Purchasing a diamond pendant--need input

[kimchi]

Hello everyone,

For my birthday, my dear husband gave me the funds to purchase a piece of jewelry, and I've decided on a diamond pendant. I love the bellerina pendant at Whiteflash and I want to do that in platinum. I have never had a piece of platinum jewelry and I would like it for the heft of the metal and it's purity. And because, well, I'm worth it, dangit! I want a pendant I can wear every day and then pass down.

However, I have also fallen deeply in love with the AV cushions at Good Old Gold. I could easily be persuaded into a 4 corners type setting for a pendant for a good AVC stone. However, my finances dictate that I can only afford about a half a carat, if that, depending on the stone.

I am not willing to settle for a mediocre stone, whatever my choice of pendants. I have some questions for all of you experts.

1) Can I find a half carat AVC at GOG that would be a statement as a pendant? I've been looking and the only ones I've seen so far are 1 carat and up--definitely beyond my means. But this may be my only chance ever to get one of these beauties for myself.

2) If I do the bellerina Whiteflash pendant, should I choose my own diamond or go with their H SI1 standard diamonds in the Ready Set to Go collections? These diamonds would be light years higher in quality than anything I've ever owned, so the issue is more perfection over price.

3) If you have bought the bellerina from Whiteflash, what were your choices on stone and why? Did you feel is was proporitonally perfect? If so, was that true with a half carat or with a larger stone?

4) Did you choose to go with a bail or a fixed stone? I've been through old pages here at Pricescope and seen the bellerina as a bail. I think I'd prefer it as a fixed piece.

5) What is the single most important thing to look for in a stone for a pendant? I am willing to go warmer--up to a J color. And I realize taht calrity is not as big an issue with a pendant as it is with a ring. But is there a perfect culet percentage I should look for? Is it finding an Ideal cut stone? Ideal symmetry?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Gypsy]

I would do a GIA Ex/Ex through Yekutiel at ID jewelry (unless WF will discount things if you buy both through them), cause I think that would eek out the most size and you just don't need super ideal precision hearts and arrow for a pendant IMO, you need LIGHT RETURN and performance. You can get that out of a GIA Ex/Ex and skip the hearts you can't see anyway. Even if you go with WF for the stone, I wouldn't pick an ACA or even an ES I would get a lovely GIA graded J color SI stone and get as large a stone as I could. It will be eons better than anything BUT a true ACA and get you size.

And I would get the Bellerina pendant. I too adore that design as well. It's substantial, original and once it has your heart I can't imagine getting tired of it. I think it will bring a smile to your face every time you see it.

A think the optics of the AVC's are impressive but if I was paying the money for that kind of mark up, I personally would want it on my hand. Plus it doesn't have the spread of an RB, or the boost of the bellerina.

 

[Dreamer_D]

1) Can I find a half carat AVC at GOG that would be a statement as a pendant? I've been looking and the only ones I've seen so far are 1 carat and up--definitely beyond my means. But this may be my only chance ever to get one of these beauties for myself.
I think in a halo or a nice milgrain bezel a half carat AVC would be a statement for sure. I know the common wisdom is that cushions face up smaller than rounds, but in my experience of comparing a similar carat weight AVC and RB, they looked about the same. LGK had the same expeirence. So a half carat AVC will look similar to a half carat RB. So when you are contemplating an AVC, don't get hung up on the measurements and just think of the carat weight, it will simplify things. That said, you need to decide which type of rock you want! My observation, again from comparing an ABC to an RB, is that AVC are much more muted in their optics. For me, that means I would not choose one for a pendant, which is by defintion about catching someones eye from afar! If you want chunky flashes, I would opt for an AVC. Or just get an RB and enjoy the headlight effect of a well cut RB.

2) If I do the bellerina Whiteflash pendant, should I choose my own diamond or go with their H SI1 standard diamonds in the Ready Set to Go collections? These diamonds would be light years higher in quality than anything I've ever owned, so the issue is more perfection over price.

What size are you considering for this project? I would personally opt for the uncerted melee stones in a heartbeat since I know that the ones offered by WF are top top quality. The only reason for a certed stone is if you want to upgrade, IMO, in this particular instrance.


5) What is the single most important thing to look for in a stone for a pendant? I am willing to go warmer--up to a J color. And I realize taht calrity is not as big an issue with a pendant as it is with a ring. But is there a perfect culet percentage I should look for? Is it finding an Ideal cut stone? Ideal symmetry?

