What color stones to make a D?

[Nicrez]

I meant: What color stones to MATCH a D color diamond...

My girlfriend just got engaged and she asked me (the Diamond Dork) to find out what kind of eternity band she should get to "match" her D, VVS2 1.03ct, princess in a lovely x-prong setting?




Some whacky lady told us today she needs to match the color (not clarity too), but with a D, who will carry a D colored princess enternity ring?! I told her F should be the highest, and maybe if they are well cut slightly lower, and I don't want her guy to break the bank, but what would you all suggest?

 

[sumi]

Well, if she is a color snob like you

she can always have an eternity band made with D stones.

 

[Nicrez]

Sadly, she's NOT a color snob...

Her guy is, but a D color eternity ring...?! OUCH!?




What's the lowest she can get away with?

 

[pauls girl]

My center stone is an E, and the diamonds surrounding the ring (pave set) are G, and honestly I can't tell the difference. They look completely white. Maybe if the pave diamonds were large I could, but I would think F or G would be fine. Has she gone into a B&M store to try on an eternity band? I know that when I went in to see how they looked, the color was generally G-H. This might be a good way for her to see if she sees any color difference, and if she does then she can go for a D-E-F eternity band. Personally, I wouldn't spend the money on D stones in my eternity band.

 

[valeria101]

Actually, for such small stones the total extra cost for top color is not going to brack the bank ! Melee diamonds would not come with precise color grades, but rather with a D-E or D-F label, and this is what I would go for. Given the not excessive cost of top color in this case, i'd just go for it: D-F, VS or better is it

snobisly or not... getting well cut small stones is much more of a problem (these are not often available) than getting top color-clarity.

For example... at 0.2cts apiece, one D-F/VVS would be about $270, D-F/VS about 230, H-J/VS about 200. I should note that an "I" color grade for this size would usually mean one grade off one way or another by a random distribution (hence the H-J notation). I know that the % premium for color is 30%, but this is less than $100 ! At this weight, the stones would have about 3.7mm diameter...

 

[Nicrez]

She also wants a VERY sparkly princess channel set, so any recommendations? We went today at lunch diamond shopping...and she didn't think they sparkled like her e-ring...I agree, it a D and super white!!




Also, she mentioned getting a lower setting of the stones, so the band is not too obtrusive, since she'll wear it everyday and is very fussy with jewelry and active in lifestyle...Lower set princess channel eternity rings?

 

[valeria101]

Quite a few makers would accept 'orders' for diamonds of above commenrcial quality in the bands, but the premium for all this is not really good news (as a few older PS posts mentioned).


How about having it custom made?

Not sure what seller would go through the trouble to select little princess cuts with the scope

... DBOF ? Whiteflsh ?

 

[jenibear]

I think your friend should be able to get the ring she wants if she works with a vendor.
I know DBOF is picking my stones for my wedding band, they are ideal cut rounds D,E,F SI1 about .20 each (like they did for my e-ring side stones), but I betcha they can also do it for princess stones that are smaller. It's worth a shot.
And I am sure many of the others will as well.
The cost of my ring with hand selected diamonds is much less than if I were to buy it outright already made with less quality.
Good luck!
I'm sure it will be gorgeous!

 

[diane5006]

Interesting...I am trying to figure out what to do for a diamond band...I saw a 7 (.10 ea) that I liked next to my e-ring...but all the ones in the stores are g/h or h/i...and I have a D center...the difference is there...but not too noticible...I supsect most would not notice it,,,also I saw a HOF band the other day and it was soo sparkly the color was not an issue

If the price diff is not too much...go for the better color...you don't need to match the color of the center...but all the stones in the band need to match...this may be and issue if you are buying from a chain B&M,,,

 

[fire&ice]

tell her to check out Gemlok. The stones in the ring are very good quality & the setting is the lowest profile I have ever tried on. But, I'm partial - I own three.

 

[Nicrez]

Thanks guys! I will let her know of her choices! You guys are GREAT!

 

[Mara]

If she wants princess cuts..I am not sure if SuperbCert makes melee princesses in their brand cut...but if so they would probably be great looking.




If she does rounds, I would recommend the ACA melee...yummy!!

Hearts and Arrows melee...fun.




Also, check out www.signedpieces.com. They have TONS of rings under their Facets collection and she may get some ideas. Good prices too and their quality looks pretty good. Think most of their smaller eternity style rings like that are F VS color/clarity.




BTW I think she can get away with DEF color and SI clarity for the melee. Depends on how big the stones are in terms of seeing color, but melee is so white and sparkly in general..my melee is G and it looks like D to me! It's super white and set into platinum.

 

[DavidEmslie]

Just have a designer make you one, find out the size/width ect, size of stones, and its possible to make one up that would be D/E/F in range. E/F should be fine as stones face up more white than they appear from the sides.
Having one custom made would solve the problem, and it would not cost much more than just buying one if you can find one, depends if all the hunting for hours and hours and days is worth the savings or say $100 over getting it done right in the first place. It would be a pretty ring thats for sure

 

[Nicrez]

Just got news that instead of a channel set, she's been looking at the shared prong eternity bands and is looking for that perhaps instead. I told her it would be MUCh easier and better to have it customed made. Any good jewelers out there? What are some prices for a good F color well cut princess shared prong eternity ring? THANKS!

 

[Nicrez]

My friend has finally settled on a channel set of F VS stones to match her D e-ring. it's porbably 1.15 tcw, only because we have seen 1.25tcw in a ring size of 6 and 6.5 and she's a size 5.25. What's a good price?!




For this Plat channel set we got anywhere from $2,600 to $1,600...?

 

[Nicrez]

Alright, I am bumping this, because she wants to buy the 1.15ct eternity for $1600 tomorrow and wants to know if it's a decent price...




Anyone???

 

[Nicrez]

*bump*




Is $1,600 a good price for a 1.15 tcw princess cut eternity ring in a size 5.25? Anyone...?

 

[rocks]

$1600 is cheap for what you are describing. platinum has been over $900/oz lately, and there have been sbstantial increases in the price of fine melee. also, as griffin pointed out, you do have to pay american benchmen a living wage.

good luck

 

[Nicrez]

Thanks! it seemed reasonable, so I told her, but i just wasn't sure...