Grandma changed my plans.. what to do with this?

[crashprime]

So, I was talking with Grandma about my ring ideas and proposal plans and my frustration on keeping everything on budget. She was so happy to hear I was planning on starting a family and then shocked me by bringing a ring out of her jewelry box saying "here, do whatever you like with this... sell it, trade it, it's yours."

It's not really an heirloom per-say. It's a ring that she purchased at an estate sale years back and it's something she's basically kept in her jewelry box. No sentimental value other than the fact that was such a nice gesture to help me and my little budget out.

It's ~2ct center stone in a solitaire setting soldered to an enhancer. The diamond lacks the brilliance of a super ideal cut but it is very pretty. It has it's problems, there are easily seen inclusions on the outer edge of the diamond (not to the edge but close to) but under the center of the table it's clean and beautiful. It's a ring/stone that I simply couldn't afford to buy given my budget ... and now have in my possession. It has no certification but I did just randomly pop into a local jewelry store and they said "oh it's gorgeous in the setting .. you should just get it sized!". I asked their opinion on value and after a quick few glances under a loupe and a quick diamond test, she said she wouldn't sell it for under $6500, possibly more. That's basically double my original budget.

I'm not sure on just sizing it. My significant other loves halos, she loves white gold, she loves pave. I want to give her an engagement ring that's more than just a solitare. This is none of that. I took it to an independant gia certified appraiser and he put the center at ~2ct Good I I1. That's not pricescope territory of awesome, but the I1 is a "nice" I1 by my standards (much of the inclusion thats bringing it down is able to be hidden under a double claw prong. Being at almost 2ct is somewhere I didn't think was possible just a couple days ago, and now I am really keen on having jamesallen or whiteflash reset it for me.

I know the clarity and cut wouldn't pass the pricescope test, but I'm not buying it from a jeweler, I'm accepting a beautiful gift from my gam-gam. What do you guys think?

 

[AprilBaby]

I would have brain Gavin recut it and spend your money on her dream setting.

 

[hawk25]

Agreed, contact Brian Gavin and ask for a recut evaulation

 

[crashprime]

I was debating on going that route. I think the investment in a recut would increase the beauty of the diamond tremendously (it's already beautiful to my eyes .. looks huge compared to all the .50's I've been looking at!).

How long does a BGD recut usually take? I have until December to get everything in order.

 

[Enerchi]

Add me to that advice - is this a "+3"?

I think the approx cost is in the $350/ ct range for a recut, but you can email or call (they are often in the office on a Sunday) and speak with them about your plans. Send them pics, chat it up and then they can send you a shipping label via FedEx so the ring is properly insured during transit.

They have done several AMAZING recuts with minimal size lost and really turned an "alright"diamond into a completely stunning one! Well worth the enquiry at least and if your budget is still available, the recut PLUS a stunning BGD setting would really make this ring from your Grandmother into something STUNNING for your intended!!

Give them a call today - get the investigation going! (and if you are ok w getting rid of the setting, that little bit of gold may also help reduce the cost a bit more as well as any wire discount or a PS discount)

 

[Niel]

i agree a recut sounds like a good idea. i saw one on of your posts was about finding vintage rounds. Does she want those or where you looking for them as they were cheaper second hand?

if she likes vintage cuts, I might contact good old gold too. They will, for a little extra, recut it to a AVR if it qualifies

 

[Mayk]

If you do a search in Rocky Talk for recutting you will find a number of examples where Brian Gavin has created wonderful diamonds from an older unattractive cut. It's likely the most cost efficient too. This plan gets my vote! Hooray for Grandma giving you this option!

 

[Lula]

It's an I1 clarity diamond, and depending on the types of inclusions, it may not be a good candidate for a recut. Does your girlfriend care about AGS 000 super-ideal cut quality? Or, is she like many women, more concerned about the size of the diamond and the style of the setting? If it's the latter, and the diamond has decent sparkle as-is, then I'd forget about a recut and focus on finding a nice setting. A diamond halo and pave setting will eat up a substantial amount of your budget, and you'll need a wedding band, too.

If you do decide to investigate a recut, my vote would be for Brian Gavin. Do a search (in Google) for Brian Gavin and recut and Pricescope, and take a look at the results.

