H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones?

[katiedid]

In shopping for my new wedding band, which will be a 5-stone in the 1.5 tcw range, I have been considering AVRs as well as H&A ideal cut stones. My husband loves the AVRs as much as I do, but wondered if on smaller stones, you can see the faceting differences in the AVRs. Obviously, on a solitaire of any size you can see the beautiful flowery pattern, but what about on .30ish ct stones? I've watched GOG's videos and these size stones look amazing on camera, but what about in real life? I don't want to pay a premium on the AVRs if the stones won't show at least a little of that faceting. I'm also waiting on a quote to see what the price difference is between the cuts.

I'd appreciate any feedback - this will be the only ring I wear on my wedding ring finger, so I want to get something beautiful and perfect that I'll love for a long time.

thx!

 

[0-0-0]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

IMO yes, I can see arrows even in H&A melee. The bigger flowery facets on the AVR is even more noticeable.

 

[katiedid]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

Thanks thbmok! I can see arrows in that size melee as well in the H&A stones and it's great to hear that the gorgeous AVR faceting shows up on that size stone as well.

 

[daintyG]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

Here's a good thread with lots of pictures of AVRs and AVCs right under .3. There are hand shots on pages 2, 3, and 4!
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/avc-avr-bezel-eternity-band-by-bgd.166257/

 

[katiedid]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

thanks daintyG! That band is amazing.

 

[katiedid]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

Darn, I just read in the posting by the person who bought the AVR 5-stone that she really can't see the faceting in the stones. Hmmm.

 

[LittleSparkle]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

I just wanted to weigh in -- I am the owner of the AVC/AVR bezel band by BGD:

The short answer is that I do believe the faceting of the AVRs shows up in smaller stones. My band has .25-.29 AVRs and I can see the faceting in each one of them. But how well I can see the faceting is dependent on where I hold my hand. As I sit here now, typing on a laptop, I can see the faceting on the AVCs, but the AVRs just look sparkly. Five inches from my face, I can start to see the flower faceting patterns of the AVR and the open culets.

Since I was creating a band with both AVCs and AVRs, I never considered using H&A rounds because it might have looked odd in contrast to the antique cushion facets. But if your band will only be rounds, I am not sure that you will notice much difference unless you are studying your stones carefully. I think the final decision will be similar to a "mind clean" analysis: do you prefer H&As or do you prefer AVRs? Both will perform spectacularly and both will make a ridiculously stunning 5-stone band.

Also, as Pricescopers, we probably spend more time studying our jewels from up close and personal than the average bear. So maybe it will not make any difference to you whether you can see the AVR faceting from 10 inches as long as you can see it from 5 inches? Those flowery facets are just delicious... If it helps, I am so happy with my decision to use stones from the AV collection for my wedding band.

 

[katiedid]

Re: H&A versus AVR - does faceting show up in smaller stones

Thank you so much for your input LittleSparkle. Your AVR/AVC band is incredibly beautiful and I know you must be thrilled with it. I wish I could look at the 2 types of bands in person, but of course, the AVR band would be made for me and not something I could go see in a B&M store. You're right though - we tend to obsess a little over this kind of thing, but that's just fine by me! I was set on the H&A stones before I realized you could get AVRs in that size. It still may not be worth the price difference (we'll decide when we get all the quotes in).

Pro of H&As is that I know exactly what it will look like.
Pro of AVRs is that it would be something nobody else has (at least nobody I know or come into contact with).

Either way, as I told my husband, this ring will be 10 times better looking than anything we've looked at in B&M stores. We only did the local shopping so he could weigh in on total carat size. We've decided 1.5 total is perfect (give or take a little either way) so I'm glad to have that decision behind us.

The other hard choice is trellis or u-prong. I keep feeling like the trellis settings have more metal but I don't know. Oh well, guess we'll make the stones decision first and the setting decision last...