Stephan
Ideal_Rock
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It''s done! A 1.60 J SI2 has found a new home...
- Thread starter Mara
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rms
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iceprincess
Shiny_Rock
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Mara,
I just knew it when you posted that thread on J stones set in platinum.
As a new owner of a Whiteflash ES J Si2 stone myself, welcome to the club, sweetie!
I looked at stones in this color and clarity range for a few months before finally pulling the trigger on my pendant purchase. It really is the best value. I really love my stone and I will troll around in this color and clarity range for future purchases. Js can be really white when they''re as exceptionally well cut as yours. I would never use the word "warm" to describe my stone.
Your ring was already TO-DIE-FOR, didn''t think it would be possible to improve too much on your ring--except a bigger rock, yeah!
Girl, you really know how to find these incredible beauties. I just love the IS image. Wow. I like how Whiteflash oriented your arrows as it really accentuates those strong arrow shafts.
Your ring is delicious. Enjoy it and wear it in good health.
I just knew it when you posted that thread on J stones set in platinum.
I looked at stones in this color and clarity range for a few months before finally pulling the trigger on my pendant purchase. It really is the best value. I really love my stone and I will troll around in this color and clarity range for future purchases. Js can be really white when they''re as exceptionally well cut as yours. I would never use the word "warm" to describe my stone.
Your ring was already TO-DIE-FOR, didn''t think it would be possible to improve too much on your ring--except a bigger rock, yeah!
Girl, you really know how to find these incredible beauties. I just love the IS image. Wow. I like how Whiteflash oriented your arrows as it really accentuates those strong arrow shafts.
Your ring is delicious. Enjoy it and wear it in good health.
Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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hehe Stephan, I think this is just a great example of a good SI2...I did find one small darkish inclusion off to the edge of the table with the loupe but it''s not visible in alot of the loupe pictures and I only saw it quickly once in person (right after I saw it with the loupe) and then could not find it again at all! I think most of the inclusions must be white. So I''m very pleased!
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Libster
Brilliant_Rock
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Mara,
Just had to comment again on your new stone. It really is AMAZING!!!
I have to agree that jewelry purchases must be discussed at the perfect MARGARITA moment with my hubby. I made the mistake last night of getting hubby to take a look at your new ROCK and he was stressed from work, and just looked at me and said "I should have never purchased a ring for you at all, since you are never satisfied."
I quickly realized my mistake, as I remembered that the way I ended up with 1ct diamond studs was after a nice dinner out and a GIANT MARGARITA for him! It was just sooooo easy that night.
I must never forget this again
as I'm planning for a carat in each ear for my Birthday this year
Just had to comment again on your new stone. It really is AMAZING!!!
I have to agree that jewelry purchases must be discussed at the perfect MARGARITA moment with my hubby. I made the mistake last night of getting hubby to take a look at your new ROCK and he was stressed from work, and just looked at me and said "I should have never purchased a ring for you at all, since you are never satisfied."
I quickly realized my mistake, as I remembered that the way I ended up with 1ct diamond studs was after a nice dinner out and a GIANT MARGARITA for him! It was just sooooo easy that night.
I must never forget this again
Cath
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sevens one
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icekid
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lmurden
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PaulaW
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SweetPink
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Mara,
From reading your old posts, I kind of figured you were getting an upgrade
....so happy for you. I just keep going back and looking, it is beautiful. I believe in the sales pitch method when it comes to getting Hubby to comply with various diamond projects. I have many proposals in the workings
With your pretty hands you can wear those larger stones,it''s like they were made for you.
By the way Portia looks very attached to the "Big J", maybe she needs one of her own
From reading your old posts, I kind of figured you were getting an upgrade
With your pretty hands you can wear those larger stones,it''s like they were made for you.
By the way Portia looks very attached to the "Big J", maybe she needs one of her own
IrishEyes
Brilliant_Rock
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Oh Mara, you''re a freakin'' genius!!!! YES, YES, I will get DH liquored up and then let him know my intentions!!! He''s getting really nervous on the upgrade idea, mainly because after HE insinuated it, I couldn''t stop talking about it!!!
