Help Requested for OEC Picks

[GCGDanielle]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Be gentle

Background: I love old cuts, and have since the first one I saw on PS about 2 years ago. I am now in a position to buy. I am not in a rush, but I have been actively looking for about 2 months. My intention is to set the an OEC in a simple solitaire setting - no halos or pave. I am open to suggestions, though, especially because I'm not quite sure what to expect with a warmer colored diamond. The lowest I have now is an H. I am not particular color sensitive, as I own MRB's from the range of D to H and cannot tell a difference.

Which of these two (if any) would you pick and why? Both are GIA, and the price difference is not huge.

Option 1: (photo shows as Option 5 for some reason)
L color, VVS2
Measurements 7.18 - 7.36 x 4.70 mm
Depth: 64.6 %
Table: 45 %
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: Large
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None

Option 2: (photo shows as Option 6 for some reason)
K color, VS2 (Feather, Cloud, Needle, Natural, Extra Facet)
Measurements 7.45 - 7.57 x 4.87 mm
Depth: 64.9 %
Table: 45 %
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: Slightly Large
Polish: Good
Symmetry: Good
Fluorescence: None

I have video links available if needed.

 

[IE_Princess]

Those are both pretty, with nice small tables and good depth. I'd want to see them in person, but I have to say that I'd probably go with the higher color vs. the higher clarity, being that the K is still a VS stone.

Have you seen this one? Bigger (and thus costlier), but a real beauty.

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-diamond/2-dot-25-gia-k-vs2-old-european-cut-diamond

 

[GCGDanielle]

Those are both pretty, with nice small tables and good depth. I'd want to see them in person, but I have to say that I'd probably go with the higher color vs. the higher clarity, being that the K is still a VS stone.

Have you seen this one? Bigger (and thus costlier), but a real beauty.

http://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-diamond/2-dot-25-gia-k-vs2-old-european-cut-diamond

Thanks so much for your insights.

I absolutely love GemFever's stone, but alas it's way out of my price range.

 

[k_darling]

Personally, I like the facet pattern better on option one - it has that classic flower under the table. If you don't have much/any color sensitivity, that would be my pick of the two.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The second stone is going to be visibly larger and a higher color, so it seems to be the clear winner between these two, to me. It's great that the girdles are not too thin so they should both be safe to set in a solitaire.

 

[angela06]

I would choose Option 2. It's visibly whiter, and much larger than Option 1.

 

[Mayk]

I love option #2

 

[GCGDanielle]

Keep the opinions coming everyone. I definitely appreciate all the feedback. I am so thankful for this community.

Option 2 was my first choice. It's the first available OEC in my price range that fit my criteria. I think I stared for so long and contemplated so much, that I started doubting myself and wondered "what more is out there?" So, now, I just have to make sure this isn't a settling situation. In other words, that it's the ONE forever and not just the one for now.

 

[GCGDanielle]

I think I'm committing to Option 2. An unexpected sale price helped me decide. I still wonder if there's something I'm missing. Does anyone have any new/additional thoughts? TIA!

 

[Gypsy]

I love the second one. That would be my choice. Bigger and whiter. No contest.

 

[alene]

If the price difference is not huge, then the second one, for sure.

 

[misskittycat]

I think I prefer the facet pattern on #1 a little more but that's totally a personal thing. The higher colour on #2 doesn't swing me (I have an L coloured OEC and that's gorgeous to me). But if #2 is on sale then that is definitely in its favour.

 

[Dreamer_D]

You need to see them both in person to decide. You can't judge what you need based on the photos. The photos tell us they are both worth further consideration. Now you need to see them to decide which you like better!

 

[gregchang35]

from these pic, i would choose option 1 for the clearer/ crispier pattern. The feather on option 2 seems like it is on the kite/ table area aroudn the 9/10 oclock postion and it would bug me. though these are MAGNIFIED pictures, so seeing them in real life may change my mind.

With OEC, i do not mind the colour in them. The buttery /ivory/ yellow colour sings romance to me.

 

[hippi_pixi]

Forget the stats no. 1 has a nicer facet pattern. At this size facet pattern is very important. If you like the facetting of oec's?

 

[Tourmaline]

I think you have already decided, but I am concerned about what appears to be a chip or indent at one of the prongs on the left of the second one. I find the first one to be far more attractive, but if you've already decided on the other one, this isn't helpful. Sorry.

 

[GCGDanielle]

Thank you everyone so much for your insights and help. It's funny how this process can be so fun and exciting, yet so stressful at the same time!

I think I'm going to go ahead and see Option 2 in person and decide how to proceed from that point. Either I'll love it and won't need to look any further, or I'll send it back and order in Option 1. I do think it's worth checking out Option 2 first, as it's a larger and whiter stone, so I want it to work out. Also, there's only a few hundred dollars difference in price.

I do have video clips of both stones "in action" so to speak, so if anyone has any final thoughts based on these, I'm all ears.

Option 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaf-dIYrQmw.

Option 2: http://jewelsbygrace.smugmug.com/Lo...ts/171ct-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/i-jwGZKgQ/A

 

[GCGDanielle]

UPDATE: I received the stone (Option 2), and I think I love it. The pattern and faceting is just so amazing, I cannot take my eyes away. I actually much prefer the look to my MRB! I attached some of my own (crappy iPhone) pictures. Anyone see anything I'm missing?

I studied the stone under a loupe, and I see a couple of strange things. First, it looks like the girdle is unpolished, and sometimes it looks like it creeps over the side to the face of the stone. Does that make sense? And is that normal/typical/ok?

I also couldn't find the GIA inscription, but I'll let the appraiser take care of that for me (if it's even inscribed to begin with).

Thanks in advance!

 

[ericad]

Gorgeous! Congratulations and welcome to the old cut club - resistance is futile!!!

 

[patricias]

Looks good. You like it, so enjoy!

 

[alene]

Looks beautiful!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I studied the stone under a loupe, and I see a couple of strange things. First, it looks like the girdle is unpolished, and sometimes it looks like it creeps over the side to the face of the stone. Does that make sense? And is that normal/typical/ok?

Yes, this is normal. Do you know how they made the girdle of the diamond back then? They ground another diamond all around the edges of the stone! It creates a frosted looking rough edge that is not even in depth so sometimes it is wider and sometimes thinner. Welcome to old cuts!

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Gorgeous! Congratulations and welcome to the old cut club - resistance is futile!!!

Yes.... Yes... You can never leave!