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Anyone willing to help me choose a stone with VC??

Paris1Day

Paris1Day

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 13, 2016
Messages
33
Hi there,

I am having an Emilya ring made by VC. Round brilliant centre in a cushion double edge halo.
Is it possible to have some help please with deciding on the centre stone?
Partner has asked me this: "would you want a smaller diamond with better colour and hardly visible blemishes through the loupe OR a larger diamond, lower colour grade, blemishes easily seen with a loupe but not with the naked eye"
What is it that you sacrifice to get a happy medium??
Our budget is $7500 USD absolute maximum.
Thanks so much.
 
All of VCs stones are beautiful! Have you looked at his inventory to see what you personally like? Also, have you seen different colors in person to see what looks "white" to you? I am one of the people who would pick an I colored, eye-clean SI stone over smaller F/VVS, but you need to see what you like. Clarity in my view can be compromised more often, as long as the stone is eye-clean.
 
Did you contact Victor and ask him? Not sure if you asked him how much the setting alone with be. I think you will be able to meet your budget best if you just called him and told him the setting you want and your total budget, and he can help you choose a stone that would be appropriate.

Please ignore if you already have done so.
 
What is your budget for the center stone? (the OP still says $7500...)

I suspect many of these 13 suggested stones you linked will look similar IRL. They are all ideal cut, within about 0.3 mm diameter of one another, and should face up well (ask Victor to look at a couple finalists for you if you are unsure).
 
Go for the larger stone that face up eye clean. That would be my suggestion. His stones and workmanship are both outstanding so either way you won't go wrong.
 
I second @arkieb1 's suggestion. I have had both a 1.5 carat and 3 carat ideal cut, eye clean, SI2 diamond (that was picked out by the PS vendor I worked with). No one would have any idea it was SI2 - so I got much more bang for my buck!
 
My thoughts. Some people are “colour sensitive” and loathe any hint of yellow so they stick with F or G colour. Some people love warm diamonds and choose colour right down to an M. Some inclusions are easily seen and sometimes depending on position get reflected multiple times. Some are right on the edge and almost impossible to see. Clouds or feathers are hard to see with the naked eye, a carbon speck however can be seen from the other side of the room. Cut is important, a poorly cut diamond just doesn’t sparkle as well as it should and size, well size is the one thing everyone can identify. You really need to see a diamond in person in my opinion. Unless you have very good photos, a GIA cert and accurate dimensions you can’t always tell if you’ll like it.
 
LLJsmom said:
Did you contact Victor and ask him? Not sure if you asked him how much the setting alone with be. I think you will be able to meet your budget best if you just called him and told him the setting you want and your total budget, and he can help you choose a stone that would be appropriate.

Please ignore if you already have done so.
Click to expand...
Yes I have already started the process with him.
 
arkieb1 said:
Go for the larger stone that face up eye clean. That would be my suggestion. His stones and workmanship are both outstanding so either way you won't go wrong.
Click to expand...
Can you pretty please make some suggestions on what you would choose?? And why you would choose that etc etc.
What type of inclusions should I steer clear of?
 
I am going to make a terrible suggestion - does it have to be VC Emilya halo? I do love VCs work and that particular setting is very popular, but with your budget (which is a great one! but not huge) you might be able to get a similarly looking ring with a much larger diamond elsewhere...

What ring size are you?
 
SimoneDi said:
I am going to make a terrible suggestion - does it have to be VC Emilya halo? I do love VCs work and that particular setting is very popular, but with your budget (which is a great one! but not huge) you might be able to get a similarly looking ring with a much larger diamond elsewhere...

What ring size are you?
Click to expand...

I was going to say the same. The emilya is going to be over half of your budget.
 
soxfan said:
I was going to say the same. The emilya is going to be over half of your budget.
Click to expand...

I'm going to echo this as well... the Emilya (and any other VC halo) is going to eat up your budget, not leaving you with a lot left for the diamond -- ESPECIALLY a diamond through Victor.

I'd call IDJ if you're not 100% on using VC.
 
SimoneDi said:
Or like this one: https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings/ags-ideal-1-dot-10ct-j-slash-si1-round-in-sk-halo-setting

They are accepting offers and it has been listed for a year.
Click to expand...

I think that is an AMAZING option for your budget. No way are you going to get a center stone anywhere near that large AND an Emilya for your budget. But here is a designer setting (of the same caliber as VC) with over 1 ct AGS center -- hard to beat. I'd make an offer.

Great find, @SimoneDi!!
 
I'd definitely go with the .84 H SI1. It's plenty white - especially for a halo - and looks to be eye clean. It *does* have a visible inclusion at magnification, but I suspect will be eye clean in real life. Ask Victor - he'll tell you straight up.

I would stay away from things around .7 - .75 if you're able to make the jump to over .8; it's a nice size increase and you'll appreciate it more, I think. (I'm talking for myself, but most women do appreciate a little more heft to their diamonds if they can get it).

So - for my money - the .84ct H SI1. If I had money to burn, I'd go with the .84 H VS1.

But is there some reason you're getting your center stone with Victor? You'll pay designer prices on his stones.
 
