Update

[Odilia]

Went to Martin Fuller yesterday for an appraisal. He will give me the final written-up appraisal, probably tomorrow. He did find stong blue fluorescence on 2 of the sidestones, which possibly could account for their different appearance? Of course with diamonds that are set, he can''t assess the color & quality as well as if they were loose, but generally they seemed to be H color and he said "above average cut" - didn''t say near ideal but whatever.. But in any case they still appear different colors to my eyes, and I still see those dark spots*. So the next step is to send the appraisal to Quest, and work on hopefully making the diamonds match better if possible. For now I am thinking of just holding off on deciding about the hinged shank; give it another chance and watch to see if it deforms again. One thing at a time.

Next week DH has vacation scheduled (well, he does this week as well, but we''re using it up on trying to finally get his Aunt''s house ready to sell to pay for her care, which we''ve been CONSUMED w/ the past 8 months, and then fly to OH to work on his Dad''s estate, all of which has been very stressful and which is why I do NOT have time to work on jewelry!), but I sure could use a real vacation. Just wish the stupid ring was finished beforehand, which obviously will not happen. So that was a longwinded way of saying, none of this will happen fast.


*not like inclusions; the kind of dark spots that diamonds can have when you turn them different ways, but I see them so clearly when looking straight down at the ring, I suppose it must be the way the diamonds are situated. Never see them in a Scott Kay ring under the same conditions. So I guess it''s another pitfall of going custom. Who would have thought diamonds could look so odd just by how they are situated in the ring? At least the ring looks pretty if I hold it at just the right angle.

 

[Ellen]

O, did he give an overall impression of the ring? And please refresh my memory, what color and cut were the side stones supposed to be?

 

[mrssalvo]

well, i''ll be interested to hear what Martin says. he''s appraised a few Quest pieces so he''s familiar with the quality of their work.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 12:16:30 PM
Author: Ellen
O, did he give an overall impression of the ring? And please refresh my memory, what color and cut were the side stones supposed to be?

He said it was pretty. He didn't comment on workmanship quality, really. He did seem to think that I shouldn't have gone with a hinged shank, as he has seen problems with them. (but again, I tried to ask about all the potential pitfalls beforehand, plus I probably would have bought an off-the-shelf ring at much lower cost had I known for sure that hinged shank wouldn't work, but whatever...) He seemed to think the diamonds are in spec, which was H, SI1. He didn't seem to see any significant difference in color between them, just the difference in fluorescence. I asked about the dark spots, and he just brushed that aside because diamonds do look different as the light changes. What bothers me is that they are so pronounced from the top-down, and something I have never noticed in other rings under the same conditions. In fact, when I look at other rings w/ sidestones, I have a hard time making them display those dark shadows. I don't know why I didn't notice them sooner, but I am slow; probably wouldn't have made a difference anyway. But anyway, getting back to your question, he just measures, to the best that he can, whether the ring is platinum, whether my center stone matches my AGS certificate, and to the best that he can, specs of the mounted sidestones. And overall it seems to meet spec, I think. (Other than cut quality, don't know how much he could tell mounted, but he said at one point, "above average". They were supposed to be near-ideal to ideal. Not sure how far off "above average" is, if at all.? (When I talk to him I'll have to remember to ask him that. )

And he couldn't say much about whether the semi-bezels need to cover so much of the diamonds for security, not being a jewelry maker.

I had tons of questions, but a lot of them he couldn't answer definitively.

 

[Ellen]

Well, if the stones are bothering you, whether anyone else sees it or not, I''d ask Pete to try and find substitutes. And who knows, maybe Pete will see it too.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 12:48:44 PM
Author: Ellen
Well, if the stones are bothering you, whether anyone else sees it or not, I''d ask Pete to try and find substitutes. And who knows, maybe Pete will see it too.

