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Rose Gold Diamond Color Issues

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billmill

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 18, 2017
Messages
40
Hello All,

I'm sure this question has been asked on here before, but I am currently having some tough decisions!

Background: My lovely lady and I have been together for 5+ years and we have shared all of the decisions/expenses in that time. We've always been a bit poor since she was going to college while I worked. Well, she finished her degree and started working so now we have two incomes (YEAH!). She has also always been extremely frugal! Ever since I've known her she has always tried to find ways to save money (not wanting brand name items, shopping at thrift stores or discount stores for clothes and other items, saying things are good enough, etc,.) Which is very nice on the wallet, but I wish that sometimes she would splurge on herself. So...that brings us to today. I am now finally trying to purchase an engagement ring and we are hoping to get married sometime next year.

Engagement Ring/Wedding Band: I've received input over the years and know that she is a size 6, she wants a simple solitaire, and she is a red head. I really like the way rose gold looks on her and have told her that I'm getting her rose gold (which she is okay with). I've decided on the following setting: https://www.jamesallen.com/engageme...olitaire-engagement-ring-six-prong-item-41299

I've also received input that she likes the following type of wedding bands (not sold on either type yet).
https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...-stone-diamond-wedding-ring-55-ctw-item-59151

https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...ional-slightly-curved-wedding-ring-item-51355

I have narrowed diamonds down to round brilliant, 1.5 carat or better, VS2 clarity or better, with GIA ratings of excellent cut, polish, and symmetry. With this comes of course price and color. Naturally cheaper is better, but I don't want to be horribly cheap. Now here comes the dilemma...what color stone to get??? A few things to mention and consider:

1) It is a rose gold solitaire engagement ring so lower/warmer colors should look just fine (or so I'm told).
2) The wedding band with diamonds on it might be of a brighter color than the solitaire I'm picking...would this cause problems with the look of the ring?
3) I'm considering colors from G-K. Of course, I have only one G that meets my criteria and budget constraints.
4) If I go with a K color, VS1, that meets all of my constraints I can go with a higher carat (1.7 carat or better) for the same cost of an H color, VS1, 1.5 carat...which should I do there?
5) Is VS2 good? As in "eye clean" and nice overall or should I avoid it?
5) She knows I'm searching...when you live together you can only hide things so much. :) Anyway, I asked her what she would prefer about color and size. I mentioned that I could find a 1 carat in an H color for the same price as a bigger diamond in a J or K color and asked which she would prefer? To this her response was very cute! She smiled, gave me a sweet/tantalizing look, and said "Bigger is nice."

...So what should I do? I've attached links to diamonds to explain and give an idea of what I am talking about.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3651862

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3605333

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...g-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3593408

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3647829

Any and all help/replies are appreciated!!!
 
What is your final, all in buget? Btw...don't buy her a wedding band now. Let her get to know her ring and see what she likes then. I also prefer the petite flower and modern tulip settings. More graceful and feminine.
Item-50164
item-50763
 
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Random note: the G is the first Ekati diamond I am seeing at JA & it is nice ... please note the 'strong blue' fluorescence.

Another note: I do not know by heart if any of the rings / diamonds / settings now listed for sale here might meet your criteria - they are usually rather excellent ... Take a look.

Second @rockysalamander re. distracting band choice ...

Lastly: SI1, methinks ... It would be nice to let her see diamond colour grades in person. K & beyond need to be seen, simply because seeing tint in diamonds is a matter of taste complicated by the tradition of WHITE !
 
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Out of a quick search:

2 carat J / SI1 seems possible, if J is OK.

I looked for an I VS2-SI1 & ended with this - WWW (HCA 1.7)

2c
 
Haha bigger is nice - and when you explain how you got the way bigger one for the price of a much smaller one, she'll appreciate the economy of that logic :)

VS stones will likely be eye clean so no worries there. An I-K will likely face up pretty white (presuming well cut). Slight tint may be visible from the side. Though with six prongs, maybe not.

