Help! Need advice on diamond

[dan35]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to all things diamonds. Was presented with a few diamond options from a local jeweler and this one stood out to me. Wanted others' opinion on it.

Carat: 0.94
Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Excellent

Depth: 62%
Table: 55%
Crown angle: 34.5
Pavilion angle: 40.6

Polish and symmetry: Excellent
No fluorescence

On paper...looks like a quality diamond. My main concern is it scored 0.8 on the HCA tool. I have heard that diamonds scoring below 1 may not be suitable for engagement rings?

Another question is, I'm pretty set on a Tiffany Setting style setting, however, are there any crucial details I should communicate/request to ensure a close replica?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[rockysalamander]

Can you share the price? Are there any pictures or a video? How about an ASET?

Was the color by choice or just what was offered? Have you seen diamond in the G/H range? What kind of setting do you have in mind?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Those numbers are good. Better than most of what you might find at a local jeweler. Just be sure you aren't overpaying. You can get a 1 ct Ex cut F VS1 in the low $7k range, so I would hope the price is less than that. In addition, unless you have reasons that you specifically need F VS1, you could go to G or H color VS clarity and get a larger diamond.

Tiffany replicas are popular here, and I would say the best one made by a ring company that some jewelers carry is the Vatche U-113, which happens to be the setting in my avatar picture. On the other hand, Caysie van Bebber makes a beautiful custom one, and Maytal Hannah and Victor Canera make nice ones, as well. You'd have to ask your jeweler what he has, and then come here and post pictures and we will tell you if it is a good replica or not. There are many out there, but not all are good!

 

[dan35]

Thanks for the replies!

@rockysalamander - The price is ~$6,500 CAD. No pictures or ASET as it is from a local supplier (it is a GIA certified diamond). But the jeweller has offered to bring in the diamond from the supplier and that we can both look at it.

Wasn't specifically looking at color F, but was on the look out for G and up. I'm thinking of a Tiffany Setting replica.

@diamondseeker2006 - I assume you are talking about USD? The jeweller custom hand crafts all his rings. So he'd probably have to create some drawings first.

So I'm guessing I shouldn't be concerned with the HCA score?

Thanks,

 

[flyingpig]

No red flag. Very reasonable price. Let us know how you like it.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Nice specs...

 

[dan35]

Hey everyone,

Just bumping this to provide the initial renderings of the ring design. Would appreciate any pointers/feedback. I'm trying to get as close to the Tiffany Setting as possible.

The top of the band has a width of 2.2mm and tapers down to 1.8mm.


Thanks,

Daniel

 

[bmfang]

Specs are good on the stone (so props to your local jeweller for suggesting that stone based off the GIA report). The prongs on the CAD look a little rough, but when set they should hopefully be a little more delicate.

Here’s to the stone looking as good as the numbers reveal. If your jeweller can take IS/ASET pics, even better (and please share them with us for comment).

 

[rockysalamander]

The best Tiffany replica on the market is the Vatche U113. I would not go custom for a well-loved and recommended setting. You jeweler should be able to simply order this setting or you can order it online and have them set the stone.

http://www.since1910.com/vatche-u113-six-prong-diamond-engagement-ring/v_2867_m_9959_s_7.25



If you want the setting to be true to a tiffany, this needs a few changes, although they are truly minor.

1) The tiffany has a doughnut under the gallery to make sure the wedding band does not rub on the bottom of the prongs. Your cad has a smaller (less sticky outie) doughnut. So, just confirm that it is sufficient to protect the prongs.


2) The Tiffany shoulder, at the top of the knife edge -- meets the bottom of the swoop in the prongs. I think this is present in the rendering, but its hard to tell. Also, that donut keeps the band level (need note below). Confirm.






3) The shank looks thinner in the CAD than the Tiffany setting. The real Tiffany is about ~2.7 at the top and narrows to 2.0 mm at the bottom. The U-113 is ~3.0 mm at the bottom and ~2.0 mm at the bottom.

 

[dan35]

Thanks for the feedback rockysalamander - very helpful! See comments below.

The best Tiffany replica on the market is the Vatche U113. I would not go custom for a well-loved and recommended setting. You jeweler should be able to simply order this setting or you can order it online and have them set the stone.

http://www.since1910.com/vatche-u113-six-prong-diamond-engagement-ring/v_2867_m_9959_s_7.25



If you want the setting to be true to a tiffany, this needs a few changes, although they are truly minor.

1) The tiffany has a doughnut under the gallery to make sure the wedding band does not rub on the bottom of the prongs. Your cad has a smaller (less sticky outie) doughnut. So, just confirm that it is sufficient to protect the prongs.


I noticed that too - the designer said that he believes instead of the "doughnut", a blended base - sort of looks like an upside down triangle would look better as it would blend the top of the shank and the crown better. I will talk to him about it as I prefer the doughnut.

2) The Tiffany shoulder, at the top of the knife edge -- meets the bottom of the swoop in the prongs. I think this is present in the rendering, but its hard to tell. Also, that donut keeps the band level (need note below). Confirm.



Agreed - I think this is present in the renderings, but will confirm with him.

3) The shank looks thinner in the CAD than the Tiffany setting. The real Tiffany is about ~2.7 at the top and narrows to 2.0 mm at the bottom. The U-113 is ~3.0 mm at the bottom and ~2.0 mm at the bottom.

On this point, I actually prefer a thinner shank due to my girlfriend's hand size and ring size. We looked at and tried the Tiffany Setting in store and learned that the thickness of the setting varies from 2 to 3mm, mainly depending on the size of the diamond and ring size. We thought the best was 2.2 mm tapering down to just below 2 mm. From the sketch/drawing, looks like the bottom is about 70% of the width of the top. So based on 2.2mm, should be about 1.55mm. However, the designer said it would be very hard to work at such a thinness, specially with platinum. So 1.8mm is about 80% taper.

 

[dan35]

Some questions I have:

1. Should the crown be raised a bit higher?

2. Are the prongs' thickness right? Looks like the top/tips of the prongs should be shaven down?

3. From a side view, looks like the prongs looks "rectangular"/boxy. Better to make it more rounded?

4. The thickness of the band slopes up/gets thicken at the top. Is the slope in the renderings too much?

Thanks,