Yes, in fact Martin recommended that maybe we should just try to hand-pick 4 new diamonds that definitely match in every way. Not sure if it would solve the ''dark shadows'' problem, but hopefully it would at least help the other problems. Hopefully like you said, Pete might see it too, and be able to resolve it.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/6/2008 12:57:45 PM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Yes, in fact Martin recommended that maybe we should just try to hand-pick 4 new diamonds that definitely match in every way. Not sure if it would solve the ''dark shadows'' problem, but hopefully it would at least help the other problems. Hopefully like you said, Pete might see it too, and be able to resolve it.

Probably not a bad idea.

 

[strmrdr]

I think I''m a little late coming into this but do you have pic showing the dark shadows and what lighting are they visible in?
Better cut stones will sometimes look darker body wise in sunlight so it may be the better cut quality that is causing what you are seeing.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 1:36:01 PM
Author: strmrdr
I think I'm a little late coming into this but do you have pic showing the dark shadows and what lighting are they visible in?
Better cut stones will sometimes look darker body wise in sunlight so it may be the better cut quality that is causing what you are seeing.

Thanks, strmrdr. I have trouble capturing it with a camera; I ought to try to draw it. I will post a few pictures where I tried to show it. They are to the left side of the diamonds on the left (and to the right on the diamonds on the right, when the diamonds are both there! ). It is evident in most lighting - room, sunshine, etc. This picture doesn't show it exactly as it shows IRL but it's the best I can do for now, and it gives some idea.

 

[Odilia]

I will try another that again, doesn't show it perfectly, but a little:

(In the picture, my center stone also has lots of dark, kindof almost like dark arrows, but IRL the center stone just looks nice & bright; but the dark shadows on the left of the left sidestones, plus to the rt of the rt sidestones, are very distinct - more distinct, really, than in the picture. They are more like dark "spots" - but it's the same effect.)

 

[Odilia]

Still can't seem to get a photo of what it looks like IRL, but I'll try again, although this is similar to those I already posted. When I look straight down, I see my pretty diamond in the center, with no darkness (as it may seem to have in the photo), but then on the sidestones, I see very distinct dark spots/shadows to their sides.

 

[strmrdr]

it looks like this?

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 2:35:04 PM
Author: strmrdr
it looks like this?

No, not that distinct. The dark spots are larger than that, and localized - i.e. there are not really multiple dark spots, and they are more round. I will try to draw it. This is terrible, but I don''t have time to do a better one.

 

[strmrdr]

if you rotate the ring around your finger do they go change and eventualy go away?

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 3:00:02 PM
Author: strmrdr
if you rotate the ring around your finger do they go change and eventualy go away?

Yes, generally, or at least, in some cases, the darkness spreads over the entire diamond. For the larger sidestone, if I hold it in exactly a good position, it goes away. The smaller diamonds - it just sort of spreads and the whole diamond looks dark. Or, if I rotate the ring even further, it appears on the other side on the small diamond, if that makes sense.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 5/6/2008 3:12:18 PM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Date: 5/6/2008 3:00:02 PM
Author: strmrdr
if you rotate the ring around your finger do they go change and eventualy go away?

Yes, generally, or at least, in some cases, the darkness spreads over the entire diamond. For the larger sidestone, if I hold it in exactly a good position, it goes away. The smaller diamonds - it just sort of spreads and the whole diamond looks dark. Or, if I rotate the ring even further, it appears on the other side on the small diamond, if that makes sense.

yea I know what your talking about.
I think this is one for Garry.
I will drop him an email.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 3:32:07 PM
Author: strmrdr
yea I know what your talking about.
I think this is one for Garry.
I will drop him an email.

Thanks! I do appreciate all the help. And another professional opinion is always helpful.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

OFG, I don''t have any real advice for your ring I just wanted to say hi. Sorry you have had such a tough year. I hope everything gets sorted out quickly so you can come hang out with us again

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 1:34:21 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 5/6/2008 12:57:45 PM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Yes, in fact Martin recommended that maybe we should just try to hand-pick 4 new diamonds that definitely match in every way. Not sure if it would solve the ''dark shadows'' problem, but hopefully it would at least help the other problems. Hopefully like you said, Pete might see it too, and be able to resolve it.

