Halo Settings Changing Color Over Time?

[chloe88]

Hello! I've been on this forum for the past few months researching diamonds and engagement rings.
It has been so much help and really appreciate the numerous pics/experiences that everyone shares.

I was hoping to have a question answered by some of the members who have halo settings or double halo settings.
My jeweler said that the halo settings dull over time especially if the pointers surrounding the center stone are too small.
This is also why he discouraged a double halo setting (which I initially wanted). His logic was that since we use lower quality diamonds for the halos, over time with constant use, the oil/lotion from our hands would result in the outer halos in changing to a slightly different color than the center stone. Is there any truth in this??

 

[thecat]

You needn't use low quality melee. You can use high quality ones. But you must clean high quality melee so that they remain sparkly. If dirt builds up in the pavilion, the sparkle will diminish. Get a setting whereby it's easy to clean the pavilion.

 

[chloe88]

^Thank you for your answer!

 

[thecat]

You're welcome.

 

[ecf8503]

Diamonds don't change color. Lotions, oils, etc have no effect other than to interfere with light refraction. If it's dirty, it won't sparkle. That's true for diamonds of any size, not just melee. And there is good melee and not so good, in all colors of the rainbow. Some of those littlest ones are even cut to perfect optics! But inclusions in the stone can contribute to diminished light performance, so best to stick w SI1 or above clarity IMO, regardless of color. I would personally run away from this guy - he's basically told you he uses poor stones for the melee. Yikes!

 

[msop04]

Hello! I've been on this forum for the past few months researching diamonds and engagement rings.
It has been so much help and really appreciate the numerous pics/experiences that everyone shares.

I was hoping to have a question answered by some of the members who have halo settings or double halo settings.
My jeweler said that the halo settings dull over time especially if the pointers surrounding the center stone are too small.
This is also why he discouraged a double halo setting (which I initially wanted). His logic was that since we use lower quality diamonds for the halos, over time with constant use, the oil/lotion from our hands would result in the outer halos in changing to a slightly different color than the center stone. Is there any truth in this??

That's why HIS may look crappy... Don't allow this jeweler to make your setting. That said, you have to clean all diamonds to keep them looking sparkly and new, regardless of the quality.

 

[msop04]

Diamonds don't change color. Lotions, oils, etc have no effect other than to interfere with light refraction. If it's dirty, it won't sparkle. That's true for diamonds of any size, not just melee. And there is good melee and not so good, in all colors of the rainbow. Some of those littlest ones are even cut to perfect optics! But inclusions in the stone can contribute to diminished light performance, so best to stick w SI1 or above clarity IMO, regardless of color. I would personally run away from this guy - he's basically told you he uses poor stones for the melee. Yikes!

I should've just read a few more posts and quoted ecf!

 

[distracts]

Diamonds don't change color. Lotions, oils, etc have no effect other than to interfere with light refraction. If it's dirty, it won't sparkle. That's true for diamonds of any size, not just melee. And there is good melee and not so good, in all colors of the rainbow. Some of those littlest ones are even cut to perfect optics! But inclusions in the stone can contribute to diminished light performance, so best to stick w SI1 or above clarity IMO, regardless of color. I would personally run away from this guy - he's basically told you he uses poor stones for the melee. Yikes!

This.

I have a ring with a ton of melee. If, say, I put sunscreen or hand lotion on while I'm wearing it, yes, the melee gets gunked up, dulls, looks darker. It has nothing to do with the quality either, just the dirt. Guess what fixes it? CLEANING IT! (Of course, if the melee is low-quality to start out with, it may never be super-sparkly. Obviously.)

This argument is so stupid. That's like saying don't buy a car because it won't look shiny in a year. Well, if you don't wash it, it sure won't.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I definitely would not use this jeweler. Poorly cut melee will never sparkle - regardless of dirty or clean. There are jewelers that use very high quality melee (this is who I would be looking for) and even they will not sparkle when dirty. It is not true that dirt and grime over time will ruin the stones. He's not being honest - sounds like he is covering for his subpar merchandise. Run, run, run - don't listen to another word. I think I've heard it all now!!