But you are a smart woman with an admirable upgrade track record, so I will do the same. Take him out....have a couple drinks.....maybe
....... and then, " So honey, about my ring"......
But you are a smart woman with an admirable upgrade track record, so I will do the same. Take him out....have a couple drinks.....maybe
SweetPink
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baltneu
Shiny_Rock
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Mara
It is a beautiful stone and setting.
Wanted to ask you a "feeling" question.............
How did Greg feel, I mean "really" feel about the upgrade? He orignally bought you the 1.xx stone and now you have upgraded to a 1.6, clearly a larger stone. I assume that the original stone was within his "budget", and now the "orignal" stone is gone, that first stone must have had a lot of significance and meaning to him. Just wanted to get your thought process.
I bought a 1.44, H&A, I/SI1 for my fiance, I have trouble in my mind replacing that stone after all the shopping, investigation, time and energy, to make it down right "special". In my book, nothing can replace "that" stone. It is funny, because I showed her pictures on PS (Show me the Ring) of other settings recently, to see if she would like to "change" the setting that might have some bling on the side, right now the setting is the simple solataire setting, with 1 stone, sitting on the top of the platinum setting. She pulled her hand back and said she has no intenion of ever changing it, because of what the whole process meant.
Mara, this is NOT a critical post, just wanted to get your and Greg's thought process. Bill
It is a beautiful stone and setting.
Wanted to ask you a "feeling" question.............
How did Greg feel, I mean "really" feel about the upgrade? He orignally bought you the 1.xx stone and now you have upgraded to a 1.6, clearly a larger stone. I assume that the original stone was within his "budget", and now the "orignal" stone is gone, that first stone must have had a lot of significance and meaning to him. Just wanted to get your thought process.
I bought a 1.44, H&A, I/SI1 for my fiance, I have trouble in my mind replacing that stone after all the shopping, investigation, time and energy, to make it down right "special". In my book, nothing can replace "that" stone. It is funny, because I showed her pictures on PS (Show me the Ring) of other settings recently, to see if she would like to "change" the setting that might have some bling on the side, right now the setting is the simple solataire setting, with 1 stone, sitting on the top of the platinum setting. She pulled her hand back and said she has no intenion of ever changing it, because of what the whole process meant.
Mara, this is NOT a critical post, just wanted to get your and Greg's thought process. Bill
Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Balt...when I first approached Greg seriously about getting something more ideally cut...I was really nervous. Greg WAS attached to the original stone, the one that we had found together, he did have sentimental feeling towards it. However, he also knew that almost from the minute we got it, when he had taken the reins and said ''lets just do it'' that I had doubts about the cut of the stone. As time went on and I wore it and of course continued on PS to learn more...I felt more and more like this stone was beautiful, BUT was not ultimately what I desired.
He also knew that I wanted a bigger stone ''later'' but the plan was to keep the original stone, aka maybe for a pendant and then get something entirely new, that was not going to happen for at least 5 years (the plan!).
As time went on, I just felt more and more like I was not happy with that stone and the cut. It was missing things that we talk about every day on PS...arrows, hearts, flashes of colored light, scintillation. Precision. Symmetry. Which for some may not be important, but for me it was along the lines of; I preach cut cut cut and here I am with this large tabled stone with white brilliance and nothing else, albeit beautiful but not what my heart really desired.
So I armed myself with some knowledge, and decided to speak with Greg when he was ''relaxed'' and broached the subject with him. Surprisingly enough, he was okay with whatever I decided to do as long as it really didn''t cost any more (or much more) money. He did not want to fork out another $1k when in his mind that stone was perfectly fine...which I totally understood. So armed with my mission, I went about and did exactly what I planned. He''s actually proud that I was able to pull it off and get pretty much the same thing for the same money.
