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How to get the most out of $4000?

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DotDot

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 6, 2004
Messages
83
Hello all,

For my parents' 40th anniversary, I am planning to buy my mom a pendant around $4000. Thinking of having one center stone with halo around it.

I would like the center stone to be GIA certified. Color no less than H/I and Clarity no less than SI1. Overall an excellent cut. But that's where my requirement ends. The stone doesn't have to be round. It can be second hand. I just want to get the most impact out of the pendant.

What/where should I be looking?

Thanks ahead for your help!
 
DotDot|1434653212|3890978 said:
Hello all,

For my parents' 40th anniversary, I am planning to buy my mom a pendant around $4000. Thinking of having one center stone with halo around it.

I would like the center stone to be GIA certified. Color no less than H/I and Clarity no less than SI1. Overall an excellent cut. But that's where my requirement ends. The stone doesn't have to be round. It can be second hand. I just want to get the most impact out of the pendant.

What/where should I be looking?

Thanks ahead for your help!
Click to expand...

First off forget the halo to get the most out of your $4000 with one lovely stone & a platinum chain.

If you are going GIA, then make the most of their colour grading strictness & push up to F-G instead of H-I. A simple single diamond pendant is a classic & timeless look IMHO, and can be worn daily, with everything. :)

I wouldn't go above 1 carat or the stone will quickly become too dominant, between 0.75ct & 0.9ct is a fantastic size range that looks good on the neck and opens up some very high quality stone & necklace options at your budget.

Just to add in, at this size range, colour & clarity you can go for GIA excellent cut, symmetry & polish.
 
For a pendant I'd stick to the h-I color range without issue. If you end up under 4k, great you got enough left over for flowers too.
 
decisively_unsure|1434667276|3891072 said:
DotDot|1434653212|3890978 said:
Hello all,

For my parents' 40th anniversary, I am planning to buy my mom a pendant around $4000. Thinking of having one center stone with halo around it.

I would like the center stone to be GIA certified. Color no less than H/I and Clarity no less than SI1. Overall an excellent cut. But that's where my requirement ends. The stone doesn't have to be round. It can be second hand. I just want to get the most impact out of the pendant.

What/where should I be looking?

Thanks ahead for your help!
Click to expand...

First off forget the halo to get the most out of your $4000 with one lovely stone & a platinum chain.

If you are going GIA, then make the most of their colour grading strictness & push up to F-G instead of H-I. A simple single diamond pendant is a classic & timeless look IMHO, and can be worn daily, with everything. :)

I wouldn't go above 1 carat or the stone will quickly become too dominant, between 0.75ct & 0.9ct is a fantastic size range that looks good on the neck and opens up some very high quality stone & necklace options at your budget.

Just to add in, at this size range, colour & clarity you can go for GIA excellent cut, symmetry & polish.
Click to expand...

I don't understand this sentiment- why would simply wanting a stone with a GIA cert imply that OP should spend more money or sacrifice size to go up in color? I forget which thread I was reading, but Neil mentioned that there's only about 1/10th of a color grade difference between AGS vs GIA strictness (which seems pretty negligible in most cases to me). And even so, since GIA is a smidgen stricter shouldn't that give more wiggle room in color to go the *other* direction?
 
I agree a solitaire pendant is classic, :snore: but love the idea of a halo so the pendant does not get lost on the neck and adds presence. I do not deem it necessary to go colorless for a pendant either. H color SI clarity is a sweet spot for many and a bezel/halo/mil grain adds visual interest and texture making it more of a piece.
 
Thank you all for your input! This is why I love PS. Everyone is happy to share their thoughts!

I agree solitaire is most classic but also thought I will get more carats if halo-ed. Since round is the most expensive cut, any thoughts on other shapes? I am okay to stay with H/SI1 in order to get more carat.

Are there any diamonds in the 1+ ct range I can consider?

RockyRacoon, Thanks for your suggestion. Will definition keep your suggestion as one of the option.
 
Ok, I'll throw it out there...pears also make lovely pendants, tend to
be cheaper then rounds and also tend to look a little larger for their
weight. Don't get me wrong. I love a pretty round pendant but if you
are looking for another shape pear would also be a lovely choice.
 
Personally I would snarf up this antique .83 OEC GIA H VS2
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/83ct-old-european-cut-diamond-gia-h-vs2#.VYOlylVVikq

they are so rare in these higher colors and the faceting on this stone is amazing. Other women will
notice this diamond on her neck... the faceting is so different.
This antique stone has the flower pattern and similar cut specs of these newly cut amazeballs! AVR's
finding an antique OEC this well cut is like finding a needle in a haystack.
more pics and videos here on this stone:
http://jewelsbygrace.smugmug.com/Loose-Diamonds/1ct-and-Under-loose-diamonds/83ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/

It is about the same price as this AVR .83 I SI2
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/0-83ct-i-si2-august-vintage-round-diamond.html

Check out the videos on these AVRs...I never was a fan of modern round brilliants
because of the facet pattern which I did not care for...but love these old cut rounds
when cut well.

