Grandma's stones - antique cuts

[doubledouble]

Actually, great grandma's and great great grandma's engagement rings. I started looking at diamonds for engagement rings, so mom dug these up- I hadn't seen them since I was a child. Looking at them I don't know that they're what I would want for an engagement ring- the cuts are so "rough", one has a big inclusion, and I have no idea where the color's at because all I have is the photos my parents are sending me. But even so it would be fun to have them reset into jewelry that my mom or someone would actually wear instead of keeping hidden away. They are not in great shape and need a cleaning and maybe a repolish BADLY. Maybe I could get them recut to shore up the facets but keep the old fashioned cut? What do you guys think?

All I have is these photos, and I had my dad get out the calipers and measure them. This is my great grandmother's ring. It looks really yellow in some photos, whiter in others. He says it has a 6.6mm spread. Apologies for the photos, again, it's my dad taking them....

 

[doubledouble]

And here is my great great grandmother's ring. Dad claims this one has a 5.8mm spread, but he doesn't see any inclusions like in the bigger one I already posted.

 

[kenny]

They look quite deep for rounds.
Also they have very deep crowns.

Recut decisions are complicated.
First, the risk is all yours; if it explodes on the cutting wheel you are out all your money and have no recourse.
For some people intolerant to risk that is enough to make them not recut.

Some people don't want to give up any weight since that lowers value.
Others are glad to sacrifice weight to improve the cut and light performance because that makes the diamond more beautiful and 'valuable' to them.

Some would want to limit the repolishing to removing small chips and retain weight and the original cut for sentimental or historical reasons, no matter how poor light performance is by today's standards.

If recutting for good light performance is your desire some old diamonds have proportions that will result in massive weight loss, others not so much weight loss.
Also poor clarity may increase the risk.
Some inclusions like some feathers, knots, twinning whisps may make a stone more susceptible to dying on the cutting wheel, another reason to find the most skilled cutter you can.

You need a cut expert to evaluate them.
I'd contact Yoram F. in Israel at http://www.gemconcepts.net (he posts here under the name DiaGem),
Brian Gavin at www.briangavindiamonds.com is another respected diamond cutter.
Perhaps your pics are enough for them to give you some kind of feedback without seeing the diamonds in person.

 

[SB621]

I actually think you don't need a recut....maybe a repolish? I think a good cleaning would actually do wonders.

 

[doubledouble]

There is really no money to be lost here, since the stones are heirlooms. The sentimental value isn't a big issue either, so if I can lose some carat weight and some cash for a recut and come out with a nice stone, I'll do it. I had planned to send them to Brian Gavin to evaluate for a recut if I decide to go that direction, but I have to see them in person first!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, please recut (rehab) them as antique cuts and not modern! Talk to Jonathan at Good Old Gold who has cutters who cut his new OECs.

 

[ericad]

Beautiful antique diamonds! I would encourage you to explore your options within the antique market before contemplating a recut. Antique cushions are so hard to find anymore, and prices for old cuts are on par with modern cuts of the same specs, due to their rarity and popularity. Please don't recut these beautiful stones!

 

[Rebecca0388]

Oh, please recut (rehab) them as antique cuts and not modern!

I agree! As someone who just bought a 6mm old cut stone I would have loved to have an heirloom stone! Definitely give them a clean up and send them to be certified.

Good idea to see them in person before making a decision. After cleaning them and finding out the stats you may not even want to recut. I love the history of an old cut and the fact that you can wear it knowing that it has spent it's previous life with a relative is lovely

I'm looking forward to seeing more photos and hand shots!

 

[Niel]

I actually think you don't need a recut....maybe a repolish? I think a good cleaning would actually do wonders.

Agreed.

 

[CharmyPoo]

No way ... that old mine cut is lovely!!

 

[ChristineRose]

Actually they'll probably be worth more on the resale market than as a modern cut. If you want them to be hearts and arrows you'd have to lose most of the stone. And good antiques are going for more than so-so modern cuts. I wouldn't be surprised if so-so antiques are going for more than so-so moderns. Either way weight loss to make it a so-so modern is not a great choice.

