The grade of I1 doesn't mean it's not a quality diamond. I hear so many men say, "Well, I paid more because I was buying a higher quality". The grade of say VVS1 (Very Very Slightly Included) doesn't mean it's higher quality. It means there are fewer inclusions when you look through a 10x loupe. It does not mean it's a great diamond. There are some ugly internally flawless diamonds so how's that higher quality?

It all depends on how it's CUT. There are plenty of GORGEOUS I1 diamonds out there. And if it's a beautiful I1 diamond, it's because it's well cut. How can you tell well cut? Not from paper but with your eyes.

I'm not telling you to buy an I1 diamond with no GIA Report. I'm telling you it's almost impossible to tell a great I1 from a piece of paper. And it is area in which you can give if you want a larger diamond. You can buy an SI1 or SI2, for instance, if you don't want an I1. What you want to know is the inclusion(s) a light feather deep in the diamond? Or is it a giant black spot right smack under the table? You are, of course, looking for the one with "hidden" inclusions--flaws that are tough to see without 10x magnification or are dispersed in such a way there's no sparkle interuptus. And if you can't choose one, a dealer you trust who's looked at thousands can.

When it comes to colored diamonds, many times the I1 inclusions are harder to find because the color masks the flaws. Not always, but many times. And just so you know, most diamond earring pairs you see in stores and in people's ears are I1 diamonds.


This 2+ct princess is a K color. I call it a "killer K".
Photo courtesy of CC, the present owner.

Buy a Lower Color to get a Bigger Rock

Who says that a D colorless is the most beautiful and most prized? Is it because they are the most expensive? Is it marketing? They cost you a freaking fortune. But if it's something that means a lot to you or your intended, don't compromise on the color.

There are still more to whom a big whopping diamond means more. I've seen K and L diamonds that were beautiful. My love of antique diamonds means I actually prefer the lower colors. Lucky me because this is one area that can really save you big bucks. Many times, once set you can't tell where on the scale that diamond sits in terms of color. They are graded upside down on a piece of paper. Is that how you wear it? Nope.

So pay attention to how it faces up, whether it pleases you, and if it throws sparks back at you. I will say 99.9% of you can't really tell a G from an H color with your naked eye. Most of you couldn't even tell a G from a K color but by God you will scrutinize it under freaking turbo charged lights with magnification to tell some modicum of difference.

And what about a light yellow? Many times you can get a beautiful light yellow in larger sizes for less than some colorless diamonds. They throw out a beautiful golden sparkle. I have one graded U-V yellow and I love it.


Example of cushion cut SI2/1.28ct GIA Graded
U-V Natural Yellow Diamond in a Custom Halo Setting.

It's a great deal and it has a report from Serendipity's Diamonds

GIA is the gold standard of gem labs. If you are comparing two diamonds and one has a GIA report and has a similar grade to the Serendipity graded diamond, you're not comparing apples to apples. Dealers selling diamonds aren't doing it to lose money. But they often want to make you feel like you got a deal by presenting a "certificate" that sounds like GIA or sounds reputable. If you are considering a 1ct K/I1, it might very well not have a GIA report simply because the cost of getting one would make up a large percentage of the price and add too much to the cost. But if you're going to buy without a report, you'd better be buying from someone you trust with a great reputation.

In summary, what I'm saying is that you can compromise in the area of color and clarity, or both to get a bigger rock. But buy from someone that will be honest with you regarding what you are buying. Too many buyers are willing to believe they bought an H/Vs2 when in fact, they've bought a L/SI2 by GIA standards and were charged the H/VS2 price.

GIA Lab Reports

Buying Diamonds Online

Pink Diamond Buying Guide