Got Early-Modern Round Brilliant?

[backwardsandinheels]

Thankds Diamondseeker and two little birds and Lady J is a cousin of mine I'm sure, the transition to new ideas and angles and cutting was incremental and experimental for sure. I'm just going to call it a late OEC for a quick description. I think your stone's flower looks like a poinsettia and mine is more like less petals and fatter ones. What kind of flower is that? Mine spoke to me too. I'm not a fan of splintery perfection in cut. I love a wonky pebble-y old mine cut in an original setting. Maybe in a pendant rather than an everyday ring though.

 

[Frumasring]

I know this is a very old thread. But maybe some of you folks(with amazing stones) can help me discern the style of my stone. My appraisal says Early American. Pictures attached.

 

[backwardsandinheels]

I know it’s hard, but since we’ve got nothing but time, try to get more pics. Under a tree on a sunny day works great.

 

[Inked]

So since this has been revived I hope its ok if I can ask about mine, too!?

I have my grandmother's 1 carat, I am not really sure what it is.

I think it might be poorly cut transitional?? I THINK she got it in 1920. I have a hard time getting the facets lit up correctly/symmetrically, it seems so randomly cut. Anyone have thoughts on it?
My guess: poorly cut transitional, but I know pretty much nothing.... LOL

*also: if retaining size isnt a concern, would you recut it to be a better old cut (NOT MRB! Just a better more symmetrical old cut) ??

 

[Frumasring]

So since this has been revived I hope its ok if I can ask about mine, too!?

I have my grandmother's 1 carat, I am not really sure what it is.

I think it might be poorly cut transitional?? I THINK she got it in 1920. I have a hard time getting the facets lit up correctly/symmetrically, it seems so randomly cut. Anyone have thoughts on it?
My guess: poorly cut transitional, but I know pretty much nothing.... LOL

*also: if retaining size isnt a concern, would you recut it to be a better old cut (NOT MRB! Just a better more symmetrical old cut) ??

I don’t know what you would call this but honestly, I’m calling it STUNNING!!!! I’m by no means a pro but it’s gorgeous. I’ve been told that any kind of recutting can and will lead to a lot of stone loss. I wouldn’t cut this stone if you paid me. That checkerboard is stunning and the flashes are thrilling!!!

 

[Inked]

I don’t know what you would call this but honestly, I’m calling it STUNNING!!!! I’m by no means a pro but it’s gorgeous. I’ve been told that any kind of recutting can and will lead to a lot of stone loss. I wouldn’t cut this stone if you paid me. That checkerboard is stunning and the flashes are thrilling!!!

Thank you! That's so nice of you to appreciate it. The ring means a lot to me.

I actually asked my mom last night and my grandma got it in 1941, so I was off on the year.

I did the toilet paper roll trick last night and got the facets to line up really beautifully! I cant believe the toilet paper trick worked so well!! It looked amazing ! LOL!!

 

[Frumasring]

Thank you! That's so nice of you to appreciate it. The ring means a lot to me.

I actually asked my mom last night and my grandma got it in 1941, so I was off on the year.

I did the toilet paper roll trick last night and got the facets to line up really beautifully! I cant believe the toilet paper trick worked so well!! It looked amazing ! LOL!!

Do tell what this toilet paper trick is!! My grandmothers ring (now mine) is a 1.98 K SI2 “early American”. No idea what that means but I do know that those of us who have pieces of history (both familial and in the history of diamond cutting) are special!

 

[Inked]

Do tell what this toilet paper trick is!! My grandmothers ring (now mine) is a 1.98 K SI2 “early American”. No idea what that means but I do know that those of us who have pieces of history (both familial and in the history of diamond cutting) are special!

I read about it on here! You basically take the picture through a toilet paper roll, let me see if I can find the thread... ok, here's one, she did a tutorial.LOL!

How to view the Arrows in Hearts and Arrows H&A after setting

I know there are a few tricks and tips on how to view the Arrows in a H&A after the stone has been set. In the spirit of sharing and most definitely duplicated tip, I documented how I've done it as well on youtube. In the first video clip, I used the black velvet ring case that the BGD...

www.pricescope.com

Yours looks as if it's got those fat arrows, too, I'd love to see another pic of yours with showing the faceting better. Try the TP, and report back.... Although, in our current TP climate, the TP may be as valuable as the diamond... LOL! My actual engagement ring from my fiance is an "L" colored OEC but the TP trick isnt great on it for some reason, i get better pics just normally.

