What to get?? Color?

[fastback65]

Brand new to this site but I have been using it for a bit to get educated on diamonds. I need the advice of those with more knowledge than me. Here is my question and options. The ring I am getting for my GF is a Tacori 2258 in 18k white gold. I am going to get a radiant cut diamond for the center stone. This is my dilemma... I am able to get a discount on diamonds from a very large company through a friend of my brother-in-law. Originally I wanted to get a G-H color and a VS2 or SI1 clarity and 1.0 size. These are my options from him.

1.02 F VVS1 $4,100.00
0.94 F VS2 $3,400,00
1.5 ct I SI-1 $4,300.00 total for stone
1.5 ct J VS-2 $4,000.00 " "
G SI1 @ $ 3600 - 3800 per ct ie. 1.15 ct @ 3700 per ct = $4255 for stone

H SI1 @ $ 3500 - 3600 per ct ie. 1.18 ct @3550 per ct = $4189 for stone

From what I have seen and researched online and found in The Jewlery District of downtown Los Angeles the first four diamonds are a deal, especially the 1.5''s. The price on the G''s and H''s, which is what I wanted originally, are really not a deal at all. I am concerned about putting a I colored diamonds next to the ones from Tacori. The jeweler I spoke with said that Tacori uses G and H in their ring semi-mounts and not to go above those colors. Any input or suggestions? I know its personal preference. The idea of having a 1.5 for 4300 is attractive, but don''t want it to look yellow next to the Tacori diamonds.

 

[gwendolyn]

Do you know the cut grades or any other information on the stones?

 

[fastback65]

I''m going to get the GIA reports on the I - SI1 tomorrow. I looked up cut grade for radiant cuts online and it says GIA does not issue them for radiants. http://www.radiantcut.com/FAQ.aspx

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Still, some stones are better cut than others regardless of whether the lab grades it or not. Just out of curiosity, why are you using a radiant center instead of a princess? Aren''t those princess sidestones on that ring?

 

[Sparkalicious]

Does your brother-in-laws friend know about where your expectations lie?
While researching have you determined what is most important to you in the traditional 4 C's in a radiant?
Around PS, it tends to be cut (b/c this greatly affects how the diamond will perform) and then color, clarity & carat weight are more subjective.
Maybe you can start a post in Rocky Talk inquiring about "what to look for in a radiant cut" OR you can try searching this info in search box located at the top right hand side above.

 

[Mr. Eric]

I just bought this ring for my lady, and gave it to her in September. If I were you I would reconsider buying this ring. I know that this is an exciting time in your life, and I don''t want to rain on your parade, but I have had nothing but problems with the ring. I went ahead and got the ring in 18k as well. Well, in about 3 months the damn thing was all scratched up, and started turning yellow! I was told by tacori that they use pallidium for the alloy in their white gold, and the ring should stay white for a long time. We have had the ring since September and I have lost some of the pave diamonds on 2 ocassions! With the diamond I ended up paying $6600 dollars for this damn ring! If I had it to do over again I would not get a pave setting again. I thing that a ring with 3 diamonds would be so much better. Sure the pave looks great, but I am constantly worried about the diamonds falling out. Thank God my jeweler will fix anything I need for free. Tacori is a damn rip off as far as I am concerned. you just pay for the name, but the quality is not any better than a ring half of the price. I feel like a sucker!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, Mr. Eric, I am so sorry you have had problems with your ring! My jeweler also told me they had problems with the Tacori pave diamonds falling out particularly in platinum, but they replace them for free. I ended up not going with pave because it is not convenient for me to go there (an hour away) to deal with lost stones even if it was free. But it is good for consumers to be informed of the good and the bad so they can make wise choices.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I have an I colored diamond in my Tacori setting. I do not think the difference shows. It is a very pretty setting.

Mr Eric, sorry about your problems. Does other WG jewelry yellow fast on your FI? Pave IS beautiful but delicate. There have been *many* different companies that have been reported for missing melee not just Tacori.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 2/4/2008 9:09:38 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I have an I colored diamond in my Tacori setting. I do not think the difference shows. It is a very pretty setting.

Mr Eric, sorry about your problems. Does other WG jewelry yellow fast on your FI? Pave IS beautiful but delicate. There have been *many* different companies that have been reported for missing melee not just Tacori.

This is very true. Pave is beautiful and comes with some maintenance issues regardless of the brand.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 2/4/2008 9:23:47 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 2/4/2008 9:09:38 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

I have an I colored diamond in my Tacori setting. I do not think the difference shows. It is a very pretty setting.


Mr Eric, sorry about your problems. Does other WG jewelry yellow fast on your FI? Pave IS beautiful but delicate. There have been *many* different companies that have been reported for missing melee not just Tacori.

This is very true. Pave is beautiful and comes with some maintenance issues regardless of the brand.

true, but some designer brands have better reputations for higher quality pave, Ritani being the big one that comes to mind that we just don''t hear of any durability issues. it''s funny too b/c someone just asked how Tacori''s quality control dept was going and I posted that we hadn''t heard anything lately. so sorry mr. eric that your tacori has been so problematic

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think MrsS told me the other day that the Ritani holds up better because the stones are recessed into the band. In addition, the little prongs may do a better job than bead set pave. So you might want to look at Ritani as a more durable pave option.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think Ritani is the ONLY company (including custom pieces with PS vendors) that I can think of that someone hasn''t complained about losing a stone. Obviously there QC is spot on. I have lost one of my melees in almost 3 years in my Tacori. Not too bad IMHO seeing how I lost it by using my u/s on high (so probably my fault). I did lose a sapphire as well but that was my fault. Sometimes we are harder on our rings than we realize.

 

[fastback65]

My GF and I were at Costco today and I had a chance to look at diamonds with her again and ask here what was important to her. I was able to get from her that she would take the 1.5 I
over a 1.0 G or H. The I diamond there did have a touch more yellow compared to other diamonds, but to her it was not relevant at that level. The diamonds on the sides of the ring are princess I believe, but I''m going with a square radiant so the only difference would be in the sparkle. I don''t think that would matter that much, but then again I could be wrong. As for the quality issues with Tacori... ummm she is set on this ring... but I will take a look at the Ritani as well.