Diamond parcel

[gladstone]

I am looking for 5 stones in the neighbourhood of 0.18 to 0.20 carat each for a 5-stones ring. For stones of this size, jewellers always show me a parcel and allow me to pick 5. These F,Si1 stones are $160 each. Diameter is around 3.60mm

Should I loupe the stones, look at their symetry, girdle thickness and pick the best 5 of the same diameter. Are these stone cut similar to each other? I loupe a few but can''t seem to pick any over others. They are tiny and the spot lights on the ceiling make any stone sparkes.

I am willing to pay more for better cut stone; but stones of this size is never rated by cut; they are just available in a parcel sold by carat.

Should I just pick any five out of this parcel because there is no point of cherry picking small stones.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, I''d be more tempted to ask WF for 5 "A Cut Above" stones..I imagine they''d be cut superior to the stones you''re looking at.

 

[cpster]

Does Whiteflash sell their smaller stones loose?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''ve heard of people buying ACA melee for other projects. It would sort of make sense just to ask them to make a wedding ring, though, if you were buying their stones. I would care about the quality of 20 point stones if it was me.

 

[DiamondExpert]

Any vendor should be able to hand select a set of well matched stones from a parcel for you, but if you have to do it yourself it''s better to use an IdealScope for selecting the ones with best light return. Also eyeball them to make sure there are none with black/visible inclusions and lastly measure for uniform diameters with a Leverage guage.

Don''t try to do this directly under store lighting conditions, but under ambient indirect daylight conditions or a jewler''s desk lamp if possible.

If you want precision, machine cut stones, many with reasonable H&A looking patterns, your cost will be higher than you quote, especially if you go to VS clarity.

 

[gladstone]

Gary,

A user suggested I look at your website and I noticed you have 20 pointers. How many do you have? All my wife bigger stones are ideal; but when I start looking at 20 pointers, I figure they are so small - maybe a good/average cut diamond will be just as nice.

Can you really see a different (between regular and ideal cut) when we are talking about five 20 pointers on a ring?

 

[DiamondExpert]

In a word - absolutely.

Better and uniformly cut diamonds, by definition, almost always look better, in my opinion...cut consistency from stone to stone is what it''s all about...and there are also some little things one can do to enhance the look of multiple stone pieces aside from getting the best matches possible...like setting all the stones so that the star facets point in the most attractive and exactly the same direction.