That stone in my avatar is probably a K (ungraded, but compared to AGS I and J stones) in a rose gold shank and the head is unplated white gold (both 14K).

The band stones can be within a couple color grades and look fine. The five stone you linked is really pretty, but the way the stones have the prongs on the north/south, they may bump against the engagement ring, creating a gap. Not wrong or right, but some people have a strong preference for one look over another. The plain band would likely sit flush, but is much more plain. Perhaps, after you nail down the engagement ring, you let her have a say in the band?

Here is my band (f-g stones) with my ring. I actually have a few bands that I like to switch around :lol:
IMG_5826.JPG
IMG_5829.JPG
IMG_5830.JPG
 
rockysalamander said:
What is your final, all in buget? Btw...don't buy her a wedding band now. Let her get to know her ring and see what she likes then. I also prefer the petite flower and modern tulip settings. More graceful and feminine.
Item-50164
item-50763
Click to expand...

I looked at both of those settings and liked them, but I was worried that the extra material may not let enough light in on the diamond...what do you think?
 
valeria101 said:
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Random note: the G is the first Ekati diamond I am seeing at JA & it is nice ... please note the 'strong blue' fluorescence.

Another note: I do not know by heart if any of the rings / diamonds / settings now listed for sale here might meet your criteria - they are usually rather excellent ... Take a look.

Second @rockysalamander re. distracting band choice ...

Lastly: SI1, methinks ... It would be nice to let her see diamond colour grades in person. K & beyond need to be seen, simply because seeing tint in diamonds is a matter of taste complicated by the tradition of WHITE !
Click to expand...

So the other setting/ring choices are better you think?

I'll have to look on here.

Yep...maybe I should have her look at the color of diamonds in person!
 
BTW, thank you everyone for your responses and for being so quick!

My ultimate price would be $13K. I'd prefer to stay around 10K or less though.
 
ringo865 said:
Haha bigger is nice - and when you explain how you got the way bigger one for the price of a much smaller one, she'll appreciate the economy of that logic :)

VS stones will likely be eye clean so no worries there. An I-K will likely face up pretty white (presuming well cut). Slight tint may be visible from the side. Though with six prongs, maybe not.

That stone in my avatar is probably a K (ungraded, but compared to AGS I and J stones) in a rose gold shank and the head is unplated white gold (both 14K).

The band stones can be within a couple color grades and look fine. The five stone you linked is really pretty, but the way the stones have the prongs on the north/south, they may bump against the engagement ring, creating a gap. Not wrong or right, but some people have a strong preference for one look over another. The plain band would likely sit flush, but is much more plain. Perhaps, after you nail down the engagement ring, you let her have a say in the band?

Here is my band (f-g stones) with my ring. I actually have a few bands that I like to switch around :lol:
IMG_5826.JPG
IMG_5829.JPG
IMG_5830.JPG
Click to expand...


Wow! That is a lovely set you have there! Thank you for the picture reference! Also, the advice about the prongs being north/south is very helpful! Thank you!

My apologies to all! We plan on shopping together for the wedding bands. I just asked for her input into style that she may like. My concern was the solitaire possible being overshadowed by diamonds in a wedding band.
 
billmill said:
I looked at both of those settings and liked them, but I was worried that the extra material may not let enough light in on the diamond...what do you think?
Click to expand...
Non issue for modern diamonds. They only accept light from the top.
 
billmill said:
So the other setting/ring choices are better you think?
Click to expand...

The JA ring is unobjectionable. There is 'better' - subtler Pt. prongs would be nice.
 
Gotta kick my kid off the computer and can post options...
 
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Findings:

2 cts J - SI2 (HCA 0.7)

Nevermind what I said about two carats, jus this once: 1.8 cts E - SI2 (HCA 1.4) 'Strong Blue' Fluorescence

The clarity characteristics of the J seem obviously OK. The E is interesting - there are many small crystals etc. that, from my side of the screen, do not seem to interfere with the overall crystalline look of the stone; I would wish to check, however. I had not expected anything acceptable from the D-F range on the list, the couple of G-I failed the HCA by too much etc.