I adored my 1.29 H SI almost ACA stone, the next stone...it was soooo beautiful. I saw all the things I''d been missing in my original stone. Of course I wanted bigger, but the best part about that initial stone change out was that Greg is no longer attached AT ALL to this stone. He still is attached to my setting of course, as am I...but not the stone. So he could care less if I upgrade daily or weekly, it''s about money rather than the stone.
For me particularly, I do not attach sentimental value to things like diamonds...to a special jewlery ''piece'' yes, but not to something like a loose stone. I know that not everyone is like that at all, and to each their own of course, but that is just how I am. Greg and I chose the ring and stone together, but I did all the research on the stones and figured out what I wanted, and he paid the bill. We chose the stone together which was happenstance, I was armed with all this knowledge with numbers and charts and images, and he did not have that so he was going solely off eyes with a local jeweler. He also felt more comfortable purchasing offline. Out of the two of us, he liked the stone we chose more than I did, but in 20/20 hindsight, we overpaid which we both admit now. I guess if he had gone and done everything on his own, designed a setting, looked for months to find the stone, maybe I would feel more sentimental about it, but I did all of that and he was my sidekick. So now, he loves my rings, the settings, and he is fascinated by the stones and all the knowledge that we have here...but to him the stone is just another sparkly.
Hope that makes some sense...I think our circumstances are different and also I am the one on PS whereas you are the one on PS in your relationship...some gals are more sentimental, some guys are, etc. It really depends on the people involved in the relationship. Also due to PS...things evolved, aka in the beginning we were both clueless, then only he was clueless, and now he has received more education through osmosis etc
and he is more fascinated as I am about what goes into cutting a stone and that type of thing than any sort of sentimental attachment.
Hopefully in the future I can get a stone like my original one for something like a pendant, I have loved all my stones in their own way, but I am happiest when I have a well-cut RB on my hand, that''s what I have learned.
He also knew that I wanted a bigger stone ''later'' but the plan was to keep the original stone, aka maybe for a pendant and then get something entirely new, that was not going to happen for at least 5 years (the plan!).
As time went on, I just felt more and more like I was not happy with that stone and the cut. It was missing things that we talk about every day on PS...arrows, hearts, flashes of colored light, scintillation. Precision. Symmetry. Which for some may not be important, but for me it was along the lines of; I preach cut cut cut and here I am with this large tabled stone with white brilliance and nothing else, albeit beautiful but not what my heart really desired.
So I armed myself with some knowledge, and decided to speak with Greg when he was ''relaxed'' and broached the subject with him. Surprisingly enough, he was okay with whatever I decided to do as long as it really didn''t cost any more (or much more) money. He did not want to fork out another $1k when in his mind that stone was perfectly fine...which I totally understood. So armed with my mission, I went about and did exactly what I planned. He''s actually proud that I was able to pull it off and get pretty much the same thing for the same money.
I adored my 1.29 H SI almost ACA stone, the next stone...it was soooo beautiful. I saw all the things I''d been missing in my original stone. Of course I wanted bigger, but the best part about that initial stone change out was that Greg is no longer attached AT ALL to this stone. He still is attached to my setting of course, as am I...but not the stone. So he could care less if I upgrade daily or weekly, it''s about money rather than the stone.
For me particularly, I do not attach sentimental value to things like diamonds...to a special jewlery ''piece'' yes, but not to something like a loose stone. I know that not everyone is like that at all, and to each their own of course, but that is just how I am. Greg and I chose the ring and stone together, but I did all the research on the stones and figured out what I wanted, and he paid the bill. We chose the stone together which was happenstance, I was armed with all this knowledge with numbers and charts and images, and he did not have that so he was going solely off eyes with a local jeweler. He also felt more comfortable purchasing offline. Out of the two of us, he liked the stone we chose more than I did, but in 20/20 hindsight, we overpaid which we both admit now. I guess if he had gone and done everything on his own, designed a setting, looked for months to find the stone, maybe I would feel more sentimental about it, but I did all of that and he was my sidekick. So now, he loves my rings, the settings, and he is fascinated by the stones and all the knowledge that we have here...but to him the stone is just another sparkly.
