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DRN

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3
Hi everyone,

Even though I only signed up today to the forums, I've been around for quite a while as part of my diamond research, and you guys have been extremely helpful.

I am trying to build the perfect engagement ring on bluenile, I am almost 100% set on their Petite Cathedral Pavé setting (http://www.bluenile.ca/diamond-engagement-ring-platinum_19831)

Now to the tougher part, the diamond. I think I have it narrowed down to the 4 round diamonds below. I'm a little iffy on going below F color/IF clarity, but I read that such inclusion / color grades (G/VS1) won't be visible at all, but again it might be worth the extra bucks to have an F/IF diamond... I would love to hear what you think.

1. LD02612929 - $3,584
http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-o...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02612929
Carat - 0.57
Color - F
Clarity - IF
HCA - 0.7
-----------
2. LD02185035 - $3,051
http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-o...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02185035
Carat - 0.57
Color - G
Clarity - IF
HCA - 0.7
-----------
3. LD02466170 - $2,499
http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-o...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02466170
Carat - 0.51
Color - F
Clarity - VS1 - Crystal, Pinpoint
HCA - 0.6
-----------
4. LD02418666 - $2,253
http://www.bluenile.ca/build-your-o...tep=DIAMONDS_STEP|builder=BYOR|pid=LD02418666
Carat - 0.52
Color - G
Clarity - VS1 - Cloud
HCA - 0.8
-----------

Thanks everyone :)
 
anyone?
 
I'm no expert but I am pretty sure you can go below F/IF with no problem at that size, I doubt you would be able to tell the difference
 
Is there a jewelery store that you can go to and see diamonds in real life? If so, I'm pretty sure it will give you greater comfort when you compare F and G stones side by side. I personally can't tell the difference. Also, VS1 should be good enough in the clarity department. Even with a 10x loop, I find it very hard to spot the inclusions. As long as she can't see it with her naked eye, why spend the extra money on that? Instead, use the savings and you can go bigger in size if you desire.

The experts will likely tell you that it's difficult to pick out a true winner without seeing at least an idealscope image of the stone. You've eliminated known duds with the HCA, but it's still a crap shoot. If you're looking on Blue Nile, I think ID Jewelery can help you out. They will at least match or beat the prices there and find you a similar setting too. Mention you're a pricescoper so he knows you're a cut snob, ha. When you get the images, post back and the experts can further guide you.

Good luck!
 
Like BigHenry, I'm also no expert. F/IF is a little extreme -- some people like their diamonds with those stats, and that's great for them. It's all about what you're trying to maximize. Of the four C's (cut, color, clarity, and carat size), can you rank them as to what is most important to you? For me it went like this: 1. cut, 2. carat size, 3. clarity, 4. color

And I ended up getting a 0.86 M color VS1 August Vintage Cushion (which is AGS graded ideal for cut)

If you're trying to maximize your carat size on a budget, you can definitely go down in both color and clarity. VS2 graded diamonds are virtually guaranteed to be eye-clean (although the rare one pops up now and again that isn't), and many people go down to SI1 or SI2 and confirm with their vendors that the stones are eye-clean. The pictures on the websites of the diamonds are ENORMOUS -- the real thing won't be nearly that size, so many things that look like they may be a glaring inclusion might not even be visible.

Color is more subjective. I love my M, but a lot of people wouldn't ever think of going with that warm a stone. It would probably be helpful for you to visit a local jewelry store and get an idea of what different colors look like in person. Most people who are not extremely color sensitive find that they can go down in color to H and not notice a difference.
 
Thanks everyone.

I guess you're all right and I shouldn't go for an F/IF stone, my problem was that being an extreme perfectionist just knowing thatthere is even the slightest defect would bother me... but I'm not going to be the one wearing the ring after all :)

To Distracts, the stone you attached looks great, but I thought that feathers should be avoided? how about crystals at such inclusions levels (SI and up), would those affect the brilliance/be visible at all? because I understand those can be even black...
 
DRN|1344435857|3247912 said:
Thanks everyone.

I guess you're all right and I shouldn't go for an F/IF stone, my problem was that being an extreme perfectionist just knowing thatthere is even the slightest defect would bother me... but I'm not going to be the one wearing the ring after all :)

To Distracts, the stone you attached looks great, but I thought that feathers should be avoided? how about crystals at such inclusions levels (SI and up), would those affect the brilliance/be visible at all? because I understand those can be even black...
Click to expand...
I'm pretty picky person as well and I went with .804 vs2/H. It hasn't got here yet but they said it was a very clean stone. We shall see. But I did go to about 10 different stores in town and looked at diamonds to get ideas of the different grades
 
DRN|1344435857|3247912 said:
Thanks everyone.

I guess you're all right and I shouldn't go for an F/IF stone, my problem was that being an extreme perfectionist just knowing thatthere is even the slightest defect would bother me... but I'm not going to be the one wearing the ring after all :)

To Distracts, the stone you attached looks great, but I thought that feathers should be avoided? how about crystals at such inclusions levels (SI and up), would those affect the brilliance/be visible at all? because I understand those can be even black...
Click to expand...

That's true, and it's one of the reasons that most people recommend buying your diamond from a vendor that will inspect the stone for you and provide you with pictures/idealscope images/etc. The setting you like at Blue Nile is beautiful, but I think we can help you find something similar or even identical to that.

For example:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-422.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/petite-diamond-engagement-ring-773.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/cathedral-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-1421.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/petite-open-cathedral-diamond-engagement-ring-1539.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/melody-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1659.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/felicity-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-by-vatche-1649.htm
 
Think inclusions as birthmarks instead of as "defects", ha.
 
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