what stone for a pendant

[partgypsy]

I know this has been discussed before, but couldn''t find the thread, wanted to know Pricescopers'' opinion.

I know someone who wants to buy a round stone for a pendant (.45 - .70 pts area).
Would you
a) buy the best cut stone you could for your price range (ideal, even ACA if can afford it) even if it''s smaller?
b) buy a stone that looks better as a pendant but may not be ideal cut. (I can''t remember the total logic, but some stones look better head on and others (shallow cut) show better as pendants?
Is that really true? And if so, what to look for?


Second, what is the lowest one would go in color, clarity

He wants it to be knock your socks off beautiful, but not concerned (as yet!) with minimum specs.
I was going to tell him to H and even S12 providing it was eye clean, but don''t know if one person''s eye clean is another person''s eye clean. He is the kind of person who may examine it with a loupe! What would be safe to advise?

 

[Kamuelamom]

Welcome to pricescope!

For a pendant, I personally would not hesitate to go J/K/L, heck even an eye-clean M would do me just fine since I find the warmer colors quite nice.

The lower in color you go the more you can save, providing the cut is good and the clarity is eye clean. I am living vicariously through all these ladies who own beautiful pendants, so I cannot speak personally, however, when the time comes to actually purchase (and I've already begun looking somewhat), I will go for the best bang for my buck. If it ends up being ideal, great, but if not, that's ok too as long as it sparkles and is eye clean.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Mara]

For a pendant if you are trying to maximize size, I would definitely go lower in color and clarity. I find that it's much harder to see both on the neck.

I would not hesitate to do a K or L for a pendant and even an I1 if it's eye-clean and especially if it is an H&A stone. The CUT is what will make the difference in how the diamond sparkles and looks. I had .50c G SI earrings, I got new ones that are .38 I SI but are ACA stones and these look the same size as my old .50cs on my ears and they sparkle more and even look whiter and more brilliant because of the cut. But you don't have to buy a branded stone to get a great stone!

That said, if you can find a stone that is okay cut but more shallow brilliant, then it may face up whiter but those are really hard to find where they aren't fish eye and/or crappy.

So honestly I'd focus on getting a well-cut stone unless the right shallow brilliant falls into your lap. But they are hard to come by.