Newbie..AVC Diamond Question-which one to choose???

[annielynn23]

Hi all!! Long time lurker, first time poster. Have decided on a AVC from GOG for my diamond for my 11 year anniversary upgrade present. I Have narrowed it down to 2 and am struggling with the decision!!! Good Old Gold has been FANSTASTIC to work with. So prompt in email replies with such great customer service.
Wanted to get experts opinions on the two diamonds. The setting is going to be a custom milgrain bezel set made by Good Old Gold in platinum if that helps when looking at the diamonds. I obviously love the spread of the the N diamond but worried about the color. My current diamond is an I so I am not too color sensitive but I ---> N is a big jump...

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11621/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11735/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYOzyJaZ2w0&feature=youtu.be

In the video posted the two diamonds I have narrowed it down to are the last two in the video.

and the link i attached are the two diamonds side by side.


Would love your thoughts and opinions

Thanks!

 

[teobdl]

Have you looked at N colored diamonds in person and in that size? If not, do so promptly. They can look very different depending on the light... you'll probably like it, but sometimes you might hate it.

There's not question you'll see color in an N. it's just a question of whether it will bother you. Can't know if it'll bother you until you see one.

 

[MarionC]

For me it would be no contest. To my eye the N definitely has more presence. It may be that it's larger, but it does seem brighter with more reflective color.

 

[ecf8503]

I've seen several (and now own one) AVC's in E, G, and L colors, both rectangular and square. I can say MY eyes prefer the light performance of the squares - it's easier for all of the "Maltese Cross" facets to be "on" at the same time, whereas in the rectangular ones I could only get 2, maybe 3, of them to shine at once. Just a bit of my own preference in that I like them all "on" - the symmetry is appealing to me. I also think the squares show the beautiful colors more.

I had an L color AVC for a few weeks, but honestly it was too tinted for me in white gold - it blended in with my (pale) skin. If it were in rose or yellow gold maybe I would have liked it better, but it just wasn't for me. But I am comfortable down to the I-J range.

Can you ask GOG if they can put your stones in a YG, WG and a RG setting so you can see the difference? Ask their opinion - some stones have more of a yellow tone, some are more brown, etc - I don't know what your N is, and that may make a difference in what setting metal you choose.

But based on the video, I like the N best!

 

[packrat]

I voted N based on the pictures-tho is it a black and white pic on the website? Didn't see any color in the N picture, is why I wondered.

Soo then I watched the video and literally *gasped* out loud when the N came on by itself. Had I that fundage sitting around, I'd tell you to get the I and then snag that N, boy howdy. Nah, I'd not be mean like that but wow-that N is gorgeous.

I prefer the square ones, and I prefer the lower colors. I have three, two L's and an M, in my three stone from Single Stone, and adore them. My ring is unplated white gold and I prefer it over plated.

This is mine- [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/packrats-avc-three-stone-and-wedding-band-by-single-stone.180821/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/packrats-avc-three-stone-and-wedding-band-by-single-stone.180821/[/URL]

 

[woofmama]

I Had a 1.34 O sent out three weeks ago and just returned it today. The only reason I sent it back was the size. It was beautiful, just small on my 7.25 finger. The color was pretty, it looked light yellowish, and I wasn't bothered by it. This was to be a RHR for me.

I do think that if it were a higher color, I-J-K, it would have popped more on my fair-medium skin and maybe looked bigger. Like ECF mentioned the warm color does kind of blend in with pale skin.

The stone itself was amazing, when I moved my hand around it put on quite the light show

I'm going to get one down the road when I can afford a larger stone in a higher color.

Of your choices I do think the N is gorgeous. But it will be very noticeably a warm diamond. If you're doing a halo the diamond would look pretty because the contrast will frame it.

Do you have setting idea's?

 

[annielynn23]

a few more pics i received.

thanks so much for your replies so far

 

[04diamond<3]

N is quite a bit down the scale....but this cut does such a good job of masking the color! If it were me, I'd absolutely go for the N! It's so much bigger than the I and it gives the "antique" cut a better look..at least in my opinion...And it would look great in platinum!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, wow, what a fun dilemma! I can certainly understand it, though, as I have been down that road! I have an I color AVR. I have seen in person L and M AVC's. I am going to post some real life pics for you so you can understand what they look like in real life. (The round diamond closest to the AVC's is G color, for reference.) I'd also love an AVC in that size range, but I am also undecided about color. I am sure I could do I-J color in an AVC, but to go a lot lower, I think you need to be selective about the setting. Like do a halo to actually accentuate the color of the center stone. Or set in yellow gold. The thing is, you will absolutely see color in an N. The question is, do you like a diamond with color?

