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Pear Diamond.. Advice needed

Peggy08

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
10
Hi guys I'm new here and need some advice..

I visited the jewellery quater in Birmingham at the weekend looking for an engagement ring for my gf. Having been shown lots of pear shaped diamonds, one jumped out at me... (im no diamond expert so heres the stats)

GIA report:-

DIAMOND DOSSIER
PEAR BRILLIANT

Measurements 6.78 x 4.41 x 2.75 mm
Carat Weight 0.50 carat
Color Grade E
Clarity Grade SI1
PROPORTIONS

Depth 62.4 %
Table 56 %
Girdle Slightly Thick to Extremely Thick, Faceted
Culet None
FINISH

Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
FLUORESCENCE

Fluorescence None
CLARITY CHARACTERISTICS

Clarity Characteristics Feather, Crystal

One concern is the girdle, some people have said the needs to be thicker to prevent breaks???? Any advice wouold do...

Thanks Neil :twirl:
 
You really can't tell anything just on paper - you really need an ASET / Idealscope image to assess light performance. That said, if it looks good TO YOUR EYES. and you are happy with it then by all means go for it! The girdle is already quite thick on this one, so it will be hiding a bit of it's carat weight there. And with a pear the most important part is making sure the point is protected.
 
Slightly to Extremely Thick girdle is plenty thick enough.
 
Thanks for your replies...

How and where do I get the aset report from? This is all totally new to me and i just want the best i can get for my gf..

Ive been quoted £1185

Thats with white gold band, but I know I'll be able to get a platinum band for that price if I work on them a bit lol

Which is more important, the symmetry/polish or the colour and clarity, they did show me different stones some include

Colour D Clarity VS2

Once again thanks for your advice :wavey:
 
Peggy08|1369766462|3455169 said:
Thanks for your replies...

How and where do I get the aset report from? This is all totally new to me and i just want the best i can get for my gf..

Ive been quoted £1185

Thats with white gold band, but I know I'll be able to get a platinum band for that price if I work on them a bit lol

Which is more important, the symmetry/polish or the colour and clarity, they did show me different stones some include

Colour D Clarity VS2

Once again thanks for your advice :wavey:

If you or your GF are color sensitive or do not want any color in the stone, I wouldn't go below a G. Pears tend to concentrate color in the pointy end and you may be disappointed by that.

Pears have to be judged by the eye. Numbers can help, but usually mean diddly squat.

In rounds I think VS2-SI1 is the sweet spot, but with pears, you can get away with an SI1-SI2. Especially if the stone's cut makes it look busy.

That seems like quite a bit of money as well for a half carat pear.

Here is a F SI1 GIA Very Good Very good, for less than the one you are looking at http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-cut/0.52-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-217717

Girdle is slightly thick to thick which should be just fine.
 
Ok thanks for the advice...

So in your opinion, a pear cut diamond is better judged by eye than the GIA report?

As for the stone most UK shops Ive looked at come in around that price.
 
That last post may seem blunt it was not meant in that way..

Well I have a budget of £1200 so if anyone see's a pear shaped diamond that comes in that bracket and they think its a belter lol, let me know.

Thanks

Neil

Should i be focusing on the excellent symmetry and polish or should i be focusing on clarity and colour?
 
Hi guys, Ive found this stone also. could you give me your opinions on which would be the better stone on paper?

PEAR BRILLIANT (1)

Measurements: 6.54 x 4.57 x 2.86 mm
Carat Weight: 0.50 carat
Color Grade: E
Clarity Grade: SI1
PROPORTIONS
Depth: 62.7%
Table: 58%
Girdle: Slightly Thick to Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
FINISH
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None
CLARITY CHARACTERISTICS
Twinning Wisp

PEAR BRILLIANT (2)

Measurements 6.78 x 4.41 x 2.75 mm
Carat Weight 0.50 carat
Color Grade E
Clarity Grade SI1
PROPORTIONS
Depth 62.4 %
Table 56 %
Girdle Slightly Thick to Extremely Thick, Faceted
Culet None
FINISH
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
FLUORESCENCE
Fluorescence None
CLARITY CHARACTERISTICS
Clarity Characteristics Feather, Crystal
 
Anyone out there? :wavey:
 
I have a pear diamond and in my opinion the shape and cut of the stone is the most important thing to assess - by eye.

When I say shape, I mean is the stone wide/fat or narrow/skinny, are the "shoulders" of the pear nicely rounded or are they squared off? Jessica Simpson's first engagement ring is a good example of a square shouldered pear. Cut is different, and will influence how much of a bow tie is seen. (A small bow tie is just fine IMHO).

I don't think that you need to go colorless DEF with a pear; you could go near colorless and get a larger stone. Mine is an H and it is quite white, even at the tip.

Good hunting ~
 
This is one of the best ASET's Idealscopes I've seen on a pear, faces up much larger and way below your budget.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5590/

I would not be that particular about clarity on a pear, as they hide imperfections well and on a stone that small you just will not be able to see them with the naked eye even a on an I1 that has no dark carbon inclusions.

I would look for a larger stone with a lower color that is well cut and has the best ASET.

Here are some on JA, they will do 3 ASETs for you. Do you like chubby pears or slender pears. The F I1 is the least expensive and the inclusions are not that evident even under that magnification. When on a small budget I would not worry so much about clarity, polish, and symmetry. Go for size as an half carat stone is really small on the finger. My fav. is the G SI1 cause I like chubby pears but don't know the cost in GBP.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/pear-shaped/?CaratFrom=0.72&CaratTo=0.92&PriceFrom=400&PriceTo=999000&Sort=Price%20asc%20,DefaultOrder&TabSelected=3&ps=15&DiamondID=131552,89879,219011,31751,31747

Are you going to halo it? If not you definitely can find a larger pear within your budget.
 