IMG_4240.JPGHi! I'm excited for your upcoming purchase and all the excitement that comes with the decision! So I have a VC ring (above instead of below for some reason) that I had the stone re-set into. I have an asscher so it appears a bit smaller at face value because of the nature of the stone and it's cuts. My stone is actually a J/ VVS1. Nobody thinks it looks like a J or notices that it looks anything but white, but I tend to lean into larger warmer stones and wouldn't mind it even being warmer. My stone is 2.5 cts. Depending on your budget for your setting, you can get a whole lot of value by choosing a J.:read: I actually really like Blue Nile and have posted what appears to be a blurry example of prices, cuts, etc. for you below. For around 5200, for example, you can get a 1.5 ct. princess J/ VS2. I'm so excited for you!! :dance:

IMG_5603.PNG
 
Paris1Day said:
SORRY SORRY SORRY
I should have re read my first post. The budget is that for the TOTAL amount to spend, not just the centre stone.
Sorry again I stuffed that one up :/

Here are some that have been suggested to my partner.
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamon....85&color=f,g,h&clarity=vs1,vs2,si1&cut=ideal
Click to expand...

out of these option i would go for the .844- I like it over the 8.45

https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/ags104087777003-0.844-h-vs1-ideal-hearts-arrows-round
 
I know @mrs-b mentioned in another thread that she thought VC no longer sets outside stones... but it would be worth asking, if you're dead set on the Emilya.
 
msop04 said:
I know @mrs-b mentioned in another thread that she thought VC no longer sets outside stones... but it would be worth asking, if you're dead set on the Emilya.
Click to expand...

In response to a reply by msop04, it's been only a couple of months since I got mine set and it was a stone I had already purchased. I don't know if this was an exception because it was a re-set due to damage to my initial engagement ring (the initial ring was not done by VC), but he had no issues with my mailing in my stone for him to set. He is really a terrific guy! :twirl:
 
Paris1Day said:
SORRY SORRY SORRY
I should have re read my first post. The budget is that for the TOTAL amount to spend, not just the centre stone.
Sorry again I stuffed that one up :/

Here are some that have been suggested to my partner.
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamon....85&color=f,g,h&clarity=vs1,vs2,si1&cut=ideal
Click to expand...

Oh, wow, that makes a huge difference. In this case, I am going to tell you that there's no way I'd pay more for the setting than the diamond, and I wouldn't get a VC Emilya setting for a diamond less than a carat. You will do better getting a halo setting elsewhere so you can buy a larger diamond. Or just buy a diamond now and put it in a simple solitaire so your whole budget can go toward the stone. Then get him to make the Emilya for an anniversary if you still want it.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
Oh, wow, that makes a huge difference. In this case, I am going to tell you that there's no way I'd pay more for the setting than the diamond, and I wouldn't get a VC Emilya setting for a diamond less than a carat. You will do better getting a halo setting elsewhere so you can buy a larger diamond. Or just buy a diamond now and put it in a simple solitaire so your whole budget can go toward the stone. Then get him to make the Emilya for an anniversary if you still want it.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I'd put ALL the budget towards a stone and set in a $200 14K WG solitaire setting. Then save for the VC for an anniversary or other gift-giving time like Christmas or birthday...
 
Should you decide to go the solitaire route and change to the Emilya later, these look good:

1.2 ct. D/SI1... Icy D color, carbon inclusion is in the perfect place (for an SI) to be pronged, but I really doubt you'd see it anyway... $1000 under budget to put towards that Emilya! ...just need to verity the SBF doesn't affect the stone negatively.
$6500, HCA 1.1, 6.66 mm -- this would be my pick because it's $1000 less AND a D (you won't see a difference in 6.66 vs. 6.80 mm)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...d-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2851477

1.2 ct. H/SI1... Eye clean, great price! Leaves $1100 for the Emilya upgrade!
$6400, HCA 0.9, 6.80 mm
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3288646

1.28 H/SI1... the LARGEST of these with a teeny tiny table! (you will notice a difference between 6.66 vs 7.01 mm, but I'm not sure that would justify the price increase and sacrifice in color from the D above, and this stone leaves the least amount of money for the Emilya upgrade ($110) -- depends on what is most important to you.
$7390, HCA 1.0, 7.01 mm
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3541277

1.14 ct. H/SI1... AGS Ideal... no questions on cut here, but doesn't leave a lot toward the Emilya.
$7110 (AGS Ideal), 6.73 mm
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3430342
 
msop04 said:
I know @mrs-b mentioned in another thread that she thought VC no longer sets outside stones... but it would be worth asking, if you're dead set on the Emilya.
Click to expand...

Hey @msop04 :wavey:

As far as I know, VC *does* still set outside center stones - though for all I know he may be phasing that out. What he doesn't set is outside *side* stones. OP should still be ok using an outside center stone if she wants to. I can't quite get a handle, tho, on how committed she is with VC - whether she's open to switching paths at this point, or if she's open to doing just an outside center stone, or if she'd prefer to keep the whole thing in house and get the 10% discount.

@Paris1Day - can you pls chime in with your preferences and let us know what you're already firmly committed to with Victor? I completely understand doing both setting and center stone with the one vendor, and I'm of the school that thinks the setting adds as much as the center stone (often more!) so if half - or more - of your budget goes on the setting and that suits you - great! I LOVE smaller Emilya/s and, in fact, I think smaller stones really lend themselves to that setting. My ideal center stone size for an Emilys is 1.2-1.3ct, so a .85ct stone isn't horribly distant from that. If you can climb a little higher, that would be fabulous. But if you can't, I still think your ring will look fabulous!

By the way, the difference between an F and an H colored stone in a halo at that size will be barely visible.

Good luck!
 
But ladies Victor doesn't use stones outside of what he has in his inventory I thought?>
And I'm in Australia- no insurance on a stone in transit to VC.
I guess I was going with VC because of the attention to detail it really it wonderful but yes I feel like I am getting further away from that because of the designer prices of stones :(
 
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