ETA: Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get the ring insured, if it's not already. Here's a thread about insuring a diamond before it goes to Brian Gavin for a recut. https://www.pricescope.com/communit...cut-by-brian-gavin-insurance-question.160475/ Jeweler's Mutual insurance is now called "Perfect Circle" I believe.

 

[luvmysparklies]

Also, if the diamond is not really a good candidate for recut and has nice sparkle, what about using those side diamonds (if they look nice as well) as helping to form the halo?

to Gam-Gam!

 

[IE_Princess]

I sent a 1 CT I1 to BGD for evaluation and was told no go, which disappointed me as I had sent them macro shots of the inclusions (which were numerous and large) and they told me to send it in. Once they got it they didn't even want to take it out of the setting, that's how obvious it was to them that they couldn't recut it. My guess is that the person who approves sending the stones in isn't a cutter.

So if you take this route just know that they may think they can do it based on photos and then decide that they can't when they get the stone, and you'll be out money for postage both ways as well as time. I decided to have them set it into a pendant as is just to make the most of my postage/insurance costs.

Other than that, if it was me I would reset the stone into a style your girlfriend would love. Maybe reuse the melee stones somehow, in the halo or doing a pave shank, or saving them for an eternity wedding band.

 

[Enerchi]

Also, if the diamond is not really a good candidate for recut and has nice sparkle, what about using those side diamonds (if they look nice as well) as helping to form the halo?

to Gam-Gam!

Or include in a custom designed wedding band... Just another idea how to reuse all the parts of the gift.

 

[yennyfire]

Aww, what a lovely gesture from Gam-Gam!! I definitely think that you should somehow use some of those stones for your gf's erring! The sentiment behind it is lovely! I hope that the center stone is a good candidate for an amazing re-cut and you end up with a stunner of a ring! Please keep us posted!

 

[Dreamer_D]

It's an I1 clarity diamond, and depending on the types of inclusions, it may not be a good candidate for a recut. Does your girlfriend care about AGS 000 super-ideal cut quality? Or, is she like many women, more concerned about the size of the diamond and the style of the setting? If it's the latter, and the diamond has decent sparkle as-is, then I'd forget about a recut and focus on finding a nice setting. A diamond halo and pave setting will eat up a substantial amount of your budget, and you'll need a wedding band, too.

If you do decide to investigate a recut, my vote would be for Brian Gavin. Do a search (in Google) for Brian Gavin and recut and Pricescope, and take a look at the results.

ETA: Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get the ring insured, if it's not already. Here's a thread about insuring a diamond before it goes to Brian Gavin for a recut. https://www.pricescope.com/communit...cut-by-brian-gavin-insurance-question.160475/ Jeweler's Mutual insurance is now called "Perfect Circle" I believe.

I second all of this advice.

On another note I do not think you should reuse the melee from the mount. It not likely to be cost effective and I bet the melee quality is not high.

 

[TC1987]

It takes about 2 months to get a diamond recut and sent back, from what I recall.

You could either resell that mounting that it's in (LoupeTroop ad + the PS Preloved section here, Diamondbistro, or ebay), or you could have a colored gemstone or a lab gem like a BTD sapphire or some kind of colored sim stone mounted in it.

 

[Niel]

It's an I1 clarity diamond, and depending on the types of inclusions, it may not be a good candidate for a recut. Does your girlfriend care about AGS 000 super-ideal cut quality? Or, is she like many women, more concerned about the size of the diamond and the style of the setting? If it's the latter, and the diamond has decent sparkle as-is, then I'd forget about a recut and focus on finding a nice setting. A diamond halo and pave setting will eat up a substantial amount of your budget, and you'll need a wedding band, too.

If you do decide to investigate a recut, my vote would be for Brian Gavin. Do a search (in Google) for Brian Gavin and recut and Pricescope, and take a look at the results.

ETA: Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get the ring insured, if it's not already. Here's a thread about insuring a diamond before it goes to Brian Gavin for a recut. https://www.pricescope.com/communit...cut-by-brian-gavin-insurance-question.160475/ Jeweler's Mutual insurance is now called "Perfect Circle" I believe.

I second all of this advice.

On another note I do not think you should reuse the melee from the mount. It not likely to be cost effective and I bet the melee quality is not high.

I agree don't try and use the diamonds in a new mount. They are too big for a halo, looks like, and I think they charge you for evey ago e you try and remove.

