I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for this?

[LLJsmom]

Hi Everyone,

I wandered into a local jewelry store that I've always walked by and never entered. The store and the door were wide open today, and I wandered in. The owner, Michael, has some pretty estate pieces, and we started talking about how he hunted down his pieces. Then he told me to wait because he had just recently found a stunner. He brought back this, and the only thing he had done so far was loupe it and weigh it. It's not certified. It's amazingly clear. He thinks it might be VVS, lowest VS1. Estimates it's M-N. (And you know my issues about color.) WHITE in the shade outdoors. Maybe a little blue in the sunlight. Very, very clear. No haziness. It's my crappy picture taking skills. He hasn't tested it for fluorescence yet. I saw the body color, but on this stone, it doesn't bother me AT ALL. He estimates its a transitional cut. 3.4 carats. 11.5mm-12mm. Faces up HUGE. Looked like a 5 carat stone to me.

It was soooo clear and bright!! I wanted to do a trade-in RIGHT there. So tempted. Let me say, that the price felt reasonable. He's open to getting it certified. Here are in-store pics with my crappy iphone.







Outdoors, even more stunning, and WHITE.









Does anyone want this beauty?? I wish a Pricescoper could get it. If you only saw it IRL... I'll be dreaming about it.

 

[LUNAJEWELS]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Looks yummy! if you don't mind, how much were they asking for it?

 

[mrs taylor]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

oh my goodness.....it's BEAUTIFUL!

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Looks yummy! if you don't mind, how much were they asking for it?

Low 30s. I'm no expert so I don't know if that is over or under. I do know it was just amazing beautiful and clear. I think it's a really shallow stone cause it faces up so big for a 3.4. But it was just soooo beautiful. Upside down, you could see right through it. If I were to really consider it, I would ask the jeweler to send it to GIA. Even my DH who isn't impressed much was suitably impressed.

 

[Acinom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

What a beauty!! I can see why you are tempted. And it indeed faces up quite large: my 5.3 OEC measures around 11.38.
With a ring like this you don't need anything else. It gives great finger coverage as well. I would indeed have an expert look at it because of the shallow cut. But you crossed step 1 by loving what you see

But I also looooooove your current set

 

[arkieb1]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

My 5.34 is 11.06 -11.41 (it's a wonky cushion shaped OEC) so 11.24 average... What this tells me is the stone you are looking at even for a transitional is extremely shallow or the dude has the numbers wrong. Was it really flat and shallow? What size ring do you normally wear?

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

My 5.34 is 11.06 -11.41 (it's a wonky cushion shaped OEC) so 11.24 average... What this tells me is the stone you are looking at even for a transitional is extremely shallow or the dude has the numbers wrong. Was it really flat and shallow? What size ring do you normally wear?

It's 2 am and I'm thinking about it. My middle finger is a size 6. And there has to be something wrong with this stone if a 3.4 faces up that big. It did not look deep from the side. It did not look especially flat to me from the top either. It's extremely bright and white, especially outside. Well, I can't afford it now unless I sell. I wish there was a PSer close by that could look at this with me. Maybe it's a horrible stone and my inexperienced eyes can't tell. Maybe it's not even a diamond.

It is a store that has been around a long time, but doesn't open a lot of hours each week. I would assume that anyone seriously interested would require a cert.

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

What a beauty!! I can see why you are tempted. And it indeed faces up quite large: my 5.3 OEC measures around 11.38.
With a ring like this you don't need anything else. It gives great finger coverage as well. I would indeed have an expert look at it because of the shallow cut. But you crossed step 1 by loving what you see

But I also looooooove your current set

Thanks Acinom. I think I'm just being emotional. I have no experience with old cuts except just seeing a few here and there. It just looked so beautiful to me... There are probably a zillion things wrong with it.

 

[thecat]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Wow, it's lovely! Go for it!

 

[SuzieSnowflake]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

I am a long time lurker and have never posted but this one has my attention! Where is this ring located?

 

[Tourmaline]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Based on the apparent thinness of your fingers, the pictured finger coverage and the fact that my diamond is 11.5mm, I think that one is not actually 11.5mm. I would guess it's more like 10.5mm. Perhaps that figure was incorrect?