So, you see my pics above not using the roll, and here's the pic I took using the trick:
Toilet paper roll shot

 

[oldminer]

There are lots of diamonds with cut configurations that don't meet any particular description. In the 1960's, 70' and 80's we often took old mine cushions and round OEC diamonds and had them partially recut to improve their appearance, shape them up a bit, remove little chips, and make them look fresh. We weren't seeking any "ideal" status for them and no one made cared if they were totally old cut or not. We usually looked to make them free of chips and livelier yet not losing a lot of carat weight.

I often see diamonds which are sort of in between one period of cutting and another. I use the following approach:
1. Old mine to OEC transitional cut (not quite round, large culet, rather thin girdle)
2. OEC to transitional modern cut (small table, a fairly high crown, less than modern pavilion cutting)
3. Transitional modern cut (a bit shallow crown, large table %, possibly overall shallow depth, may have a pointed culet)

So, there is more than one "transitional" period of cutting and putting it into a more exacting context is less confusing. Transitional cutting is from at least three different time periods.

Keep in mind that many older cut diamonds were fixed up in more recent times during the 1950's to the 1990's. Old cuts began to increase in popularity in the 1990's and slowly became less likely to need recutting work in order to sell them. The finest old cuts were still mostly recut when the economics was correct for such a choice, but the mid level old cuts became popular as they were.

Hope this helps.

 

[Frumasring]

I read about it on here! You basically take the picture through a toilet paper roll, let me see if I can find the thread... ok, here's one, she did a tutorial.LOL!

How to view the Arrows in Hearts and Arrows H&A after setting

I know there are a few tricks and tips on how to view the Arrows in a H&A after the stone has been set. In the spirit of sharing and most definitely duplicated tip, I documented how I've done it as well on youtube. In the first video clip, I used the black velvet ring case that the BGD...

www.pricescope.com

Yours looks as if it's got those fat arrows, too, I'd love to see another pic of yours with showing the faceting better. Try the TP, and report back.... Although, in our current TP climate, the TP may be as valuable as the diamond... LOL! My actual engagement ring from my fiance is an "L" colored OEC but the TP trick isnt great on it for some reason, i get better pics just normally.

So, you see my pics above not using the roll, and here's the pic I took using the trick:
Toilet paper roll shot

Love it!! Just tried the trick with three rolls of TP. I’m not sure I’m doing something right. How did you get your final shot so up close to see the arrows? This is where I’m at so far.

 

[oldminer]

Just put the diamond below the circle of your pointer finger placed behind the first joint of your thumb. Vary the distance a bit and the arrows may come into a surprisingly clear view. I often use this hidden personal arrows viewer on diamonds.

 

[Inked]

Love it!! Just tried the trick with three rolls of TP. I’m not sure I’m doing something right. How did you get your final shot so up close to see the arrows? This is where I’m at so far.

I used one roll of TP and I used the zoom on my phone's camera. I have an iPhone and did 4x zoom

I think the zoom might be the key for you, not sure how much zoom you have on your phone! LOL

 

[Frumasring]

There are lots of diamonds with cut configurations that don't meet any particular description. In the 1960's, 70' and 80's we often took old mine cushions and round OEC diamonds and had them partially recut to improve their appearance, shape them up a bit, remove little chips, and make them look fresh. We weren't seeking any "ideal" status for them and no one made cared if they were totally old cut or not. We usually looked to make them free of chips and livelier yet not losing a lot of carat weight.

I often see diamonds which are sort of in between one period of cutting and another. I use the following approach:
1. Old mine to OEC transitional cut (not quite round, large culet, rather thin girdle)
2. OEC to transitional modern cut (small table, a fairly high crown, less than modern pavilion cutting)
3. Transitional modern cut (a bit shallow crown, large table %, possibly overall shallow depth, may have a pointed culet)

So, there is more than one "transitional" period of cutting and putting it into a more exacting context is less confusing. Transitional cutting is from at least three different time periods.

Keep in mind that many older cut diamonds were fixed up in more recent times during the 1950's to the 1990's. Old cuts began to increase in popularity in the 1990's and slowly became less likely to need recutting work in order to sell them. The finest old cuts were still mostly recut when the economics was correct for such a choice, but the mid level old cuts became popular as they were.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info!! I find it so interesting but in some weird way it makes me feel like my stone is a little less unique. Maybe she’s a poorly cut transitional modern .

 

[backwardsandinheels]

I like them! Sometimes a good polish can be a first step. Then maybe faceting the girdle. It’ll make it less prone to breakage. Then see what you think.