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Help Picking a Stone (modified rounds - Solasfera)

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PenguinIce

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
51
Alright, so narrowed my search down to wanting to get a modified round and settled on Solasfera. Seen them twice in person and they are pretty stunning. I like that they really shine and have a unique cut but still retain a symmetric look. Also looked at Star129 and Eighternity.

So trying to decide between several Solasfera rounds that are available... the issue is that they are modified rounds so the standard "checking by numbers" don't necessarily apply. I do have IS images and BS charts which all look good.... so want to illicit some expert advice.

Looking specifically at:
1.11ct E SI1 Solasfera
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7600/
1.11ct G SI1 Solasfera
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4580/
1.09ct G SI1 Solasfera
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4568/

The prices between the 1.11ct only differ by $20 and the 1.09ct is about $400 less.

The setting is 3 stone (which think will help contrast the unique cut), with the sides at least G VS1.

Really appreciate any thoughts! :confused:
 
Have you verified that all 3 SI1s are eye clean? Diamonds 1 and 2 have their big inclusions (the ones that make them SI1) right in the middle of the table, so they may be visible from some angles (they look ok face up in the photo, but you may be able to see them from the side). The 3rd diamond has it's big inclusion about 6 o'clock, but this is where the GOG watermark appears in the first photo, so you can't see if the big inclusion is visible in the face up photo.

My advice is to go with a diamond / retailer that has a lifetime upgrade policy because females (like me) have changing preferences (mine change in a split second, I'm a nightmare, I admit). In your case, only the 2nd diamond has GOG's lifetime policy, not sure why.
 
All look good to me.

Also, all have lifetime guarantee when I click them.
 
what is a modified round??
 
Antelope1- you asked if she verified that they were eye clean. What if you were just looking at diamonds online.. there is no way to verify that they are eye clean is there? Im new to this stuff, and I find that looking online I get more of the information then going to a store and jsut looking at stones.. Is it a bad idea to order diamonds online, without being able to go and see them?
 
A standard round brilliant has 57-58 facets. Modified rounds has more facets, for example star129 has 129 facets, forgot how many solasefera has, think 80+ or more.

Eye-clean, different vendors has slightly different definition. You can even state your own requirement. https://www.pricescope.com/journal/what_eye_clean_diamond

You still have the return period to fall back on if you see an inclusions in the stone.
 
If eye-clean I would probably go for the 3rd one.
 
May I ask why?

Is it cause you try to avoid inclusions right on the table since that is what people usually see?

As ct difference goes, is the difference more or less negligible (1.11 vs 1.09)?

Also interesting that no one is favoring color but instead focusing on the clarity. Is the grade difference (E vs G) not so much?

Honestly, I've seen a bunch of stones in person and when it come to the solasfera they shine so bright it's pretty hard to see the inclusions. It's only when looking through the idealscope the inclusions really pop out. :shock:

Thanks!
 
So modified round cost more or less than a standard round. Im thinking less right? but wouldnt more facets be better?
 
Penguin, sorry for using your post to learn some stuff. I would have given you my opinion but I figured I might be given the harry eyeball by the real experts.. lol.

I would pick the first one, or the third one if money is of more importance. I personally like the comfort that come with the letter "E" versus the letter "G". I know that many people will say there is negligible difference, or that you will never be able to tell, or that sometimes G stones look more colorless than E...and I say good for them, they must of gotten lucky with there stone and are defending it.. I didnt get so lucky.. So I will always pick the more 'colorless stone' if everything else is the same. I dont like the second one becuase the inclusion is right in the center, and I think from different angles you will be able to see something there. I think inclusions off to the side are very difficult to see without a microscope, but ones near the very center are pretty easy to see. Forgive me for possibly sounding stupid but I feel that is where the stone seems to "come to a rest".. its not as 'busy' there so you can see inclusions or imperfections much easier.. and for this reason I can not stand cutlets, which doesnt seem to bother other people. To each his own, I guess.
 
Whats the crown angle and the pavillion angle for the first one, I cant seem to find it. I looked at all three stones again, and I like the first one. You wont see a size difference in a 1.09 and 1.11 carat, but I do think that a small table makes a stone look smaller, personally.
 
PenguinIce said:
Also interesting that no one is favoring color but instead focusing on the clarity. Is the grade difference (E vs G) not so much?
Click to expand...

Most people would not be able to tell the color difference between these grades when mounted and the stones are not side by side. But if you can see the inclusions, it does not matter what the clarity grade is, you can see it.

Carat weight difference is negligible, diameter difference between these stones are just 0.02mm, no one can tell the difference.

Modified rounds cost more, premium from the proprietary cut, more work as there are more facets to polish for a stone, probably less yield on the resultant polish stone too.

More facets to some they become too busy.
 
imsommer said:
Antelope1- you asked if she verified that they were eye clean. What if you were just looking at diamonds online.. there is no way to verify that they are eye clean is there? Im new to this stuff, and I find that looking online I get more of the information then going to a store and jsut looking at stones.. Is it a bad idea to order diamonds online, without being able to go and see them?
Click to expand...

Rounds are one of the few diamonds that I would be perfectly happy to buy online. You verify that an online diamond is "eye-clean" by calling the merchant and asking him to look at the diamond to verify that it is eye clean. This only works with a trusted merchant with a good rep.

And SC -- you're right (of course) -- but I don't know why they change the layout to confuse blind dingbats like me. Diamond 2 has the lifetime guarantee across the top, and the other two have it across the bottom.
 
There is about a 15%-20% premium when comparing the branded Solasfera with let's say a ideal H&A round from GoG.

You really need to see them in person to see if it's worth it but they do really shine! Just look at the IS images.

One more follow-up question since I'm looking at a 3 stone setting (tacori) the sides are at least G. Is going with the E to big of a grade difference that it may look weird?

Thanks!
 
2 grade difference is quite usual for side stones setting.
 
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