Diamond Chains and Iced Necklaces

These are showroom pieces, one of each. All are graded E color and VS1 clarity, and each listing states the stone origin, here lab-grown.

Notice the 9.18 ct round necklace and the 9.4 ct heart necklace, both at $5,300, next to the 11.85 ct mixed-shape necklace at $7,900 in 10K gold. Price is not just carats. Gold weight, karat, stone size and the amount of labor in the setting all count.

With a diamond chain, every inch sparkles. With a pendant, the sparkle is in one spot and the chain is plain gold. A diamond chain uses far more stones, so it costs more per inch, but it needs no pendant to look finished. For pendant options, see diamond pendants. For the fully iced look, see iced out chains.

GIA grades color from D (colorless) down the alphabet, and clarity on an 11-step scale from Flawless to I3. E color is the second-highest color grade. VS1 means small inclusions you would need effort to find under 10x magnification. GIA notes that VVS and VS stones usually look the same to the naked eye, so VS1 is where you stop paying for differences you cannot see. On a chain with hundreds of small stones, matched color matters more than anything: one yellowish stone in a row of white ones stands out. Read more at what VVS diamonds are.

The house diamond necklaces shown here are lab-grown. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with the same carbon crystal as mined stones, and FTC rules require that origin to be disclosed. Lab stones let you buy more carats for the money. Natural stones cost more per carat and carry the rarity some buyers want; a natural build can be quoted through custom. The diamond Cuban guide explains how each changes the price of a heavy chain.

For men, 20 to 22 inches lets a diamond chain lie flat on the collarbone. Make sure the clasp has a safety latch: diamond chains are heavy and a single-catch clasp is the weak point. Clean with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, then dry flat. Check settings every few months. Pricing benchmarks are in how much an iced out chain costs.

• Total carat weight: the sum of all stones, printed in the title of each house piece.
• Stone shape: round stones are the classic tennis look; heart, marquise and mixed shapes take more cutting and setting work.
• Gold karat: 14K holds more pure gold than 10K, so the same design costs more in 14K.
• Grade: E color and VS1 clarity sit near the top of what the eye can tell apart.
• Setting labor: every stone is set by hand.

That is why the 30 ct round necklace at $8,950 and the 11.85 ct mixed-shape necklace at $7,900 are not as far apart as their carats suggest.

House pieces are one of one and live in the showroom at 7900 NW 27th Ave, Unit 506, Miami FL 33147. Call 954-504-5640 before you come to check a specific piece. For a size or metal not in the case, the custom process gives you a design and exact price first. Plain gold styles are at chains, and every shipment is insured.