*** TENNIS BRACELETS — Questions on diamond cut and certification ***

[La Vanguardia]

I'm thinking of getting a new white gold, brilliant cut, tennis bracelet. I'm unsure whether to have it custom made or not. I want a minimum of 5 carats total weight and since I have a small wrist, each stone would be at least .10.

I've been looking online and in jewelry stores, but it seems that most offer only G-H color and VS/SI clarity. Plus, most are 7 inches (I wear 6.3 inches) and I don't really want to pay for diamonds that I don't need if the jeweler cuts the bracelet.

I'm checking with diamond dealers in Antwerp, Belgium, for a cost estimate. Do any of you have experience with Diamondland and Ajediam? Also, for those of you who might know, how much would be a ball park figure? I just want to double check that the offers I'm getting are reasonable.

Now, about the cut. Even though the diamonds are small, I want them to sparkle. Both dealers can guarantee very good cuts for about the same price. For excellent cuts, I'd need certified ones. The price for certified diamonds of this size is a lot higher than uncertified ones. Is it worth it to get certified ones for .10 diamonds? I mean, if both Diamondland and Ajediam are legit, their guarantees should be okay, right? Very good cuts also have a lot of sparkle, right?

Thanks!

 

[yssie]

There are vendors sending melee out for certification?


I would definitely imagine you (the consumer) would be paying a hefty premium for this! Generally speaking ex/vg cut is fine, si clarity is fine for stones that small. Would not do certified melee - waste of money with a reputable vendor, really, unless it's a mind-clean thing.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I would call Brian Gavin, Whiteflash, and Leon Mege, their mele is amazing and you wouldn''t have to worry about getting it certed. That will be a tremendous expense if you try to get all that mele certed. Plus, they''ll make it to your exact customization (size, length, etc.)

 

[La Vanguardia]

Thanks! I''m in Switzerland though that''s why I thought of the Antwerp route. I''ve seen the jewelry on Whiteflash and Leon Mege but am trying to avoid trans-atlantic shipping from the US. In Antwerp, I can easily go there.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/25/2010 8:21:39 AM
Author: La Vanguardia
Thanks! I'm in Switzerland though that's why I thought of the Antwerp route. I've seen the jewelry on Whiteflash and Leon Mege but am trying to avoid trans-atlantic shipping from the US. In Antwerp, I can easily go there.

Hi LaVan and welcome!

I would contact Rob van Beurden at www.diamondhouse.be to see what he can find for you. Rob is based in Antwerp so could be a good person to try. He has an excellent rep so you should be in very safe hands with him. It is cut quality as you know which can make or break the beauty of a diamond so an expert such as Rob or one of the vendors suggested above can select some excellently cut stones to use in your bracelet. It is worth getting the best looking stones you can in order to get that bracelet shimmering and sparkling, so consulting a true expert would be a huge help.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

How much would it cost to certifiy .10 stones? Seems like you''d be spending more on that then on the actual diamonds.

Overall with how much you''re spending, it makes sense to get the bracelet custom made to fit your wrist. If you do purchase one that''s already made, then you can always have the extra diamonds set into a fun pendant!

I wouldn''t get the diamonds certified, but would buy and idealscope to double check the quality of the diamonds.

 

[La Vanguardia]

Lorelei - Hi there! Thanks. I'll definitely contact Rob and see what he can offer me. I really want the cut to be sparkly as I don't want the bracelet looking dull. My comparison are the pavé diamonds from my VCA jewelry, which are really sparkly (compared to others I've seen) even though they're tiny. I've also contacted Whiteflash for a quote for my requirements. But on their website, they have 5-carat, 14K, ACA, 3-prong, 7-inch bracelets for only USD 6200. The ones I received from Diamondland and Ajediam for a range of 5-5.5 carats, 18K, Very good cut, D-E-F, VVS/VS, 4-prong, 6.3-inch bracelet will be around EUR 6700.

MC - Diamondland said that for certified diamonds, .15 (F/VS1) costs USD 2440 per carat while an uncertified one is USD 1550. For .10, uncertified are USD 1275 per carat.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/25/2010 1:49:26 PM
Author: La Vanguardia
Lorelei - Hi there! Thanks. I''ll definitely contact Rob and see what he can offer me. I really want the cut to be sparkly as I don''t want the bracelet looking dull. My comparison are the pavé diamonds from my VCA jewelry, which are really sparkly (compared to others I''ve seen) even though they''re tiny. I''ve also contacted Whiteflash for a quote for my requirements. But on their website, they have 5-carat, 14K, ACA, 3-prong, 7-inch bracelets for only USD 6200. The ones I received from Diamondland and Ajediam for a range of 5-5.5 carats, 18K, Very good cut, D-E-F, VVS/VS, 4-prong, 6.3-inch bracelet will be around EUR 6700.

MC - Diamondland said that for certified diamonds, .15 (F/VS1) costs USD 2440 per carat while an uncertified one is USD 1550. For .10, uncertified are USD 1275 per carat.

You are most welcome LaVan, I have heard great things about Rob so I am sure he can help you!

If you decide to buy from the US you can try these vendors too;

www.highperformancediamonds.com

www.goodoldgold.com

www.briangavindiamonds.com

 

[stone-cold11]

lab graded stone ceost more because there is a cost in the grading, roughly around 150-200 USD per stone depending on the lab. A 10 pointer typically sell in the 50USD range, so add in the cost of the lab report, easily double the price. Which is also why typically smaller stones are in-house grade, not cost effective otherwise.

 

[FancyDiamond]

Date: 2/25/2010 1:49:26 PM
Author: La Vanguardia

MC - Diamondland said that for certified diamonds, .15 (F/VS1) costs USD 2440 per carat while an uncertified one is USD 1550. For .10, uncertified are USD 1275 per carat.

Certified by whom? Whose set of eyes, and by what standard? Besides color and clarity, is cut also graded? And how?

 

[La Vanguardia]

Date: 2/25/2010 2:52:09 PM
Author: FancyDiamond

Certified by whom? Whose set of eyes, and by what standard? Besides color and clarity, is cut also graded? And how?

By either HRD, GIA or IGI.