Illusion cut diamonds

[thekokeshi]

Curious what people think about diamonds that are cut and arranged to give the illusion of a larger total carat weight singular stone? In theory I like the idea because it allows for a larger looking rock, but I feel like illusion cuts look obvious.

Thoughts?

 

[distracts]

What I have heard is that with illusion settings, if one stone comes loose it is very hard to get it repaired in a sturdy and long-lasting way. So if that is true, that's a big minus for me. The ones I have seen in person that are most convincing are the ones with step-cut diamonds.

 

[Karl_K]

What I have heard is that with illusion settings, if one stone comes loose it is very hard to get it repaired in a sturdy and long-lasting way. So if that is true, that's a big minus for me. The ones I have seen in person that are most convincing are the ones with step-cut diamonds.

i agree.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

If they’re done well, they look great. If they’re done badly, they look awful. They also need to be babied a bit, because you don’t want a stone falling out.

That being said, I’ve seen some incredibly convincing rounds and emerald cuts, that look amazingly convincing when clean and at a slight distance. They work best in earrings and pendants for me. I wouldn’t want an illusion set ring.

 

[Karl_K]

Whats interesting is that duplicating many of them today for a one of project would probably cost more than just getting a larger stone.
To get everything in the proper proportion at least some of the stones would have to custom cut.
Back in the day they ordered them by the thousands in the needed sizes.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Whats interesting is that duplicating many of them today for a one of project would probably cost more than just getting a larger stone.
To get everything in the proper proportion at least some of the stones would have to custom cut.
Back in the day they ordered them by the thousands in the needed sizes.

Does this have something to do with labour costs Karl? Or did I misunderstand you? Because the ones I see at my jeweler’s are most definitely way cheaper than getting the larger stone of the same size; and they are really very well made. He doesn’t allow pictures else I would show!

Taking the example of a tennis necklace, the price difference between illusion and actual would be staggering. For the 1ct size, which is what he had in the store the last time I went, illusion style (so just appearing to be 1ct stones) would be something like 15% of the price of a full 1ct each necklace.

 

[Karl_K]

Does this have something to do with labour costs Karl? Or did I misunderstand you? Because the ones I see at my jeweler’s are most definitely way cheaper than getting the larger stone of the same size; and they are really very well made. He doesn’t allow pictures else I would show!

Taking the example of a tennis necklace, the price difference between illusion and actual would be staggering. For the 1ct size, which is what he had in the store the last time I went, illusion style (so just appearing to be 1ct stones) would be something like 15% of the price of a full 1ct each necklace.

Yes your misunderstanding me a bit but that's ok :}
I said "for a one of project"
If your ordering 1000s of stones you get economy of scale.
When you order 1 you don't and a single custom cut stone or even 5 is very expensive because of a combination of labor and disruption of other processes.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Yes your misunderstanding me a bit but that's ok :}
I said "for a one of project"
If your ordering 1000s of stones you get economy of scale.
When you order 1 you don't and a single custom cut stone or even 5 is very expensive because of a combination of labor and disruption of other processes.

Oh so you mean from a jeweler’s POV? So since he carries these and makes them in certain standardised sizes he can get the stones in bulk and therefore get them at a good price; vs if I commissioned a jeweler who doesn’t do this / commissioned my jeweler to make different sizes to what he usually stocks he will have to secure custom sizes in small quantities which is more expensive? I never thought about it like that, but it makes a lot of sense!

 

[tyty333]

I'm not usually a fan but I've seen some emerald cut illusion stones/setting that look very realistic.

 

[Ally T]

I have one. It looked fabulous for a few years, clear, dazzling & sparkly, but the wire underneath made it really hard to clean, so eventually it started to look grubby & cloudy. Then it was dropped & a centre stone chipped one next to it. As with what @Karl_K said, the insurance wrote it off because they would need to custom cut a replacement for the damaged stone to make it fit the existing ring, which was too costly. I still have it, but it's too vulnerable to wear.

 

[sparkle175]

I posted for the first time yesterday because I received an illusion ring that really tricked me. My mom has had this ring laying around for years and gave it to me. UntilI took my contacts out and really looked at it I had no idea. I did learn though that these types of rings are extra sensitive. Which is bad for me because I tend never to take my rings off. I know it’s a bad habit but I leave them on when I shower and do dishes. So just to confirm with the ring I got see thread below. I guess it’s a big no-no to keep it on too much correct? And have it for on daily active life, Both wet and dry. But the experts here seem to be really impressed. It’s a step cut so I think it does make a difference. And I don’t know if it’s because there’s many stones but I feel it really catches the light. I don’t know because overall there’s more steps? I really wonder if a single emerald would capture as much light. Maybe the experts can comment here.

Diamond too large for carat weight?

Hello, Reader never poster, so my first post here as I need some input here on this ring. My mom gave me this ring that she claims is real. Doesn't have papers. Only thing she recalls its a SI1 and it measures about 5.9x4.9 and the carat weight is .19!! How can that be.. To me it looks more like...

www.pricescope.com

 

[Slickk]

I could get behind this sort of illusion set ring!! Yummy!

