3.33 OEC

[valmanin]

I think this got buried in my other post about the 3 O/P honkers. So I am making it its own thread in the hopes that I can get opinions.

This is a 3.33 M/VS2: here is what I posted earlier:

Oh GOOD LORD, this is hard!!!

Okay, got the stone...

Opened box...

First thought, HOLY COW that is big, bright, brilliant and gorgeous!

Upon further inspection, here are my thoughts:

PROS:
Fits my honker criteria...it is perfectly BIG! 9.4mm and very round
Color - wow I definitely moved a few shades up. The 2.71 has a sometimes light lemon yellow to it. This one looks like vanilla icecream at it's warmest. BUt pretty stinkin bright white most of the time.
It's a very bright stone...VERY bright!
It's very clean...can't find anything with the loupe

CONS:
The under table facets are a little uneven looking to me which you will see in the pictures. This might bother me. Ugh! I see what I think may be called leakage too. Hmmmm...not sure what to think.

I am sort of in trouble now. The 2.71 ruined me for a lesser cut stone. But, the 3.33 ruined me for smaller and lower color!!!

BTW, I have to say that Adam is just about the most phenomenal guy! He has worked with me so patiently and dilligently to find me the right stone...never making me feel crazy although he did call one of his emails to me a therapy session. Anyway, I sent him comparison picks of both stones that I took and he doesn't see much of a difference in the cut. He thinks it may be possible for his cutter to clean up the pavilion facets so it has a more symmetrical appearance. Not sure what to do. Not sure how much that would help or if I am being overly obsessive. It really is beautiful in person!

Here are, as requested, LOTS of pictures:

 

[GemFever]

What, uneven, where? I guess I'm just not that good at judging photos.

Does the stone look less fiery to you? Less brilliant? Is the center lazy? Can you really *see* the unevenness while looking at the stone and not the pics?

It looks pretty to me But if you're not crazy in love, maybe it's not the one. Give it a couple days though I love the 3.33 carat weight. As you said in your last thread, the number feels cool (magical!).

 

[Dreamer_D]

Looks like a nice classic OEC to me.

Really. Stop looking at photos and look at the diamond in front of you! That is what you will wear! Photos are for exclusion, not choosing!

 

[valmanin]

What, uneven, where? I guess I'm just not that good at judging photos.

Does the stone look less fiery to you? Less brilliant? Is the center lazy? Can you really *see* the unevenness while looking at the stone and not the pics?

It looks pretty to me But if you're not crazy in love, maybe it's not the one. Give it a couple days though I love the 3.33 carat weight. As you said in your last thread, the number feels cool (magical!).

Hi Gem!

I guess what I mean is the 2.71 had this AMAZINGLY symmetrical and crisp pattern. Every which way I looked at it it just looked perfect. Also, when I would cup my hand around it...which I did for many pictures everything about the faceting would POP! This stone is just different in that way. It's a little more off-beat or moody with the faceting...it never goes dark though. I would say it just doesn't have that perfect little flower pattern in the center...more like a bigger fatter petal, then a skinnier petal...then when I rotate it I see the flower and then turn it again and it goes a little wonkier. I hope that makes sense. I can see the unevenness when looking at the stone sometimes...and other times I don't notice it.

As for fiery...not really sure how to measure fiery? Please explain. Adam assured me before he sent it that it was VERY fiery...but I swear I can't tell the difference. I don't think the center is lazy, but it is not as crisp as the other one. It is VERY bright! Very happy stone! I swear it looks SO white. It looks as bright as my E MRB...just more of a vanilla/white color than bright white. The color is spectacular...perfect! The size and brilliance is

I am, by nature, a slow to fall in love kind of person. I tend to feel skeptical and then once I fall I fall hard. With the 2.71 it was the color and size that I kept doubting. I ended up falling for the color but never quite got over the size. With this one, everything is perfect, but I'm not sure if the faceting is phenomenal enough. I got a little spoiled with 2.71.