 

[gregchang35]

Nice dilemma to have.

Sorry for the long post...

This is what i understand so far:

a) This is an upgrade of your E ring and your E ring is I colour (round i presume).
b) Colour will jump from I to an N.

A couple of things to consider and reiterating a few points that other posters have made (ECF853/ teobdl/ Woofmama)

1) Setting of your CURRENT ring- did you want to change it, stay the same= solitaire, halo, bezel, sides...
2) have you seen the lower coloured stones on your skin tone?
3) what metal are you going to work with?
4) DS has given a great comparison photos of the G colour v M and N AVC stones. but it is only comparative to her skin tone.
5) are the dimensions of the CURRENT ring/ diamond markedly smaller than the N(8.2mmx8.49) or the I (7.3mmx7.9)
6) do you have any pic of what your current ring is like
7) do you have a vision of what you want to do with this upgrade.
<- that is supposed to be number 8 but an emoticon comes up... what wedding band are you currently wearing- WG or YG/ eternity style/plain band/ 3 stone


For me:
I am an E colour person (i have e colour earring studs and an e colour solitaire ring).
i also own and love my O coloured OEC diamond.
I love both colours but they serve different purposes.
In your dilemma:
I love the N colour and i would choose the N
i also love the size of the N to the I
i would choose the N for a RHR.
I am a solitaire guy
I would play with the YG and WG combination to amp up the colour. WG head with YG band?

Here is what i would do:

Is there a way that you can view both stones?
if not: have one shipped to you.. assess the colour on your skin and in various lighting environments. return it and have the other one shipped to you and do the same- assess colour on your skin and in various lighting environments.
By doing that i think it would help cement which colour/ size you would prefer.
the other stuff- setting and metal colour would be easier to play with once you have decided on the stone.


Sorry if this has created more of a headache to you....I am hoping that you are still excited about the project....

 

[annielynn23]

Thank you all for the insight!!

Diamondseeker2006-- the real life pics are so helpful. Thank you for sharing. And I LOVE your AVR!!! Swoon!!
Gregchang35- thanks for your thoughtful post here are the answers to your questions:
- Setting of current ring is platinum milgrain bezel I love bezel settings and will have the new diamond set in a similar setting with a few tweaks that is going to be made by GOG
-I have never seen lower colored stones on my skin tone, my skin tone is pretty similar to diamondseeker2006 so I would imagine it looking pretty similar
-I was planning on working with platinum but am open to other metals (I'm not dead set on platinum)
-My current stone measurements are 7.62x7.03x4.93 its a modern cushion, but very poorly cut. Im sure if I had an ASET on my current stone it would be pretty bad. At that point myself or my husband knew nothing about diamonds except for that I wanted a cushion shaped stone.
-The inspiration for this new stone Is this:

 

[gregchang35]

Love the inspiration ring- beautiful, and i love the gallery.. mind you with that kind of gallery, it means that there will be lots of places for dirt to collect and may give a dull appearance to the stone. therefore cleaning is something that HAS to be done daily.

With that setting that you have as an inspiration i think the I will be perfect for it. In my opinion the platinum will set it off nicely. Everything about that ring speaks to me- as i said i am a solitaire guy and i also LOVE milgrained bezels...

Given that you have similar skin tone with DS, what colour do you think you would be leaning towards?

do you wear a wedding band? what type is it- plain, eternity?
are you planning to wear any other bands with this upgraded ring?

so exciting!!!!

 

[woofmama]

Did you see this thread? It's a an O AVC in a rose gold bezel. The setting is exquisite! I actually was going to have this made but in YG for the AVC. If I hadn't decided to wait a bit for a larger one my diamond would be on the way to Maytal right now. I exchanged several emails with her and she is wonderful. I honestly think if you go with a low color RG or YG makes the stone pop. I Love Packrats ring in the unplated WG, that showcases the color as well. Regular WG or platinum doesn't work with lower color diamonds, for me.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-maytal-hannah-ring-with-gog-august-vintage-cushion.201826/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/custom-maytal-hannah-ring-with-gog-august-vintage-cushion.201826/[/URL]

 

[gregchang35]

Hi woofmamma!

RG setting looks great with that O!! I wonder what anielynn23 is going to choose!!!

 

[annielynn23]

I can't believe that AVC is a O!!!
That ring is gorgeous and so similar to what I want as well.
Oh gosh I'm so torn! You think GOG would send me the N to test out in real life for a day or so to really get an idea of how I really feel about it ? This is going to be my one and only upgrade so I definitely want it to be perfect for me!