Of course, JA is just one shop. I have not looked anywhere else.
 
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She just got home so I may be away for a bit. Loving the suggestions though!

Also.... really confused....i thought with bigger diamonds you wanted better clarity? Wouldn't SI anything be non eye clean
 
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Would prefer much thinner prongs, which means a custom setting these days (1.5-2K & several weeks).

However, the respective object must be the most common off the rack solitaire any jeweler can pull for you from one of the many catalogues of parts & semi-finished goods out there (ref. Stuller), to which kind f product, the jeweler contributes the setting job & the finish of prongs, metal surface & such ... which details do make a difference too.
 
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Not sure where you heard those things about SI ...
 
Okay.... so different setting. Got it. ;)

VS2 can still be seen by the naked eye by some people. I know that I'm very particular and that I'll inspect it thoroughly with my eyes only. If I see anything that I don't like it will always "haunt" me. Kind of like how a carpenter builds a gorgeous house, but only sees the imperfections

So any recommendations on settings then? Also, I didn't know that thinner prongs were an option. Would a different setting be better or just thinner prongs
 
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About clarity ... perhaps I am very tolerant to 'clarity characteristics', since I find them rather interesting - details of crystal growth, subtle effects from the very pervasive, faint ones, & such.

I am not sure what to prescribe for SI2 tolerance-building: perhaps a dozen high resolution videos of I1s ? (half kidding - I do have fun with those: a virtual dictionary of GIA clarity grading terminology .-) ) The videos do show much more than I expect to see, of course.

I feel that the E could pass the eye-only test - since no inclusion is visible. The single inclusion that must be a visible as a dot in the J, would end up close to the tip of a prong - I'd say it would be difficult to locate in the set stone; of course, having a single major inclusion means that the rest of the stone has none [this one seems to be a trio of included diamond crystals - a nice 'landscape' of rocks, that I cannot quite tell apart in the 40X video I have just opened]

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Re. setting ...

I would stay with a simple solitaire, if a finely made one. Other choices are very personal (there are threads of dozens of pages debating custom settings !) - that is to say, perhaps her choice. IHMO, do this www or 'Jovyn' - or some other setting that will dissapear itself from view & let just the stone be seen ... & a diamond band, if there is to be one.

-

Of course, there is a good deal of 'I' in everything I am writing ! Bias ...
 
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In any case. between 1.5 & 1.7 cts & around 12K there is every choice - E/VS, H/VVS - no comment needed either for colour or clarity in such things. I would be looking for HCA, the symmetry & definition of the 'arrows' pattern & no more ...

Prices are not that consistent.
 
I'm going to suggest you don't focus on the grading as VS or SI, but rather if the stone is eyeclean. The kind and placement of inclusion is more important that the actual grading. Have a look at the below, which include valeria101's suggestions.

Your picks
#1) The inclusions here would be too visible for me. The table is 57%, which is nice. One of the arrows is out of parallel with the others and that lack of precision would bug me.

#2) Pretty stone with a lot of life. I am generally not a fan of K-color (this is totally personal; I tend to stick to D-I and L-Z). But, it is large and I think well-faceted. The 36 degree CA may impact the performance. 8.25 mm

#3) Clean diamond and I love the G color. But, like #1, one of the arrows is off.

#4) Really nice balance of color and clarity. 7.38 mm.

#6) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...j-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3681026 (posted by @valeria101, large and looks to be an eyeclean SI2 J. Good numbers. 8.23 mm}

#7) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...e-color-si2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3417926 {@valeria101. Nice stone, but I'm not sure that central inclusion will be sufficiently eye-clean. Otherwise like it a lot. Strong flour, just need to confirm it has no impact on the stone which while rare is worth asking. 7.78 mm).