 

[bunnycat]

I would also agree not to try reusing melee stones. It's probably not all that cost effective and they do look to large to be halo melees.

It would seem like a really good idea to check in to a recut. Depending on how deep the stone is (and the more likely case is that it's deep) then you may not even lose a lot of dimension if it turns out to be a candidate for a recut.

The problem you will have with selling it (most likely) if you go that route is that it is an uncerted stone and I think that will cut your options down a bit on resale opportunites. If I were in your position, I'd check in to the recut first and see where that goes.

Here's a thread on a recent recut. I believe it was also an I clarity, but ended up being a recut candidate. It turned out really well:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/from-dog-to-delightful-another-excellent-brian-gavin-recut.191902/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/from-dog-to-delightful-another-excellent-brian-gavin-recut.191902/[/URL]

 

[crashprime]

It's 61% depth 56% table so I don't think it's terribly deep. Now that I'm looking under a loupe I do see an inclusion that breaks across the girdle so I'm worried that might rule out a recut.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If it has a large feather (crack), it probably would not be able to be recut. But I would want it evaluated because I'd rather cut it down to 1 ct and get rid of the inclusion than keep it like it is. But as others have said, it is worth asking about. You can use BG for a modern rb recut or Good Old Gold if you want an antique style OEC cut.

 

[crashprime]

I sent an email to Brian. I'm going to get his opinion. An ideal cut safer 1ct sounds better than a fragile 2ct even if that's the only logical option.

 

[Lula]

I sent an email to Brian. I'm going to get his opinion. An ideal cut safer 1ct sounds better than a fragile 2ct even if that's the only logical option.

61% depth is not deep. And a 56% table is not a large table either. Did the gemologist/appraiser give you any other information about the diamond's proportions? Also, did the gemologist tell you that the diamond's inclusions may be structural in nature? Some feathers break the surface and may or may not be problematic. Other feathers do not break the surface, do not pose a structural problem, and are simply "cosmetic" in nature. Many people on this forum are much pickier than the average diamond buyer, so weigh our opinions with that in mind. I have purchased and worn SI2 and I1 clarity stones; others on this forum won't buy anything lower than a VS1 or VS2. It's personal preference (and eyesight).

There's nothing wrong with investigating the recut option, but again, if the diamond has decent sparkle and the inclusion does not pose a safety risk (and if the major inclusion can be hidden with a prong), why bother risk having it recut and losing as much as half its weight? Remember, none of us have seen the stone; your pictures are not clear enough to make any judgments about the diamond's cut quality and clarity, so we're just guessing at this point.

 

[LaraOnline]

I would send it in to the recut experts to get a look at, and go from there.

 

[TC1987]

It doesn't hurt to investigate a recut. But remember that 2ct is one of those magical price points and that there are more 2ct diamonds that were cut to retain weight vs. get superideal performance. Most 2ct diamonds will not be excellent cut. Use it as-is or sell it to buy something else might be the best options. I don't think that cutting it down to 1ct superideal is going to add value. It will probably be worth more as a flawed 2ct unless it has structural problems.

You can buy ASET and Idealscopes to look at it, and then sell them when you are done.

 

[crashprime]

I specifically asked the appraiser and he said that there should be no issue having it reset. I didn't get more than table/depth/color/clarity/girdle and an aprox. ct weight from the appraiser. He did not remove the center stone but did put it at "good" for cut, so my guess is the pav/crown angles must be off a bit.

I spoke with a jeweler (who sells diamonds) who pointed out the inclusion that goes across the girdle and said that it causes concern to him and would pose a "risk".

My guess is it would be fine reset, but a recut might be questionable. I don't really have a problem with paying shipping to answer some questions. That being said, I insured the wedding set this morning for the appraised value (aprox. $10,000) so no matter what I decide, it's protected, and my options are open.

 

[SB621]

If it is not a candiate for a recut you might think about a bezeled halo. That would protect it but still give you everything you want. I would honestly look to ERD for the halo as I think they give the best band for your buck. They might even give you credit for the small diamonds. If not you could reset them into a RHR for your GF. I personally wouldn't use them in the setting as it isn't proportional to your center.

Goodluck and I actually love the idea you grandmother gave you a diamond! That is awesome!