HI everyone!
The "ultimate" color is "vivid"
As such, it occupies a lone spot atop the price chain for yellow diamonds.
However, some are worth a lot more than others.
Why, you might ask.
Well, I'm here to tell you!
We just put two new vivid yellows in stock.
Here's two photos of them side by side



Both stones are graded fancy Vivid Yellow by GIA. One is graded SI1- the other has a "Color Origin" report. Neither have any "clarity issues" that is to say they are both totally eye clean.
One is about 35% more costly, per carat, than the other.


Can you guess which is which?

I admit it, I'm clueless, although I can see how PL makes her assessment.

You guys are all perceptive- and noting very good possibilities that are sometimes conflicting. Yet either is possible.
Since Orange is one of the rarest colors in diamonds, maybe that makes it more expensive.
However, maybe what one person sees as orange, another sees as brown. Then it would be worth less.

You guys all noticed that the stone on the left has a deeper color.

I agree with PL that the one on the right is cut better.
Does not make the one on the left toast, but if we're comparing the two PL did pick up that difference.

Well, I know the answer (or I think I do), so I won't bet here. However, one thing is clear:

Photos can deceive, sometimes... and sometimes they don't.

(You can tell, I think, that I'm taking lessons in noncommittalism from the master. Then again, perhaps not. And I'm not going to tell you whether the "perhaps not" refers to what I think, to what you can tell, or to the taking lessons - not to mention the "master" bit. You can make your minds up)

I only look at diamonds here on a laptop so I always admit my thoughts can be skewed by bad resolution and lack of good colors.  To me the one on the left looks to be deeper with flashes of orange.  I do think that the right one is better cut but it seems to be lighter in general.  So I am going with the left and saying the deeper color with flashes of orange make it worth more.

I agree that the color of the one of the left is deeper.  My initial reaction was brown and not orange, but after going back, I can see the orange type hues, especially in the second picture.  The yellow in my engagement ring has a similar effect.  It has very slight brownish undertones which make the color seem more saturated at times.

Having said that, from these two pictures, I much prefer the stone on the right.  I like the pure yellow color, and I agree with PL on the cut.

I'm kind of digging the more complex color of Leftie, however, I know DH would prefer Rightie.

How do you know that, OMC?  What do you see that I'm oblivious to? (aside from dangling participles, that is)

Yes, OMC has volunteered to contribute intellectual content ( as opposed to my more "cartoon like" mentality)

GREAT JOB OMC!!!

More on the two stones:
They make a great basis for discussing how fluorescence may affect colored diamonds.
I say "may" because what is happening with these two is not always the case.

Sometimes- such as this case- fluorescence actually makes a yellow diamond look more yellow, in normal lighting.
In many cases ( not really this one) such diamonds may look less yellow in sunlight- or other UV rich lighting.
In the case of Intense Yellow ( or any grade lighter than) fluorescence may prevent the diamond from gaining access to the next darker grade.
In other words, an Intense with MB may look as dark as some Vivid Yellows, and GIA actually "punishes" them

Thank you, ladies & gentleman. High praise.

I just hope my writing has the same effect on others too, Jen.

It does here too, although I don't think it's the main effect. I believe the purity of hue, plus the cut (including a face-up size nearly 20% bigger!) are the main causes of the difference here.

However, how cool is it to have a diamond that changes colour completely, from vivid yellow to glowing blue? Chameleons, eat your hearts out.

Well, let the record state that I will take either one.