How ''involved'' is recutting a stone to make a match?

[moremoremore]

Can someone tell me about the recutting process? And how easy is it to get it done?

ALso, if I want to recut a stone to match a square cushion, must the stone I select for the recut be a perfect square (i.e., if I want a 4.85X4.85 (approx) stone, can this be done from a stone that is 4.84X5.00?...must it be cut evenly?)

Thanks!

 

[windowshopper]

very involved--------------300 to 1000.00. they will not be liable for damage (the stone could splinter chip etc...

 

[oldminer]

If you are willing to take the risk, the process is not a bit difficult. No diamond cutter assumes the risk of accidental breakage and negligence is not going to be an excuse as you will have to use someone you consider expert enough to not consider negligent behavior. You need a diamond that is simply large enough in every parameter that it can be cut down to match. THE RISK IS ON YOU.

No one has yet to come out with a diamond stretcher. Now, that would be a winner. You do NOT need to begin with a square to get a square. The more off sized the stone to be recut is, the more weight will be lost in the matching process.

The cutting will be in the hundreds, not thousands. Of course, the price of the diamond to be recut must be added in, too.

 

[moremoremore]

Thank you!
I''d buy it and insure it first. The stone I''m thinking about using for the recut is a .50 F, good si1. It costs a bit less than a G vvs2 that I''m looking at (but there is a color issue with the E center stone). SO, I think it''s worth a try!

p.s. I guess it''s not that they just shave off one side of the stone? LOL...the have to recut other elements of the stone including the table?

 

[windowshopper]

yes---it has to come off symmetrically--meaning all lover in equal amounts (in theory)

 

[rocks]

moremoremore,
this is done all the time, and is really no big deal. matched fancy pairs are very difficult to find independently (as you have found out), so recutting is the standard. i would expect that the vendor supplying the stone should be able to arrange the service. you should expect to send the cutter both the stone to be trimmed, and the stone you want it matched to. as to price, it depends.

 

[moremoremore]

Thanks Rocks!

Now I have two conflicting answers re: the cutting LOL (Dave and WindowS)

 

[oldminer]

You cannot insure against a workman''s damage done in a repair or recut of a diamond. At least, I do not think you can buy that sort of coverage.

 

[moremoremore]

Oh! I thought that my homeowners would cover it. Hmmm. That's another story.
Dave- do you see things "go wrong" often?

OK, well , here is the stone. I mean, what happens to the table when it's recut...I guess the table gets larger? Which is a good thing.

So it's possible to get this sucker down to 4.8+ X 4.8+?

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00194578

I understand I'm losing a bit of weight, but it's an Si1 so it comes out the same $...if I was to buy a smaller F Vs1 like I have for the other side stone.

This could also all be moot if a G color stone I'm going to look at works out. I don't think it will though

Another candidate is a 4.75X5.00...But I can't imagine this looking like a 4.81X4.85 to my eye.

 

[oldminer]

It takes a diamond cutter, someone with DiamCalc, or an expert diamond person to say a particular diamond will properly recut to a different shape and size. It need NOT be recut all over and equally, as has been implied. A stone with a small issue can certainly be corrected in one place, not all over. Don''t begin to think you can calculate if a diamond being offered to you is the best one for the job. The stone you have needs to go with a dealer into the market and a proper match or recut candidate will be then located. You might be able to do this yourself, but it is not the efficient method of a normal Internet purchase. If one of the Internet vdnors volunteers to do a service like this for you, maybe that could work. You personally run a high risk of buying a diamond that will not be recuttable to the shape you prefer to match if you do this yourself.....Fugedaboudit, unless you really are adventurous. It is a gamble.

 

[moremoremore]

so then it's not easily done! Forgetabout it is right.
oh wait, never mind! You meant, if I was to pick it out myself! Got ya! Well, then it's back on th table, but I will let Mark T and/or his suggested cutter rec'md a stone!

 

[rocks]

it is easily done if you have access to the right resources. i have done it. mark t should be able to do it. you do however have to be willing to accept the risk, and you do have to provide the stone to the cutter for him to determine whether the stone to be recut is an apporpriate candidate (meaning will not lose too much), and so he can copy the faceting pattern of the stone you like.

end of story.

not really....LOVE the ring!!

 

[Nicrez]

Recutting is done all the time, usually on old cuts, or on stones that require minimal alteration to improve clarity, light performance or salability. An expert cutter i know said that if you learn a stone, and have an experienced eye (and ear), you should be able to polish or recut ANY diamond without breaking it. this is a man who has been cutting stones for over 28 years and has only damaged ONE stone when he was a first year apprentice cutter. He says that damage to a stone is really just negligence in not analyzing the stone''s characteristics properly. Cutters like that though are NOT cheap.

My only issue is that you are taking on an added expense to this stone, simply to match it, and ideally, you could find a good match (perhaps later) that is a good enough match and needs no work. If you can work with Mark and let his cutter know that you are interested in a diamond of a certain cut and dimension, then perhaps when they get in some fitting rough for it, they can eventually custom make it for you.

I take my hat off to you for attempting to create this masterpiece, as I had a HELL of a time finding ONE diamond to fit my criteria, you have 3 to contend with!!! Impressive...either you are a perfectionist with a great or just plain masochistic!

 

[moremoremore]

Ideally, yes!!! But in reality- not easy at all. There aren''t many of these stones to begin with...now try to match...forget it! I don''t care about the added expense...but maybe I haven''t given it long enough. I should wait a few more months to see if one pops up!