It appears pretty common to use SI1 stones for micropave, pave and side stones.

Does anyone have SI1 stones currently? Do you like them?
Did you wish you had upgraded to VS?
Are VS stones really more sparkly than SI1 stones?

Thanks in advance.

I chose to go with SI1 stones for the pave on my ering, which I should have in my hand by next week/pictures. We were working on an extremely tight budget and SI1 allowed us to get the price point where we needed it.

As far as sparkle goes, yes, it is possible for an inclusion to impair a stone's light return, especially when you're talking tiny little stones. Realize, however, that the average ring on the market uses SI or worse quality sidestones and melee. Go by a local big retailer (Zales, Kay, Jared, whatever you have nearby) and check out their pave engagement rings - those are overwhelmingly going to have SI sidestones and can give you an idea of what they look like. I think MoCo/AD standardly uses SI/G diamonds in their melee, so you can look at some of the pave rings that their customers have posted. I think the average person won't tell a difference.

Is this a ring you're having made by a board vendor or one you're ordering from an overseas maker like LOGR? I've heard (though not actually purchased from them) that with LOGR especially it seems like the "SI" stones are really more like "I" and cloudy and a lot of people have been unhappy with their recent purchases unless they upgrade. It really just depends on the jeweler, I think, and how accurate their grading is.

It really depends on who is grading the stones SI. Melee is not cert'd like larger stones, so it is pretty subjective. They could be fab, or they could be duds. I generally suggest getting the best quality that you can afford. Keep in mind though, that a lot of the sparkle will come from the cut of the stones. Excellent and ideal cut melee will sparkle more than stones that have a good or very good rating.

I'm working with DK. He gave me a quote for H SI1 stones. I have seen photos of his work and love it. My feeling is trust him as other BTD members have trusted.