8/8 cut diamond melee

[nobody]

I was looking to add 1pt surprise diamonds to my ring, not pave or micropave, just 2 on either side of the main stone (4 total).

A coworker that is jewelry smart told me that I should look for a jeweler that has 8/8(17 facet) cut diamond melee. That they will outperform the common cut melee out there.

I googled for this kind of diamond cut and found that it is commonly known as single cut or "eight cuts", specifically on Leon Mege website where he says that they are expensive and that he only uses them if they are specifically asked for.

http://www.artofplatinum.com/articles/micropave.php

My questions are:

How expensive is he talking about?, especially for stones this small. I figured most of the cost would be the labor to add the stones.

Do these "eight cuts" melee stones really make a difference compared to full cut melee stones that it would be worth the trouble/expense to find a jeweler that has them?

How do these "eight cuts" melee perform compared to something like Whiteflash ACA melee stones?

Any recomended PS Vendors that can do custom work that carry these "eight cuts" I should contact?

Just curious, Does the HCA work on single cut stones?

Lastly, I would be grateful if someone could post or direct me to pictures of "eight cuts" stone (maybe compared to a full cut one). thanks.

 

[bagelboy]

Hey Nobody, That same topic came up several months ago. Try typing in single cut melee into the search box as I just did . The one I''m thinking of is on 5-13-08. As for the HCA question, I think you still need crown and pavillion angles to check. I hope this will help.

 

[surfgirl]

Single cuts are the "first" melee cuts, very few facets but you get bigger chunks of fire from them, IMO. If you prefer a more modern cut, get full brilliant cut melee and you''ll get a more shimmery effect. I cant imagine why single cuts would be more expensive though.

 

[Shay37]

Date: 7/22/2008 12:32:34 AM
Author: surfgirl
Single cuts are the ''first'' melee cuts, very few facets but you get bigger chunks of fire from them, IMO. If you prefer a more modern cut, get full brilliant cut melee and you''ll get a more shimmery effect. I cant imagine why single cuts would be more expensive though.

Rarity would be my guess. Probably fewer of them cut.

shay

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 7/22/2008 1:06:41 AM
Author: Shay37

Date: 7/22/2008 12:32:34 AM
Author: surfgirl
Single cuts are the ''first'' melee cuts, very few facets but you get bigger chunks of fire from them, IMO. If you prefer a more modern cut, get full brilliant cut melee and you''ll get a more shimmery effect. I cant imagine why single cuts would be more expensive though.

Rarity would be my guess. Probably fewer of them cut.

shay

Ditto. apparently (surprisingly) they are rarer to get a hold of then full cuts, and need to be sourced from Europe.

to the OP - I think it just depends on the type of look you are going for. Is it a modern or a vintage style ring?
But to be honest, if you are just adding 4 stones I would go with ACA-type melee. I think the single cuts are intended for pave-intensive work such as LM''s stuff to give a certain look.

 

[jewelerman]

A simple form of cutting small diamonds. Consists of a table, eight crown (top or bezel) facets, eight pavilion (bottom) facets. A round diamond cut with only 18 facets instead of the full cut''s 58 facets. Every full

cut diamond has a stage in the cutting process when it is a "single cut", therefore it''s possible to refer to single cuts as "unfinished" full cut.
Poorly cut single cuts were mostly produced in India and were used in cheap jewelry as an inexpensive substitute of full cut stones. Eight Cut is commonly used term for single cuts that are due to their exceptional symmetry, proportions and finish are used in finest jewelry pieces and watches. Most of them consumed by watch industry for use in dials and hands of expensive upscale watches. In sizes smaller then 1.00 mm single cuts produce better scintillation and fire due to their larger facets. They are produced in Europe and command very high price. Finest micropave pieces all use single cut diamonds.

above is the paragraph from the web site. I still see some watch companies that use single cuts for their watch dials.But its been years since ive seen single cuts used for side stones or for pave designs... I can see why they are used in micro-pave because of the size of the stone we are discussing but this is not a sign that the piece is of superior manufacture.The cost may be higher because most jewelry stores dont carry them and have to be ordered in and not because of quailty of rarety of cut.The setting fee will usually be more then the diamond itself.

