I need help/opinions

[davi_el_mejor]

Alright I'm going to be making a ring for my SO. We consider ourselves married, but we're technically not. However, we're now in the position to be actually married and I'd like that to happen. So this will be an E-Ring/band type ring for a guy. I have given myself 8 choices in diamonds. Some are colored, some aren't. They stay in a certain size range I think he'll like. We're not flashy, but we like a little flash Listed cheapest to the top of my price range (Max $450).

Here are the eight

1.

Approx. weight:.... .21 carat
Appox. size:...........3.66mm
Clarity.....................SI-1
Color......................Champagne C6
Cut:........................Round Brilliant


2.


approx. weight:.... .38 carat
Approx. size:...........4.75 mm
Clarity.....................I-1
Color......................G
Cut:........................Round Brilliant cut


3.

Approx. weight:.... .30 carat
Appox. size:...........4.32 mm
Clarity....................SI-1
Color......................H
Cut:........................Round Brilliant

4.

Approx. weight:.... .35 carat
Appox. size:...........4.57 mm
Clarity.....................SI-1
Color......................N to O color
Cut:........................Round Brilliant

More to come in the next post (all colored ones, to stay on forum topic )

 

[davi_el_mejor]

5.


Approx. weight:.... .43 carat
Appox. size:...........4.91mm
Clarity.....................SI-1
Color......................Champagne C7
Cut:........................Round Brilliant

6.

Approx. weight:.... .36 carat
Appox. size:...........4.50 mm x 3.25mm x 3.73mm
Clarity.....................VS2
Color......................Yellow
Cut:........................Radiant

7.

Approx. weight:.... .48 carat
Appox. size:...........4.37 mm x 3.90mm
Clarity.....................SI-1
Color......................Light Fancy yellow to Fancy Yellow
Cut:........................Radiant

8.

Approx. weight:.... .50 carat
Appox. size:...........5.08mm
Clarity.....................VS-1
Color......................Yellow green
Cut:........................Round Brilliant

I've requested more photos and videos of all of them, I'll see what kind of response I receive from them.

I'd really love to know which ones you like or input on other diamonds that meet the criteria.

 

[chictomato]

Hi there!No. 6 and 8 caught my eyes. The radiant yellow, is rather vivid from the pict. Are they accompanied with GIA certification?

 

[chrono]

For the colourless and lightly tinted (G to O diamonds), cut becomes extremely crucial in order to maximize sparkle. In those cases, it will be extremely beneficial for you to find out some basic information such as the total depth, table %, crown and pavilion angles, girdle thickness, polish & symmetry unless these are uncertified, in which case, the vendor probably doesn’t have these information. #6 has very nice colouring but how do you know if it is natural and untreated?

 

[ruffysdad]

SO and I (34 years ) opted for a champagne color, mine cut, .92ct round with lots of color return. We mounted it in yellow gold to enhance the color in the stone and flanked it with a couple of tapered baguettes. The effect was stunning and the color enhanement worked perfect. I'm not much of a diamand fan snf neither is she, so it took just the right stone and the right setting to light either one of us up. I like the colored ones though as long as they don't look like they've been nuked so much that they'll glow in the dark. Just my 2 cents.

Pete

 

[mercoledi]

I love 2 and 6! If 6 is as vivid IRL it would make a beautiful statement with a modest stone, flashy without being too flashy.

 

[colorluvr]

I love 2 and 6! If 6 is as vivid IRL it would make a beautiful statement with a modest stone, flashy without being too flashy.

I totally agree. If you want a white flash, then my first choice would be #2, if you want something a bit different, then I like #6.

 

[movie zombie]

i like champagnes for men...as well as women. the vivid yellow does nothing for me. i like #8. the yellow/green has possibilities. i think it would also depend on the setting. yellow or white gold? makume gane? would make a difference on how the stone is viewed.

as chrono stated, you're now in the land of diamonds so depth and ratios are important. however, you're looking at small sized stones and i'm wondering if your mounting would allow you minimize some of those diamond criteria.

mz

ps i love champagnes!

 

[Indylady]

If you're open to suggestions, here's an "ideal cut" (but without angles) for $179 http://cgi.ebay.com/30-I1-G-Ideal-C...iewItem&pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item588892471f the black on the right hand side is just dirt.

I like this one because its "chunkier" but still a modern cut and very pretty http://cgi.ebay.com/39-I1-I-White-R...iewItem&pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item53e187aefd

I've used this vendor at least 4 times before and have received excellent diamonds which were always even more beatiful in person. I did return a stone once, and the return was very easy and I got the refund the day the stone was receieved. Mlopros also has quick delivery, so if I order early in the week, they usually within a few days and before the end of the week.