Probably not a bad idea.

Yes, it doesn''t sound like a bad idea, although after all this I don''t even have confidence that they would look the same, even if we did that. I don''t know that I''d see the difference with them loose? I am so not a diamond expert; I just know when I wear this ring I see such differences, and maybe it''s because of how they''re situated? Or other features of the ring? I am so weary of this thing I could scream.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 9:54:48 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
OFG, I don''t have any real advice for your ring I just wanted to say hi. Sorry you have had such a tough year. I hope everything gets sorted out quickly so you can come hang out with us again

Thanks, Tacori! I really appreciate it. It has been a tough couple of years actually, and that''s why I never had time to really decide on this ring and get it done, so in January I thought, I better get it done now before things go haywire again, and here they are so swamped again, and I have NO time to be working on this, but I have to to get it fixed. I haven''t been feeling well either, and this isn''t helping any. Ugh. I can''t wait to get it fixed and everything resolved, and then I feel like I never want to buy another piece of jewelry again. (And given how expensive this mistake is getting, I won''t be able to!) I just wish I didn''t have this hanging over my head for vacation next week. I hope I can just relax.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/7/2008 7:24:55 AM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Yes, it doesn''t sound like a bad idea, although after all this I don''t even have confidence that they would look the same, even if we did that. I don''t know that I''d see the difference with them loose? I am so not a diamond expert; I just know when I wear this ring I see such differences, and maybe it''s because of how they''re situated? Or other features of the ring? I am so weary of this thing I could scream.

I know.... But talk to Pete, ask him if it could be the design, or is it the diamonds. Just be adamant about what it does and how do you fix it.

And if you get to look at a bunch of diamonds (how fun!), just pay attention to them. See which ones look the brightest, have nice fire, are the sparkliest, even when you put them in a darker area like under a counter or shielding the light from them with your hand. They should still look alive, just "quieter". You''d be surprised how much you can actually notice, and the differences, once you really start focusing on them.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/7/2008 7:41:18 AM
Author: Ellen
I know.... But talk to Pete, ask him if it could be the design, or is it the diamonds. Just be adamant about what it does and how do you fix it.

And if you get to look at a bunch of diamonds (how fun!), just pay attention to them. See which ones look the brightest, have nice fire, are the sparkliest, even when you put them in a darker area like under a counter or shielding the light from them with your hand. They should still look alive, just ''quieter''. You''d be surprised how much you can actually notice, and the differences, once you really start focusing on them.

Thanks Ellen. Those are good tips. (especially since the words that started coming to my mind when I started noticing this was that the side diamonds looked "dead" and "dull".)

 

[Ellen]

You''re welcome O. Since you''ve got to keep on at this, try and make it challenging in a fun way.

 

[iheartscience]

I''m just seeing this-I''m sorry to hear that it still hasn''t worked out that well so far. Hopefully you''ll end up with a ring that you''re happy with, even though it''s been a hard road to get there.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/6/2008 3:32:07 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 5/6/2008 3:12:18 PM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Date: 5/6/2008 3:00:02 PM
Author: strmrdr
if you rotate the ring around your finger do they go change and eventualy go away?

Yes, generally, or at least, in some cases, the darkness spreads over the entire diamond. For the larger sidestone, if I hold it in exactly a good position, it goes away. The smaller diamonds - it just sort of spreads and the whole diamond looks dark. Or, if I rotate the ring even further, it appears on the other side on the small diamond, if that makes sense.

yea I know what your talking about.
I think this is one for Garry.
I will drop him an email.

Storm, did you happen to get any info from Garry?

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/9/2008 6:21:45 PM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Date: 5/6/2008 3:32:07 PM
Author: strmrdr

yea I know what your talking about.
I think this is one for Garry.
I will drop him an email.

Storm, did you happen to get any info from Garry?