OMG...could I ramble on anymore???

 

[JulieN]

Fell in love after the first pic, I didn't need to see more.

 

[valmanin]

Looks like a nice classic OEC to me.

Really. Stop looking at photos and look at the diamond in front of you! That is what you will wear! Photos are for exclusion, not choosing!

I admit it. I have a picture problem.

 

[bright ice]

I think it's gorgeous Looks like a very classic OEC plus it's a great size. I wouldn't hesitate another moment.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Looks very nice face up to me! That very last pic makes it look like the girdle is a little rough. Is it or is that just an unclear area in the picture. You take good pics, by the way! (And I can totally relate to your dilemma!!!!)

 

[GemFever]

To judge fire, you just have to be in the right lighting environment. Grocery stores are good, Costco is amazing, sometimes at home in the evening you will have just the right combination of lights and the stone will start firing. Also in direct sunlight. The blinding flashes

Ooh, also try this -- find a big green tree on a sunny day and stand underneath the foliage. The stone should start throwing off the CRAZIEST colors. I have a great overgrown Holly tree in my parents' back yard that I like to use for this purpose

 

[valmanin]

Looks very nice face up to me! That very last pic makes it look like the girdle is a little rough. Is it or is that just an unclear area in the picture. You take good pics, by the way! (And I can totally relate to your dilemma!!!!)

I can see what you are talking about in the picture. IRL it actually looks more like the girdle has been evened out...or made thicker. Not sure what the term is but it looks like they fixed it. I should ask Adam. I do think that picture is a little blurry which makes it looks more rough...not so IRL.

Thanks for the comment about the pics. In my family everyone takes the camera from me. I cannot get a good pic of my beautiful and photogenic children for the world. Diamonds are much more cooperative.

 

[valmanin]

To judge fire, you just have to be in the right lighting environment. Grocery stores are good, Costco is amazing, sometimes at home in the evening you will have just the right combination of lights and the stone will start firing. Also in direct sunlight. The blinding flashes

Ooh, also try this -- find a big green tree on a sunny day and stand underneath the foliage. The stone should start throwing off the CRAZIEST colors. I have a great overgrown Holly tree in my parents' back yard that I like to use for this purpose

Okay...will do. I do know that the 2.71 shot off lots of colors. I will see tomorrow with this one.

But, and I mean this sincerely, do any diamonds NOT look great in these environments?

 

[GemFever]

To judge fire, you just have to be in the right lighting environment. Grocery stores are good, Costco is amazing, sometimes at home in the evening you will have just the right combination of lights and the stone will start firing. Also in direct sunlight. The blinding flashes

Ooh, also try this -- find a big green tree on a sunny day and stand underneath the foliage. The stone should start throwing off the CRAZIEST colors. I have a great overgrown Holly tree in my parents' back yard that I like to use for this purpose

Okay...will do. I do know that the 2.71 shot off lots of colors. I will see tomorrow with this one.

But, and I mean this sincerely, do any diamonds NOT look great in these environments?

That's what I was thinking as I was typing up my post. Those are some premium lighting environments. But I think some stones do it more than others. Did you see InnaR's beautiful Blue Unicorn (OEC)? If you look at the JbEG listing, on pg 2 there is a video where the stones throws off amazing colors. I think most OECs do this to a point, but some do it better, stronger, faster, bolder!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I don't think you see fire all that often..or at least I am not usually in lighting that produces fire! But it is good to take stones into all your usual lighting environments because that is where you will see them the most! And either you will fall in love with the stone, or it needs to go back and you can wait for the right one!

 

[CharmyPoo]

My biggest OEC throws off crazy fire ... always gorgeous colors in almost all lighting. My 1.7 ct is really bright and pretty but doesn't throw off as much fire / colors.

The diamond does look beautiful but if you aren't fully in love ... wait .... the right one will come along.

 

[valmanin]

Thanks Charmy and DS...