Hope that makes some sense...I think our circumstances are different and also I am the one on PS whereas you are the one on PS in your relationship...some gals are more sentimental, some guys are, etc. It really depends on the people involved in the relationship. Also due to PS...things evolved, aka in the beginning we were both clueless, then only he was clueless, and now he has received more education through osmosis etc
Hopefully in the future I can get a stone like my original one for something like a pendant, I have loved all my stones in their own way, but I am happiest when I have a well-cut RB on my hand, that''s what I have learned.
baltneu
Shiny_Rock
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LuvthatSparkle
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glaucomflecken
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LuvthatSparkle
Shiny_Rock
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Mara, your stone is so beautiful and white. I too am an owner of a WF ES diamond...and want to upgrade, but with prices constantly going up, I will probably have to go down in color (currently I have an E 1.51ct SI Round). I was so hesistant to go low in color when I first started looking. All the local B&Ms did not have any ideal cut stones to accurately show how beautiful a warm colored diamond looks and how white they are. And the process only took 2 days.Wow! After see all the beautiful J stones on PS, I definitely will consider a J!
glaucomflecken
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headlight
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sevens one
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mrssalvo
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here ya goDate: 3/10/2005 16:23 PM
Author: LuvthatSparkle
Mara,
I can''t find your thread on ''J colored stones in platinum''can you post a link? Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaassssssseeee!!!
eks6426
Ideal_Rock
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Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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hehe thanks everyone...it is still looking huge today and funny story, I was at lunch with a coworker and a client and my coworker said...''your ring is beautiful, I never noticed it before!'' I said, ''well it''s bigger now, maybe that''s why!!!''..she agreed.
this may sound odd but this diamond looks so much bigger and IMO more proportionate with my hand, length and width of the hand etc. (sorry Mr. F&I!)It really pops out more than the 1.29c I had..not to say that I won''t want bigger of course, but it surprising to me how much more I ''notice'' this stone when I am moving my hands around or similar.
headlight, my original stone specs were 61.4% table, 56.9% depth, 29.9 crown angle and 41.1 pav angle. it was a 1.23c that had the diameter of a 1.35c stone, which was part of why we liked it. but i didn''t know what we were trading off. when we first got it, it scored under a 2.0 on the HCA which is what also helped convince me that it was a good stone. back when I didn''t know as much as I do now. a month or so later Garry made some changes to the HCA and the stone was something like a 2.8 which made me sad even though I know the HCA is not the end all to be all, but back then it meant more to me since I didn''t know AS MUCH about the other details.
the stone was beautiful, but very white brilliant, BIC. it had more white brilliance and sparkles than color or scintillation. i find i prefer the ideal cuts that have more of a blend of all three rather than just one or the other. but again a BIC would be a fabulous pendant since it would wink whiteness from the neck and really be an eye-catcher. however good ones are harder to find!! sometimes they can border on fish-eye, darkness under the table, etc.
this may sound odd but this diamond looks so much bigger and IMO more proportionate with my hand, length and width of the hand etc. (sorry Mr. F&I!)It really pops out more than the 1.29c I had..not to say that I won''t want bigger of course, but it surprising to me how much more I ''notice'' this stone when I am moving my hands around or similar.
headlight, my original stone specs were 61.4% table, 56.9% depth, 29.9 crown angle and 41.1 pav angle. it was a 1.23c that had the diameter of a 1.35c stone, which was part of why we liked it. but i didn''t know what we were trading off. when we first got it, it scored under a 2.0 on the HCA which is what also helped convince me that it was a good stone. back when I didn''t know as much as I do now. a month or so later Garry made some changes to the HCA and the stone was something like a 2.8 which made me sad even though I know the HCA is not the end all to be all, but back then it meant more to me since I didn''t know AS MUCH about the other details.
the stone was beautiful, but very white brilliant, BIC. it had more white brilliance and sparkles than color or scintillation. i find i prefer the ideal cuts that have more of a blend of all three rather than just one or the other. but again a BIC would be a fabulous pendant since it would wink whiteness from the neck and really be an eye-catcher. however good ones are harder to find!! sometimes they can border on fish-eye, darkness under the table, etc.
aljdewey
Ideal_Rock
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Baltneau, Mara makes an excellent point in her reply.
