How important is H&A orientation to you? Does it matter?

[hawk25]

I'm buying an ACA SI1 0.71ct round diamond from WF, which has a visible inclusion to the side, just above the 9 o'clock position. Apparently its partially prong-able, and they put notes in the order to prong it as much as they can. It's the Legato Sleek line Pave setting with 4 prongs.

I've started to notice that a lot of PSers have their stones oriented in some symmetrical way, like equally between the arrows. In my case, since the inclusion is slightly above the 9 o'clock arrow, it'll be slightly disoriented. It's a lightly colored inclusion, and is only visible from 6 inches, so it wouldn't be so bad if I choose orientation over pronging it if it mattered. Or is the arrow orientation mainly a "mind/PSer" concern? My girlfriend can be grouped into the regular consumer group, so she doesn't know diamonds at all. I'm worried it might look a little "off"

 

[TitanCi]

Meh. Just prong that sumamubitch and call it a day. Open craft beer, drink, enjoy, forget.

 

[hawk25]

Meh. Just prong that sumamubitch and call it a day. Open craft beer, drink, enjoy, forget.

Haha I'm just glad I found a girl that puts up with my OCD

 

[CharmyPoo]

Or change the prong type. Go for double prongs to cover it or a wider prong. I am not sure if it will be overwhelming for your stone size though.

 

[CharmyPoo]

My other thought is ... there are SI1 eye clean diamonds that can be had. Hold off for another diamond?

Inclusions bother me so I would not buy a ring diamond with any visible inclusions.

 

[jmarshall]

Meh. Just prong that sumamubitch and call it a day. Open craft beer, drink, enjoy, forget.

RDWHAHB

 

[LibbyLA]

I doubt you're going to be able to see that in real life. It's tiny and it's very close to the edge. If it were under the table, that might be different.

liz

 

[bunnycat]

Meh. Just prong that sumamubitch and call it a day. Open craft beer, drink, enjoy, forget.

I would agree with Libby and Titan.

Are they planning on placing the prongs at the arrows? That would make the most sense and probably cover most of it because a prong is wider than an arrow tip.

DO you have a pic of the stone itself you can post, as opposed to the IS image? Sort of more real life aspect?

 

[hawk25]

Are they planning on placing the prongs at the arrows? That would make the most sense and probably cover most of it because a prong is wider than an arrow tip.

DO you have a pic of the stone itself you can post, as opposed to the IS image? Sort of more real life aspect?

Oh sorry, I should've just posted the stone entirely. I posted the IS because the WF rep said it was the best way to see the inclusion. Here's the actual pic and the link: http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2909304.htm



You're probably right in that they'll place it over the arrow. I was just worried that by trying to prong it as much as possible, they might put the prong just above the arrow, making it look a little off. The Legato head's prongs are apparently pretty small, but then again its not the largest of stones either

 

[LibbyLA]

Hawk,

I just got a diamond that is about the size yours is. It is a little smaller than the eraser on a mechanical pencil. Try shrinking that photo so that the diamond is just about 6mm and tell me you can see the inclusion.

The facets are going to make the diamond look like a bunch of sparkly points. It is SO unlikely that you will see that inclusion, pronged or not. Even the most delicate prong is likely to cover it.

liz

 

[hawk25]

Thanks for the vote of confidence liz, its nice to hear from someone who has the same size. I shrunk down the picture and I doubt there's any way I'd be able to see it. This is my first time buying a stone and I guess its easy to forget the real life size vs the picture. In my other thread we were debating whether its likely non-PSers even look at their stones at 6 inches.

So I guess that's a no to whether prong/H&A orientation matters?

 

[bunnycat]

Thanks for the vote of confidence liz, its nice to hear from someone who has the same size. I shrunk down the picture and I doubt there's any way I'd be able to see it. This is my first time buying a stone and I guess its easy to forget the real life size vs the picture. In my other thread we were debating whether its likely non-PSers even look at their stones at 6 inches.

So I guess that's a no to whether prong/H&A orientation matters?

I think it mostly matters from an aesthetics perspective. Either going directly between or right on the arrows to me gives the classiest look that says someone took some care with the setting. I'm not sure it's possible to "slightly" offset a stone anyway. From the way the facets and so forth meet up you either have to set it mid-arrow, or move over to the next facet and place it midway between two arrows.

 

[LibbyLA]

hawk,

I have a hard time finding that inclusion in the photo, especially with some facets picking up and reflecting color from the environment. And that's at tremendous magnification. IRL, you are just going to see tiny sparkles.

If you want to see some real-life photos of a diamond that size, check out the end of this thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-metal-for-setting-for-an-omc.187079/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-metal-for-setting-for-an-omc.187079/[/URL] That's on a size 8 finger, I wear men's L gloves. The photos show the diamond somewhat larger than real life. Now imagine your diamond and that tiny inclusion at smaller than the photo on the screen.