 

[woofmama]

Per their policy you have to purchase the diamond and pay in full but you have 30 days to return it. You do have to pay return shipping.
If you send it back via USPS you have to insure it for the full purchase price. Or you can request a Fedex return label and they insure it for return shipping. I chose the later for piece of mind so they get it back next day. With the Fedex label provided you pay more than the USPS. They deduct the shipping off your refund when crediting you back.

 

[packrat]

As a comparison to what my stones look like now in the unplated 18k wg, these were my stones in 14k yg as the temp setting. The sides are the same, both M's (I mispoke above and had it backwards). The center here is also an M, but I later exchanged it for the current center which is an L b/c it was a hair bigger.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/m-avc-three-stone-in-yellow-gold.175160/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/m-avc-three-stone-in-yellow-gold.175160/[/URL]

They were much yellower in the yg setting. Now in the unplated wg, they're more creamy and I don't notice any yellow. Don't get me wrong, I *love* yellow and yellow stones in general. Just for this ring, it wasn't doing it for me in the yg, and I'm very happy w/the unplated wg.

The five stone in some of the pictures are J/K AVC's.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I can't believe that AVC is a O!!!
That ring is gorgeous and so similar to what I want as well.
Oh gosh I'm so torn! You think GOG would send me the N to test out in real life for a day or so to really get an idea of how I really feel about it ? This is going to be my one and only upgrade so I definitely want it to be perfect for me!

Those photos are not showing the actual color of that stone because it looks whiter than the L and M in my pictures. So you really can't go by those.

GOG definitely will send you the stone to look at, but you have to pay for it first. Under no circumstances would I buy any diamond below I color without looking at it before having it set.

Honestly, the N looks very tinted to me, and while I adore your setting choice, I think a whiter diamond is going to look much better. I agree with whoever said that a really tinted diamond would be more my choice for a RHR, and I would set in rose gold if it had a brown undertone, or a white diamond halo in platinum if it was more yellow.

Bottom line, you have to see the N and hold it next to your current ring to see if you can handle the color. I love the look of that stone and would love to have one, but I am thinking I would not wear that one for an engagement ring, especially in a platinum bezel.

I just looked and the I color AVC is larger than your current stone anyway. It is 7.9 x 7.3mm and your current is 7.6 x 7.0. So I think my vote is going to be to go with the I color one for an e-ring.

 

[marymm]

Really not sure of GOG's policy on this -- but if you want to look at both stones at the same time, you may want to see if GOG would ship them both to an independent professional appraiser near you - I think if you went this route, you'd pay the shipping costs both ways and of course the appraiser's fee, but it would give you an opportunity to compare them to each other. And if you decided to purchase one of them immediately, I think you would just need to clear payment with GOG and then the appraiser would release your diamond to you - so then you'd only pay the round-trip shipping on the other diamond.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Mary, she has to send the one she buys back anyway because GOG is setting the stone for her.

 

[marymm]

Mary, she has to send the one she buys back anyway because GOG is setting the stone for her.

Gotcha - so she'd be responsible for the return shipping on the diamond to be set by GOG.

 

[woofmama]

As beautiful as the N is, I agree with DS. If this is an upgrade of your engagement ring I would choose the I color diamond, especially if setting in platinum. Many on here switch out their diamonds more than once or have multiple diamond rings (my personal goal ) if this is your main "forever diamond" never to be traded in again and you are going for a traditional look the I is the way to go. For a RHR I would go warm and do YG or RG.

 

[packrat]

I think a lot of it will depend on how YOU feel about a warmer color AVC. *I* have three of them, and they are *my* ering, not a rhr. And *I* wouldn't go for a higher color for *my* ering, b/c that's what *I* like. I'd have an N or an O or P for my ering, b/c that's what I like. I looked at them in person tho before deciding, and took pics w/the J/K's I already had in the five stone, to be sure of the color. I like my warmer colors WAY better. So see the N first. Maybe you'll not want that warm for your ering and want the I. And that's great. Maybe you'll love it and dig the warmth of it and want it for your engagement ring. None of us know your own personal tastes on that aspect. I was steered toward higher color and didn't care for them, so if I'd gotten a big I or J etc, I wouldn't have been happy.

 

[woofmama]

Packrat I hope I didn't offend you. Your ring is spectacular and when I ordered the O AVC earlier this month it was because of your ring. I was wanting to make a three stone like yours in YG. The reason I didn't was because it was above my budget unless I sold my current ering and band, which I was strongly considering.

Because the OP stated she couldn't believe the AVC was an O in the thread I linked I was concerned that she was thinking it would look higher color than these warmer diamonds do IRL. I also referred to RHR's because many PS posters have bought the warm AVC as either an alternate ering or RHR. And the link of the ring that I posted bought hers as an anniversary RHR. I completely respect your preference for the M color diamonds and truly love your ring! It is in my top PS favorite rings. Again sorry if I offended.

