Eternity Ring Clarity Importance?

[drchu]

I''m looking to purchase my GF a full eternity ring. I''m wondering how important the clarity is for this type of ring since the diamonds are quite small. One website sells a 1/2 carat 18k white gold H/SI2 for $785 and another website sells a 1 carat 14k white gold G-H/SI2-I1 for $349. I know it''s not an apples to apples comparison, but I can''t help but wonder if the extra step up in clarity is worth it. The 14k vs. 18k doesn''t really matter. I''m sure she''s more interested in the diamonds. Thanks.

 

[swingirl]

Don''t know what you could get in a full eternity for $349. I wouldn''t expect the stones to be very pretty. Signed Pieces has a lot of eternity bands and half-eternity bands...lowest priced half-eternity is $534 and the lowest priced full eternity is $883. But way less than 1 carat tw.

Everyone on PS who bought from them was quite pleased with the stones and setting. Keep in mind full eternity bands aren''t sizeable in the future.

 

[erica k]

i would be even more concerned about their cut. i have a 1.56ctw shared-prong eternity, G-SI1 that sparkles like mad. for a 1ctw eternity, i would be skeptical of anything that cost less than $1500.

if the two websites have easy return policies, it might not hurt to order both and then decide which one is better. but again, at those prices, i wouldn''t expect much in terms of quality (fabrication, stone cut, etc).

 

[drchu]

Thanks for the responses. After doing a bit more research, it looks like the pave setting, 18k white gold, and the step up in clarity is making the .5 Carat one very expensive. Also, from the 1 carat website, the difference between SI1-SI2 and SI2-I1 is $250. However, I am still wondering about my original question - is SI1-SI2 vs. SI2-I1 that big of a deal? The sales lady mentioned that since the diamonds are so small, the color is more important.

 

[milton333]

Date: 12/12/2007 9:18:32 PM
Author: drchu
Thanks for the responses. After doing a bit more research, it looks like the pave setting, 18k white gold, and the step up in clarity is making the .5 Carat one very expensive. Also, from the 1 carat website, the difference between SI1-SI2 and SI2-I1 is $250. However, I am still wondering about my original question - is SI1-SI2 vs. SI2-I1 that big of a deal? The sales lady mentioned that since the diamonds are so small, the color is more important.

As with the answers to most things, I''d say "it depends." Sorry. While in Vegas, hubby and I got carried away and bought a half eternity at a jewelry store without any planning or forethought. I''m not sure of the exact specs re: clarity. I''m sure it is "eye clean," because I see no flaws at a reasonable distance (e.g., distance to my hand on keyboard while typing). But there is a large black inclusion in one of the stones. Now, the stones are tiny. And, like I said, it''s eye clean, in the sense that these are pretty small diamonds and I can''t see this inclusion from maybe 10 inches. But it bugs me. Anyway, I''m sure no one I encounter sees it. But I know it''s there, and it''s a flaw that would really bug me if it were a surprise gift, you know? Use your judgment, but if it were me, I''d avoid an I included band. For what it''s worth, we paid about $500, haggled down from $900, for a .5 carat half eternity in WG, if that helps with your assessment.

 

[SparkleSparkle]

I would be skeptical, also. My BF bought me a beautiful bracelet from Jared (I know, I know) - the first one we looked at took my breath away, but as I took it out of the store lighting into "outside" light, I started to notice all kinds of "pepper" spots that weren''t visible before. These diamonds are teeny-tiny - the inclusions were so big the diamonds looked black. Not that I''m saying the ring you''re looking at will be like that, but at the prices they''re quoting, I wouldn''t trust it without seeing it myself up close.

 

[lyra]

Date: 12/12/2007 9:18:32 PM
Author: drchu
Thanks for the responses. After doing a bit more research, it looks like the pave setting, 18k white gold, and the step up in clarity is making the .5 Carat one very expensive. Also, from the 1 carat website, the difference between SI1-SI2 and SI2-I1 is $250. However, I am still wondering about my original question - is SI1-SI2 vs. SI2-I1 that big of a deal? The sales lady mentioned that since the diamonds are so small, the color is more important.

I had to check my appraisal papers. I have a full prong set eternity band, .5cwt, G-H, I1 but good cut. I think the colour and cut are more important than clarity in this size of diamond. I can tell you that my band, even with the tiny diamonds, sparkles and shoots fire like crazy and is bright white. There are 33 diamonds (ring size 7) and not one dead looking or dark looking stone. Hope that helps. Really, you have to look at it with your own eyes to decide.