 

[strmrdr]

Precision cut single cut melee are expensive because the high end watch companies will pay a hefty premium for them and are extremely picky about them.

The numbers that I have been told from several sources that are in agreement is that if well cut full cuts in a category are $1000 per ct the watch companies are willing to pay $1300 to $1500 per ct for well cut single cuts that meet their very high standards in the same category.*

They are the biggest consumer of them and drive the prices.

* prices are just examples and may or may not match actual prices for any given category but the relative price is correct according to my sources.

 

[glitterata]

My grandmother''s engagement ring, from 1929, is set with single cut accents. (It has a single-cut halo under the center stone, which is flanked by a pair of marquises, each of which also has a halo of single cuts.) When I had it appraised, the appraiser told me that the top quality settings at that period were set with full-cut melee. The single cuts in Grandma''s ring are clearly not precision cuts, but they sparkle nicely.

 

[Jelly]

Interesting!

Does anybody have pictures of the different examples discussed in this thread?

 

[pixley]

This thread may help: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/so-what-kind-of-cut-is-done-for-pave-diamonds.84820/page-2

 

[kcoursolle]

I used to have a ring with single cut melee and the look was lovely. It did seem to sparkle slightly more with broader flashes than my other pave rings with traditional cuts. However, I''m not sure I''d pay quite a bit more for the difference, the difference is slight and lovely, but not huge.

 

[glitterata]

Here''s a picture of my grandmother''s 1929 engagement ring, with single cut melee:

 

[nobody]

Date: 7/22/2008 9:01:42 AM
Author: arjunajane

to the OP - I think it just depends on the type of look you are going for. Is it a modern or a vintage style ring?

But to be honest, if you are just adding 4 stones I would go with ACA-type melee. I think the single cuts are intended for pave-intensive work such as LM''s stuff to give a certain look.

Its a modern type of ring and yes I am not looking for pave work with these stones. I will look into full cut melee. thanks.


Please someone correct me if I am wrong.
Even for tiny stones(1pt or smaller), cut is still king and ideal H&A cut melee, such as ACAs, will still out perform well cut melee stones.

Can you still see Arrows on super tiny stones? I am curious as to whats the smallest ct that you could still see the arrows.

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 7/22/2008 10:01:05 PM
Author: nobody

Date: 7/22/2008 9:01:42 AM
Its a modern type of ring and yes I am not looking for pave work with these stones. I will look into full cut melee. thanks.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong.

Even for tiny stones(1pt or smaller), cut is still king and ideal H&A cut melee, such as ACAs, will still out perform well cut melee stones.

Can you still see Arrows on super tiny stones? I am curious as to whats the smallest ct that you could still see the arrows.

It really depends on what effect you''re after. Well cut single cuts will give you fatter, broader fire bursts. Typically, very high end watch companies use single cuts for bezels and for hour markers because they get more fire and glitter from a very tiny stone. If you want a "glittery" look, go with single cuts. If you''re looking more for uniform "sparkle" I''d use full cut melee. If this is a custom ring, why not ask your jeweler what they suggest? I know people like Leon have specific ideas on what sort of melee to use and when.

When it comes down to it, it''s all about what is pleasing to your own eye though.

 

[nobody]

I am looking for a jeweler, I was told by my coworker to find a jeweler that use 8 cut stones.

I had no idea what 8 cut stones were until I googled it.


One of the higher regarded vendors on PS that I have contacted dont use 8 cut melee, they suggest full cut ACAs.

It seems that other vendors I have contacted that doesnt have/use single cut stones when asked, Would they suggest 8 cuts or full cuts in teeny (less than a 1mm) melee?, they say full cuts are better.

Better for who? Better because its easier and less hassle for them or Better because its more sparkly and out performs the other?

Most likely I will end up with ideal full cut melee as it seems that the vendors dont like/have 8 cut melee.