lazy side stone matching?

[777_LDY]

Forgive me if this question has already been asked or discussed but in the near future I will be needing two .75 RB side stones to add to my ring so I have begun my search. It seems like it should be an easy enough task seeing as they are RB''s and not pears or emeralds etc. so I was wondering if anyone has ever just gotten lazy and bought a pair of earrings instead?? I hope it''s not a very silly question (don''t laugh if it is!

), but wouldn''t it be the easiest thing to do because they would already be matched.

 

[neatfreak]

Well you''ll pay extra for that. If it were ME, I would just call Whiteflash or Good Old Gold with your budget and criteria and THEY will find a matching pair for you. Then you don''t pay extra for the earring settings that you don''t really need.

But that''s just me!

 

[777_LDY]

Maybe I just haven''t done enough searching but it seems that the prices of earrings I have been looking at have even been a little better than the price of two single stones that I have been trying to match, yet the gradings have been nearly the same.

I think I will call Whiteflash anyway since I know how highly recommended they come. Thanks

 

[Ellen]

If you could give us some specs, we could help you look. I love a challenge.

 

[Lynn B]

If they''re well cut stones, in the size you want, at a better price than singles bought separately... then I say GO FOR IT!

It''s a great idea.

 

[DBM]

it's not exactly a foolproof idea because matching for earrings and matching for sidestones on a ring have slightly differently needs. just what readily comes to mind:

-- on earrings they can be considered matching with a greater margin of size variance. even if one is slightly larger than the other for studs it's doable.

-- on earrings a black carbon SI2 (or even VS2) in the center of the diamond is not so bad, as long as the cuts are nice and match. on sidestones the inclusions are more easily noticeable and comparable to the center stone.

-- on earrings you can get away with a greater variance in color between the two stones as well

 

[777_LDY]

Wow, the threads in RT move fast! Sorry for my delayed response but thank you Ellen, Lynn, and DBM for your replies. While I am still open to the idea of being lazy I think I will try and focus a bit more on the loose stones for now. I searched around Whiteflash a bit and while I know I would be happy if I went with them I keep going back to another online jeweler called Stein Diamonds. Anyone ever hear of them?? They seem to have good reviews and their prices seem even better. I'm pretty sure they are out of CA but the location escapes me at the moment. They also have a gorgeous 5 stone band on their site already which would take some of the guess work out of trying to choose a new setting (I currently have a 3 stone band with a 1.2 center and .5 sides). Anyway, I searched through their loose diamonds and found a pair of stones. They are a bit on the smaller side than what I would like but for the price they look pretty good (I think, lol!). Here are the stats (just for you Ellen

).

diamond #1 diamond #2

shape round round

carat weight .70 .70

color H H

clarity SI1 SI1

depth 63.8 63.9

table 56 56

polish VG VG

symmetry VG VG

fluorescence N M

crown null null

measurements 5.58x5.61x3.57 5.56x5.59x3.56

certification GIA GIA

price $1,797.71 $1,797.71

I also spoke to DH about the upgrade last night, who has not been very interested in this the past couple of months

but is finally starting to understand

and he said we could get this done by my birthday/anniversary which are both in April

! I'm so excited!!! He also said that he would prefer to make a couple calls himself before I did anything and also wanted to check out Blue Nile, something about AMEX triple points

, lol! He's so sweet sometimes, I know he would much rather this be a surprise but I really need to be apart of the process for this one.

Thanks for any help in advance. I can post a link to Stein Diamonds or the 5 stone ring if you'd like.

 

[Lorelei]

Just chiming in here, those diamonds are cut very deep and may look smaller as a result of it. Also we always need the crown and pavillion angles with any diamonds to be able to help you evaluate them

 

[777_LDY]

WOW that was fast! I barely finished reading it after I wrote it! Thank you, that would be my only concern seeing as they are smaller than what I would initially like. How can you tell??

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2008 6:01:19 AM
Author: 777_LDY
WOW that was fast! I barely finished reading it after I wrote it! Thank you, that would be my only concern seeing as they are smaller than what I would initially like. How can you tell??

I aim to please! The depth measurement is deep at 63.8 and you may lose some face up size because of it, I normally like around 60% to 62.6% max.

 

[777_LDY]

Thank you, I''ll keep that in mind while searching. There are so many stones to choose from!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2008 6:07:15 AM
Author: 777_LDY
Thank you, I''ll keep that in mind while searching. There are so many stones to choose from!

I know! Here are some numbers you can use to help you.

Depth - 60 - 62
Table- 54- 57
crown angle - 34 - 35 deg
pavillion angle - 40.4 - 40.9 / 41 deg if the crown angle complements.

Or numbers just outside those may work fine together, you can use the cut advisor to check.

 

[777_LDY]

Thanks Lorelei, I love your avatar by the way, too cute! The #''s definitly help but what is the cut advisor?

 

[777_LDY]

Duh! It''s still early and I haven''t met my coffee quota yet! I found it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2008 6:21:08 AM
Author: 777_LDY
Duh! It''s still early and I haven''t met my coffee quota yet! I found it.

Here is some more coffee for you!

 

[Ellen]

Ok, so as Lorelei pointed out, these are a bit deep, we can do better!

What''s the lowest you''d go in color? What color is the center stone?

And I take it you''re looking in the .70-.75ish range? And I also assume you''d like to stay at 2000 or less per stone?


*off to look in the meantime*

 

[Ellen]

Ok, I can't find what you want in that price range, but these are close. (the reason the ones you found were less is because of the cut)

There is a discount at JA, need to ask what it is. I'll give you this option, there are some more in this area, but his search page disappears every time I click on a diamond and I have to start all over. I can't figure out why it does this, but it's tooo frustrating to deal with. I would call him and tell him what you're looking for, he's got great prices. I'd also ask for an IS on these if he'll do it (one has a somewhat deep PA). They're not H&A's, so I'm not sure.