In her case, it wasn''t that Greg went out and learned all this stuff about diamonds to come up with just the PERFECT one. Even still, he felt sentimental about the original stone.
In your case, you really invested a lot of yourself to learn what would make a beautiful diamond, and all that energy was done to make her happy. I can certainly see how it would be hard to think about replacing the stone if you do attach sentimental meaning to the symbol.
A little filler: At the time, I remember Mara lamenting that Greg became more attached over time to the original stone. The plan from the outset (when they bought the first stone) had been to upgrade later, but after purchasing the stone, Greg felt more and more sentimental about it.
One of the things that ultimately swayed him, though, was his OWN two eyes. When Mara purchased the diamond for his wedding ring, she selected a stone with ABSOLUTELY cherry proportions. Even though it was smaller than her e-ring (around 39 points or so), he could SEE the performance difference himself when they put his diamond next to hers. His little stone shot tons of rainbows, etc, that hers didn''t have being such a shallow cut.
Seeing that difference for himself really helped him see why Mara wanted to trade in her e-ring.....it wasn''t just a mental difference, there was a very real visual difference. I honestly believe this helped Greg set aside the sentimental attachment to her original stone......and that''s when she upgraded the first time to the H stone, which she''s just traded in for the "big J". "hehehe - LOVE that)
My scenario is a blend of both of you and Mara. My husband Rich isn''t really into the whole jewelry thing, but he knows I am. He proposed to me without a ring because he wanted me to select the stone. Like Mara, I did the research on the stone and made the final selection. However, like you, I *am* sentimental my stone. It''s the one Rich proposed to me with (which he did on bended knee when it arrived), and I don''t have intentions of upgrading it.
It really depends on the people involved.....what size stone would she really like to wear, and how does that compare to what one can get for his/her budget? Also, are you on a timeline to procure a stone? If so, you''re at the mercy of what''s available when you''re looking instead of being able to wait for a vendor to find the "magic" blend of elements you want.
I had tried on a number of stones and looked at what I thought wouldn''t get lost on my finger. The 6.3 to 6.5mm range was what I thought looked good. I didn''t give a damn about the magic "carat" mark; to me, that''s just hype. I just hoped to find a stone as close to 6.3-6.5mm as possible. If our budget hadn''t allowed a stone of that girth, then I''d likely have been more receptive to the thought of upgrading (and likely would have kept my original stone as a pendant because I *am* sentimental).
I was EXTREMELY fortunate on a number of fronts. My vendor really crunched to find me a stone that would work within my budget, and they happened to have an SI2 at that time that would fit my needs. Because it was SI2, I ended up even bigger than I had dared hope - a 1.24 stone that measured nearly 7mm.
Anyway, WOO-hoo on the big J!
Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Al, I totally forgot about Greg''s stone that helped sway him, that is definitely true. Once he saw his beautiful stone, which was just exceptional in all ways, he really saw what I''d been babbling about in terms of cut for all those months. Nothing like your own two eyes in the end.
So that definitely was a huge deal and I think after that he would have rather have had me be ecstatic with the stone that I had and feel like nothing was lacking in terms of cut, than stare at it and think about how we made a mistake for the next few years.
The funniest thing is that even though my diamond is bigger than his small precise one, he still says his diamond TRUMPS all other diamonds in the household because it is an ACA, branded and sooooo perfect. I just smile and nod and ogle the ''Big J''!
So that definitely was a huge deal and I think after that he would have rather have had me be ecstatic with the stone that I had and feel like nothing was lacking in terms of cut, than stare at it and think about how we made a mistake for the next few years.
The funniest thing is that even though my diamond is bigger than his small precise one, he still says his diamond TRUMPS all other diamonds in the household because it is an ACA, branded and sooooo perfect. I just smile and nod and ogle the ''Big J''!
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