how well-matched do matched diamonds have to be?

[kcoursolle]

When do you start to notice a visual difference for a 5-stone ring? I would really like to pick the stones myself, but I want to make sure that there are not any noticeable differences.

For diameter, would the stones be well enough matched if diamonds ranged between 4.30 and 4.43 as the maximum and minimum values? Also, how about color grades, how many color grades off before there is a noticeable difference, one, two?

Thanks for your help.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''d think you''d need to be closer in size than that. I am looking for a pair for studs and I want overlap of the numbers or very close, and that is not for stones being placed side by side. I think you really would be better off letting the vendor match up stones for you. If I am thinking correctly, weren''t you maybe looking for .25 stones? I think they get packets of melee that are similar size, color, and clarity to choose from to make rings like you''re wanting.

 

[kcoursolle]

Thanks diamondseeker. I was thinking they had to be closer, but I really wasn''t that sure. I think I''m going to end up with stones around the .30-.34 range and go down in color clarity J-SI, because the color really doesn''t bother me...and I would really really like to have leon make the setting. When I get more serious about my purchase I will probably give JA or WF a call. Another option would be picking stones from multiple vendors. I was able to find 5 stones that are the same color and very very similar diameter all well-cut between different vendors, but not from the same vendor. Would there be any huge disadvantage to not buying all of the stones from the same vendor?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I just think if anything, it would cost more to do it that way. You really don''t need certificates on stones that small. But if you bought from a trustworthy vendor like WF who could pick out 5 .30 H&A matched stones for you, that would be the best because they can SEE them all together. So no, I would not order stones that size from different vendors.

 

[kcoursolle]

It probably would cost more, and it definitely would be more efficient to have them pick them out for me. It''s just so much fun picking out stones LOL! Oh well, I can do that with my future projects I suppose

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