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Diamond Help for Abbraccio Setting

nmorrow

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 19, 2014
Messages
4
New member and relative diamond new-comer (purchased one before but just signed the check, not a lot of info - my mistake).

The future Mrs. has a specific setting she absolutely loves - Danhov Abbraccio Swril, AE100 style http://www.danhov.com/engagement/abbraccio/danhov-abbraccio-swirl-engagement-ring-ae100

Realizing she is specific on her setting she's given me a mostly free reign of diamond selection - her only request was "around 1 carat please".

I've read about the 4C's, what I can on various settings, metals, etc. I'm a technical person so I can process the numbers well but I struggle to make concessions (my wallet will force me) which is where I'm hoping you can all assist.

My current goals:
Diamond budget: sub-$7500 (a lot is in these dang rings!)
Cut: Excellent/Ideal
Color: H or better
Clarity: SI1 or better
Carat: 0.94-1.24

My questions:
  • With a swirl setting like this - is clarity as important? Will side inclusions be covered?
  • Will the setting basket and wrap of metal cloud light from the stone? Is it still going to sparkle in a setting like this?
  • I realize this is a diamond forum, however; she prefers yellow gold - is 18k ok for a ring of this style or is 14k preferred?
  • On yellow gold - I read that some fluorescence is ok to offset - is this true?
  • Last but not least - tweak my goals list - what could I change to present more options? With the settings listed I usually only find a handful of options.

Apologies if that was long winded - I'm trying to do this right!
Thank you in advance for any and all feedback!
 
This setting actually makes my heart flutter a bit, it is so beautiful. There are a few similar, but none of them quite capture what this has. HOWEVER do note how thin it is, and the cost of the setting. Is 7500 the budget for just the diamond? Because otherwise you're left with half that with this setting. I'm assuming round? This setting can be made for most any shape.
 
nmorrow|1416415887|3786497 said:
My current goals:
Diamond budget: sub-$7500 (a lot is in these dang rings!)
Cut: Excellent/Ideal
Color: H or better
Clarity: SI1 or better
Carat: 0.94-1.24

My questions:
  • With a swirl setting like this - is clarity as important? Will side inclusions be covered?
    No matter what the setting, for an engagement ring I would want the diamond to be "eye clean".
  • Will the setting basket and wrap of metal cloud light from the stone? Is it still going to sparkle in a setting like this?
    A well cut diamond is not going to be diminished in any way by the metal wrapping around it.
  • I realize this is a diamond forum, however; she prefers yellow gold - is 18k ok for a ring of this style or is 14k preferred?
    I think the choice between 18 or 14k is mostly an aesthetic and budgetary one. 18k will usually be richer/yellower in colour and cost more.
  • On yellow gold - I read that some fluorescence is ok to offset - is this true?
    I have no personal experience with fluoro in diamonds, but have read that it can make a diamond appear whiter, but only when there is UV present, and it would be on a case by case basis. I wouldn't be purposely shooting for fluoro, but wouldn't eliminate a stone based on it either. An H or better should appear white enough alongside the yellow gold as it is.
  • Last but not least - tweak my goals list - what could I change to present more options? With the settings listed I usually only find a handful of options.
Your criteria looks solid. I wouldn't rule out an eye clean sI2 though, if I could find one within my specs.

Lovely setting! It is quite delicate and high though, so she will have to take care with it.

Answers to questions above.
 
telephone89|1416426453|3786636 said:
This setting actually makes my heart flutter a bit, it is so beautiful. There are a few similar, but none of them quite capture what this has. HOWEVER do note how thin it is, and the cost of the setting. Is 7500 the budget for just the diamond? Because otherwise you're left with half that with this setting. I'm assuming round? This setting can be made for most any shape.
Appreciate the replies.
I know she certainly agrees about this particular setting (and I'm a fan too)!

To clarify, $7500 was diamond-only.
Within the scale of what she wants I'd love to spend less, but that's the max on the diamond (taking into account total budget including the setting and paired wedding band).

I'm hoping that with the wrapping of the ring around the diamond it will help protect it at least somewhat?
Out of curiosity - the local dealer for Danhov has a semi-annual check they require to verify the integrity of the prongs to guarantee the diamond. If I buy online (diamond and ring) is there any such check? Are these even necessary?

EvangelineG|1416427677|3786652 said:
snipped reply
Thank you for the feedback EvangellineG.
When you state an H should appear "white enough" - am I to read that understanding any diamond, no matter how white, will pickup a yellow impression from being mounted over yellow gold? If so, does this lower the priority on color or make it even more important so things don't compound into a canary?
 
nmorrow|1416428145|3786661 said:
Thank you for the feedback EvangellineG.
When you state an H should appear "white enough" - am I to read that understanding any diamond, no matter how white, will pickup a yellow impression from being mounted over yellow gold? If so, does this lower the priority on color or make it even more important so things don't compound into a canary?

This is based on my personal taste only- I think diamonds are beautiful in yellow gold when the diamonds are colourless/white enough to create a good contrast with the yellow of the gold. It really makes the diamond pop. I also like yellow gold with very low coloured or fancy yellow diamonds where the yellow in the gold accentuates the warmth in the diamond on purpose. So the gold colour can do both- make a high coloured diamond appear even whiter due to contrast or accentuate the warmth in an already warm diamond. It depends on what you want to go for, and I would be careful with colours in the middle depending on what I wanted to emphasize.

So no, a well cut diamond will not pick up yellow from the gold, but you will always be seeing it in context with the yellow and that influences your eye's perception. So I personally would not go lower than H or G if I wanted a crisp, high contrast appearance. If I was going for a softer, warmer look, I would go lower. It's all about your vision for your ring.
 
EvangelineG|1416440213|3786775 said:
This is based on my personal taste only- I think diamonds are beautiful in yellow gold when the diamonds are colourless/white enough to create a good contrast with the yellow of the gold. It really makes the diamond pop. I also like yellow gold with very low coloured or fancy yellow diamonds where the yellow in the gold accentuates the warmth in the diamond on purpose. So the gold colour can do both- make a high coloured diamond appear even whiter due to contrast or accentuate the warmth in an already warm diamond. It depends on what you want to go for, and I would be careful with colours in the middle depending on what I wanted to emphasize.

So no, a well cut diamond will not pick up yellow from the gold, but you will always be seeing it in context with the yellow and that influences your eye's perception. So I personally would not go lower than H or G if I wanted a crisp, high contrast appearance. If I was going for a softer, warmer look, I would go lower. It's all about your vision for your ring.

Putting the range in there (relative to the gold) is helpful, thanks.
I'm going to try and get to a local shop and see if I can get diamond specifications for set stones against the ring itself to try and put some real-world color to application.

The scope of a purchase like this is a bit overwhelming - I'm sure she'll be happy with the end product but I'm having a terrible time making decision, just want it to be perfect (on a cheaper than perfect budget of course).

Appreciate the feedback.
 
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