aid=dmnd1357
This one is gorgeously cut and strong fluorescence will help it look a tad whiter. It’s an excellent option.

To be perfectly honest, nobody usually knows what a 2ct is supposed to look like and a 1.82ct is already pretty close to the 2ct mark. If it were me, I’d rather have a beautiful and brilliant diamond than something slightly larger that might not even look good. Let me know what you think.

All of this was on behalf of my son and he finally made a decision. He purchased the 1.82ct K VS1.

Thanks for all of your help over the past couple of months.

Your son got himself a beautiful diamond. If you can let me know how he likes it when it arrives, that would be great.

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