help noobie find round diamond

[RBsearch]

Since this is my first post, I want to thank you all for contributing to such a great resource. I have learned so much from you all in the past weeks of lurking (and clearly have tons more to learn).

I am trying to find a nice round brilliant for an engagement ring, and could use a little help. Here are my criteria at this point (but open to revision):

- Budget: $4k, could go up to $4.5k if needed
- Size: bigger is better, but realistically would like to find something between .8 - 1.0 carat
- Clarity: Looking for something eye clean (of course), not too picky but probably SI1 or better
- Color: Not picky, probably H or I, but J might even be OK

I am somewhat partial to Good Old Gold, since they also carry the Tacori setting I have chosen (see image below)

A couple of candidates so far are this one: .86 G SI1 (but the HCA score is 2.2, so perhaps a little too high?)
Or possibly this one: .8 H VS2 (HCA score is 1.2)

Like I said, other companies are OK, but GOG carries tacori settings and it seems like that might make the process a little easier.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2009 2:23:07 PM
Author:RBsearch
Since this is my first post, I want to thank you all for contributing to such a great resource. I have learned so much from you all in the past weeks of lurking (and clearly have tons more to learn).

I am trying to find a nice round brilliant for an engagement ring, and could use a little help. Here are my criteria at this point (but open to revision):

- Budget: $4k, could go up to $4.5k if needed
- Size: bigger is better, but realistically would like to find something between .8 - 1.0 carat
- Clarity: Looking for something eye clean (of course), not too picky but probably SI1 or better
- Color: Not picky, probably H or I, but J might even be OK

I am somewhat partial to Good Old Gold, since they also carry the Tacori setting I have chosen (see image below)

A couple of candidates so far are this one: .86 G SI1 (but the HCA score is 2.2, so perhaps a little too high?)
Or possibly this one: .8 H VS2 (HCA score is 1.2)

Like I said, other companies are OK, but GOG carries tacori settings and it seems like that might make the process a little easier.

Welcome!

No worries with the HCA score, its use is limited with this calibre of diamond with an AGS0 cut grade and all the images provided which trump the HCA, it scored a bit higher because of the slightly steeper pavilion angle as the HCA can penalize for this, but it doesn't have a negative effect on the diamond as the images show, so no worries. Both diamonds look good in fact, do you have a preference?

 

[RBsearch]

At this point, I somewhat prefer the first option, since the second has a medium blue fluorescence, and I''m not sure what this would look like.

Regarding HCA scores: these are unimportant for an AGS0 cut grade? Is the same true for a GIA Excellent cut grade?

Regarding retailers: Will it be much cheaper or much easier if I purchase the stone and setting through the same retailer?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/20/2009 2:53:10 PM
Author: RBsearch
At this point, I somewhat prefer the first option, since the second has a medium blue fluorescence, and I'm not sure what this would look like.

Regarding HCA scores: these are unimportant for an AGS0 cut grade? Is the same true for a GIA Excellent cut grade?

Regarding retailers: Will it be much cheaper or much easier if I purchase the stone and setting through the same retailer?

With medium blue fluorescence you might not even notice it, ask Jon at GOG for an assessment on this diamond. The HCA isn't used for selecting diamonds but for elimination in the first instance particularly when you don't have essential images such as Idealscope available, also no need to worry so much with AGS0, but the images trump the significance of the HCA anyway as it can't possibly tell you what the images can. GIA Excellent cut grade you need to evaluate more carefully as the grade is broad and can give the ex grade to less desirable cut combos.

Yes it is easier to purchase setting and diamond from the same place IMO.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/20/2009 3:03:44 PM
Author: Lorelei
Yes it is easier to purchase setting and diamond from the same place IMO.

And just to add that it is easier for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that if you do both at one place then they will insure your diamond during the setting process. Many--MOST-- jewelers will not do this when they did not personally sell you the diamond. There is also no setting fee when you buy from the same jeweler.

Since you are wanting to work with GOG, I would say just get the diamond from them. They carry excellent stock and have a great reputation on PS.

I like the .86... just b/c it is bigger.

 

[swingirl]

Both of those stones are quite lovely. I like the H a little more based on the images but either one would be a good choice.

I also like this one. 0.85 F SI1

 

[RBsearch]

Date: 1/20/2009 4:32:34 PM
Author: swingirl
Both of those stones are quite lovely. I like the H a little more based on the images but either one would be a good choice.


