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Good progress on setting, now on to the center stone...

S

steveinsac2

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 31, 2017
Messages
8
Hi everyone,

You all were incredibly helpful in providing me some guidance on an alternative to a very expensive Tacori setting. I feel very good about going with a custom setting that will be unique but similar to the Tacori at a much lower price. Here's the initial thread that you all helped me so much:
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...o-6k-tacori-setting-first-time-poster.232467/

Now on to the center stone...

I have been reading the threads in this forum quite a bit in the last few weeks. I understand prretty well that "cut is king" and have learned so much about what makes a good cut, the HCA tool, etc. At this point, my research overlaid with my wants in terms of size seems to be focused on the following rough specs: as "ideal" a cut as possible, 1.25 (+/- 10%) carat, F-H color, VS2 clarity (unless I feel really good about an eye clean SI1).

I had an original budget in mind for stone & setting. But I'm not 100% stuck on a number - I want to get the best ring I can within reasonable parameters, and if it costs $1k - $2k more than I'd hope to spend, so be it. For the specs that I listed above, the price range seems to start at around $8500 for a stone like that. Am I willing to spend $8500-$10k - sure; but of course I'd love to spend less - who wouldn't? But I don't want to spend less for a notable "compromise".

So my question for you all is: how much do I have to spend on a stone to make it "spectacular"? I know she's sensitive to color; we viewed some stones (in awful lighting) in a B&M store, and she commented that some H/I color stones looked a bit "yellow". Now that I know better, that could have been a combination of poor lighting and a lousy cut. So I don't want to say, for example, that G color is an absolute requirement. But I also don't want her ever looking at her ring and saying "it looks a bit yellow"!

Here are a few samples I found online that drove me to this price range. I am not quite sure I'm ready to buy, and I will probably give the jeweler designing my setting (David Klass) a shot at finding me a stone himself, but even if I do, I want to provide him some parameters and some samples to make sure I get the same quality from him at a similar price. So I'd love your feedback on the following:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3257537 ($8,740, HCA 1.2)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2571235 ($9,470, HCA 1.2)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3208451 ($9,430, HCA 1.1)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3824326.htm (ideal, 1.25ct, H/VSI, $9,529, HCA 1.1)
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3765687.htm (expert, 1.263ct, G/VS2, $9,582, HCA 1.5)

I'd appreciate any an all advice on these stones or alternatives! A couple of other related questions, if I may:
- am I going "overboard" on stone quality given the setting I've picked? I would think a high quality center stone will definitely still pop with this setting?
- have others who have used David Klass for the setting also had him pick a stone? any experience there? I don't want to overpay or be less than satisfied, but doing a "one stop shop" on stone and setting feels right to me as opposed to me buying a stone, sending it to him, and having him set it. Thoughts on that?

Thank you in advance - this forum is awesome!
Steve
 
Compare the refund and trade-in policies between JA and WF to see if that makes a difference to you. All told, I like the WF 1.25 H/VS1 the best has a great size and will be a sparkle bomb.

CAPS not meant to be yelling.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3824326.htm (ideal, 1.25ct, H/VSI, $9,529, HCA 1.1). GREAT Choice!:love:

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3765687.htm (expert, 1.263ct, G/VS2, $9,582, HCA 1.5)
I DON'T LOVE THE CENtRAL INCLUSION AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE, BUT IT IS NOT TERRIBLE EITHER. IF WF GEMOLOGIST CLEARS THE STONE, I'D BE FINE WITH THAT.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3257537 ($8,740, HCA 1.2); GOOD CLEAN STONE. Slight leakage on ASET (typical of all JA True Hearts).1.21

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-g-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-2571235 ($9,470, HCA 1.2); BLACK INCLUSION AT 9'OCLOCK NEAR THE TABLE WOULD MAKE THIS A NO FOR ME. OTHERS MAY BE FINE WITH IT.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-h-color-vs1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3208451 ($9,430, HCA 1.1); ANOTHER CLEAN OPTION.1.3
 
steveinsac2 said:
I'd appreciate any an all advice on these stones or alternatives! A couple of other related questions, if I may:
- am I going "overboard" on stone quality given the setting I've picked? I would think a high quality center stone will definitely still pop with this setting?
Click to expand...
No, you are not going overboard by looking at ideal cuts even if you're putting it into an elaborate setting - an amazing setting needs a stone to match otherwise the whole ring won't look as good. Solitaire, side-accent stones or halo, the centre stone is what pops.
You've got a bunch of lovely options to choose from there especially the WF ones if you think you may wish to upgrade in the future at any point since their upgrade policy is really good.
 
Thanks Rocky!

To answer your refund/trade policies question: I really don't see my FF wanting to ever trade in her ring. I guess refund might be important, but doing this research up front seems to make that issue minor.

Curious: are there any others that you might suggest on the various sites that might be a better "value"? Maybe same size, less money, or similar $$, better color? I noticed you recommended a similar type of stone on the JA site for around $8500 - it was not a "True Hearts" cut though.