# 8 )ttps://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.66-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3160871 {safe color and clarity. The crown angle is a bit steeper than I prefer, but it is well-paired by the Pav angle. Hard to say if this will have a good IS or not, 7.59 mm}

#9) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2395672 {really nice angles. Very clean and white. I like this a lot. 7.55 mm}**

#10) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...rat-i-color-vs2-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-3160823 {really nice angles. I color and very clean. 7.47 mm}

I'd eliminate 1 & 3. #2 and #6 are both the largest. So, this will come down to a choice of preferred color. Most people can detect color starting at an I. I would only by a K if she has seen them and does not mind the tint. If #6 is confirmation by the JA gemologist as eyeclean and a good Idealscope image (IS), this might be a good choice. After that, I like #9 & 10 more than 4 as they have a smaller table and lower Crown angle that tend to yield more fire. If your GF is good with a J or K, then #2 and 6 would be good to pursue. Otherwise, I'd focus on 9 and 10.

With JA, you can put up to three diamonds on a free 48 hour hold and then request an Idealscope image. 9 & 10 are the only ones on this list that are safe enough angles that I'd be willing to buy without an IS if JA cannot produce one. They will, however, only give 3 IS images per email, so bear that in mind.

With body color in diamonds, it is most visible from a 45 degree tilt to the side view. So, choosing a more complex gallery and 6-prong will make that side view less visible. That is good. Thus, the two settings I suggested with white prongs on a RG ring would be better than masking the side view than your choices and they are more feminine.

Give us some feedback when she's not around...
 
Funny...I looked at the tulip setting and some other photos that I saw online...now it looks really nice. :) I couldn't find any other photos of the petite flower setting though.

I gotcha about the inclusions. I see that while I thought I was pretty far along in my search, apparently I'm not. :) and :(
 
billmill said:
Funny...I looked at the tulip setting and some other photos that I saw online...now it looks really nice. :) I couldn't find any other photos of the petite flower setting though.

I gotcha about the inclusions. I see that while I thought I was pretty far along in my search, apparently I'm not. :) and :(
Click to expand...
You are doing great. There is a lot to learn. Your ahead of the game by getting us to help!
 
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Will try to open in Google Drive - tomorrow (gottago)

Question: might this be big enough ? www - we've been scrimping grades for a little mass ...

& setting: www
 
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Going to throw a Super Branded AGS000 (graded to have Ideal light return, symmetry and polish) A Cut Above stone out there. K colored...
Be sure to watch the video...
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3872117.htm

Settings
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...onal-round-solitaire-engagement-ring-5051.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...tche-venus-solitaire-engagement-ring-4660.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...n-g-mr2948-solitaire-engagement-ring-5085.htm

WF has an awesome upgrade policy if in the future she decides she wants to go bigger or up color. Just pick a new stone that cost more than
your current stone. With other vendors you have to spend 2X your original stone cost.

Edit ...

J stone
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3823435.htm
I stones
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3855518.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3667820.htm
 
Wow! Y'all are really amazing!

Okay...so, I definitely want to stick with rose gold. I also like the 6 prong instead of the 4 prong. Unless there is some really unique style. I'm also kind of shocked about some of the diamonds y'all found and how nice they are!

Whiteflash is a really nice website. So is Brian Gavin. I'm trying to stick with James Allen though because I received a store credit card through them. Though I must say that Whiteflashes upgrade policy is REALLY good!!! I like that they post "eye clean" on their reviews too. Though, Rocky Salamander...you said to watch the video. Granted I can see a yellowish tint when it is not directly viewed on the diamond...I also see a beautiful sparkling diamond. :) Makes me more confused as to how K color actually looks.

Okay, so I was asking if y'all had excel because I worked on a file of diamonds last night. Though I don't know how to put it on here so y'all can access it? Let me know how and what you think about the file. I think two of the diamonds referenced in prior posts are on this, but some aren't. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
 
I would go with white flash or Brian Gavin. Much better stones. You will never regret getting the best cut, no matter what size you choose. I think you could get financing through either of them if that is what you wanted.
 
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