[jerin]

Hi Olga,

also congratulations to a lovely couple and the choker looks great.

As for size of diamonds: small but top quality, I also prefer TW VSI to W/SI....

Sizes for pearls: bigger is better - but top quality is a must in larger pearls....

[nlerner]

Originally Posted by Pearl_dreams

Yes, eye clean is SI2 or better.
My diamond belonged to my husband's great aunt in the 1930s.

The loupe that is used in the industry is triplet 10X.
Eye-clean is SI 2 and up, as Pearl_dreams said.
The color can be determined only when the diamond is placed face down, never when it is in the setting.
Higher color is always better than clarity.
A white gold setting is better for high color range and yellow gold for lower colors.
The best way to clean diamond jewelry is to boil it for 5 minutes in water with some liquid (dishwashing) detergent.

Pearl_dreams, your diamond must be an "old cut," right?

[dkan 168]

Concur with 10X magnification for a loupe, as it is the industrial standard for determining "clarity" of a diamond.

Check out this link to White Flash's definition of "Eye Clean", very good read:

White Flash's Definition of "Eye Clean"

Cut is the most important of all 4Cs, as it gives the diamond the sparkle. A good cut diamond looks more sparky than a bad cut one, and can make a warmer (Is and Js) coloured diamond look whiter. An well-cut J can be mounted on platinum without showing up as warm.

Colour is very personal, some can deter colours much better than others. Once mounted in jewellery, it is very difficult to distinguish colours from H and up, except for trained eyes, or putting the stones side by side in good light.

Eyeclean can be as low as SI2, depending on the location of the inclusion, and the shape of the diamond. Brilliant cuts such as Round and Princess can "hide" inclusions better than step cuts such as Emerald and Asscher.

A well cut H/VS grade diamond is much better value for money than an average cut D/IF for majority of cuts. If cut and carat size are equal, then a H/VS will definitely be better value than a D/IF.

For diamond jewellery, if the diamonds are very small, i.e. 1mm or smaller, then the colour and sparkle factor are more important than clarity.

Pricescope, the diamond forum that does not allow much talk on pearls, is a great resource about all things diamonds and coloured stones, and one can browse freely without being a member, just like this forum

DK

[Raisondetre]

BTW, for the loupe, does it matter if it's 18mm vs 21mm? I think that's just the size of the viewing field.

[dkan 168]

Originally Posted by Raisondetre

BTW, for the loupe, does it matter if it's 18mm vs 21mm? I think that's just the size of the viewing field.

I have little experience with either, however, I did have a 20x loupe for work once that had a smaller viewing window, not much bigger than 12mm if I remember correctly, and I found it not particularly easy to use!

The trick is to place the loupe as close to your eye as possible, then bring the object into focus

DK

[pattye]

My suggestion would be to start with high quality 10x loupe. You will be able to be comfortable with using it---

The trick is to place the loupe as close to your eye as possible, then bring the object into focus

thusly in a very short time. I also have a 20x but use it much less.

[Pearl_dreams]

Originally Posted by nlerner

Pearl_dreams, your diamond must be an "old cut," right?

No, it's actually brilliant cut!

As to 10x versus 20X magnification, there is a good reason to use a 10x loupe to examine a stone-- you will be able to see inclusions in any part of the stone. Ironically, with 20x, you may miss seeing inclusions that are there because the depth of field is less. In fact, beware if a seller tries to get you to examine a stone with greater than 10x magnification-- they may be hoping you will not see the inclusions.

[nlerner]

After the search for the perfect loupe, here is some information about cuts and shapes of diamonds:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_cut

http://www.gia.edu/research/1383/228...cle_detail.cfm

BTW, the real meaning of "Diamonds Are Forever" is once you buy them, you're stuck with them. (When you try to sell them you get 007 percent of your price back)

[dkan 168]

Originally Posted by nlerner

BTW, the real meaning of "Diamonds Are Forever" is once you buy them, you're stuck with them. (When you try to sell them you get 007 percent of your price back)

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and got my fingers burnt, and a very expensive lesson learnt!

The pieces I sold were childhood gifts that no longer fit or to my taste with no sentimental value, ah well

DK

[pattye]

The pieces I sold were childhood gifts that no longer fit or to my taste with no sentimental value, ah well

Hopefully for someone else they will become much loved and treasured----I need to do more of getting rid of the unused, making room for new treasures---