family diamond

[Avinelle]

Hi everyone! I''ve been researching diamonds for a few months and this forum (along with the HCA) has been a tremendous help to me in the search for my perfect engagement ring.
As a bit of background, my bf and I have been together for almost 6 years. We''ve been talking about getting married for a few years. He (finally) finished school with his MBA and the focus has shifted from school to a wedding. I''m a bit demanding when it comes to jewelry, so we decided that I could pick out my own diamond/setting, he could have them mounted and then propose. I had narrowed my search down to a few AGS ideals and then the holidays hit. During our visit with his grandmother, she offered to let me have one of her two carat diamond earrings (one carat each) since she doesn''t have them anymore. I got the appraisal back today, and the results aren''t looking so hot...
#1
Depth 67%
Table 57%
Pavillion Depth 43%
Clarity: S1
Color: L
Symetry: Fair
Polish: Good
Flourescence: None
Additonal Info: Table off Center
Weight 1.16

#2
Depth 62.4%
Table 62%
Pavillion Depth: 44%
Clarity SI2
Color: I
Symetry: Good
Polish: Good
Flourescence: Strong
Additional Info: 2 naturals on girdle, 1 indented natural on crown
Weight 1.01

I had asked for the appraisal to include the crown/pavilion angles, but after seeing the table and crown %s, I didn''t see the point in putting up a fuss over it when they weren''t included in the appraisal. The two settings I''m considering are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Round-6-5mm-Antique-Filigree-Ring-Mounting-R101_W0QQitemZ8924312083QQihZ014QQcategoryZ67710QQcmdZViewItem
in white gold. Their white gold actually looks pretty yellow, the site says this is because their white gold is not plated.

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/Round-6-5mm-Antique-Filigree-Ring-Mounting-R56_W0QQitemZ8923952636QQihZ013QQcategoryZ67710QQcmdZViewItem

My questions are:
What is an indented natural? I''ve never seen one referenced on the crown before. Should I be concerned?
Should I just go with the bigger one since both cuts aren''t very good?
All of my other rings are antiques (they have what looks like a hole in the center of the diamond), are antique cuts similar to to the light reflection of these cuts?
Does anyone know of any other sites offering casts of antique rings?

Thanks everyone!

 

[LGK]

I happen to own the setting #2 you have referenced there. In person it is still very pretty but the quality is exactly what I expected (and what it is priced to indicate): good enough to set an Old European Cut cubic zirconia in, which was my purpose. I probably wouldn't use it for an engagement ring or with a diamond; the quality just isn't there... recasts of antique settings are just kind of meh in quality... the millgrain is cast, not engraved, and the filigree itself usually has flaws... not symmetrical, etc. Yes, you're right, the seller saves money by not rhodium plating, and thus the white gold is yellowish. I got mine plated as I didn't care for the look. They're good for play rings but not really for fine jewelry IMHO, though I really like the style and look and will enjoy it.

I wouldn't use any of the sites that sell recasts of old filigree rings for an engagment ring, they're all pretty much identical in quality that I have found. (Here are two others if you are still interested though: http://jansjewells.com and http://jewelryrings.com .) Instead I would probably go with a new setting from Van Craeynest if I could afford it, or singlestone.com, or saturn... there are a good number of designers who work in the antique style, and that's what I'd look for. Rather than an actual recast of an antique ring. Though, if you are on a really strict budget bluefoxx's stuff is pretty in person, the price is OK for what you get, and probably you are the only person who would notice the quirks in the setting. Most people would just see a gorgeous filigree ring on your hand.

However, if you're now obligated to take the family diamond for free, you could look at it as a perfect way to spend the $$$ to get the perfect setting. (Van Craeynest! If I only had to buy the setting & not the stone, I totally would.) Then some years later you could quietly upgrade the stone, if it isn't as pretty as you wanted it to be, and that way you could avoid offending grandma by refusing her generous offer of a diamond.

Oh, and yes, that "hole" in your antique cut diamond is a perfect example of an open culet, and Old European Cuts, some antique cushion cuts, and Old Mine Cuts have them. And some transitional cuts, too. I love the look myself. The chunky firey flashes off of a low colored OEC diamond just make me drooool!

 

[Skippy123]

Here is a site: http://www.estatediamondjewelry.com/item.cfm?int_item_id=785&cat_id=1 M. Khordipour
do a search on antique or art deco jewelry up at the top. Is it an Old European Cut, Old Mine Cut or Transitional cut; those can be beautiful stones; did the appraiser say that?? I guess you have to decide if you want to take the stone from your in laws; that is a tricky one. I say do what makes you happy and go w/what is pleasing to your eyes.

 

[Avinelle]

Thanks for your help! I looked at some of the Van Craeynest settings online, and they are really beautiful, I think I''ll be going to look at settings tomorrow. Oh, and the two diamonds were both round brilliants.

 

[surfgirl]

Avinelle, you say that you dont think the numbers are that good but you dont say what these stones look like to the eye...Do they have great fire and scintillation? If so, who cares what the numbers say? Also, are they old cuts or newer RBs? Can you post photos of them?