Center stone quality significance in Halo setting?

[jnuz]

Is it worth spending a lot for center stone in halo setting? I was all the time looking for a perfect stone for a solitaire ring, but if i now change the setting to halo with plain band - how much difference the quality plays? I mean usually stones around halo are not so great and also halo settings cover up more of the center stone. If i pick something from D-E and the halo ring is G-H, will it match together (some being more yellowish)? Setting itself is going to be either white gold (probably 14K cause it's stronger or platinum).

 

[Niel]

The center stone cut quality will be just as important. But to your point about color, for a solitaire OR a halo, you do not need colorless for it to be high quality or look white. An h is a very nice color and would be perfect in a halo. The halo will hide the side of the diamond, which shows more color than the top.

Clarity I would go VS-SI1clarity as they are most of the time eye clean and you would be overpaying to go any higher.

 

[jnuz]

Ok, good to know that about color, because when i was at jewellery store and compared loose diamonds i could definately see yellowish in H, when comparing it to E. But it was on white background, so yeah, i guess the halo would hide it. That's good!

 

[geoffreysnow]

An H shouldn't really appear Yellowish... make sure you're getting a GIA graded H and not an EGL H. You should read up about the different grading agencies. If it was a GIA H, and you could tell the difference, then make sure that the stones in the halo are not more than a few grades better than the center or it can amplify the darker color.

 

[Niel]

Was it upside down on a white sheet of paper? Upside down or right side up, you will not be viewing your stone like that IRL

Go look at good old gold's YouTube site. Lots of videos on color there.

 

[jnuz]

The paper was folded in half and two diamonds were next to each other. E was HRD certified but H i think was GIA. The other time i was shown the same E stone from HRD and another from EGL which was also an E, and i could spot the difference. I also looked the stones upside down.

How much do you trust 360degree HD material on online sites about inclusions? If on some angle i can see them then on the video i can be sure the inclusions are eye visible also?

 

[Niel]

Duplicate post.

 

[Niel]

The paper was folded in half and two diamonds were next to each other. E was HRD certified but H i think was GIA. The other time i was shown the same E stone from HRD and another from EGL which was also an E, and i could spot the difference. I also looked the stones upside down.

How much do you trust 360degree HD material on online sites about inclusions? If on some angle i can see them then on the video i can be sure the inclusions are eye visible also?

So when you compare the two side by side its normal you're going to see a difference. They are three shades apart. They are different. But on its own the h is going to be plenty white. I've heard many people say the difference is that an H looks like a clear water type white where an e is going to be a more blue White. Different, yeah. But one isn't necessarily better. Color is, if I'm not mistaken, connected to rarity, not the quality of the stone. Each person's tolerance or preference to color is different

As for your q about clarity. You should be able to tell if its relatively eye clean by looking at it. But the person you buy the stone from should be able to tell you if it is or not. Are you shopping around at James Allen? What's your budget compared to size requirement if you don't mind me asking.

 

[jnuz]

Carat wise i was looking at stones 0.8-0.9 ct (initally i was sure to get 1 ct but now knowing little bit more about diamond i think this budget won't strech) My budget is maybe around 4000-5000 € (i'm from Europe). Also looked James Allen and many others suggested here, but taxes and customs charge way too much, i think it's not worth to order from US.
Today i found out that Ritari shows prices with tax, customs and etc, so i might take a look there. And also i was looking 77diamonds.com (i think UK based) and BlueNile (little bit afraid of that).

 

[Niel]

Carat wise i was looking at stones 0.8-0.9 ct (initally i was sure to get 1 ct but now knowing little bit more about diamond i think this budget won't strech) My budget is maybe around 4000-5000 € (i'm from Europe). Also looked James Allen and many others suggested here, but taxes and customs charge way too much, i think it's not worth to order from US.
Today i found out that Ritari shows prices with tax, customs and etc, so i might take a look there. And also i was looking 77diamonds.com (i think UK based) and BlueNile (little bit afraid of that).

Well the good thing is, its not impossible to buy a round just by the numbers. Unlike fancy shapes, you can pick out a good diamond just based of the cert.

I would do it if i were you and it meant you were saving a bit.

 

[SB621]

Stick with GIA or AGl graded stones. Anything else and it is a dart game on what you are actually getting.

 

[jnuz]

Thanks, i'm gonna keep searching for the setting a little bit now