(Closed) Which diamond cuts show the most colour?

• rachelmichelle
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: April 2018

I believe step-cuts like emerald and asher tend to show both color and inclusions more easily, but I could be mistaken.

• vermonster
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: June 2014

Radiant and cushion. That’s why fancy color stones are frequently seen in those cuts.  I have read in several places that you shouldn’t go below an H in those cuts if you want a diamond that looks colorless.

However, they tend to hide inclusions better than others.

• Karebearry
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: August 2014

+1 rachelmichelle

step cuts are known for showing colour and inclusions more easily Because they are “open”. you need to ensure higher clarity and colour for such cuts. Wouldnt go below G. 

What cut were you looking for?

• canarydiamond
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: December 2013

@Ms_Midori:  I would think the least faceted ones.. so emerald cuts and asscher would be the two biggest.

• canarydiamond
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: December 2013

@vermonster:  Yes, that is very true as well!

• Swizzle
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: November 1999

@vermonster:  Well i have a K radiant and you really cant see the colour change. I would think with colour it has more to do with the setting and surrounding diamond colours than the cut. 

For clarity, yes asscher and emerald would require i higher grading because of the lack of  facets. 

• vermonster
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: June 2014

@Swizzle:  Side stones and especially the metal color are absolutely important. I suppose I should cite my sources:

Regarding color in cushions and radiants- From Ira Weissman, a diamond industry expert, on his consumer buying guide website:

Color: H Color or better. Cushion cuts are one of the worst shapes when it comes to retaining color (or one of the best, if you’re a manufacturer of fancy color diamonds).  This is why you find that Cushions and Radiants are the two most common shapes in the fancy color diamond market.  For this reason, I recommend my readers stick with H or better when buying a cushion cut, unless it will be set in yellow gold (in which case, you can go down to J or K)

Discussing the interaction of diamond shape and color, he says this: 

To get into the subject a little deeper, we need to differentiate between the different diamond shapes.  The different facet arrangements of the different shapes can greatly affect how much light is captured inside the diamond.  If I had to rank the importance of diamond color on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the least important, and 10 being the most important) for the most common shapes, this is what I would come up with:

• Rounds – 3

• Princess – 5

• Emerald & Asscher – 6

• Oval, Marquise, Pear, Heart – 7

• Radiant, Cushion – 8

• BlondeMissMolly
• 9 years ago

I’m not very knowledgeable on hearts but for an oval, I wouldn’t go below G or maybe H. I’m pretty color sensitive though. And, all diamonds vary (one J will look whiter than another) and that’s especially true of fancy cuts. Where are you thinking of buying?

• vermonster
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: June 2014

By the way, that guy whose website I linked to is pretty great. If you email him what you’re looking for and your budget, he’ll find a stone for you for free! If you buy a stone he recommends from James Allen or Blue Nile, he gets a small commission from the company (not one that you pay).

• rascchot
• 9 years ago

• Wedding: April 2014

I have a J cushion and I don’t think it’s yellow, but you be the judge. You can definitely see the warmth of it in certain lighting, but I love it. Thought I would share for your reference :-). I have heard ovals hold color too but i am also planning on an oval RHR, they are gorge!!