color

[memerchant]

Hello, All!

I recently bought a vintage engagement ring (my sweet fiancee is letting me choose my own ring) and intend to upgrade the center stone. the ring is made of yellow gold and i've seen varying opinions on color. some people say it's more important to have a more colorless stone in a white (white gold or platinum) setting and some say it's more important in a yellow gold setting. the stone i'm looking at is rated as an L but i dont see yellow; it just doesnt look as sparkly, i guess, as the ones that are considered colorless. will i notice this color difference once the stone is set in the ring?

Thanks for your help!

 

[JulieN]

K/L colors are great for vintage.

If it isn't as sparkly as others you've seen, it is likely a cut issue. Which will probably get worse after it is set.

 

[iluvdiamonds2]

Maybe it's not as sparkly because it is probably an older cut with chunkier facets, which would probably give off flashes of light and not pin sparkles??

Once it is set I've heard the diamonds look even better. They say you will notice the color more in a cool-tone setting, like white gold or platinum. How about a rose gold or yellow gold setting??

Hope this helps

 

[04diamond<3]

K/L colors are great for vintage.

If it isn't as sparkly as others you've seen, it is likely a cut issue. Which will probably get worse after it is set.

I agree with this. If the stone is cut bad to begin with it's definitely not going to look better set. I'd go with something that's better cut or at least something you like better.

 

[CharmyPoo]

it just doesnt look as sparkly, i guess, as the ones that are considered colorless.

It's a common misconception that color impacts how sparkly the diamond is or even how bright / dark it is. It is all cut! Color has no impact.

 

[memerchant]

this stone is online. is there a way i can tell online if it's desirable? i can return it within a couple of weeks if necessary. is it something i need to see in person to tell?

 

[04diamond<3]

this stone is online. is there a way i can tell online if it's desirable? i can return it within a couple of weeks if necessary. is it something i need to see in person to tell?

If it's a good diamond with a good cut, you should be able to see it with a picture. However, I'm a big "you should see it" type person so I'd suggest before getting the one you want, make sure they have a return policy. If you don't like it send it back. Some places will arrange for you to see the diamond before you buy by sending it to a local jeweler for you to check out before you make your decision.

 

[JulieN]

Post a link to it, please.

 

[memerchant]

http://pictures1.kyozou.com/pictures/_16/15446/15445663.jpg

http://pictures1.kyozou.com/pictures/_16/15446/15445662.jpg

See? the facets look sparkly to me. i think it may just be the way the pictures are taken.

 

[memerchant]

and it doesnt have inclusions so those black spots must be on the camera or something.

 

[04diamond<3]

I looks like it could sparkle...it looks more like an old european cut, which i'm pretty sure sparkle..I know a lot of people on here like those cuts.... Does the place you're buying from have a return policy?

 

[memerchant]

yes. it's old european. and they allow 14 days for returning it.

i figure what the heck?

 

[04diamond<3]

sounds good to me. Just if you decide to keep it, don't forget to get insurance on it! And show us pictures!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, you need to see it because those pictures aren't showing the color or the sparkle. You need to see it in your normal lighting environments. It looks like it could be a very pretty stone! It is the right size for your setting?

 

[memerchant]

well i guess maybe it wouldnt be awful to post the before picture now.

i love this ring so much. i havent seen anything like it (most of the vintage ones i saw were platinum and white gold) and if anyone knows anything about it, i'd love to know. i was told that it belonged to a woman who was born in 1889.

the stone in it now is an old euro, according to my jeweler.

 

[memerchant]

i did take the ring to a jeweler and he said i should be able to put a stone the size i want into the ring without having to put in a new head. he says the prongs are sturdy enough to be able to just bend them or whatever to accommodate a larger stone, within reason. he said i could put in as large a stone as i wanted with a new head, but it might not look good with the rest of the ring and i agree.

 

[memerchant]

i will certainly have it insured as soon as i get it completed!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

What a special and beautiful ring! I see why you love it!

That jeweler is scaring me just a little. I don't think you can go but a tiny bit bigger.

 

[memerchant]

it'll be a difference of like 2-3 mm. should i get a second jeweler opinion?

 

[04diamond<3]

What a special and beautiful ring! I see why you love it!

That jeweler is scaring me just a little. I don't think you can go but a tiny bit bigger.

Exactly what I was thinking. You should have the stone insured prior it being sent to your jeweler. A lot can happen and they can and sometimes do say "it was like that when we got it"....How big is your new stone?

 

[memerchant]

1.08. the one currently in it is 4 mm and i would be going to 6.6ish mm. i know it would lower the stone a bit to stretch the prongs and i'm ok with that.