I also like this one. 0.85 F SI1

Good find, I also really like that one.

On the one hand, I am considering compromising clarity/color to get up to 1.0 carat. On the other hand, when you look at the size differences between .85 and 1.0 carat diamonds, we''re talking about a difference of .5 mm at most (an 8% increase from 6 mm to 6.5 mm), which seems pretty darn negligible. Any advice on this?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/20/2009 4:52:28 PM
Author: RBsearch

Good find, I also really like that one.

On the one hand, I am considering compromising clarity/color to get up to 1.0 carat. On the other hand, when you look at the size differences between .85 and 1.0 carat diamonds, we''re talking about a difference of .5 mm at most (an 8% increase from 6 mm to 6.5 mm), which seems pretty darn negligible. Any advice on this?

The jump to 1ct is psychological more than anything else... it can be nice to say "It''s a carat!" about an e-ring. But I think in that Tacori, the size difference between .85 and 1ct will not be noticable at all. Also, with a setting like that (which I adore BTW, a few people on PS have it, if you do a search for Tacori you can see examples) it is really about "the ring" not "the rock"... and so such a small size difference matters even less! If it was a simple solitaire I might suggest getting over to 1ct mark, but in your case I think you don''t need to. Unless you WANT to

What color are the stones in the Tacori melee/halo? That is something to consider. If they use F/G, which is pretty standard, you may want to stick in that range rather than going to an I or a J, so the main stone doesn''t look warm next to the halo.

 

[RBsearch]

I have no clue what color the halo diamonds are on that, but I really should find out. Great advice on trying to match those.

I guess any halo ring is going to make small differences in the size of the center stone less apparent, right? One thing I like about that tacori ring in particular is that the halo is rather small and subtler than some others.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/20/2009 5:10:25 PM
Author: RBsearch
I have no clue what color the halo diamonds are on that, but I really should find out. Great advice on trying to match those.

I guess any halo ring is going to make small differences in the size of the center stone less apparent, right? One thing I like about that tacori ring in particular is that the halo is rather small and subtler than some others.

It is one of my absolute favourite settings. Have you seen the pictures posted on here of the ring? Simply stunning. And the halo is lovely. It enhances the center stone rather than overwhelming it, IMHO. So you know if you FFI likes this style? Is she very rough with her jewelery? This type of setting requires a little more "babying" than other settings and that is something to bear in mind.

You don''t need to match the melee diamonds exactly, but I wouldn''t go more than 2 colour grades lower or higher to be safe. Some companies (Ritani for examples) will use melee of the colour of your choice. This is a possibility that GOG can tell you about if you ask them. They are very responsive to e-mail questions.

 

[RBsearch]

Thanks for the tips, dreamer. I love the photos others have posted, and even more so in person. My girlfriend liked the halo settings, but none of them felt quite right, until we found this one. She doesn't wear much jewelery, so I'm not sure how hard she would be on it. It's not like her job involves manual labor or anything, so hopefully it won't be a problem day-to-day.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/20/2009 8:50:01 PM
Author: RBsearch
Thanks for the tips, dreamer. I love the photos others have posted, and even more so in person. My girlfriend liked the halo settings, but none of them felt quite right, until we found this one. She doesn''t wear much jewelery, so I''m not sure how hard she would be on it. It''s not like her job involves manual labor or anything, so hopefully it won''t be a problem day-to-day.

Most women with rings like that take them off when they do dishes, housework, gardening, playing with play-doh.. such things

Some others wear them all the time! Many of the higher end companies, and this may include Tacori, will offer a lifetime maintenance warranty, so if any stone fall out they will fix it. Something to ask about! But it is just something that you have to accept with those types of settings. Some women don''t mind at all and others find it makes them crazy! LOL! There are a lot of threads on the maintenance issues with pave and the pluses and minuses, but is really comes down the beauty versus maintenance/durability!

 

[swingirl]

It might be a bit of a challenge to find a well cut 1 ct for $4500. I haven't located anything unless you go much lower in color. You might notice a different in color between the center stone and halo stones. It could bother some people. I think 0.8 ct in a halo is going to give some nice finger coverage.

GOG could probably tell you what color center stone looks nicest in Tacori halos.

If you see anything you like you should put a hold on it so it doesn't disappear.