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Diamond options for pave ring

squidrider

squidrider

Rough_Rock
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
25
Hello everyone,

First post here. I have read a lot and have used your advice to narrow down my engagement ring selection to one setting, and two diamond options.

I will be going with this setting from James Allen:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/pave/14k-white-gold-0.54ctw-french-cut-pave-diamond-eternity-ring-item-243

The two diamonds I am considering that meet my budget, cut, clarity and proportions are these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.60-carat-e-color-vs1-clarity-sku-196779

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.64-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-186260

The cost of these diamond are the same (well $40 difference). I know from doing some reading and watching videos online that the I will have more yellow tint to it than the E. However, after looking at diamond review videos I definitely prefer the chunkier facet, sparkle look over the crushed ice style. I cannot tell from the pictures of the E if it will have a great sparkle or not. The I colour one (to me anyway) has great proportions and is noted as "Cushion Brilliant" in the GIA report, so I would presume this means it has the older chunkier cut style. I have asked the folks at James Allen to have a gemologist look at them and give me their advice on whether the E has a great sparkle or not. Or if the I will look too yellow. Some videos I saw had some really dead looking diamonds with great colour, clarity so I am somewhat apprehensive about the "Modified Cushion Brilliant".

I would love to hear your opinions and experiences with getting cushion cuts and your thoughts on the two diamonds I am considering. Thanks in advance.
 
My opinion is that I would not go with a cushion if I were looking at stones under a carat. They are deeper and smaller than rounds and face up smaller. I am just not sure it is worth getting a modern cushion in that size.

But, to answer your question, I am not sure the cut is that great in the I color stone (you'd need an ASET image to be sure), and the E color stone is more rectangular and I think a square cushion is going to look MUCH better in that setting. I'd definitely extend the search down to VS2 and concentrate on H color and up and only stones that are close to the same diameter each direction.
 
Thats a pretty setting. To judge the sparkle/cut quality of a cushion we'd need to see an ASET image for each. With James Allen you can request up to 3 diamonds for comparison and ask to see ASET images.
 
Thanks for the reply. Yes 1 carat would be nice for sure, but not a possibility. I also like the more square proportioned cuts, however I plotted out the two sizes and compared them at 1:1 scale an even though the E colour is 0.35mm off square I couldn't notice it to be honest, so I am comfortable with the proportions of that one. I was trying to get a diamond approx. 5mm x 5mm or slightly above if possible that fit my budget. I actually checked all the way down to SI1 to see what was available. I must have looked at hundreds of options, and I feel like the two I am looking at are giving the best size, shape and clarity I'm looking for. I even looked at diamonds $500 above my budget and to be honest didn't see anything that was remarkably better. In a lot of cases they had less size (face up) and didn't offer better quality. In the end I think I'm leaning towards the E. It just seems like a great size, amazing colour, terrific clarity and the price is great too. I have requested an analysis from them and hope to have it within a few days. As long as it doesn't have that strong crushed ice look, it'll be the one I choose for sure. I'll follow up with some images as soon as I can. Thanks again for the advice.
 
Thank you for the reply. Yes I think that setting looks great and will be amazing with cushion cut diamond complimenting it. I have asked for the ASET's and should have them in the next few days. I'll post some pics as soon as I can.
 
JulieN|1365450046|3422742 said:
Needs to be checked if eye-clean http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.59-carat-d-color-vs2-clarity-sku-185059
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestion. I have sent this info to the rep I have been in contact with to verify if it's eye-clean. If it is I will also get an ASET of this one. Hadn't thought a 0.59 would give the 5x5 size I was looking for.

Would you expect a 0.59 size diamond to be eye-clean with VS2? Or is there a chance that it won't be. I heard somewhere that anything under 1 carat will be eye-clean with VS2 and up.
 
Most VS2 are eye-clean. Good luck!
 
JulieN|1365485959|3423043 said:
Most VS2 are eye-clean. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks Julie, I was told that the diamond is eye-clean and that they will be performing a analysis of it along with the other two. One rep warned that the extremely thin girdle could be a concern for a potential chip and noted that he would not actually recommend it, as it is probably what accounts for the low price. I told them I had concerns going from an E colour to an I colour as the only alternate and felt that this additional D colour would be more comparable and offered the proportions and shape I was looking for as well, and fit my budget too. They told me that the I colour would not be issue as it will still appear very white and that I shouldn't be overly concerned about that. At any rate, I expect to have the analysis of all three completed by tomorrow and we'll see who the winner is.

Now I'm worried that the extremely thin girdle could be a potential problem, given that the ring is intended to last a very long time. Is the concern warranted given the diamond cut and setting? This is my first diamond ring so I have no experience to draw from.
 
The D has a very high crown angle, so that helps with the extremely thin girdle. The thing is not all diamonds with thin girdles will eventually chip, and not all diamonds with chips have extremely thin girdles.
 
I received the ASET images and was told that of the three diamonds in question

(#1: E colour, VS1, 0.60 carat, Item #196779 from JA)
(#2: I colour, VVS2, 0.64 carat, Item #186260 from JA)
(#3: D colour, VS2, 0.59 carat, Item #185059 from JA)

I was told that the gemologist said they are all white in color and eye-clean and are beautiful diamonds to choose from. In comparing them to each other, diamond item #196779 and 186260 are the top contenders. They have very good light performance, brilliance and sparkle. They are well-balanced diamonds. Either diamond would be a great choice.