 

[wakingdreams53]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Gorgeous!! I feel like your eyes aren't deceiving you-- especially if you saw it outside of store lighting. My pear faces up huge for a 1.5ct because it's shallow, but the antique facets and culet stand out because of it and there's zero bowtie. Shallow antique cuts aren't the worst in the world!

 

[arkieb1]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

I saw a beautiful pale yellow transitional with a thin flower pattern in the centre so an early RB type cut that was 3.1 carats that was just over 10mms that I almost purchased about 18 months ago. So it is possible that the numbers are correct, it is just a shallow cut. You have obviously (by your photos) looked at it in a number of different lighting situations.

I'd probably want to get it either certified or appraised by someone I trust first, but if you love it you love it. It's true on your ring finger it is going to give you the coverage of a 5 carat stone, if that is what you love then

Go back and see if you can get a photo side on so we can see how deep it is and if it has a shallow crown height. Put your own ring on the same finger you are wearing it on and compare the cut of the two is your stone much more brilliant, a much better cut, are you being distracted by the size of the diamond and ignoring the cut quality of it? Compare it against your own ring in a range of different lighting situations. Trust your eyes. If you still love it then either get it appraised or get it sent to GIA that way you will be able to know what you are getting and be better prepared to bargain on price if you decide it is for you.

 

[endless_summer]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

That stone does face up huge! I second Arkieb's sentiments - definitely try to look at it side by side with your current stone and see about certification, at a minimum an appraisal from someone your trust. I love your current set and your current stone - really very beautiful, so it would be hard for me to trade in. The new stone that you're considering is quite a beauty, but it would be a big decision, so try to sleep on it a few nights to see if you're still as in love it with it and if you feel it's worth trading in for

 

[marymm]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Maybe have it sent to David Atlas for an evaluation pre-purchase? You'd have to pay for shipping both ways and for the appraisal, but if you set it up with David ahead of time, it could be a quick 2- or 3-day turn-around and with David's evaluation, you could make an informed decision... before committing to selling off everything!

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

No don't worry. That is just my initial gut reaction. I wouldn't consider it unless sent to GIA. I will wait for the initial emotional response to subside before deciding anything. I am way too impulsive. . I would also go back and take a ton more pictures too.

 

[momhappy]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

It's pretty, but has a bit too much color for me.

 

[LightBright]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

It looks and sounds beautiful. My transitional cut diamond has a very shallow crown which makes for a larger spread given the carat weight. Transitionals are not cut to OEC proportions, they have a facet pattern that works well with the shallowness of the stone. Mine has very little obstruction and faces up very white too. From the side, mine is much yellower. I would revisit this diamond and take some shots that show the faceting very clearly. Take side shots as well. If you can post clearer photos of the faceting there are many experts on here who can tell you what you are looking at. I would get GIA certification before settling on a price, so you can determine the real color/size/clarity and do not overpay. I would consider someone like Dave Atlas a secondary resource, I would start with GIA so you can value it properly.

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

Hi Everyone,

I am chilled out now. Even if I did get it, it's so big that I couldn't wear it on a daily basis. I at least wouldn't feel comfortable with it. However, if I retired and didn't have to work, that's another story. (Not gonna happen for another 15 years.) Anyhoo, it was so beautiful. I am sure I will drop by to look at it when the store is open, and see if the jeweler has taken proper dimensions, measurements, etc., and I'll try to post better pics.

I am very happy with my set. And I would loose too much to do a trade in. And, I don't think I'll be able to take the lower color in the long run. As a RHR, it would be perfect...

 

[LLJsmom]

Re: I'm in LOVE. 3.4 Transitional Cut. Sell it ALL for thi

I am a long time lurker and have never posted but this one has my attention! Where is this ring located?

Ok Suzie, I was having don't wanna share issues. But since I'm over it...

Michael's Master Jeweler in Burlingame. Small, discrete store. You would never guess it would have such an amazing stone. But he has a specific clientele, and he's right near Hillsborough. He also has some other antique pieces that he doesn't display but will bring out if you express an interest in older cuts and pieces.

Let us know if anything happens!!