Help me choose potential specs for a diamond in a pendant!

mr.ingocnito · Jul 22, 2013

Hi Everyone,

It's been quite a while since I've been here

I'm looking to get my wife a small diamond pendant for our 3 year anniversary later in December. I'm going for a RB roughly between 0.6-0.8 ct. in a prong type setting that's minimal and open with a budget no more than $3000, which includes the setting.

She has an ering that is a RB AGS 1.7 ct, BGD Signature H&A Cut, I, VS2 in a BGD fishtail pave setting with matching band and that thing sparkles like crazy! Her skin color is very light brown.

The help I'm really looking for is the other 3C's I should choose that's bang for my buck. I really appreciate a excellent cut, but I'm not sure if I need to pay the premium for a diamond as well cut as her ering on a pendant.

Cut - What are your guys thoughts on that if I decide to get a cut just a step below (e.g., WF ACA vs Expert Cut, BGD Signature vs BGD Blue/Select)?

Color - Since her ering is an I, I don't want to go any higher. I was thining an I or J is reasonable, but I"m also thinking I may just want to stick to an I color stone. What do you guys think about color in a pendant?

Clarity - I'm thinking in a pendant to get the best bang for my buck between VS2 and SI2 is reasonable. Thoughts?

Also in regards to the metal for the setting. I'm either going platinum or white gold. If I do decide to go white gold should I go 14K or 18K for a pendant chain/setting?

I very much appreciate any suggestions/recommendations. If it wasn't for this site I wouldn't have been able to get such a great ering for the price I paid

ecf8503 · Jul 22, 2013

Re: Help me choose potential specs for a diamond in a pendan

Cut - What are your guys thoughts on that if I decide to get a cut just a step below (e.g., WF ACA vs Expert Cut, BGD Signature vs BGD Blue/Select)? That would be fine - WF ES for example are stones that "missed the cut" for ACA designation for one very small flaw, which won't be noticeable at this size more than likely.

Color - Since her ering is an I, I don't want to go any higher. I was thining an I or J is reasonable, but I"m also thinking I may just want to stick to an I color stone. What do you guys think about color in a pendant? I or J will be fine - it will still look nice and white against her skin. I love higher colors in rings, but I'm totally open to going lower for something I can't see because it's around my neck!

Clarity - I'm thinking in a pendant to get the best bang for my buck between VS2 and SI2 is reasonable. Thoughts?Perfect

Also in regards to the metal for the setting. I'm either going platinum or white gold. If I do decide to go white gold should I go 14K or 18K for a pendant chain/setting?Personal preference - I'd consider 14K just because it would be cheaper = more money for the center stone.

yssie · Jul 22, 2013

Re: Help me choose potential specs for a diamond in a pendan

Hi Everyone,

It's been quite a while since I've been here

I'm looking to get my wife a small diamond pendant for our 3 year anniversary later in December. I'm going for a RB roughly between 0.6-0.8 ct. in a prong type setting that's minimal and open with a budget no more than $3000, which includes the setting.

She has an ering that is a RB AGS 1.7 ct, BGD Signature H&A Cut, I, VS2 in a BGD fishtail pave setting with matching band and that thing sparkles like crazy! Her skin color is very light brown.

The help I'm really looking for is the other 3C's I should choose that's bang for my buck. I really appreciate a excellent cut, but I'm not sure if I need to pay the premium for a diamond as well cut as her ering on a pendant.

Cut - What are your guys thoughts on that if I decide to get a cut just a step below (e.g., WF ACA vs Expert Cut, BGD Signature vs BGD Blue/Select)?

Color - Since her ering is an I, I don't want to go any higher. I was thining an I or J is reasonable, but I"m also thinking I may just want to stick to an I color stone. What do you guys think about color in a pendant?

Clarity - I'm thinking in a pendant to get the best bang for my buck between VS2 and SI2 is reasonable. Thoughts?

Also in regards to the metal for the setting. I'm either going platinum or white gold. If I do decide to go white gold should I go 14K or 18K for a pendant chain/setting?

I very much appreciate any suggestions/recommendations. If it wasn't for this site I wouldn't have been able to get such a great ering for the price I paid

Yup, to think to mention that means you've obviously taken this cruise before

Unless you want "mind clean" stones and "mind clean" for you means branded/H&A, for pendants and earrings - which aren't going to be viewed up-close from all sorts of angles like rings - I prefer shallower stones.

Pros: they face up bigger for the carat weight, they still sparkle like crazy when well-cut, they're often whiter for the body colour grade thanks to the type of light return they excel at, and non-branded stones are cheaper than branded stones.

Cons: the good ones take some digging to unearth, unlike picking blindly from a trusted H&A lineup, and branded stones usually come with more generous policies/warranties/guarantees..

I/J will be just fine, and 0.6-0.8ct is a great size for a pendant. Lower clarity - VS2-SI2 - is also fine - a reputably graded (GIA/AGSL in the US) SI won't be structurally compromised and no-one (other than you!) will be inspecting her chest/neck up close enough to spot inclusions

Just did a JA search and the nice shallow pickings are slim -

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-206937

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-238471

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.75-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-235605
Yes, the photo is scary - it's because the stone is shallow and the black of the camera lens is being reflected more facets (vs. just the mains - the black arrow pattern you usually see).