In regards to the #3, I was informed that it did not have the best light performance and it is not symmetrical or well-balanced. The gemologist also reported that the girdle does pose a durability issue.

Attached are the ASET images for comments if anyone can offer their opinion. To be honest I really liked the cut and proportions of #2, I recognize that there is less red, but the shape of it matches almost perfectly with the Novo style cushion cut, which I really like. I also read somewhere that the ASET results for fancy cut shapes cannot be rated against the round brilliant types, which offer different ASET colour characteristics for fire and brilliance in terms of optics. However, there is no denying that #1 has alot of red in it, which is good. Hope to hear anyones thoughts.


196779.jpg



186260_1.jpg
 
The E is nice, but it isn't chunky. Does it have to be a cushion, you might want to consider a round. Spread is usually better.
 
Yes, cushion cut for sure. Any thoughts on the I colour stone?
 
I'd love to hear some more thoughts on the ASET shots, particularly on the second (bottom) one. Am I looking at an obvious winner between the two? or do you think they both good and its a case of over analyzing?
 
Both ASETs look nice. You want the most red possible, then green. What you dont want are the black areas as this is light leakage. Stone 1 has the most red so its slightly better but I prefer the look and squarish-ness of the second stone. Just personal preference. I think either would be very pretty in your setting. Also the second is slightly larger. But there isn't much in it.

Which one does your eyes prefer?
 
I guess I prefer the second one based solely on shape and proportions. It appeals to my eye the most. I guess I'm worried that I've got too much information overload, and now I'm only focused on the potential problems in the diamonds to make a right choice. I keep hearing red is the best so my mind is telling me number 1. I was pretty much set on number 2 until I saw all the red in the 1st. I'm worried I'm picking either an 8/10 diamond and a 4/10 and making the bad decision.
 
Look, both ASETs are nice just no1 is better than no2. You need to buy what you like as you'll have it for many years. Yes the ASET for the first is better but visually the second still looks more attractive to me, and you by the sounds of it. And it is squarer and and a bit bigger. We are nit picking now we are into the details, both stones will make a stunning ring.

Its all about taste. You've gotta buy what you love.

How are they priced SR? Unless the first is quite a bit cheaper than the second, I say go for the second. It'll be a beautiful stone, go with you eyes and your gut and dont over think it.
 
Sorry for the delayed reply. Haha, yes indeed you are correct. I did actually go with my preferred choice, after considering it I decided to trust my gut. I agree, it's splitting hairs at some point and hey, let's say it's an absolute dud....well....I can always exchange it anyway. But honestly, I don't imagine it will be an issue (touch wood). Thank you for all the input! Now I can't wait to actually see it once it's finished!!

- just FYI, both diamonds were priced the same
 
squidrider|1365784202|3425534 said:
Sorry for the delayed reply. Haha, yes indeed you are correct. I did actually go with my preferred choice, after considering it I decided to trust my gut. I agree, it's splitting hairs at some point and hey, let's say it's an absolute dud....well....I can always exchange it anyway. But honestly, I don't imagine it will be an issue (touch wood). Thank you for all the input! Now I can't wait to actually see it once it's finished!!

- just FYI, both diamonds were priced the same
Click to expand...

I'm glad you did. I am confident that it will turn out beautifully. Please come back on here to share photos when you receive your ring. I can't wait to see what it looks like!
 
Yes, absolutely I will.
 
The ring arrived today! It looks great! I'll try to upload some pics, no hand shots yet as I have to figure how and when to do the proposal. The whole surprise almost got blown though, as I had also ordered a plain black ring box (the JA one is nice, but I wanted just a plain black one), anyway the ring box wasn't delivered to my work as instructed, it was sent to our house :shock: but luckily it fit into the mailbox drop and they didn't have to ring the buzzer for the delivery, because my girlfriend was at home today so that would have been difficult to explain, haha. Luckily I happened to pick it up at lunch, so disaster averted. Hopefully you like the pics (I tried my best... :) )
 
view_2.jpg

view_1.jpg
 
view_8_1.jpg

My hand for now for perspective
 
looks goooooood!! :appl:
 
Having troubles loading images...I have a few more but can't get them to work for some reason :confused:
 
OMG_AMG|1366693650|3432740 said:
looks goooooood!! :appl:
Click to expand...

Thank you very much! It turned out just how I hoped. It's delicate, simple and romantic looking. I'm surprised how clear and white it looks, given what I read about "I" colour cushions. It sparkles a lot and I'm very happy I went with the diamond I ended up picking, the shape and style is beautiful. I just hope that she likes it as much as I do, haha.
 
view_4.jpg
 
view_7.jpg

Can only seem to upload one every couple hours. I'll try the rest tomorrow. Sorry for the poor photos, haven't figured out how to capture the image as well as everyone else does.
 
view_6.jpg

view_5.jpg
 
squidrider|1366698543|3432764 said:
view_4.jpg
Click to expand...
:love: :love: Shining,shining... It looks good :appl:
 
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