Is this stone a good candidate for a HW Halo Setting?

[SF-Guy]

I'm still searching for an engagement ring. She's decided on a HW Halo inspired setting.

I'm wondering if this stone is a good fit? The jeweler has offered to sell me ONLY the stone and he will keep the setting.

As much as I would like this stone to work out, I do have some concerns:

-- Most importantly it is an L color stone. It faces up quite white, but i'm wondering if L is too far down the color scale when paired up with the micropave on the halo setting??? I do NOT want to end up with something noticeably yellow.

-- The stone doesn't seem to perform, perhaps this is a characteristic of poor light return? It has only FAIR symmetry and GOOD polish - but it is a vintage stone. I understand and wouldn't expect vintage cut stones to perform like a modern cut brilliant, but is this something I should be overtly concerned with when considering the HW setting?

My budget is $10k and the jeweler has priced this stone to allow me room to still purchase a custom setting.

Can I do better?

CUSHION BRILLIANT

Measurements	7.81 x 7.04 x 4.42 mm
Carat Weight	1.79 carat
Color Grade	L
Clarity Grade	VS2

PROPORTIONS

Depth	62.8 %
Table	56 %
Girdle	Very Thin to Extremely Thick, Faceted
Culet	Very Large

FINISH

Polish	Good
Symmetry	Fair
FLUORESCENCE

Fluorescence	None
CLARITY CHARACTERISTICS

Clarity Characteristics	Feather, Cloud, Extra Facet

 

[HoratioNelson]

I would totally avoid that stone for the following reasons:

I know some people on here love warm colours, but if you're not in the market for an L colour stone; just don't buy one. Look for something which is at least I colour and perhaps a bit smaller. What laboratory has graded the stone? If it's an EGL or in house grading, that L might be aking to M or N GIA.

Girdle is very thin to extremely thick. I don't think extremely thick is a huge problem (it can just mean you're paying a bit more for the weight, and you actually get such girdles quite often with cushions), but very thin is perhaps a little too thin and could be easily damaged.

Fair symmetry is not worth settling for. I don't know what dimensions/aspects of the stone will have less than good symmetry, but if you're going to stick a halo around it and the stone isn't perfectly cushion shaped (e.g. one corner is less well rounded than the other), it will be difficult to have a halo which follows the outline of the stone closely. At the same time, you could argue that a perfectly symmetrical halo will distract from the unsymmetrical stone. It's just that you may have problems matching them up. Fair symmetry will affect brilliance. I note there is an extra facet listed under claity. This isn't in itself a problem, but it could impact light performance, especially if the symmetry is less than good.

I'm not a fan of very large culets (or any that are visible for that matter). Light goes straight through it.

Just don't get this stone (unless it's a huge bargain?)

 

[tyty333]

I don't think you should go that low in color without your GF okaying it. There are beautiful stones in that color range but it might
be a little too much of a surprise for your GF.

Edit - btw I don't think its a bad looking stone.

 

[SF-Guy]

I would totally avoid that stone for the following reasons:

I know some people on here love warm colours, but if you're not in the market for an L colour stone; just don't buy one. Look for something which is at least I colour and perhaps a bit smaller. What laboratory has graded the stone? If it's an EGL or in house grading, that L might be aking to M or N GIA.

.....

Just don't get this stone (unless it's a huge bargain?)

I don't really know what I was in the market for... She said sparkly, big, and sent me a photo of the Harry Winston Cushion Halo ring which is what I sent the Jeweler. He sent several photos/options and I responded with 3 choices that I liked. I then went to look at them in person. Of them all, this was the one I liked because it most "closely" matched the photo of what she wanted. My GF came across pricescope which is also sort of when things all of a sudden got "confusing" for me

So I guess I am not specifically shopping for an L color stone -- but rather researching the possibility?

I've found that it is a GIA certified stone from 2012 given a color of L.
I've made a link to the GIA Certification here.
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pag...&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=1146865368

I don't think you should go that low in color without your GF okaying it. There are beautiful stones in that color range but it might
be a little too much of a surprise for your GF.

Edit - btw I don't think its a bad looking stone.

The GF has seen the stone and given the OK... She's okay with everything we look at haha. After reading and watching around here on Pricescope I don't know if I have given the OK

I have attached a few photos of her wearing the stone.

She originally asked for sparkly and big. Big is relative to budget and when comparing to a modern brilliant - this stone is definitely the "largest" I would be able to afford, but I feel it just lacks the sparkle she had in mind.

The GF keeps saying in a modern halo setting, the pave would contribute to that sparkle she wants. I guess I'm just worried that after all the effort of a custom setting, the setting would sparkle and the stone would look "flat". I've also noticed that this stone is elongated and not sure how that would look in a "square" halo... It might be a rectangle!

We have absolutely no experience here and I just don't want her to be disappointed.

We very much appreciate the advice and opinions of this community.

 

[SB621]

So it really depends on what you consider better.

I'm personally not a huge fan of this diamond. Not a fan of the facet pattern which isn't extremely crisp or the table at 56%. My personal preference is to have a table closer to 49-51% on antique diamonds.

Antique diamonds are much harder to buy because you really can't go by the certificate grading. You have to see it in person or photos/ video to see how it performs. I'm actually not worried about antique diamonds that have fair symmetry as long as it performs on my finger.

I have an N/O set in a HW halo. However that is after years of wearing an F MRB. The color doesn't bother me at all, I find it actually more appealing then my F. I truly hesitate to say go that low for an ering though. I understand your GF says she doesn't care but trust me with colors this warm she might say that now but after looking at it for hours/ weeks/ days she might truly hate it as well. I would rather be safe then sorry and stick with something whiter.

Have you looked online for antique diamonds? I have always found Engagement Rings Direct, Old World Diamonds and Jewels by Erica Grace to be a great source antique diamonds. My own antique cushion is from OWD and Adam was wonderful to work with. ERD and Jbeg also do a wonderful version of the HW halo that is pretty affordable if you want a one stop shop.

Goodluck and if you haven't read Charmy's How to Make a HW Inspired Halo 101 Guide I recommend you do a quick search for it on PS and take a look. Great info on there.

And of course if you post any antique diamonds we are always happy to take a look at them. There are many antique experts on the Antique form and on RT that can help you.