AVR vs H&A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiLHUjTq3FU
(haha! Jon in his back yard shooting a diamond video...how did i miss this one?) That K color (AVR) never looked so WHITE and bright proving that cut is king!!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/0-73ct-g-si1-superior-round-hearts-and-arrows-diamond.html

What a wonderful gift!
 
This is how I would stretch my $4000.... A 3 stone might run you a bit more, maybe $300 more? The single pendant idea is always classic. And would run you less than $4000 for sure. The OEC idea is a great one as well. But if you aren't sure what your mom would like, I would stick to modern rounds. Also, I would also explore J colours as well. For a pendant, you would be surprised how white they face. I have a 3 stone, bezel set, all J's pendant. On the neck, it looks plenty white. I have a .84, x .36's.
.
e345e96b-7822-4005-b076-3772e33cfe3e_zpsmo64is4u.png


.
http://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/I-VS2-Affinity-Cut-Round-Diamond/D27970951
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.83-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-555138
.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05971939
.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05599150

Setting Ideas...
http://www.adiamor.com/Pendants/Solitaire/Bezel-Set-Solitaire-Pendant-Mounting/14KWhiteGold/518
** need 2 more small bezels they can solder together. I had to have this done because my centre stone was .84 & my side stones were .36 each. I had mine made at James Allen.
.
http://www.adwar.com/products/styles/C11140/viewor
http://www.adwar.com/products/styles/C11139/view

These are just some ideas of what you might consider. I would call or use live chat (NOT email...tooo slow)...call... ID Jewelry & see what they can do for you. ;))

Judy
 
** The 1st Adwar link doesnt work & I can't edit it. It's the same version as the 2nd link but different configuration. ID Jewelry uses Adwar items. A lot of jewellers do actually.

Judy
 
Medical said:
decisively_unsure|1434667276|3891072 said:
DotDot|1434653212|3890978 said:
Hello all,

For my parents' 40th anniversary, I am planning to buy my mom a pendant around $4000. Thinking of having one center stone with halo around it.

I would like the center stone to be GIA certified. Color no less than H/I and Clarity no less than SI1. Overall an excellent cut. But that's where my requirement ends. The stone doesn't have to be round. It can be second hand. I just want to get the most impact out of the pendant.

What/where should I be looking?

Thanks ahead for your help!
Click to expand...

First off forget the halo to get the most out of your $4000 with one lovely stone & a platinum chain.

If you are going GIA, then make the most of their colour grading strictness & push up to F-G instead of H-I. A simple single diamond pendant is a classic & timeless look IMHO, and can be worn daily, with everything. :)

I wouldn't go above 1 carat or the stone will quickly become too dominant, between 0.75ct & 0.9ct is a fantastic size range that looks good on the neck and opens up some very high quality stone & necklace options at your budget.

Just to add in, at this size range, colour & clarity you can go for GIA excellent cut, symmetry & polish.
Click to expand...

I don't understand this sentiment- why would simply wanting a stone with a GIA cert imply that OP should spend more money or sacrifice size to go up in color? I forget which thread I was reading, but Neil mentioned that there's only about 1/10th of a color grade difference between AGS vs GIA strictness (which seems pretty negligible in most cases to me). And even so, since GIA is a smidgen stricter shouldn't that give more wiggle room in color to go the *other* direction?
Click to expand...

GIA or AGS yes but my comments were more in respect to other grading labs and what you see in the shops. Additionally my personal preference is for dainty solitaires, and I am very colour sensitive. Whilst quick side by side differences can reveal very little long-term ownership can and does especially if you like to get up close with the stones. Just my views and tastes though. :)
 
I think a halo solitaire would be a lovely gift for your mother. How thoughtful! I agree with other people that H-I color should be fine for the main solitaire. I think you could even go down to an SI2 for clarity as long as it is eye-clean. You could always have the diamonds in the halo be 1-2 colors higher to make the main solitaire more 'white' (if the main solitaire is I color, the diamonds in the halo could be G-H color). I personally don't think platinum is necessary, but it's up to you. You could always set it in 14k or 18k white gold.

When I put in the parameters of .80 - 1.10 carat, SI1 - SI2 clarity, G - I color, up to $2,800 for round GIA/AGS diamonds, I got over 1000 matches. I removed strong - very strong fluorescence and it dropped to over 500 matches.

If you want actual images/videos, try www.jamesallen.com . I put in the same parameters as above and found several options so you can see the actual diamond. Most matches on James Allen were around .80 - .82 carats.
 
Here are a couple of options:
1. G, SI2, $2,480, .80 ct, med. blue fluorescence, runs deep but scores 1.4 on HCA. It has twinning wisps and feather. Twinning wisps look scary magnified but typically are eye-clean:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-g-color-si2-clarity-very-good-cut-sku-464175

2. H, SI2, $2,490, .80ct, no fluorescence, 1.4 on HCA. It has a crystal.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.80-carat-h-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-556762
 
ccuheartnurse, Love your three stone pendant. A nice alternative from the single stone I have always envisioned.

ariel144, Yummy OEM! I don't know much about OEMs but these look quite fantastic.

upgrade-me, Thanks for the Bezel link. I thought pear and cushion are my next favorite shapes. Makes me want to make one for myself too. :shifty:

Will show all the pics to my mom and see what she prefers. Thank you all so much!
 
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