Here is an antique pear shaped pendant haloed with sapphires. It is not a pear shaped diamond but a total of over .8c's of diamonds set to look like a pear shape. The largest stone being .5c OEC and the other diamond is .3c PLUS surrounding diamonds...so you have more than .8c's total. Interesting and would make into a lovely ring and a big statement on the finger as well. The price is very reasonable especially for a .5 c OEC IMO. ($500 if no one else bids) The diamonds look bright and white.

Just another idea on a budget. You might watch ebay and other 2nd hand sites to get a larger pear for the $$. Antique rings are very popular now. This antique pendant made into a ring would be gorgeous IMO.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-White-Gold-Diamond-and-Sapphire-Pear-shaped-Pendant-/161032445075?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257e481c93
 
Thanks for your replies guys..

The issue with the size is that my gf doesnt want a larger stone she tried a 0.75 and 0.80 and prefered the smaller stone..

I'm going back to the jewellery quater this weekend to look at the stones again, I suppose my main questions are should i go for better clarity and colour or stick to the stone with the 2 excellents..

What makes the stone sparkle and have fire?

There were a few stones I viewed but i dont have the GIA numbers, one was a:-

0.52ct
Colour D
Clarity VS2
18ct white gold setting

£1200

People keep saying these are high prices, but after visiting shops on the jewellery quater these are cheap in comparison. I have been quoted form 1 shop:-

0.50ct
Si1 Clarity
D colour
Excellent Symmetry
Excellent Polish
Palladium setting

£1350


I realise I can order cheaper stones from the states, but I want to view the stone before I buy..

As my gf doesnt want a large stone i want to get her the best quality stone for my budget.
 
Seeing the stones in person is your best way to pick a diamond. Pick the one that stands out to your eye and she will love it. The best stone may not have the best specs....color, clarity, symmetry or polish. CUT IS KING, not color and clarity. Watch some of the educational videos on GoodOldGold.com. You can have a lower color and clarity stone that faces up brighter and whiter because of the ideal cut, but with pear shapes you have to see them in person. You are on the right track. Trust your eyes.
 
Thanks Ariel, such a hard thing to buy with so many options.

Am i correct in saying the the cut/symmetry/polish are the attributes that give it sparkle and fire?
 
Peggy08|1369852497|3455783 said:
Thanks Ariel, such a hard thing to buy with so many options.

Am i correct in saying the the cut/symmetry/polish are the attributes that give it sparkle and fire?

I wouldn't worry so much about polish and symmetry either..If you take a look at the pears on GOG for most of them they aren't graded with polish and symmetry for some reason. And the ones that are are VG/G. They purchase stones for their inventory based on performance and sometimes offer estate pieces.

Many PSr's like to see a smaller table on most stones which can add to it having a higher crown which can add to the beauty of a stone. It seems like the stones you posted had smaller TABLES which is nice.

Have you called around to some of the antique jewelry stores to see if they have any pear rings for comparison?

Here is a great learning video on pear shapes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0uIKhU5yvc
 
I meant smaller tables which produces a higher crown...sorry for the error...I just edited it out.
 
The problem is that nothing written in the lab report tells you and I about whether it will sparkle or leak light or show a bow tie or anything like that. You MUST be able to see the diamond in person and observe it under various lighting.
 
Hi and thanks for your advice.

I did see the diamond last Saturday and it certainly had a sparkle.

What other lights should I ask to view it from/under, plus is there anything else I should ask ?

(Thanks for your reply to Ariel)
 
Peggy08|1369903382|3456199 said:
Hi and thanks for your advice.

I did see the diamond last Saturday and it certainly had a sparkle.

What other lights should I ask to view it from/under, plus is there anything else I should ask ?

(Thanks for your reply to Ariel)

Jewelers usually light their shops so that stones SPARKLE. Ask the jewelers to show you it in the sun and, if they have an office, just straight up fluorescent/incandescent lighting. This is where you can really see how a stone performs. You're not always going to be in ideal jewelry store lighting. You want her to be happy sitting at her desk or driving around or having a coffee at the cafe.

Find the ideal proportions for your eyes. Pears come in slender and pointy or bulgy and soft (and all the way between). I happen to like slender and pointy, while industry standards are a softer slightly more pillowy stone.

IMO the best stone for your budget and what she wants would be an F/G VS2/SI1 that has a pleasing shape. Your best option would be to have a selection (5 at the most) side by side and viewed in the three different lighting situations I described earlier. Once you narrow it down to the best three to your eye, then start looking at the certs. Certs are only good for resale/insurance purposes. If the three perform equally and are within, say 100 pounds of each other, choose the best combination of Color and Clarity.

That's how I would do it. Your mileage may vary
 
The reason people are saying that the prices seem high is because they more than likely include VAT @ 20%. Knock that off and the prices might seem more comparable to US prices.

We bought my engagement ring from www.77diamonds.com but there's also www.bluenile.com to consider. I suggest looking at these for an idea of the price and it'll give you a better bargaining position if you can say with certainty that there's a similar one for a cheaper price. Remember to add VAT on Blue Nile when you're browsing, as they do it at the end when it's in your basket.

You can get a GIA certified 0.5 carat H VS2 pear with platinum setting for £1249.20 at the minute.
 
Thanks for your replies, definately going to check the stones in te sunlight and normal lighting.

Thanks for the heads up in the ring at £1249, looking at the specs of that stone compared to the one I'm looking at, I'm quite happy.

0.5ct
Colour E
Clarity SI1
Double excellent
Platinum band ( if I can barter well enough)

£1185

Well I'm goin to view the stone's tomorrow and make a decision.

Anymore advice or things to look for would be much appreciated

Thanks

Neil
 
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