4.00ct Face Up Emerald Cut Mosaic Signet Ring

Fresh from production, and one of the most popular of our current offerings (for good reason)! Our diamond mosaic jewels are custom cut step cuts diamond centering an emerald cut - and the end result is one that looks like a 4.00ct emerald cut! The diamonds are all expertly and impeccably cut to...

www.jewelsbygrace.com

 

[tyty333]

I posted for the first time yesterday because I received an illusion ring that really tricked me. My mom has had this ring laying around for years and gave it to me. UntilI took my contacts out and really looked at it I had no idea. I did learn though that these types of rings are extra sensitive. Which is bad for me because I tend never to take my rings off. I know it’s a bad habit but I leave them on when I shower and do dishes. So just to confirm with the ring I got see thread below. I guess it’s a big no-no to keep it on too much correct? And have it for on daily active life, Both wet and dry. But the experts here seem to be really impressed. It’s a step cut so I think it does make a difference. And I don’t know if it’s because there’s many stones but I feel it really catches the light. I don’t know because overall there’s more steps? I really wonder if a single emerald would capture as much light. Maybe the experts can comment here.

Diamond too large for carat weight?

Hello, Reader never poster, so my first post here as I need some input here on this ring. My mom gave me this ring that she claims is real. Doesn't have papers. Only thing she recalls its a SI1 and it measures about 5.9x4.9 and the carat weight is .19!! How can that be.. To me it looks more like...

www.pricescope.com

I left a comment on your other thread...wait...give me a sec. I'm going to leave a comment over there!

 

[lovedogs]

I could get behind this sort of illusion set ring!! Yummy!

4.00ct Face Up Emerald Cut Mosaic Signet Ring

Fresh from production, and one of the most popular of our current offerings (for good reason)! Our diamond mosaic jewels are custom cut step cuts diamond centering an emerald cut - and the end result is one that looks like a 4.00ct emerald cut! The diamonds are all expertly and impeccably cut to...

www.jewelsbygrace.com

exactly. I rarely like this look, but stuff like this is just lovely.

I also like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5CBpFlSjV/

Essentially I prefer step cut illusion sets vs princess ones.

 

[Karl_K]

Oh so you mean from a jeweler’s POV? So since he carries these and makes them in certain standardised sizes he can get the stones in bulk and therefore get them at a good price; vs if I commissioned a jeweler who doesn’t do this / commissioned my jeweler to make different sizes to what he usually stocks he will have to secure custom sizes in small quantities which is more expensive? I never thought about it like that, but it makes a lot of sense!

yep

 

[thekokeshi]

exactly. I rarely like this look, but stuff like this is just lovely.

I also like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5CBpFlSjV/

Essentially I prefer step cut illusion sets vs princess ones.

Haha, that's the exact account where I discovered illusions. Would you recommend the vendor? I hadn't see much chatter about them besides a single thread the last time I checked.

Thanks everyone for the input. Won't dive into illusion cuts to be on the safe side. While I don't wear my jewelry often and do my best to baby them, I'm still clumsy and don't want to risk the difficulty of sourcing a new stone to reset.

 

[nojs]

I’m tempted for those big emerald cut illusions, but I guess the light play is not going to be the same. So skipping them for now.

 

[sparkle175]

I’m tempted for those big emerald cut illusions, but I guess the light play is not going to be the same. So skipping them for now.

I have to say with my emerald illusion I am surprised in how much the light plays. Maybe it’s the 4 brilliants on the corners? Unfortunately I have no experience with a true emerald solitaire to compare but I am pleasantly surprised and how much “personality” the “diamond”. The reason why my mom gave me that ring is because I’m obsessed with emeralds right now. My dream is to have a 1 to 1/2 carat solitaire in a halo setting. The center on mine is rather small .12 I believe and I am curious how an allusion setting with a large center would luck? Kind of like a halo concept. Has anyone seen anything like this? Basically an allusion setting with a large center?

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I have to say with my emerald illusion I am surprised in how much the light plays. Maybe it’s the 4 brilliants on the corners? Unfortunately I have no experience with a true emerald solitaire to compare but I am pleasantly surprised and how much “personality” the “diamond”. The reason why my mom gave me that ring is because I’m obsessed with emeralds right now. My dream is to have a 1 to 1/2 carat solitaire in a halo setting. The center on mine is rather small .12 I believe and I am curious how an allusion setting with a large center would luck? Kind of like a halo concept. Has anyone seen anything like this? Basically an allusion setting with a large center?

I have and it was really well done but I didn’t ask how much the centre was, though visually it was quite big compared to the rest of the stone. What was cool though was that it was an illusion emerald cut, inside an air-gap halo (like an obvious halo) which made it look even more realistic as it tricked the eye into thinking it was a single stone inside of a halo instead of a composite stone inside of a halo!

 

[distracts]

I could get behind this sort of illusion set ring!! Yummy!

4.00ct Face Up Emerald Cut Mosaic Signet Ring

Fresh from production, and one of the most popular of our current offerings (for good reason)! Our diamond mosaic jewels are custom cut step cuts diamond centering an emerald cut - and the end result is one that looks like a 4.00ct emerald cut! The diamonds are all expertly and impeccably cut to...

www.jewelsbygrace.com

I've seen some of the jewels by grace step cut illusion jewelry IRL and they are absolutely gorgeous and it is really hard to tell they're illusion rings imo. But idk that I'd get it personally because I'm hard on rings. Of course I have no problem wearing my paraiba tourmaline all the time - but I'm willing to do a lot for pretty colors lol