Any other comments from other PS'ers?

Thanks!
Steve


rockysalamander said:
Compare the refund and trade-in policies between JA and WF to see if that makes a difference to you. All told, I like the WF 1.25 H/VS1 the best has a great size and will be a sparkle bomb.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Rocky and MSOP04! A couple of comments...

My "gut feel" is to stick with G/H color. Three of the recent stone suggestions are I color. I know it's subjective, but do you think my FF, who did notice color in a B&M store, could notice the difference between a G and and I assuming both are outstanding cuts? I wouldn't want to risk her saying "it's beautiful, but a tad on the yellow side"...

Second, to MSOP04 - you suggested going "bigger" which of course is never a bad thing =)2. But I think that, given my setting is already on the elaborate side (probably about .62tcw), that I'd rather go for a spectacular 1.2ct center stone vs a potentially less than spectacular 1.5ct stone. She's quite petite with small fingers (ring size 4.75), so I really think a 1.2-1.3ct stone with the accompanying setting is plenty large for her fingers (and I know it will also exceed her expectations!).

Thanks again - keep the suggestions coming - so appreciated!
 
Really helpful feedback. So, I'm pretty color observant and stick with G/H in modern rounds. For super ideal, I'll go down to J as they color is far less apparent to me. So, I'd say stick with your gut for your gal.

With that in mind, in your initial list, all these suit but are around $9500. But, from your subsequent post, I got the sense that you are willing to go down in size to lower the price. Have I got that correct? So, aim for around $8500, G/H, around 1.2?
 
steveinsac2 said:
Thanks Rocky and MSOP04! A couple of comments...

My "gut feel" is to stick with G/H color. Three of the recent stone suggestions are I color. I know it's subjective, but do you think my FF, who did notice color in a B&M store, could notice the difference between a G and and I assuming both are outstanding cuts? I wouldn't want to risk her saying "it's beautiful, but a tad on the yellow side"...

Second, to MSOP04 - you suggested going "bigger" which of course is never a bad thing =)2. But I think that, given my setting is already on the elaborate side (probably about .62tcw), that I'd rather go for a spectacular 1.2ct center stone vs a potentially less than spectacular 1.5ct stone. She's quite petite with small fingers (ring size 4.75), so I really think a 1.2-1.3ct stone with the accompanying setting is plenty large for her fingers (and I know it will also exceed her expectations!).

Thanks again - keep the suggestions coming - so appreciated!
Click to expand...

Noted. :) Then, I'd consider this one (hold Ctrl when clicking BN links)... it's a beautiful stone.

1.31 H/VS1 (7.01 mm)
$8305, HCA 1.0, MBF
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD09115501
 
Hi again,

Yes... my goal is to get a stone somewhere in the 1.25ct range... it feels like +/- 0.1 ct would be relatively unnoticeable to the eye, so if going down to 1.2 or so could save me some $$ and get me an A+ cut along with the rest (good color, clean), I'm all for it.

Thanks!

rockysalamander said:
Really helpful feedback. So, I'm pretty color observant and stick with G/H in modern rounds. For super ideal, I'll go down to J as they color is far less apparent to me. So, I'd say stick with your gut for your gal.

With that in mind, in your initial list, all these suit but are around $9500. But, from your subsequent post, I got the sense that you are willing to go down in size to lower the price. Have I got that correct? So, aim for around $8500, G/H, around 1.2?
Click to expand...
 
steveinsac2 said:
Second, to MSOP04 - you suggested going "bigger" which of course is never a bad thing =)2. But I think that, given my setting is already on the elaborate side (probably about .62tcw), that I'd rather go for a spectacular 1.2ct center stone vs a potentially less than spectacular 1.5ct stone. She's quite petite with small fingers (ring size 4.75), so I really think a 1.2-1.3ct stone with the accompanying setting is plenty large for her fingers (and I know it will also exceed her expectations!).

Thanks again - keep the suggestions coming - so appreciated!
Click to expand...

FWIW, my finger is a size 4.75, and I wear a 3.33 ct. (9.8 mm) solitaire. DSS is real!

A slightly larger stone would look better in the setting you've chosen, IMHO. The shank isn't super dainty, and it has diamonds to compete with the center. To me, a larger center would be more aesthetically pleasing (and not just because it's "larger"). :)
 
Unless the stones you saw at the B&M were graded by AGS or GIA, it's a safe bet that they were actually one to two color grades lower than they claimed.

Also, everyone (ok, maybe just us on pricescope) wants to upgrade eventually. But whether you can, or actually do, is based upon financial options at the time you wish to do it. For instance, if you must spend double of your $9k stone to upgrade (JA), is it likely you'll have a spare 9k laying around to send in with your stone to do so? Versus some vendors (WF) where you need only spend "more" (a dollar is more) to trade in for a different stone.
 
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