Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to look??

[Sterlanator]

Hello!! I'm new here (sorry if this is the wrong section) and have a few questions about buying small melee diamonds. I'm going to propose to my girlfriend with an awesome custom ring that I'm having made soon, but I still need 50 small round-cut diamonds, .01 ct or 1pt each. Here are my questions:

1. Where do I buy diamonds that small for cheap? Are they all supposed to be about $12 each??
2. Can you really tell the difference in clarity that small? Does flawless look any different then VSS, VS, or SI?? Really?
3. Would it be cheaper to buy Moissanite diamond clones? Would you be able to tell they are not real at that small of a size?
4. Would a CZ be an option at all? I'm not sure if ones that small look ridiculously fake or not.

That's all I have question-wise for now! For a little more info on her ring, I bought the three main stones already; .52ct princess cut VS1 G center, two side .28ct VS1 G princesses and it's going to all be on a platinum band. The ring looks awesome so far, but it just needs a little extra umph for gorgeous sparkles at every angle!

 

[lovemybling]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

I really can not say where to buy stones this small. If you are having a ring custom made most of the time the jewelerr you are using can get the stones you need and add that into the cost of your ring.

If you are doing platinum, and you already have the other stones I would not start cutting corners and use CZ or mossianite. CZ tend to get cloundy over time and mossianite looks green in comparison to diamonds.

Good Luck can not wait to see the finished ring.

 

[Sterlanator]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

Ewww, green? And yeah, the cloudy issue was my biggest concern on the CZ. I read up on another option, someone said it's called ABBA (or something like that)??

Althought I scored the diamonds and platinum for cheap (thank goodness for craigslist!!) from another ring, I am not a money machine. Being a college student is hard enough as it is but I'm spending quite the savings for this ring (it's going to cost almost $2k in the end). I guess that's cheaper than some wedding rings I've seen (understatement) but still, I'm a pretty frugal guy and I have fears of the little ones just popping out here and there.

Here's an example of what the ring will look similar to:

 

[yssie]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

diamonds that small are inexpensive - the vast majority of the cost will come from the labour involved in setting the stones, no matter what the stones are - diamonds, sapphires, little balls of plastic. Definitely best to just have your jeweller provide the melee, as he/she will have ample supply & sources, unlike you, and in any case many jewellers will not use customer-provided melee

clarity means very little in this size - either they're clean enough to sparkle or they're not. Don't bother quibbling here.

As noted diamond melee are inexpensive, the 'savings' in using CZ aren't going to be at all significant. Since you're already going with plat. and diamond centrestones, if you want pave... for many women having the "real deal" is very important

 

[antelope1]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

We're not supposed to comment on simulated diamonds.

Most melee diamonds are sold in lots at auction to people in the trade (e.g., not to you or me). The person fabricating the ring should have access to those auctions.

 

[Sterlanator]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

Thanks for the info!! I'll be sure to ask the jeweler who is making the ring for me to provide the diamonds now instead of trying to be Mr. Frugal As you stated before, sometimes you just can't fight the price and it's better to buy quality vs. cheap over time.

But would it be a smart idea to get extra loose diamonds from the jeweler for the coming years if some start popping out? I have heard in my mom's case and my sister's case where a few tiny diamonds have popped out over time, is it pretty universal or should I buy the same ones now for later?

Thanks again for all your help!!

 

[yssie]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

Thanks for the info!! I'll be sure to ask the jeweler who is making the ring for me to provide the diamonds now instead of trying to be Mr. Frugal As you stated before, sometimes you just can't fight the price and it's better to buy quality vs. cheap over time.

But would it be a smart idea to get extra loose diamonds from the jeweler for the coming years if some start popping out? I have heard in my mom's case and my sister's case where a few tiny diamonds have popped out over time, is it pretty universal or should I buy the same ones now for later?

Thanks again for all your help!!

if you're going w/ just regular full-cut stones in a certain size you'll be fine even if a few do come loose over time, but if you choose something very unique (like specific colour sapphires, or coloured diamonds of a certain hue) your jeweller may advise you pick up a few spares

 

[antelope1]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

But would it be a smart idea to get extra loose diamonds from the jeweler for the coming years if some start popping out? I have heard in my mom's case and my sister's case where a few tiny diamonds have popped out over time, is it pretty universal or should I buy the same ones now for later?

Unless you manage to get pink, emerald, or some other colored melee, I wouldn't bother getting extra melee because matching isn't as much a concern with diamond melee (particularly when you have as much as you are proposing, it will all run together). Also, then you would have to keep track of 1 pointers -- they're tiny! The guy I went to for my custom work said that he would fix the melee for free for life, as long as I paid for shipping. Good deal, if you can get it (would be better still if I lived in NYC and didn't have to ship). Also, keep in mind that the smaller the melee, the higher the labor cost (you have to set more melee to cover the same amount of metal).

The primary concern with pave for melee is that the workmanship has to be really good to start with so that you won't have to worry about losing diamonds as much. (You'd still lose diamonds if you closed a car door on your ring, for example, but are much less likely to lose the diamonds from everyday wear.) For more info, read this: http://www.artofplatinum.com/start/policies/micropave.php

Just for reference, for your budget, you could get a well-cut (AGS0) 0.7 ct round brilliant for under $2k and use the PT you already have to set it into a nice solitaire. Your design is certainly unique, but if you're not sure if your GF would like it, a solitaire is a pretty safe way to go...also, ebay and estate jewelry could work in your budget...

Good luck!

 

[tyty333]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

I know this isnt your question but are you sure your girlfriend will like that setting? Its a little bit different (not far out
there though). I just hate to see you go through all the effort to have a custom ring made and have her feel so-so about
it. Sometimes in the long run it works better to put a beautiful stone in a simple solitare setting then later have your GF and you
design the ring together. This also gives more time to save money if necessary.

 

[tyty333]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

Here is something somewhat similar. $1095
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/engagement_rings.php

And put a stone like this in it...(we would have to make sure that it is eye-clean first)
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1265808.asp
or
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Good-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1266415.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1275470.asp

These stones are just to give you an idea of what you could get.

 

[Sterlanator]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

Thanks for the input and ideas, I really appreciate your advice!! I'll talk to my custom jeweler (has anyone heard of Images Jewelers?) today and see how it's going on the custom ring process too!

If you have had previous experience having a custom ring made, what is it like? Does it come out the way you expected?

 

[starryeyed]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

Thanks for the input and ideas, I really appreciate your advice!! I'll talk to my custom jeweler (has anyone heard of Images Jewelers?) today and see how it's going on the custom ring process too!

If you have had previous experience having a custom ring made, what is it like? Does it come out the way you expected?

Hi sterlanator.

Here is a site for loose melee - the minimum lot size is 1 carat, but they will sell on a stone-by-stone basis, according to the site. I've never used these guys.

http://serenity-diamonds.com/loose-diamond-melee-parcels.html

I have a lot of custom pieces. Sometimes they turn out the way you want, sometimes there's a communication problem and the piece doesn't turn out exactly as you envisioned. They key is to be very specific about what you want. Put it in writing and provide pictures/sketches if possible.

 

[tyty333]

Re: Looking for 50x.01ct (aka. melee) diamonds, where to loo

I see my post above didnt work. Here it is...
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/eng...nd-Bezel-Set-Diamond-Band-(.52-ctw..)-129.htm

Anyway, I see you have already started the custom process. I hope it turns out beautiful!