Calling Dreamer

[Ashleigh]

Hi Dreamer, I've been on jbeg website lately but didn't spot any cut similar to yours and Dem's. Can you pls help me identity the ones you mentioned in the other thread? Thank you.

 

[Dreamer_D]

What is your budget and desired specs?

 

[Ashleigh]

Dreamer, you asked a simple enough qn but I don't have a ready answer as yet.

Short answer: 0.6-0.8 ct or 2.5 ct, M color and above, SI1 and above

Long answer:
I've only recently came back to PS after a hiatus and saw these OECs and fell in love with them. I'm tempted to trade in my beloved H&A and get a 2.5-3ct OEC. But I've heard it said that OECs are slower flashes but broader flashes. So I'm not sure if I should trade in my H&A and take the chance of liking a bigger OEC as ring, or test out with smaller 0.6-0.8ct as pendant.

Next is pricing. I'm still trying to determine my budget for a 2.5ct. I've only been on 2 sites selling genuine OECs and 1 selling newly cut OECs. I was surprised that the pricing of genuine OECs are very much similar to that of H&A. I was under the impression that people used to buy OECs in the 2nd hand market for a better deal. I supposed it's 'cos these days OECs are in trend and people no longer see them as 2nd hand but rather as a romantic cut, hence the price. I'm no purist when it comes to old cuts. I can happily enjoy a newly cut OEC. I'm recluctant to pay the price of MRB for genuine OECs not cos they're 2nd hand, but cos of lack of upgrade policies. I understand that many diamonds are recycled anyway. If I were to buy a H&A or AVR, I can be sure of trade up/in policies. If I were to get a genuine old cut with no such policy, I'd expect to pay less as I don't want to take a huge loss when selling. Hence, I've been on the bay trying to determine a fair price such that I needn't take a huge loss when selling. But my education on the bay has not been fruitful as I've no idea if an OEC is well cut or badly cut hence the price. In short, my budget for a genuine OEC with no trade up policies must be a deal, something like what you and FK achieved though I know that's hard.

Having said that, I'm interested in the jbeg ones as they're having a sale recently which might put the price more in line of a good deal. But I still have no idea what is considered goo deal pricing.

Thanks for reading the long post.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Everyone wants a deal like FK and Dem (mine was not such a huge deal). Truth is, OECs are only a deal when bought on the legitimate secondary market: from private sellers or sometimes estate sellers. If you want to find a deal you will need to devote a good yar to educating yourself and then spend time every day search on ebay and other sites, like DB. Along with everyone else And then you accept no upgrade, sometimes no return policy, often mistated specs, poor photos.

OECs sold on the retail market are priced like MRBs, generally speaking. Adam at OWD and JBEG both have upgrade policies on many of their diamonds, as do Good Old Gold and Engagement Rings Direct. You can also order and return stones from those companies and so can compare to your MRB if that is important to you.

You won't find a diamond exactly like mine and Demelza's. There are no two old cuts that are alike. But I think these are in the same flavour in some ways if arrows is what you like. You will need to locate them yourself on the main page with pricing:

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/158ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/30533136_kkVF4P#!i=2634005511&k=F4MdqmC

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/163ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/31452920_hX2nbn#!i=2724001866&k=pzNCdhG

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/221ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/31297421_QD4htC#!i=2708956913&k=T8KQ9gB

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/224ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/29024618_V37xcq#!i=2468840223&k=vkTkpCJ

Shorter lower halves, maybe less symmetry, but the "arrows" are lurking in there. Just amazing: http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/254ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/31296823_wvjZFv#!i=2708924027&k=4gxmvjS

If you just said you wanted a well-cut OEC, this is amazing:

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/216ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/30221939_BWR2qK#!i=2600886242&k=v23k6R5

 

[Ashleigh]

Thanks for linking the diamonds, Dreamer. I like the faceting of the 2.21 ct most. I didn't realized that jbeg and owd have upgrade policies as well. I was under the impression that they consign and don't offer such policies. I will go check out their policy page now. Thanks once again.