I2 diamond ok for pendant?

[Black Jade]

I''m thinking of getting a diamond to create a pendant sometime next month. I haven''t decided on one yet but have been searching around. I saw one today that MIGHT be interesting but it''s an I2. It does have a GIA cert. The issues are ''crystals'' (and one is slightly on the table), a feather (which looks very small) and twinning wisps and an extra facet which are not diagrammed on the cert.The site I might be interested in buying this from does have 30 day return and is a reputable site. Would you even bother to take a look a this one? Or all I2''s definitely to be passed on?
It does have ''very good cut''.
Are crystals usually white? My big objection would be to visible black carbon spots, I guess, as well as if the inclusions made the stone really really dull.
I''m assuming that people will not look at the stone as closely in a pendant.
Thanks for input.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I don't think i'd go as low as an I2. . .but, I guess unless the stone was seen in person there isn't a 100% guarantee it's a dull/lifeless stone.

Can you get all the numbers from the site? I'd want those as to not waste time having it sent to me and then possibly having to return it.

(But, again, I'd not order an I2 - maybe it's just a mental thing with me. Knowing the clarity is what it is would bother me.)

ETA - what size is the stone?

 

[neatfreak]

"very good cut" usually means squat. I would consider it if it had a clear IS/ASET image. But only then.

 

[stone-cold11]

Definitely a case by case basis for me. Need to see it in person.

 

[Black Jade]

.85
It''s a marquise.

 

[elle_chris]

unless it's a very small stone, chances are the inclusions will be visible. Also, i think crystals come in different colors so white isn't always a guarantee. (but i may very well be wrong). If seeing some inclusions doesn't bother you, then it doesn't hurt to get more information on the cut.

I tend to stay away from anything lower than an SI1 if the stone is lower than a carat, and stick with VS2 and above if it's over. That's just my preference for peace of mind.


eta: I have no experience with Marquis. Can you get some pics of the stone?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Sorry to be a bummer, but I would pass and keep looking.

A friend of mine who married over ten years back (I haven''t seen her in about five) had a very included marquise and every time someone asked to see her ring, she''d rub it first making excuses that it had lotion on it. Of course it didn''t. It was very included. I''m guessing it was about an I2.

IMO, diamonds for pendants need to be superior cut because otherwise they don''t stand out as much especially if you''re wearing a bulky sweater or collared shirt. With a marquise, you want an exquisit cut!

 

[Black Jade]

No, can''t get pics.

I was suspecting it probably wouldn''t be worth ordering--thanks for input.

My problem is, I have amazing studs (whiteflash ACA''s 1.81 carat) and want to cheap out on getting a pendant but I think the studs are going to make anything within price range look either small, or bad. (sigh)

 

[FB.]

elle chris

"..... think crystals come in different colors so white isn't always a guarantee...."

Inclusions can vary in colour and there's no way to tell the colour from the cert; you'll have to see it for yourself or ask the seller. Some inclusions are whitish and nearly invisible. Others can be black. Some inclusions change colour depending on the angle that you're viewing them (reflect/block light).
Not all inclusions have the same appearance. Some inclusions can only be seen from one direction. Clouds are very difficult to see at all, but too many cause the stone to look foggy even though you can't see why it's foggy and lacking in sparkle. Crystals are often the easiest to see. My Mrs has a couple of >1ct VS1/VS2 stones with tiny black crystals in them - the VS2 crystals are just below the detection size for the human eye. If those crystals were twice the size (about SI2 clarity), they'd be some really nasty eye-sores.

I steer clear of all I-clarity diamonds and am hesitant about modern-graded SI2's (I think that current SI2 is equal to I1 of decades past). Some of the I-clarity stones are about one-third filled with inclusions and a noticeable loss of sparkle!
The bigger the diamond, the more inclusions it is likely to have.

I doubt that resale value of an I-clarity would be much, either.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/13/2009 4:28:51 PM
Author: Black Jade
No, can''t get pics.

I was suspecting it probably wouldn''t be worth ordering--thanks for input.

My problem is, I have amazing studs (whiteflash ACA''s 1.81 carat) and want to cheap out on getting a pendant but I think the studs are going to make anything within price range look either small, or bad. (sigh)

If you feel like listing your budget, and what you''re open to, I''m sure you''d get lots of help trying to find something worthy!

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 8/13/2009 5:14:21 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 8/13/2009 4:28:51 PM
Author: Black Jade
No, can''t get pics.

I was suspecting it probably wouldn''t be worth ordering--thanks for input.

My problem is, I have amazing studs (whiteflash ACA''s 1.81 carat) and want to cheap out on getting a pendant but I think the studs are going to make anything within price range look either small, or bad. (sigh)

If you feel like listing your budget, and what you''re open to, I''m sure you''d get lots of help trying to find something worthy!

I''ll help. Totally in the mood to search for you if you want to tell us your budget

 

[Lorelei]

If the diamond was well cut and was in the hands of a trusted vendor who said it was '' eyecleanish'' and matched my expectations then I might consider it for a pendant.

 

[Black Jade]

Thanks, Ellen and Elle-chris.
I would appreciate your input a lot.
I''ll post a budget when I get closer to buying, which will be affter September 15th. I''ll know how much money I''ll have then and will be ready to buy at the end of the month.

My requirements are low (obviously since I was looking at I2''s). I want something that to put into a pendant that is not going to be overwhelmed by studs that are 6.3 mm a piece (.90''s). To go up on the apparent size, I am willing to go to a fancy shape such as marquise or pear that faces up larger. I have actually tried on pear pendants and liked them a lot. I also like hearts. There is a possibility that I would put a halo around the stone though to make it appear a little larger, too.

I am going to set it in rose gold and I don''t really care if it is a high color. In fact, I would be willing to go to colors like K, L or M (but not actually to something that looked yellow).

I would like it to have some sparkle. Another reason I might be interested in a fancy shape though is because they NORMALLY don''t sparkle as much as an RB so it might not be as obvious then that it''s competing with a super-ideal cut. (the earrings are ACA). I''m thinking that putting a halo around it might add sparkle too. But I am willing to sacrifice (slightly) on cut (I know this is PS heresy! Sorry!)

I''m willing to go down in clarity, too. I wouldn''t want a big black inclusion right on the table or a lot of pepper spots or a cloudy, whitish dull stone but I don''t mind some whitish inclusions or feathers or others that don''t affect the integrity of the stone, are underneath or can be put under a prong. Since it''s for a pendant.

In other words, I''m willing to compromise on just about every aspect to fit the size criteria. I''d like it whitish, sparkly, if a fancy cut no large bowtie adn I''d prefer no obvious black spots. I am probably not going to upgrade so don''t care if the vendor has this policy. But I do want a reasonable return period.

I realize you can''t help without a price, but I don''t know yet. The situation is, I have a little bit saved and have a birthday coming and will get some money, but Ihave no idea how much. I don''t think that much, though. It''s not a significant birthday. And I thought I would make a pendant locally using something sentimental left to me by a relative which is rose gold. That part is already priced out.\

Thanks.

 

[Ellen]

Thanks for elaborating BJ. I was really wondering most about what shapes you would consider, but it seems that is fairly wide open to. Understand about the bday, so we''ll wait to here back from!