 

[Fly Girl]

I like #5. I suppose because DH has a brown diamond about this size, set in yellow gold, and I think it just looks good on a man.

 

[Upgradable]

I like #1 and #8. Eight's cut is amazing!

 

[Aoife]

Personally, I like #8. The size is a little more substantial, the cut looks pretty good, and the color is both masculine and elegant. What kind of setting were you thinking about, because that might have a lot to do with whether you want to go with something very in your face and blingy, like the yellows, or something more subtle. Are you thinking about coordinating your band/ring with his?

 

[Arkteia]

Nr 6 and nr 8. Nr 2 is not bad either - seems it is well-cut although it is hard to tell w/o any specifics.
Good idea about the E-ring! Hopefully you will not need to wait for too long to get married! (I think, not).

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Just wanted to stop in and say a quick thanks to all for their opinions. I'll stop back in with replies to my questions from the vendor after the SO goes to work.

I did get some disheartening news though about #2 it has a surface reaching inclusion

 

[Fly Girl]

On the negative side, it looks like a chunk is missing from #3 on the left side. Could be fine if you plan to bezel or semi-bezel.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Hi guys

Chic, I haven't asked about certs yet. They say it was cut from their own rough, but that doesn't mean anything really. They did send more pictures though. I'll put those down below.

Chrono, Thanks for the insight on light colored diamonds I think I'm going with the last 4. I'm really not sure which one yet though. The two yellow ones are way yellow, which I like, and the yellow/green one is a round which I had in mind and the brown is a great color. I don't know how the cut is on that one, I'm not too familiar with what works in diamonds.

Ruffy, Congrats on 34 years! We've been together 5. I first bought some tiny old cut ones, about 3.2mm they just didn't seem enough.

Mercoledi, Colorluvr, Thanks, I think the surface reaching inclusion killed #2 for me, it just sounds scary.

MZ, I like 8 too, I'm going to ask for more pictures too, it is however at the top of my budget. The others are more moderately priced. But sometimes budgets can be broken . I'm drawing a lot of inspiration from DelayedReactions asscher ring. So I'm thinking of a bezel (don't know what color yet) and a simple band. We both like architectural stuff and I think the bezel will add enough detail that it will be striking without being distracting.

Indy, Thanks for the suggestions, the second one appeals to me, it's good to know you've used them before. I'll be contacting them with more questions

Fly Girl, I love the color of 5. It's a good size and a round. The price is 199.99, which is over 100 less than 6, 200 less than 7 and 250 less than 8. I just don't know how much the price difference is going to play in my decision. In the third one, that's "a natural at the gridle ( a natural is an area that did not clean up in the cutting process.)" From the vendors description. Interesting and hide-able at the same time haha.

Uppy Can you help me understand why the cut of 8 is amazing? I wish 1 was about .7mm bigger

Aoife This would be the all in one engagement/band. We have a plain old silver band we bought about 2 years ago. We also just bought stainless steel bands with Greek keys on it while on vacation. We have bands but it'd be very difficult considering the size of mens bands to have more than one band on a finger at a time.

Crasru Thank you! In CT it's legal and when we move back to Buffalo, NY next year, while the state doesn't allow same-sex marriages, it does however recognize them when done in a state that does. It's a small step.

Alright more pictures.

#6 $329.99


#7 $429.99



#8 $449.99



The vendor is very accommodating and quick with responses and pictures. Do you think it will make him upset to take more pictures of the other 3 (5,7 an ?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I've taken the first 4 out of the running and have found 1 other that caught my eye.

1A. $249.99

Approx. weight:.... .39 carat
Appox. size:...........4.50mm
Clarity.....................SI-1
Color......................Champagne C7 (fancy Cognac)
Cut:........................Round Brilliant

1A and 5 are described nearly the same and combined would be my stone budget.... I could have a matching ring

I'm waiting for more pictures of the others, hopefully I don't make the vendor mad with all my questions. I asked if they were certed and if he knew total depth, table %, crown and pavilion angles, girdle thickness.

 

[CharmyPoo]

$345 for this - http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamo ... 0366640033

 

[Aoife]

Have you thought about what color gold you want to use, and the design of the bands? That might have an impact on which stones you choose. Of course you should have a band, too!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

$345 for this - http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamo ... 0366640033

Thanks! Forgive me for sounding stupid, but when I see pictures of diamonds they have the black spear looking things in them, is that extinction, or is it something it's supposed to have? If it were a colored stone, which I'm more accustomed too, it'd be a major turn off.