 

[memerchant]

1.08. the one currently in it is 4 mm and i would be going to 6.6ish mm. i know it would lower the stone a bit to stretch the prongs and i'm ok with that.

 

[memerchant]

1.08 ct, that is.

 

[memerchant]

What a special and beautiful ring! I see why you love it!

That jeweler is scaring me just a little. I don't think you can go but a tiny bit bigger.

Exactly what I was thinking. You should have the stone insured prior it being sent to your jeweler. A lot can happen and they can and sometimes do say "it was like that when we got it"....How big is your new stone?

i will keep that in mind. i would have waited till it was finished. should i have the stone appraised to have it insured?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

1.08. the one currently in it is 4 mm and i would be going to 6.6ish mm. i know it would lower the stone a bit to stretch the prongs and i'm ok with that.

I hate to say it, but I think it is going to really hurt the design to go with a stone that large. The prongs tilt in, and when you look down, you see what looks like petals. I think putting a 6.6mm stone in is really going to affect the aesthetics of the setting negatively. But you could start a new thread and get more opinions on it. I am thinking 5mm max.

 

[distracts]

it'll be a difference of like 2-3 mm. should i get a second jeweler opinion?

Uh. That would significantly change the look of the ring... that's a BIG difference in stone size. You are going to completely cover up the petal look of the setting, and will just see the stone and then the band. I guess you CAN do it, but... I would look for a stone absolutely no more than 5mm to go in that setting, and even that would be pushing it.

 

[memerchant]

1.08. the one currently in it is 4 mm and i would be going to 6.6ish mm. i know it would lower the stone a bit to stretch the prongs and i'm ok with that.

I hate to say it, but I think it is going to really hurt the design to go with a stone that large. The prongs tilt in, and when you look down, you see what looks like petals. I think putting a 6.6mm stone in is really going to affect the aesthetics of the setting negatively. But you could start a new thread and get more opinions on it. I am thinking 5mm max.

i think of that when i consider it. the petal design isnt really important to me. i think it looks like an attempt to compensate for a small stone. so not being able to see them at all wouldnt break my heart. considering that, do you think one that big would go with the rest of the ring?

 

[distracts]

If you are going to put a significantly bigger stone in, I would have the jeweler carefully remove the petal head with the diamond still in it and use it as a pendant or sell it on DB or something (he should just be able to saw it right out), and then have a new head put in for your new diamond (be sure to choose/design one that aesthetically goes with your ring and don't just stick in a standard four-prong basket). I wouldn't want to try to change the setting that radically for a new stone.

I personally prefer the petal head with that ring because the sides look viney/leafy and the petal head retains that organic look, but if you don't like it and want a bigger stone, then I think what I suggested above is probably the best option in terms of making sure the ring looks good. I think any size diamond will be fine with that shank, just make sure you get a head for it that kind of sticks to the organic motif.

 

[04diamond<3]

What a special and beautiful ring! I see why you love it!

That jeweler is scaring me just a little. I don't think you can go but a tiny bit bigger.

Exactly what I was thinking. You should have the stone insured prior it being sent to your jeweler. A lot can happen and they can and sometimes do say "it was like that when we got it"....How big is your new stone?

i will keep that in mind. i would have waited till it was finished. should i have the stone appraised to have it insured?

absolutely! Especially with what you'll be having done. I agree with everyone else, your new stone will be too large for the setting you want to put it in and disfiguring it to accommodate your new stone will defeat the purpose of such an intricate looking ring.

 

[memerchant]

If you are going to put a significantly bigger stone in, I would have the jeweler carefully remove the petal head with the diamond still in it and use it as a pendant or sell it on DB or something (he should just be able to saw it right out), and then have a new head put in for your new diamond (be sure to choose/design one that aesthetically goes with your ring and don't just stick in a standard four-prong basket). I wouldn't want to try to change the setting that radically for a new stone.

I personally prefer the petal head with that ring because the sides look viney/leafy and the petal head retains that organic look, but if you don't like it and want a bigger stone, then I think what I suggested above is probably the best option in terms of making sure the ring looks good. I think any size diamond will be fine with that shank, just make sure you get a head for it that kind of sticks to the organic motif.

i'll keep that in mind. i just really wanted a carat (vanity is taking over...haha). The one in it, i guess, is like .33 or .25. it seems so odd that another 3/4 of a carat is only 2 more mm. maybe i'm mistaken on how big the diamond is. i didnt really care when i bought it because i was essentially just buying a setting.