Storm, I was just wondering if you got to email Garry about this, and got any info? Thanks!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 5/6/2008 11:02:12 AM
Author:old-fashioned girl



*not like inclusions; the kind of dark spots that diamonds can have when you turn them different ways, but I see them so clearly when looking straight down at the ring, I suppose it must be the way the diamonds are situated. Never see them in a Scott Kay ring under the same conditions. So I guess it''s another pitfall of going custom. Who would have thought diamonds could look so odd just by how they are situated in the ring? At least the ring looks pretty if I hold it at just the right angle.

Hi OFG

It is easier to work on your original thread i think.

I think you are seeing thru the back of the stone - normal for tilted stones.
An easy way to test this is grab a glass of water and lower the ring in and out of the water and see if the effect becomes more exaggerated - it should if I am right.
The image I made shows the same tolkowsky stone with and without a balck / white background. Naturally it is rather dark under those stones.


Any dirt will make things worse - even the very hard to get rid of grime because it raises the refractive index - lowers the chance light will bounce off the pavilion facets.

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/22/2008 10:20:54 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)
Hi OFG

It is easier to work on your original thread i think.

I think you are seeing thru the back of the stone - normal for tilted stones.
An easy way to test this is grab a glass of water and lower the ring in and out of the water and see if the effect becomes more exaggerated - it should if I am right.
The image I made shows the same tolkowsky stone with and without a balck / white background. Naturally it is rather dark under those stones.


Any dirt will make things worse - even the very hard to get rid of grime because it raises the refractive index - lowers the chance light will bounce off the pavilion facets.

Thanks Garry,
It does seem to be a little more exxagerated in water. So is there any remedy, other than cleaning? Does cut quality or any other factor help alleviate it? I guess I am wondering why I don''t see such a pronounced effect in other rings under the same conditions where the diamonds are tilted very similarly.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 5/23/2008 9:21:37 AM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Date: 5/22/2008 10:20:54 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)
Hi OFG

It is easier to work on your original thread i think.

I think you are seeing thru the back of the stone - normal for tilted stones.
An easy way to test this is grab a glass of water and lower the ring in and out of the water and see if the effect becomes more exaggerated - it should if I am right.
The image I made shows the same tolkowsky stone with and without a balck / white background. Naturally it is rather dark under those stones.


Any dirt will make things worse - even the very hard to get rid of grime because it raises the refractive index - lowers the chance light will bounce off the pavilion facets.

Thanks Garry,
It does seem to be a little more exxagerated in water. So is there any remedy, other than cleaning? Does cut quality or any other factor help alleviate it? I guess I am wondering why I don''t see such a pronounced effect in other rings under the same conditions where the diamonds are tilted very similarly.

The other rings were not dirty yet?
Yours may have larger tables?

Does your center stone show the same effect when you tilt it just as much?

 

[Odilia]

Date: 5/23/2008 4:44:26 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 5/23/2008 9:21:37 AM
Author: old-fashioned girl

Thanks Garry,
It does seem to be a little more exxagerated in water. So is there any remedy, other than cleaning? Does cut quality or any other factor help alleviate it? I guess I am wondering why I don''t see such a pronounced effect in other rings under the same conditions where the diamonds are tilted very similarly.

The other rings were not dirty yet?

Well, this ring does it when clean, so it doesn''t seem to be a function of dirt. Plus I have a diamond ring my aunt gave me, which still doesn''t do it when dirty.

Does your center stone show the same effect when you tilt it just as much?

No. If I tilt it WAY over, I might get a shadow of sorts, but nothing as distinct as on the small ones, and - I could put it this way:
For my center stone, and for diamonds in other rings, I have to try really hard to make the shadows, and might get something shadowy but not so much like a dark "spot".
For the side stones on my ring, I have to try really hard to make the spots go away. Almost like I have to be looking straight down at each individual diamond to make them go away.

That is how I would describe the difference between effects.

Yours may have larger tables?

Would the tables have to be exceptionally large?