Edited to add: If the OP wants to order the N to see it, of course that's a great idea, but it can get costly. I paid $80 to *see* the O AVC, so unless she doesn't mind spending that money it would be best to have the one sent which she is most likely to keep.

 

[arkieb1]

Probably, the best advice anyone can give you is get the N coloured stone, put the other one on hold and see for yourself if you like it. I think it will look better in a rose gold or a yellow gold bezel to play up the colour, unless you don't mind the fact it will appear tinted next to the platinum which indeed some people do like. If you decide you don't like it send it back and get the I instead, or get both (either at the same time or one and then the other or take a trip and go and see them in person) to compare and pick which one YOU like the best ultimately you are the person who is going to be wearing it so it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Either way AVCs are beautifully cut stones (I currently own a small K coloured one), so it really IS going to come down to size and colour preference for you......

 

[packrat]

ACK! No nonononono, I wasn't offended at all! I just feel sad when we always say for an ering to go higher and if it's just for a rhr it's ok to go warmer, b/c there are times when higher isn't the right choice. Maybe not lots of times, but some times. If I'd been given an I back in the day I'd've been fine w/it b/c I didn't know there were any other option. But then seeing this whole world of color... It's just better to see the choices. I to N is a huuuuge jump--tho by the pictures it doesn't really *look* like it, so I dunno if my laptop just sucks color wise or what.

And oofda on the cost of "seeing' the stones, jeezalou. Those costs add up faaast. Still tho, it's worth it if you see both colors, or both shapes, whatever you're wavering on, so you can make an informed decision. And a lot of it might just be me...I'm a waffler. How I still have hair and fingernails I don't know. But what about, but what if, if this then that but yet what happens if this...yeah, I have to see stuff to know. (which is why I had the five stone and then the three stone in yg and then traded in the center and then fiiiinally figured out the L/M three stone was my heart ring.)

Thank you for the kind words on my ring. No more sad blue faces.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Packrat, I, too, think your ring is very beautiful and I love the light yellow stones in yg! I was basing my advice on the fact that her current diamond is I color, and she wants to set the new stone in a platinum bezel. I just think I color will look better in that setting. If she had asked for YG, then my advice definitely would be to order the N to look at. It is expensive ordering stones to look at, especially at this size. But if she is still uncertain, it may be worth a couple hundred dollars to order them to look at.

 

[packrat]

Thanks DS!

Yeah, that huge leap from I to N is..well, huge, and most definitely needs to be looked at in person to be sure.

I actually like the warmer colors in unplated wg better than the other metals. That's just based off how they looked in yg. In yg they mostly looked yellow (which was lovely) but in the unplated wg, they're creamy and I dig that muy mucho. It's not stark contrast like it would be w/plated wg. I dunno how they'd look in platinum...does anyone have a low color in platinum to show?

 

[woofmama]

ACK! No nonononono, I wasn't offended at all! I just feel sad when we always say for an ering to go higher and if it's just for a rhr it's ok to go warmer, b/c there are times when higher isn't the right choice. Maybe not lots of times, but some times. If I'd been given an I back in the day I'd've been fine w/it b/c I didn't know there were any other option. But then seeing this whole world of color... It's just better to see the choices. I to N is a huuuuge jump--tho by the pictures it doesn't really *look* like it, so I dunno if my laptop just sucks color wise or what.

And oofda on the cost of "seeing' the stones, jeezalou. Those costs add up faaast. Still tho, it's worth it if you see both colors, or both shapes, whatever you're wavering on, so you can make an informed decision. And a lot of it might just be me...I'm a waffler. How I still have hair and fingernails I don't know. But what about, but what if, if this then that but yet what happens if this...yeah, I have to see stuff to know. (which is why I had the five stone and then the three stone in yg and then traded in the center and then fiiiinally figured out the L/M three stone was my heart ring.)

Thank you for the kind words on my ring. No more sad blue faces.

I know you agonized over the making of your ring! You have no idea how wafflie I am. I have driven a couple of PSers and vendors crazy with my constant mind changing about every little thing. I get paralyzed when I make a purchase. Get out the straightjacket

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Packrat..oh yes, unplated wg. That is also a very good choice for the lower colors! I'll have to think if I can recall a platinum bezel with a lower color diamond. So often people choose yellow, rose, or unplated white gold for that.


woofmama...I think it is far easier for all of us to give others advice than it is to plan our own pieces! I know I deliberate til I am crazy!!