You've chosen a diamond with an incredible cut. You will see sparklies, not a teeny tiny inclusion.

liz

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi,

I'm pretty OCD and not having the stone oriented the right way, H&A wise, would bug me. You said your GF is in the consumer group, but that is NOW. What if she becomes obsessed with diamonds after she sees this stone? lol You never know!

 

[hawk25]

Hi,

I'm pretty OCD and not having the stone oriented the right way, H&A wise, would bug me. You said your GF is in the consumer group, but that is NOW. What if she becomes obsessed with diamonds after she sees this stone? lol You never know!

Haha well if that happens, my wallet will forever be lighter than before. It'll be her first stone that's more than a GIA-Very Good cut and above 0.30ct

 

[hawk25]

Since it'll be pretty hard (if not impossible) to see the inclusion, I think I'm actually wavering towards telling them to just set it with for proper H&A orientation. What are the chances that if the prong is set right on the arrow it'll both prong the inclusion and look oriented?

 

[bunnycat]

Since it'll be pretty hard (if not impossible) to see the inclusion, I think I'm actually wavering towards telling them to just set it with for proper H&A orientation. What are the chances that if the prong is set right on the arrow it'll both prong the inclusion and look oriented?

I would go with right on the arrows. I edited up top to say I'm not sure a slight offset placement is even a smart idea because of the way the diamond facets are cut. If yo move off the arrow, you kind of have to move over to the middle of the next facet (halfway between arrows).

 

[LibbyLA]

I'd tell them to set it the way it looks best. They may end up rotating that arrow to one of the prong positions. Don't know whether they prong the arrow tips or between the arrow tips, but if they prong the arrow tips, that arrow can be pronged. Even if the prong doesn't cover the inclusion, it will be darned close. I just don't think that inclusion is worth worrying about, but maybe your consultant can help ease your mind.

liz

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The prongs aren't necessarily going to fall right on the arrows. But yes, I would want the stone oriented right regardless of where the inclusion is.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Honestly, flip a coin -- in real life you won't notice the arrows being misaligned and you won't notice the inclusion

Unless you take macro photography of your diamond as a hobby. In which case, I would choose a six prong hear to cover the inclusion and align with the arrows in a pleasing and symmetric manner.

 

[hawk25]

Thanks everyone for chiming in! I think I'll tell them that I'd prefer if the prong lines up with the arrows, but I trust the setter's judgement.

 

[MrSpencer]

I don't think you can perfectly align all the arrows with the prongs.
Afterall, there are 8 arrows and only 6 prongs

But maybe you can try aligning one of the arrows to be at the 12 oclock position, and leave the rest where they are.

 

[ecf8503]

I have a 0.74ct H&A with an inclusion just like that in the same spot. The "busy-ness" of the stone will hide that inclusion, I guarantee. I am a little OCD about stuff, so I wanted mine set with the arrows at 12 and 6 if that makes sense. The inclusion is not covered, but it is next to a prong, but I can't see it with the naked eye anyway, so no biggie. Besides, I can always loupe it to make sure it's "my stone" if I ever get suspicious of a jeweler switching stones (which I wouldn't with the place I normally go).

 

[hawk25]

I don't think you can perfectly align all the arrows with the prongs.
Afterall, there are 8 arrows and only 6 prongs

But maybe you can try aligning one of the arrows to be at the 12 oclock position, and leave the rest where they are.

Ah that's what I meant, like the N-S in the picture. It'll be a 4 prong head



Thanks for the example ecf, it puts me more at ease. My WF rep said the same thing, but normally I don't listen to someone who's trying to sell me things lol

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don't think you can perfectly align all the arrows with the prongs.
Afterall, there are 8 arrows and only 6 prongs

But maybe you can try aligning one of the arrows to be at the 12 oclock position, and leave the rest where they are.

Ah that's what I meant, like the N-S in the picture. It'll be a 4 prong head



Thanks for the example ecf, it puts me more at ease. My WF rep said the same thing, but normally I don't listen to someone who's trying to sell me things lol

I think the NS 4-prong orientation or the offset six prong orientation would get the prong so close to the inclusion that you would never notice it.

 

[new4diamond]

here is a 6 prong...

 

[TitanCi]

So......... what you're telling me.... is....... you are sober and still haven't enjoyed a craft beer by now? Dammit! I'll do it for you then! You worry about the orientation, I'll drink your beer. Deal?

 

[ecf8503]

Here's mine - 0.74ct (it's a little dirty - none of that is inclusions)

You WILL see those arrows...and if you are particular, then orientation DOES matter. Not a big deal to ask them to set it in whatever direction you want -