Hello!  I came over this way via Pricescope. 
I've become enamored of green diamonds lately.  Namely because I'd like to put one into a tension setting and emeralds are not hard enough to be placed into tension settings.
I've noticed of the websites where I've found greens the sizes seem either to be greater than 2cts or less than .5ct.  Am I looking in the wrong places?
The tension setting requires alot of pressure and Kretchmer reserves the right to reject my diamond should they feel because of the inclusions or placement of the inclusions that it would be damaged during the setting process.  Alot of the greens and other colored diamonds that list a clarity rating seem to be SI1 or below. 
Am I getting in over my head looking for a green diamond preferably 1.25 - 1.5ct, VS clarity, natural (as opposed to irradiated) and not bank breaking? 
Also, I have a silly question.  How well do greens sparkle as compared to a well cut white? 
Finally, would someone be kind enough to recommend a good resource (besides bugging everyone on the forums) about buying colored diamonds?

Thanks!
Anna

Anna, thanks for joining the discussion and welcome to the group!

I doubt that it is possible to answer your questions much more thoughtfully than OMC just did, kudos OMC. (Still looking for that pink hippo cut... eh? )

Anna, not knowing your price considerations, I will add that many of the more reasonably priced natural green diamonds most likely will be "light" or "faint" in color, with or without the color modifiers that OMC mentions. Even with a deeper fancy color, just be aware that the hue may be a subtle, soft green, as opposed to SCREAMING emerald green. It is obvious, but, I bring this up only because you specifically mention desiring a natural green diamond as opposed to an emerald – two totally different birds.

Also, I'd echo what OMC said regarding inclusions. Diamonds receive clarity ratings for many different reasons. I wouldn't reject any diamonds out of hand, especially when looking at natural fancy colors. A savvy retailer will study each diamond knowledgeably, maybe even confer with a setter, and be able to help you cull good from bad for all the right reasons, not because of what a piece of paper says. (Speaking of paper, I'd try to stick to diamonds with GIA reports). Unless you were a collector of unset stones, I can't imagine a great retailer showing you a diamond for jewelry that could cause setting issues of ANY kind, tension setting or not.

I've had the pleasure of visiting David at DBL several times, and I've been thrilled out of my socks to have seen scores of DBL diamonds and diamond pieces in person. That translates into many, many, MANY colored diamonds in my hot, greedy little hands! First, no matter what a grading report says, each and every diamond is different, and has qualities – some you'll like, and some you won't – that are not "on the paper." For example, there are no grades for "crystal" or "performance," two characteristics that you've got to see in person. And, you've already identified "sparkle" (part of performance?) as a priority. I can not emphasize how important it is for you, or your trusted diamond guy (we'll get to that), to examine EACH stone in terms of YOUR priorities.

Second, in ANY faceted colored stones, it is not uncommon for the sparkle factor to go down as the color hue deepens. Especially with intense or vividly colored stones. You get to a point, and COLOR comes first. Does that make sense?

Also, I started out as a round brilliant junkie. And, to some degree I still am. I just LOVE a diamond that "performs." I'll be honest and say that a few years ago my least favorite cut was the radiant. That's because I hadn't seen a good one. Now, I know better. A well-cut radiant will bring as much life and excitement to the diamond as a brilliant-cut diamond. It just has a different look. This is an over-simplification, but, RBs have big slices of flash and rainbow colors. By comparison, radiants have teeny, tiny, shimmering flecks of glitter. They each sparkle like mad in their own way. I own both, and I am completely captivated by both. And, I've grown to absolutely LOVE the glitter look. I can't take my eyes off it. So, my point is, don't limit your search, look for a fabulous diamond in ANY well-cut shape and facet pattern. You'll be pleasantly surprised when you find the gorgeous ones!

Sponsored forum, or not, I must agree. David is tops. And, if the special diamond is out there, he can find what you are looking for. If it is NOT out there, most likely, he'll be able to suggest another wonderful option. You'd be in good hands with David as your diamond guy.

Best of luck with your search... I hope you'll stick around even AFTER you've discovered the green beauty of your dreams! 

We've had some nice cool and unusual ones that looked green. They were, of course, natural but had other qualifiers which, made them look more like their own thing and not an emerald. Here are some that have passed through our office in the past few years. We've had more than these--I've just chosen a few to decorate this page.

http://diamondsbylau...BL_CoolUnusual.shtml