Should Side Stones Match Color of the Center Stone ???

[diamondmadness]

Hello,

I am getting this 3 stone setting. In the link here

http://www.shaneco.com/Jewelry-Catalog/Product-Detail.aspx?ST=Shop-All-Engagement&X=41054497

I asked the representative and he said the 2 Side stones and all other tiny stones are color G-H with Si1 to Si2 clarity.

I am getting a diamond of F color and VVS2 clarity in the center

Two different jewelers are telling me to custom design this ring so that they can put all matching stones so that the side stones match the center stone and that its important. Is this going to make a difference and impact me heavily if I don't follow this advice?

 

[Gypsy]

Within two color grades you are fine.

That said, you are wasting your money on VVS clarity for the center stone. You should get an AGS0 center (I assume you want a princess).

And yes, G-H color is fine for the sidestones if the center is a GIA or AGS F. But I would want eyeclean stones for the sidestones guaranteed.

And I would not shop at the Shane Company because their quality leaves a lot to be desired. They won't carry AGS0 princesses because they don't carry top of the line products.


The two other jewelers just want your business so they are making you paranoid.

 

[diamondmadness]

Within two color grades you are fine.

That said, you are wasting your money on VVS clarity for the center stone. You should get an AGS0 center (I assume you want a princess).

I do want princess, but I lost you when you said AGS0 center. I am planning on getting the excellent cut F VVS2. I hope that qualifies as AGS0 center.

And yes, G-H color is fine for the sidestones if the center is a GIA or AGS F. But I would want eyeclean stones for the sidestones guaranteed.

Thanks for the advice.

And I would not shop at the Shane Company because their quality leaves a lot to be desired. They won't carry AGS0 princesses because they don't carry top of the line products.

If you look at the link above to the item. What do you think could be added to improve the quality?

I also consider getting a custom ring designer to duplicate the ring above in that link but I fear they will not be able to flawlessly duplicate it, but maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

[Gypsy]

You aren't getting an excellent cut stone if you don't know what an AGS0 is.

You know why? Because only AGS grades princesses on cut. GIA does not. And anything other than AGS and GIA is a waste of money and a nice way to get yourself robbed.

Don't believe that "we hand select every stone to make sure we get the prettiest stones available anywhere" marketing from Shane Co. It's crap. If they had the best stones, with the best cut they'd send them to AGS for grading.

And AGS0 is a princess that has received the highest grade for light performance by AGS.

If someone is telling you the stone you have is excellent cut, then it better be an AGS0. Or they better be showing you an ASET scope.


As for F VVS. That doesn't mean it is going to be a nice stone. AND AGAIN you are wasting money on clarity you don't need. AT ALL. And anyone who tells you that you need VVS clarity is lying to you.

Shane Company has very average settings. They have good selection. But the actual quality is well... not very good. Their finish and their stone quality in their settings is poor. They way you can improve on them is to shop elsewhere.

You asked if you could get away with G-H SI-2 clarity. You can. That doesn't mean that it's good quality. The cut is what matters, and honestly you should be going for F/G eyeclean stones.

But explain something to me. If you think you need VVS2 clarity why are you okay with SI2 for the sidestones.

That makes no sense.

As for custom. True custom is a gamble.

Did your lady specify that she has to have that exact setting?

 

[kay1]

OP I think you should learn a bit more about diamonds before making this decision.

In short, you want a stone with a AGS or GIA certificate. Since you want a princess cut (and a lot of these can look awful if they have a bad cut) you should get one that has a AGS cert since only they rate grade princess on cut as gypsy said. On the cert itself the cut grade and light return are rated. You want one with a 0 rating which means it's light return is ideal.

Alternatively you can ask the vendor for an ASET image, and post it here, and we can help you interpret it.

In terms of colour and clarity, anything down to a H will look white once set, and even a I ir J can if the cut is great. For clarity a VS2 would nearly always be eye clean and fine. Below that you need the vendor to verify if it's eye clean.

I would go for a G/VS2 or a H/VS2 and spend the rest on a larger AGS0 diamond, or if you're willing to do a bit more legwork, in terms of asking vendors for ASET/eye clean you could get away with a GIA or AGS G/SI1 or H/SI1.

In the end a well cut diamond will look bright, bigger and whiter than a poorly cut one. And by dropping the clarity and colour to something you really won't be able to tell the difference with you can get something much bigger.

A small note on colour, make sure to go to a jeweler and see D to H colour stones before you make your decision. Look at the side by side and you'll see how little the difference is. Then look at them in isolation - can you tell which is which? I bet you can't

FYI instead of a G/VVS1 or H / IF or even a G / VS1 around 1.6 ct, I got a 2.43 / J / VS1 with great cut for a tiny bit more, and set in a custom halo, it should look perfectly white

 

[diamondmadness]

Where do I go to find AGS0 diamonds??? Every place I went to was using GIA mainly, or EGL.

 

[MarionC]

Do a search here https://www.pricescope.com/diamond-search-results
and check off the box for AGS. that should get you started and give you more information.

 

[Gypsy]

I recommend James Allen, Brian Gavin, and Whiteflash, High Performance Diamonds, and Good Old Gold. They all have very good sites with excellent customer service.

You can get a GIA princess. And then all you need is an ASET image of the light performance. And all those vendors I listed offer that.

What are you wanting and what is your budget? Do not buy EGL.

 

[diamondmadness]

I will definitely take a look at AGS0 diamonds some more.

Let me ask you this...if you were NOT comparing diamonds side by side...Can you tell the difference between an AGS0 and AGS1???

And even if you were comparing diamonds side by side, can you tell the difference between an AGS0 and AGS1???

Also, Gypsy, you said G-H is fine on side stones if the center is F. But actually I just found out that the side stones are actually G-I. So is that still ok if my center is an F???

 

[Roxy]

I will definitely take a look at AGS0 diamonds some more.

Let me ask you this...if you were NOT comparing diamonds side by side...Can you tell the difference between an AGS0 and AGS1???

And even if you were comparing diamonds side by side, can you tell the difference between an AGS0 and AGS1???

Also, Gypsy, you said G-H is fine on side stones if the center is F. But actually I just found out that the side stones are actually G-I. So is that still ok if my center is an F???

With an F center, I wouldn't feel comfortable w/ sidestones that could range from G-I. Personally, with an F I'd want to know that the immediate sidestones (the two on either side of center) were G's and the smaller melee were G-H. It's just my opinion, but for me G-I is too large of a range where the mix of stones/colors is unknown.

 

[AprilBaby]

Are they G or are they I? How will you know what you are paying for if they don't have papers or the jeweler doesn't know? Go with the AGS stones.