WOW, WOW, WOW!
Got my ring. Couldn't wait, so I opened the package in the parking lot of FedEx. My first impression was WOW, WOW, WOW! Most noticeable are the superior cut and size of the center stone. The center stone sparkled madly in the sunlight giving off all kinds of rainbow flashes. The contrast is just amazing. Love the crisp, sharp look of the center stone. Its large size also helps make the stone sparkle more beautifully.
The side pears, although not as sparkling as the center stone, still give off crisp sparkles in their own way. One can tell immediately they are very white and well cut. I am so glad that I took Bob''s recommendation, and the pears are defintely worth the extra cost. The ring is superbly made. With the pear sides, I love the setting even more than the stunning center stone.
I don''t know about the magnification (what is it anyway?) of the loupe, but it has excellent resolution. I have no trouble seeing the black inclusions (spots or crystals). Good thing that I cannot see them with unaided eyes, and that they do not affect the light performance. These black inclusions do bother me a bit though. Now I know I shall stay with high clarity next time with VS2 as the limit.
As for the color, I did not notice the yellowish tint initially, because I was distracted by the sparkles and rainbow flashes. When I took a closer look at the stone, I couldn''t help but noticed its yellowish tint againt the snowy white F color pears. I guess if the center stone were by itself without any sidestones, its warm color may not be as apparent. Again, next stone I buy must have a color high color grade with H as my absolute minimum.
In conclusion, I love my ring, and am glad that I did not go for the 3.08 ct J SI1, because the lower colors and additional inclusions would bother me much more.
Elana, Pennsylvania, USA