a few questions about opaque diamonds

[nyquestioner]

My friend wants to get an engagement ring with one of those rustic opaque diamonds. Are opaque diamonds just heavily included diamonds? Does that make them less strong/durable? She wanted to know if they would be hard/tough enough for an engagement ring.

Second question, why are they so expensive? It seems like they should be very inexpensive if they come from rough that would otherwise not be used but all the rings I see with them cost quite a bit more than you would expect for the setting alone...

 

[AprilBaby]

Do you have a picture of what you are talking about?

 

[nyquestioner]

like this:

http://www.greenwichjewelers.com/shop/designers/todd-reed/products/todd-reed-rose-cut-pear-shaped-diamond-ring

http://meganthorne.com/one-of-a-kind-rose-gold-wood-nyph-ring-with-opaque-diamond/

 

[nyquestioner]

maybe "raw" diamonds is a better term? I haven't really seen them on this site at all, which is interesting because they seem to be very trendy right now. Perhaps one of the vendors knows something about the durability?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Because they are trendy, I see them MUCH more as a right hand fun ring as opposed to an engagement ring. That Todd Reed ring seems to be grossly overpriced. I would encourage her to at least consider a rose cut that has good clarity. Single Stone usually has some.

 

[distracts]

There are tons of these on Etsy at much more reasonable prices for what they are.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/187718827/18k-gold-granulated-rose-cut-diamond?ref=shop_home_active_9
https://www.etsy.com/listing/188945402/rustic-diamond-engagement-ring-white?ref=sr_gallery_24&ga_search_query=rustic+diamond&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
https://www.etsy.com/listing/198997589/natural-red-orange-rose-cut-diamond-ring?ref=shop_home_active_12
https://www.etsy.com/listing/162343055/sale-green-cushion-diamond-twig?ref=sr_gallery_11&ga_search_query=rustic+diamond+ring+halo&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
https://www.etsy.com/listing/190196209/diamond-branch-engagement-ring-14k-white

Why they are so expensive is because you were looking at brand name designers.

 

[nyquestioner]

Thanks for the links, distracts. Some of those are quite cute, actually. However, I spoke with my friend and she has a particular designer in mind for sentimental reasons, so I guess they will have to pay the premium.

DS, I agree it is definitely trendy. But my friend says she understands that not everyone will realize it is an engagement ring, and she is okay with that. She also says she'd rather have something she loves now, and if she changes her mind later just get a blingy eternity to wear instead, than get something she likes ok now and still likes ok later. Which is reasonable. I am going to recommend though that she consider a rose cut because that seems like a good middle ground that might still have the non-traditional factor that she loves.

I am also still worried about the toughness because with all those inclusions how could it have the strength of a diamond? If it is less hard/tough, then I think that is a reason she might consider a more traditional diamond.