Your best bet is to show them to a cutter, as said. Your choices depend on things like the integrity of the stone and the nature of existing chips (if any). In cases like this when you show it to a top cutter they usually come back with a some strong recommendations one way or the other.

 

[doubledouble]

I definitely don't want to recut them to a modern cut. I guess what I want to do is, when they're cleaned, see how they look and decide repolish vs. recut (with an antique cut). That is, if a recut is even an option, I will obviously have to send them to be evaluated.

Also, full disclosure, I will only get ONE stone to play with, which I will get to choose. There are several other family pieces too- a wedding set with an emerald cut diamond and small baguettes on the band, another, smaller diamond solitaire with a small chip, and a rather fabulous white gold cocktail ring with 11 small diamonds in it. I would have posted these but the photos I have are not good. The two stones I posted are the ones which I have good photos of because I was interested in them for a potential E-ring (and possibly re-interested in since you have all been so positive). Once these are cleaned up I will have to make a decision about which one I want. The other will probably be saved for my little brother's (future) engagement.

(I would love to get one of the diamonds polished reset into something for my mom to wear, as a thank you gift to her- but we'll see about that later, she might want to leave the original settings for now. I have at least convinced her to get the cocktail ring fixed up and WEAR IT)

 

[pandabee]

The first ring, the old mine (cushion) is gorgeous!!! I agree with the above, that maybe a good cleaning is all you need. I really love the shape and the facets, and I think the girdle may just need some TLC.

 

[doubledouble]

But what about the inclusion in that one??? You can see it well in the 3d pic.

 

[arkieb1]

You could ring or contact Adam at Old World Diamonds he is amazing at recutting, repolishing and generally cleaning up old cut stones and a nice guy as well!!!

 

[lambskin]

These stones may really look pretty in person. Your Dad's photos are really magnified and the lighting may not be optimal for shine. I would give them a good cleaning when you get them. I bet they are prettier in real life than in photographs.

 

[vinjewels]

But what about the inclusion in that one??? You can see it well in the 3d pic.

Remember these are super duper close up. I am glad you are waiting to see it in person. I bet you would have to really look. My grandmother's stone was SI2 and it was so brilliant, I had to get the ring in a certain light to see the imperfections. The flashes camouflaged the inclusion. Also, the fact that you have an antique cushion (rare) that has a sentimental origin of three generations past (even more rare) is the coolest thing ever!!!

I vote the cushion, but would love to see pics of the other pieces if you ever take any

 

[bunnycat]

I like the look of the cushion! I'm of the camp that would mess with it as little as you can get away with. I would bet your main concern is a very thin girdle and girdle abrasions.

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

I agree with the majority. You have lovely antique stones that, in my opinion, should be kept as close to original as possible. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to love them and want one of them as your engagement stone. I think antique diamonds either speak to you or they don't, and either way is ok. Look at whichever appeals to you most, and then trust your gut. I think some rehab could really make either stone shine, but if you really don't like them, rehab won't change that. I would love to see photos of your other family pieces - it sounds like a gorgeous collection. I can't wait to hear more about your journey.

 

[hippi_pixi]

i dont think you can judge the clarity until they get cleaned i love the first one... after a bath

 

[Trudii]

If there is no sentimental tie to either, why not see if you can find a place to consign the ring you choose and use that money for something that that screams to you? I love antiques and that ring you are "meh" about might be "the one" to someone looking for a genuine antique. And I'm adverse to risk, so if recutting could end up with diamond dust that seems even more reason to sell as an antique. I'd clear it with the family first, but if cleaning doesn't make your heart skip a beat, I'd look into a swap in one shape or form.

 

[doubledouble]

Here's my mother's photos of the two rings I already showed you (plus the other, smaller solitaire)

 

[doubledouble]

And here's the only photos I have of the other pieces. I wish I had a better photo of the emerald cut wedding set. She is getting these pieces cleaned up too so hopefully some better pictures then.