When I first saw the diamond I was blown away. I opened the box then immediately closed it because I couldn't believe how glorious it was. Gorgeous! Then I went in to evaluation mode. Tomorrow I will look with fresh eyes. I am slow to warm to new things...even when I met my husband. Honestly, I think part of the reason I felt so good about the 2.71 was because of the overwhelming response to it on PS. That was very reassuring that it was as nice as I thought it was.

 

[CharmyPoo]

In the end, it doesn't matter what we think because we are judging from photos and only you know the real life experience with the diamond. A portion of this has to do with personal preference and what is most important to you. You are spending a lot of money and you need to be in love with it and not have to think about what you don't like about it. I also find that PS response is also based on your view - if you come in raving about the diamond, in general the response will be supportive. If you come in with doubts, responses generally will provide you with more perspectives.

I will also add that I never underestimate the importance of color (in addition to cut). I just can't live with a stone that isn't white enough because I see the color more than inclusions and sometimes cut.

I will go back to my experience over Christmas. Same reaction - opened the box and omg it is so nice. Looked at it a bit more and wore it around for days. I liked it less and less ... couldn't shake the obstruction as I have seen better (in your case, it would be the pattern). If I didn't see better, I may have accepted it. Returning that stone was one a decision I am very grateful that I made because I ended up with another diamond that was better cut, whiter, bigger and cheaper.

I know with some of my other diamonds - what bothered me when I bought it still bothers me years later. You end up searching for that upgrade and next diamond you love.

 

[globalmujer]

In the end, it doesn't matter what we think because we are judging from photos and only you know the real life experience with the diamond. A portion of this has to do with personal preference and what is most important to you. You are spending a lot of money and you need to be in love with it and not have to think about what you don't like about it. I also find that PS response is also based on your view - if you come in raving about the diamond, in general the response will be supportive. If you come in with doubts, responses generally will provide you with more perspectives.

I will also add that I never underestimate the importance of color (in addition to cut). I just can't live with a stone that isn't white enough because I see the color more than inclusions and sometimes cut.

I will go back to my experience over Christmas. Same reaction - opened the box and omg it is so nice. Looked at it a bit more and wore it around for days. I liked it less and less ... couldn't shake the obstruction as I have seen better (in your case, it would be the pattern). If I didn't see better, I may have accepted it. Returning that stone was one a decision I am very grateful that I made because I ended up with another diamond that was better cut, whiter, bigger and cheaper.

I know with some of my other diamonds - what bothered me when I bought it still bothers me years later. You end up searching for that upgrade and next diamond you love.

Excellent insight

 

[valmanin]

In the end, it doesn't matter what we think because we are judging from photos and only you know the real life experience with the diamond. A portion of this has to do with personal preference and what is most important to you. You are spending a lot of money and you need to be in love with it and not have to think about what you don't like about it. I also find that PS response is also based on your view - if you come in raving about the diamond, in general the response will be supportive. If you come in with doubts, responses generally will provide you with more perspectives.

I will also add that I never underestimate the importance of color (in addition to cut). I just can't live with a stone that isn't white enough because I see the color more than inclusions and sometimes cut.

I will go back to my experience over Christmas. Same reaction - opened the box and omg it is so nice. Looked at it a bit more and wore it around for days. I liked it less and less ... couldn't shake the obstruction as I have seen better (in your case, it would be the pattern). If I didn't see better, I may have accepted it. Returning that stone was one a decision I am very grateful that I made because I ended up with another diamond that was better cut, whiter, bigger and cheaper.

I know with some of my other diamonds - what bothered me when I bought it still bothers me years later. You end up searching for that upgrade and next diamond you love.

I hear you! I am just going to have to see what I think over the next few days. I am wondering if it is the larger table size 52% that is bringing my attention to the under the table facets. The other one was 47% so it just felt more tightened up under the table if that makes sense.

Anyway, I think I need to spend some time with this diamond in different environments and see what I see!