Aoife I actually played around in paint this afternoon. We really really dislike yellow gold, don't know why, but we do lol. Is it wrong to want something like this in silver? I love the color/look of tarnished silver for the band. And depending on the stone/s a little YG won't hurt if it helps the stone. I don't know what color metal will look good with the brown ones or the yellow/green one, a nice yellow gold bezel would good around the yellow ones I think. The tarnished silver is subtle but would really make any of the stones really pop.

 

[CharmyPoo]

This is what a quality H&A well cut diamond should look like. I can't say the same for the colorless diamonds you have chosen based on the photos

You need to decided if you want a colored stone or a colorless one.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

This is what a quality H&A well cut diamond should look like. I can't say the same for the colorless diamonds you have chosen based on the photos

You need to decided if you want a colored stone or a colorless one.

Thanks for the info, and I've decided against any of the colorless ones I had spotted out before. I never thought I could find a colorless diamond with quality cutting like that in my price range. Thanks for making my decision that much harder!

It's a big (sentimental) decision to make. I am THE worst at making decisions

I do think I'm going with colored though. I really appreciate you thinking about my search.

 

[Burberrygirl]

My favorites are #8 and Charmypoo's suggestion. I like #6 too.

 

[movie zombie]

[quote="davi_el_mejorIs it wrong to want something like this in silver? I love the color/look of tarnished silver for the band. And depending on the stone/s a little YG won't hurt if it helps the stone. I don't know what color metal will look good with the brown ones or the yellow/green one, a nice yellow gold bezel would good around the yellow ones I think. The tarnished silver is subtle but would really make any of the stones really pop.[/quote]

well-known designers are putting diamonds in silver....so why not you?! your $, you know the look you want and you're not talking about super expensive stones: i say go for it.

mz

 

[davi_el_mejor]

I got a reply back to my question about certs and angle, %'s etc...

Thanks for the note. None of the diamonds we sale come with certificates.......most of our sales are to jewelry professionals or customers who know diamonds very well and don't require them...... certs add $60 to $80 to the price of the diamond and we try to keep the price as low as possible.

On the measure depth, crown angle ect........all the diamonds on our site will be well cut......we really don't sale low quality or poorly cut diamonds......if you take a look at the picture of the back of the diamonds you can pretty much judge the cut quality.

I don't know how to feel about the reply. I can understand trying to keep the cost low with not certifying the stones, I can send the stone myself to GIA or somewhere else, no biggy. It's the rest of the message that bugs me. Am I being oversensitive?

 

[arjunajane]

I got a reply back to my question about certs and angle, %'s etc...

Thanks for the note. None of the diamonds we sale come with certificates.......most of our sales are to jewelry professionals or customers who know diamonds very well and don't require them...... certs add $60 to $80 to the price of the diamond and we try to keep the price as low as possible.

On the measure depth, crown angle ect........all the diamonds on our site will be well cut......we really don't sale low quality or poorly cut diamonds......if you take a look at the picture of the back of the diamonds you can pretty much judge the cut quality.

I don't know how to feel about the reply. I can understand trying to keep the cost low with not certifying the stones, I can send the stone myself to GIA or somewhere else, no biggy. It's the rest of the message that bugs me. Am I being oversensitive?

Davi,
NO, you are not being over-sensitive.
This is a BS answer from someone who either knows not what they are talking about, or are trying to pull one.
"Jewelery professionals and customers who know diamonds" are exactly the ones that insist on certification Or, at the very least if you would still like to buy I would make the final sale contingent upon your choice of independent appraiser confirming the stats.
I wouldn't send it to GIA unless that paper is really important to you - it will cost a large percentage of the price of your diamond; better to put that money towards the stone budget instead, imho.
I realize they are not exceedingly expensive stones, but that answer is simply double-talk.
I would bet $ this vendor does not know how to measure/calculate a crown angle etc, or they would just give you the info. Obviously, not all diamonds are cut equally - even well cut ones. Judge the cut quality by looking at the back of the stones?? This is the first time I have heard that one

Just FYI, I know these are coloured diamonds, but you may possibly get more attention/appropriate advice if you were to move the thread to RT.

 

[CharmyPoo]

That response is enough for me to go to another vendor. I can't imagine their prices being that cheap.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Thanks Arjuna and Charmy. That's exactly what I thought too.

I'll try this thread over in RT. Do they deal with colored diamonds over there, could they give me suggestions? I'd like to have find some vendors NOT on E-Bay for once,

Here goes! New forum...

 

[arjunajane]

hey davi you're welcome- I think your gut reaction should guide on this one! Yep they do answer queries on coloured diamonds on RT, and not to worry they are just as helpful as in CS i wish you well in deciding on a reputable seller and hopefully a more knowledgeable one and
in finding your diamond.