If you opt for the ready-set-to-go, the diamond will be great looking you have no concern there. If you choose your own, I would completely be fine recommending you consider a J color stone and peraps even SI2 clarity if the right one came along. The other numbers are not worth obsessing over if you choose the right vendor. Both GOG and WF, and IDJ as Gypsy recommends, can stear you to a great rock. As a rule of thumb, AGS0 cut or GIA Ex with a good HCA score is sufficient. Or an idealsope image. We can help you assess your choice if you post here in this thread.

 

[Gypsy]

Uncerted through WF would be fine for me too. Forgot to include that.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'd be fine with uncerted, too, or a GIA excellent for a pendant. I'd probably stick with I color at the lowest, personally. I can see the tint in a J more easily.

I would consider an AVC for a pendant, but I think at a half carat, you'll get more impact from the rb.

 

[jstarfireb]

I'd be fine with uncerted, too, or a GIA excellent for a pendant. I'd probably stick with I color at the lowest, personally. I can see the tint in a J more easily.

I would consider an AVC for a pendant, but I think at a half carat, you'll get more impact from the rb.

Ditto; I had a J pendant and could see the color relatively easily after a while. I upgraded to a G. I also think AVCs of that size aren't really worth the markup. I'd go with the uncerted WF stone in a Bellerina. WF is one of the few jewelers I'd trust buying uncerted stones from.

 

[Chasiu]

I purchased a Bellerina pendant last year with an .617ct F SI1 ACA, in platinum and customized with a bale. You are asking a lot of questions I asked myself as well when I started the whole process! I had the same mindset too, it was my first (and only) piece of platinum jewelry, as well as very first loose diamond purchase, and I wanted to eventually pass it down.

2) If I do the bellerina Whiteflash pendant, should I choose my own diamond or go with their H SI1 standard diamonds in the Ready Set to Go collections? These diamonds would be light years higher in quality than anything I've ever owned, so the issue is more perfection over price.

Echoing what some other posters mentioned, I agree that you don't need to have an ACA or even ES for the pendant. While I love love love my stone (it gave off an awesome rainbow lightshow against the newspaper I was reading the other morning ), you don't need ideal proportions. In fact I think there have been threads before saying it's better to have shallower stones as they face up larger for the weight and light return wouldn't get affected as much by dirt as opposed to those closer to TIC range. Because of the style of the pendant, you can actually use an H&A viewer on both sides of the diamond, something I can't do with any of my other set stones!

3) If you have bought the bellerina from Whiteflash, what were your choices on stone and why? Did you feel is was proporitonally perfect? If so, was that true with a half carat or with a larger stone?

I wanted a stone that was at least half carat and G SI2 or above, and the F SI1 was the largest stone they had in their inventory at the time that was within my budget. The pendant itself is pretty hefty, I didn't want the stone to get lost in the metal.

4) Did you choose to go with a bail or a fixed stone? I've been through old pages here at Pricescope and seen the bellerina as a bail. I think I'd prefer it as a fixed piece.

I went with a single loop bale as I originally wanted the option of switching chains, and I have a 2 inch extender with the 16" chain. However, loop end of the clasp is a little too wide to pull through the bale! It's fine with me as I also have a habit of pulling pendants left and right while working so I didn't want a fixed pendant. If one day I really want to switch chains, well then I'll just have to remove the loop or something.

5) What is the single most important thing to look for in a stone for a pendant? I am willing to go warmer--up to a J color. And I realize that clarity is not as big an issue with a pendant as it is with a ring. But is there a perfect culet percentage I should look for? Is it finding an Ideal cut stone? Ideal symmetry?

When I was searching for my stone, there was a .611 J SI listed but it wasn't available yet (didn't even have pictures up) that cost $300 less -- but I really wanted a less tinted stone and didn't want to wait any longer. I have since purchased 3 other H&A diamonds, all J color (2 x.44 studs and my 1.23 engagement ring stone), but the F still mesmerizes me with its icy color; I'm soooo glad I splurged on that. Color is a personal choice, but I would say for pendants, size is more important than color or clarity. When I put the bellerina next to my Ering, the color difference is obvious but the bezel pendant makes it seem so much larger than I know it is.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the pendant itself or want to see pics!

 

[kimchi]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the good advice. I've written to Whiteflash and am waiting to hear back regarding one small item about the pendant and then I'll be ready to place an order.

I really appreciate all the time you've taken to be specific in your comments--they were all so helpful in my decision making process! Once I get the pendant in hand, I'll post some pictures.

 

[kimchi]

I agree, I think the AVC is best in a larger stone, and yes, I would want it where I could see it all the time. That was a really good point and one I hadn't considered. Thanks!