shape
carat
color
clarity

Need help selecting eternity ring

Mig888

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
19
I have a big anniversary coming up and I want to buy my wife an eternity ring. I found two extremely nice rings and I am having difficulty deciding between them and would greatly appreciate any advice or opinions. Both rings are oval stones which I like because they are not as common in eternity bands and I think they look elegant. Both rings are set in platinum.

The first ring is 16 stones averaging .41 points (total 6.56 carats). with the diamonds ranging in size from .37 to .46. Based on the cut the diamonds are very evenly matched. The stones are all GIA certified and inscribed and I will actually get 16 GIA certificates. The stones are all D color and VS1 clarity or better. It really is a gorgeous ring and rare to have all oval stones evenly matched with such good quality stones.

The second ring is 15 stones averaging .50 points (7.52 total carats) with stones ranging from 47 to 56. The cut of the diamonds are also evenly matched, with the oval cuts in this ring being less elongated (wider stones) and appearing visibly larger. Only 5 of the stones in this ring are certified and the colors range from D to G. The clarity averages VS2. Thus, this ring contains larger stones, but of lesser quality.

The price of the rings is very close, with the smaller stoned ring actually being a touch more expensive--but not enough to affect my decision. In addition to the smaller ring having better quality stones, the jeweler (actually a wholesale diamond dealer that i really trust and like) states that the smaller ring is slightly more expensive because it is extremely difficult to assemble 15 D color oval stones of equal proportion for an eternity band versus the larger bands that have colors ranging from D to G in order to get the same proportions. Thus, I would be paying a premium for the collection of stones (and the 10 additional GIA certificates). Does anyone have advice as to whether I should buy the ring averaging .41 carats with the better stones or is the larger ring of sufficiently good quality that I am better off going for the larger ring? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Is this the right section to post this question?
 
It's the right place! :)) Welcome to PS!

Wow, they both sound like amazingly beautiful rings! My thoughts are that I would want the stones to be very evenly matched in color. So the fact that the second ring only has five stones that have been graded (by GIA as well?) and that 'someone' is telling you that the rest vary in color grade by 3 shades would concern me, especially at this ct weight and being set side by side. Color grading is very subjective and needs to be done in a controlled lighting environment with a master set of stones. It's not uncommon for even the same lab to get different results.

You mentioned that the stones are nicely matched but are they also graded GIA EX for cut? GIA only offers a cut grade for round stones, so the ovals will not have cut listed on the lab report. But it would be important to me that the RB's have an EX cut grade since the cut is what determines the stones light performance.
 
Thank you for your comments. They are quite helpful. The GIA certificates were shown to me and I thought they mentioned the cut, but I could be wrong. I will absolutely check that tomorrow. Do you have any comments as to an eternity band with ovals? Do you think ovals are a good choice for an eternity band? I was also considering a single row of round half carats or a double band of round .30 pointers in a honeycomb design that looked very nice. I just thought the single row of larger stones was a more substantial piece.
 
I'm so sorry,I missed that they were both oval eternity bands. :oops: And yes, I think that using ovals will be gorgeous! In fact I was just admiring this one yesterday.
https://www.artofplatinum.com/vault/unique-diamond-wedding-ring

and this one done in pears. :love:
https://www.artofplatinum.com/vault/unusual-wedding-band-eternity-pear-shape-diamonds

It's possible that the stones have a cut grade, if AGS issued the report. To my knowledge they are the only lab currently issuing a cut grade for fancy cut stones. GIA will issue a grade for polish and symmetry and it's likely that is what you remember seeing on the report.

I absolutely agree with you that a single row of larger stones looks much more substantial and impressive on the hand. :love:
 
I think I would be more inclined towards the 1st ring you described with all GIA certs and matching colors.
You wouldnt happen to have any pictures would you?
 
I would go with the first one too. I don't think, as far as size, they would look that much different. It would be so special that you and your wife knew that all the stones were perfectly matched just like the two of you. :appl: :appl:
I second....can you post a photo of the two so we can see the size difference.
 
I too would be more inclined towards the first one. I think that sounds very special that all the ovals are certified and matched.
 
Thank you for all your comments and help. I don't have a picture, but will try to get and post one shortly. I am certain the stones in the first ring were all certified by GIA as I saw the certificates. You must be correct that it did not certify the cut and I must have been confused with the polish, etc...
 
One more fact, the jeweler told me that the diamonds in both of these rings are "full Russian diamonds" that we're mined and cut in Russia. I am new to the diamond thing and I did not even know that Russia produced diamonds. What is the reputation of Russian diamonds?
 
Thanks for posting this link. Are Russian diamonds considered inferior in any way?
 
Not that I'm aware of, but there are trades people here that would be better at answering that question. Because of forum rules they aren't allowed to comment on goods sold by other vendors, so they may or may not choose to post in this thread. However you could start a new thread asking specifically about Russian diamonds and I'm sure that one or several of them, including other forum members will chime in with their thoughts and experiences. :))
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top