cushion in setting..color of stone does not match setting!!

[lulu3]

We've picked out the stone for my ring, which is a 1.8 cushion G SI1. In this setting that the jeweler showed us (we haven't gotten it yet), the stone (which is ours) to me appears "yellower" than the setting. To me it just does not match.



We are most likely going to have another setting made (and not go with this one) with a micropave halo and matching band around the halo, with rounded corners sort of like this one below.



here are my questions:

1. does the center stone appear darker than the setting in the first pic?
2. how do you ensure that the halow pave diamonds match the center stone?by asking for the same G color stones? Or do they normally blend in pretty well and just not in the first setting above
3. the diamonds in the halo around the first setting are too crushed looking for my taste. I prefer the ones in the second one. What is the difference though? bigger diamonds? one is pave and the second is not?

thank you in advance!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

here are my questions:

1. does the center stone appear darker than the setting in the first pic?
2. how do you ensure that the halow pave diamonds match the center stone?by asking for the same G color stones? Or do they normally blend in pretty well and just not in the first setting above
3. the diamonds in the halo around the first setting are too crushed looking for my taste. I prefer the ones in the second one. What is the difference though? bigger diamonds? one is pave and the second is not?

thank you in advance!

1. Yes. What lab graded the stone? It could also be the environement. A center stone will always pick up more color from the environment than small melee stones, so no matter its color it will always look *different* than the halo.

2. See my answer to the above. I dont think this is an "issue" with this particular halo, your stone will likely look the same in any halo.

3. The first image is a style of pave with diamond set with beads in a little channel. The second is a pave style with minimal metal. Not sure of your budget but there are only a few people who can make a ring like the second and make it well, and they all cost about $5000.

 

[lulu3]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

the stone actually is not final yet either, we were going to purchase it next week. So why would it look the same in any halo? don't the color of the halo and band have something to do with it as well? And how can it always look different than the halo? most halos I have seen blend right in with the center stone and don't look different.

 

[lulu3]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

btw who besides HW and Leon Mege can make the halo look like that?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

the stone actually is not final yet either, we were going to purchase it next week. So why would it look the same in any halo? don't the color of the halo and band have something to do with it as well? And how can it always look different than the halo? most halos I have seen blend right in with the center stone and don't look different.

What lab graded the stone? I need to know this to comment on color better.

The faceting on the stone could make it appear to stand out more. That diamond appears to have a somewhat crushed ice appearance which might make is show more body tint (though a GIA graded G should not really show body tint IMO) and less obvious white light return. The extra metal in the halo might make it contrast more with the diamond.

Leon Mege, Steven Kirsch (sp?), Victor Canera can do pave like that.

 

[JulieN]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Do you like any other diamonds that your jeweler showed you?

Small stones are whiter: a half carat J will look whiter than a 2 carat J. Since melee are so tiny, most center diamonds won't look quite as white.

 

[Amys Bling]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

some labs are more lenient with grading. who graded your stone?

 

[lulu3]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

I do not remember, we looked at so many stones. I have to ask my fiance. we can always change the stone.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Based only on that photo I doubt it is a GIA/AGS G color stone. I think you can do better for your money

 

[lulu3]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

He is going to call the jeweler on monday. So the labs that are good for grading are GIA and AGS, correct?

 

[Amys Bling]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

GIA and AGS are the most stringent and accurate with color and clarity grading. If it was another lab, then most likely the color grade is actually lower than stated.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

You aren't greatly likely to find a great cushion at a local jeweler, to be honest. I am with Dreamer betting that the stone is not a GIA G. I would only go with Victor Canera or Steven Kirsch for that kind of setting, and I would look at Good Old Gold first for the stone.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

I think the stone is problematic. Please do send more info.

 

[Sparkly_Girl]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

btw who besides HW and Leon Mege can make the halo look like that?

Hi... We are using Oscar Heyman to design my ring. They are every bit as skilled of craftsmen as those at HW, Cartier, VC&A, etc. As a matter of fact, they have designed pieces for all of the famous houses in the past. They are worth looking into! (See my Oscar Heyman thread if you would like to see how the process is going!)

 

[lulu3]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

hi can you post your thread about Oscar Heyman?

 

[Amys Bling]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

hi can you post your thread about Oscar Heyman?

Ditto- id love to hear more about him.

 

[lulu3]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Ok we talked to the jeweler. This particular stone is rated by EGL. We saw two others there that were rated by GIA. However, I liked this stone better. And the picture I posted was actually not good, it didn't yellow in person like it does here.

So this stone that is a SI1, G rated by EGL is it bad to get b/c of the rating? And how would it be rated by GIA/AGS?

Also for cushions, is a G or H color good/bad? I have heard they look better in warmer tones.

 

[slg47]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Ok we talked to the jeweler. This particular stone is rated by EGL. We saw two others there that were rated by GIA. However, I liked this stone better. And the picture I posted was actually not good, it didn't yellow in person like it does here.

So this stone that is a SI1, G rated by EGL is it bad to get b/c of the rating? And how would it be rated by GIA/AGS?

Also for cushions, is a G or H color good/bad? I have heard they look better in warmer tones.

EGL is inconsistent on grading...we don't know what GIA or AGS would have called it but it is possible that GIA or AGS would have called it a lower color/clarity.

As far as warmer vs higher color...personal preference.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

EGL makes sense in the photo it looed about a I/J color by GIA standards.

Don't judge "GIA diamonds" by the ones your jeweler chose to show you. Jewlers have a habit of choosing the stones they show you to make it pretty clear which one you are going to pick, which is often the one they want you to pick! Show around and look at as many different cushions as you can. In general, EGL is not good value for the money.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Assuming it is EGL-USA, it is likely going to be a I SI2 if rated by GIA. But who knows because EGL is pretty inconcistent.

Your diamond is what we call a crushed ice cushion here. There is non distinct pattern and the sparkle looks like crushed ice. In general, many people are more drawn to patterns.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Crushed ice cushions are fine, lovely if you like them.

The one thing is that the cut/facet pattern traps color. It's is most commonly used on fancy colored diamonds because it intensifies color more. So in a white cushion you are going to want to stay really high color to have it look white. I would stick to GIA F-ish stones.

 

[tenyearanniversary]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Aside from Leon Mege who does fabulous work........

I heard Ostacz is good http://ostaszstudio.com/index2.html

And I heard Carvin French is great, but I don't think he deals with the public....

 

[Mayk]

Re: cushion in setting..color of stone does not match settin

Our first e-ring diamond (pre my pricescope addiction) was an EGL. I had it appraised and it came back three color levels lower and two clarity grades lower. So it went from being a G to a J and from a VS2 to SI2. I was very unhappy. I took the stone back and had to upgrade with the same jeweler (I would have preferred to go with one of the on line jewelers here) but we were stuck. I was able to get an AGS 000 G VS2 which was what my first stone was suppose to be. I once again had it appraised and this one came back as a match to the grading on the certificate.