And of course need to ask if eyeclean.



http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1087701.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-944384.asp


p.s. If your hubby wants to go the BN way, I'd stick to their AGS0 stones. (Signature Collection)

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 1/21/2008 8:24:48 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/21/2008 6:21:08 AM
Author: 777_LDY
Duh! It''s still early and I haven''t met my coffee quota yet! I found it.

Here is some more coffee for you!

Hehe! That must have been a dark roast, I think I can officially start my day now!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/21/2008 10:21:44 AM
Author: 777_LDY

Date: 1/21/2008 8:24:48 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/21/2008 6:21:08 AM
Author: 777_LDY
Duh! It''s still early and I haven''t met my coffee quota yet! I found it.

Here is some more coffee for you!

Hehe! That must have been a dark roast, I think I can officially start my day now!!

Heehee! Glad to have helped with the drinkie!

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 1/21/2008 8:52:31 AM
Author: Ellen
Ok, so as Lorelei pointed out, these are a bit deep, we can do better!

What''s the lowest you''d go in color? What color is the center stone?

And I take it you''re looking in the .70-.75ish range? And I also assume you''d like to stay at 2000 or less per stone?


*off to look in the meantime*

Good questions Ellen, you are so helpful!

My center stone is an I SI2, very eye clean but does have an inclusion if you look at it on an angle in certain lights. It is also not the best cut, I forget the measurements exactly but I know the table is rather large... The current side stones I have however are somewhere in the colorless VS range and these I will be keeping in the finished 5 stone ring as well. I came to the conclusion that H SI1 would be the best grading to complement all the stones I currently have. I hope that makes sense! Mr.7''s says I have a funny way of looking at things sometimes!

I''ll admit I love a bargain but I think I''m starting to realize I just ultimately want to be happy with whatever I choose. I had actually put a deposit on some estate diamonds not too lang ago but after sleeping on it I couldn''t get over the fact that I didn''t have all the info I wanted. Ultimatly I would like something in the .73-.77 range so there is a noticable difference in sizes.

I didn''t get a chance to look at the stones you gave me but as soon as I get back from running a couple errands I will. Thanks!

 

[Ellen]

You're welcome!

And you know, I forgot this was going to be a 5 stone, which makes it even trickier. You really need to have someone help you (imho), because you need to get your diameters close on the two you're looking for, (because in under 1 ct the differences are more noticable, so you can't get too far from each other) and now you've got 2 tables to match up with (again, they'll be noticable all lumped together if you stray too far). So, that's what I'd do. I do think you could look at I's also though.

Like I said, JA has great prices, and they're great to work with, so I've heard on here. I haven't personally bought from them, but I do hear good things!

Good luck, and if we can help, just holler.

 

[vslover]

I actually did this on Blue Nile (though I didn''t pay for the earring posts...you can buy any diamond(S) separately on their site) and it worked out really nicely. The diamonds look identical and my 3 stone ring is gorgeous!

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 1/21/2008 10:52:25 AM
Author: Ellen
You''re welcome!

And you know, I forgot this was going to be a 5 stone, which makes it even trickier. You really need to have someone help you (imho), because you need to get your diameters close on the two you''re looking for, (because in under 1 ct the differences are more noticable, so you can''t get too far from each other) and now you''ve got 2 tables to match up with (again, they''ll be noticable all lumped together if you stray too far). So, that''s what I''d do. I do think you could look at I''s also though.

Like I said, JA has great prices, and they''re great to work with, so I''ve heard on here. I haven''t personally bought from them, but I do hear good things!

Good luck, and if we can help, just holler.

I went to my local jeweler today to pick up a pinky ring I had resized and asked them to give me some specs on the stones they can offer. I''m not crazy about the store but a couple of the managers are very helpful. I figured it wouldn''t hurt to ask since this is where DH purchased my original center stone. I also went and dug out the appraisal of my center stone and here are the specs...**disclosure**...Mr.7''s did his very best at the time!

RB
6.73-6.82x4.12 mm.
1.2 ct
depth 60.8%
table 71% (I knew it was large)
girdle slightly thick to thick, faceted
cutlet none
polish good
symmetry good
SI2
J (for some reason I said it was an I this morning, again, thanks for the coffee Lorelei! I think I will consider I''s now for the side stones)
fluorescence none

DH has offered to let me upgrade but I really don''t want to. If I were to do it right now it would probably mean I would have to trade the center stone in and it really is very sentimental to me. I told DH that if things kept going well we could always get a solitaire in the future. First he gave me this look

then this one

!!! I just gave him this look

!

I did give JA a call and they seem very nice and also very reasonably priced but we shall see. Mr.7''s left for business so I know I will wait on anything till he gets back but he did said we could get some stones in to look at as long as the vendor has a 30 day return policy. And don''t you worry I''ll be certain to keep you informed.

vslover I like BN as well and let me just say your three stone ring is B_E_A_U_T_I_F_U_L!!!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/21/2008 3:49:03 PM
Author: 777_LDY

DH has offered to let me upgrade but I really don''t want to. If I were to do it right now it would probably mean I would have to trade the center stone in and it really is very sentimental to me. I told DH that if things kept going well we could always get a solitaire in the future. First he gave me this look

then this one

!!! I just gave him this look

!

I did give JA a call and they seem very nice and also very reasonably priced but we shall see. Mr.7''s left for business so I know I will wait on anything till he gets back but he did said we could get some stones in to look at as long as the vendor has a 30 day return policy. And don''t you worry I''ll be certain to keep you informed.

Well, it sounds like you''re getting there, and I''m glad it went well with JA. I thought it would.

We''ll be waiting.