Upgrade research: Lazare and pear (Lazare vs ACA?)

[Hayley87]

I've been popping into local jewelers here and there for the last couple months to look at styles and shapes as I try to decide how to upgrade my ER for our 10th anniversary in a couple years (yeah, I'm starting the research early ). I'm trying to get a sense of what shape I like on my hand (even though my fingers are all 38-weeks-pregnant-puffy right now, so it's not super accurate I suppose), and I'm determined to make my new ER work with my original wedding band.

I've had a hard time finding OECs/OMCs locally: one jeweler had a few small ones, but in those sizes, it was difficult to even differentiate their faceting from that of an MRB.

Yesterday, I went to a very popular local jewelry chain I'd never visited. While they carry some really nice mount brands, they also have a lot of "maul" jewelry. It was a mixed bag in there. But they actually had a pear solitaire, which I haven't seen anywhere so far (they've all had halos, and I'm more of a solitaire girl). Granted that it's a poorly-cut one with a very dark bowtie, but I think pears are still in the running for me.


Next, I went to one of the luxury local jewelers, hoping they'd have something approaching a WF ACA. The sales rep talked my ear off (he didn't seem to notice that I kept finishing his sentences during the mini-education he was trying to give me about MRBs...thanks, PS! ), but at least they had some Lazare MRBs to try on. Cut certainly makes a difference! This is a 1 carat, but it seemed larger to me.



Granted that I've never seen an ACA in person, but the Lazare seemed less well-cut than the ACAs I've seen photos of on PS. I asked the jeweler what the Lazare cost (since I have ACA prices memorized by specs at this point ), and the Lazare was WAY more expensive than an ACA of comparable specs. What gives? Name branding? B&M costs vs online retailer?

Anyway, thanks for reading my rambling this far if you have. Happy Saturday, all!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

B&M versus online is why there's a difference in cost. You're wise to start early so you have time to really think through what you want. But even then, we are known to change our minds because there are new a beautiful things posted here all the time!

Just for future reference, posts about diamond or setting shopping go in Rocky Talky. Finished jewelry you want to show off goes in this one!

 

[Hayley87]

Thanks, DS! I wish WF included pears in their in-house/lifetime upgrade policy because that would make deciding between the two cuts so much less stressful!

My mistake on the forum: I though RT was for pre-set stones and SMTB was for anything complete. I'll ask the mods to move it

 

[LLJsmom]

I've seen a number of lazare's IRL. To me, they just didn't impress much. I felt like I have seen GIA 3Xs that were brighter, livelier and prettier than those, not to mention a WF ACA. I think it's just that the mall stores don't know or have access or don't care to try to carry the really well cut brands. Whatever. I've given up trying to understand. I usually don't even try to look at mall store diamonds. They would turn me off diamonds more than make me want to buy any.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It is extremely hard to find a pear that would have anywhere near the light performance of an ACA as far as modern cuts go. That would be my hesitation. Finding one, and then if you every wanted something different, the pear will be harder to sell or else sell for less than a H&A round would.

 

[Hayley87]

I've seen a number of lazare's IRL. To me, they just didn't impress much. I felt like I have seen GIA 3Xs that were brighter, livelier and prettier than those, not to mention a WF ACA. I think it's just that the mall stores don't know or have access or don't care to try to carry the really well cut brands. Whatever. I've given up trying to understand. I usually don't even try to look at mall store diamonds. They would turn me off diamonds more than make me want to buy any.

That's how I felt. The store that carried the Lazares is one of the nicer stores in town, but I was underwhelmed by the stone and felt the arrows weren't even particularly noticeable.

It is extremely hard to find a pear that would have anywhere near the light performance of an ACA as far as modern cuts go. That would be my hesitation. Finding one, and then if you every wanted something different, the pear will be harder to sell or else sell for less than a H&A round would.

Yes, I'm coming to that realization. I really love the less common shape of pears (and the lower cost is nice!), but it's a hard sell when up against an H&A.