first diamond- opinion on 1.1 Ct OEC

[mmullen68]

first post, first diamond and of course im nervous in general because this is for an engagement ring for my firlfreind of 4 years. I recently purchased a 1.1 carat SI2 color J and am now working on the setting. to me, the stone looks clean. when i look EXTRMELY closely with my naked eye, i can see a small inclusin but its hard to see unless your looking for it and at the right angle. Im an extremely indecisive person so this whole ordeal has been tough! my girlfriend is expecting around a .7-.8 carat so i was excited to have found something over 1. A close friend of mine deals in diamonds and after viewing his inventory i fell in love with the old European cut, it was a bonus that the stone was cheaper than most in his inventory. there is a very very small abrasion/chip on the girdle(i think thats what its called) and ive read mixed reviews on whether or not this is an issue. i wouldn't even call it a chip as its hard to see with the naked eye and i had to use my fingernail to verify it was even there prior to viewing with a lens. Anyways, I can get my money back if needed, i paid $1685 with tax included for the stone , and i honestly love it but i want to see if i got a good deal and im worried now that the abrasion on the girdle could cause problems in future but also read that a rough girdle is common for old euro cuts. I have to take the stone to my jeweler soon and hes kinda blunt about things. when i told him i got an oec over the phone his comments made me feel like i should have thought more before buying an OEC and im worried hes gonna criticize my purchase. the diamond is not certified but my source is very reputable and trustworthy and i know people who have bought certified and uncertified stones through him(to later have them certified ) and there were no issues at all. any opinions are greatly appreciated and let me know if the price is decent and if youd keep it considering my budget.

also my budget for a stone was about 2k.

 

[mmullen68]

the light sucks on the 3rd photo but at 12 oclock you can see the chip so i included that pic of it upside down

 

[Dreamer_D]

If the weight is verified and the diamond has not inclusions that pose a durability risk and no damage to the crown and pavilion, then I would say that your price paid is a great deal regardless of the color and clarity grades!

Now, that said I am sure the color is lower than you were told and perhaps the clarity too. Usually when stores sell things without a report they inflate the color an clarity -- though I have been surprised. But luckily you paid a low price and it doesn't matter too much.

Your photos are not very good but I have bought diamonds with worse photos from ebay. I can tell in your phots that the diamond has very nice proportions -- nice table size and crown height. And I can also see that it has nice patterning accross its whole face.

I recommend that you take it to a local independent appraiser to confirm that th diamond is sound and has no internal or external damage or inclusions that pose a durability risk. And I suggest you find a different jeweler Never work with someone who you are afraid of their opinion! He sounds like a jerk. I know exctly the type and they annoy me. I would rather spend my money elsewhere.

 

[mmullen68]

Thank you for your reply! here are some better photos i think. is it normal for the girdle to be a little dinged up on older diamonds like this?

previous poster i will definitely take your advise on getting an appraisal and looking into a different jeweler. I really love the stone it just photographs differently and looks better to the eye in my opinion but i guess thats just how some diamonds are that are a little lower in quality. Nice to hear that the proportions seem ok, that was another thing i was concerned about after doing some more research.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I think you got a great price pending that the size is accurate.

I find old cuts always looks better in real life than in photos. They are never easy to photography.

 

[mmullen68]

o thank you and i agree with the photo thing. i think the size should be pretty spot on on. i saw it next to a certified .9 round brilliant and it was definitely bigger. i guess it really just matters what i think when i'm looking at it, i think she'll be happy with the size and if it were up to her im almost positive she would sacrifice a little quality for larger stone. ill make sure the chip wont cause future issues and then get this thing set. maybe a bezel halo would be best to help protect it in the future and cover the wear on the girdle?

I wish these older diamonds could talk, would be cool to know where the older cuts have been throughout the years. thats another thing that drew me to the oec. supposedly this one came out of a ring from an estate sale.

 

[GemFever]

That looks like a beautiful stone for a great price! Well done! Some girdle wear is normal and to be expected. You could either get it fixed up (polished), which could run you several hundred dollars, or put it in a protective setting as you mentioned.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The facet pattern is great! A gorgeous OEC.

If you have time and interest you can have the girdle repolished to make it safe and you won't lose much. Brian Gavin Diamonds has done it for a few PSers.

 

[ForteKitty]

The price is excellent and it looks beautifully cut. Great job!!

 

[iluvshinythings]

I wish these older diamonds could talk, would be cool to know where the older cuts have been throughout the years. thats another thing that drew me to the oec. supposedly this one came out of a ring from an estate sale.

I wish the same thing. It would be fun to hear the story and it's part of what attracts me to vintage jewelry. Just imagine all the interesting conversations that gem heard in all of it's time on earth.

It's a beautiful diamond and it sounds like you got a great deal.

 

[iluvshinythings]

PS - don't worry about your jewelers' opinion. If you like it, and she likes it, that's all that matters.

Some people just prefer the predictability and science of a modern cut. Older cuts are half art and half magic.

 

[mmullen68]

Thanks so much for the replies! this forum is awesome and i greatly appreciate the input. I was never big into jewelery and diamonds before but now that ive bought one and read tons of threads on here it really sparked a new interest! I feel much better knowing that I got a good price and the stone has some good features. I will repost pics of the final ring once its completed, going to the jeweler today to start the process. My soon to be fiance is going to freak! Shes always wanted a cushion or round in the 1-2 carat range but i really played it down that I would not be able to get her a carat and that wed have to settle on something small and upgrade to a bigger stone in a couple years, i could tell she was a little disappointed to hear that but she said shed love anything i gave her. this is gonna greatly exceed anything shes expecting , so excited!