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MRB catches more attention than OEC?

pricescopenewbie

Shiny_Rock
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I went to a local jewelry store yesterday as I am searching for an old cut cushion diamond. This store primarily carry modern cut diamonds but also has a small inventory of old stones. Unfortunately they don't have any cushions that interested me, but the sales lady nicely pulled out some OECs and MRB for me to look. She kept telling me that the MRBs in general are brighter and more fire-y, and will catch more attention than OEC, per her "30 years of experience". As I was looking at them side by side, I was always drawn to the OECs, but I might be biased since I was looking for old cuts and naturally would pay more attention to them.

I know a lot PSers own/see both types of diamonds. I am interested to know what is your opinion upon this?
 

headlight

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The antique cuts have smaller tables and higher crowns which will usually yield a fiery stone. It is interesting you asked this question because I have a pair of OMC studs that are in the 80-some pointers range and I believe K color. I want to get MRB studs in 1 ct ea in E color. I tried on a pair of 1 ct each (but more like H color) and I was very surprised that my OMC made much more of a statement! I do still want the new studs but it is going to be around a $10k investment so in the meantime I think I will be happy with what I have until I can get the others (but I also want new kitchen cabinets this year lol!). You should go with what you are attracted to. The other thing about MRB is they are all looking alike with the H & A style cutting. The antique cuts have unique personalities and I think it's really special.
 

elizat

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They are different flavors.

I would buy what you like, not what may catch more attention.

I can't say that a mrb gets more attention. I think much depends on the stone size, cut and setting.
 

distracts

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If you're buying based on what catches the most attention, in my experience you should go with a 2 ct + colored stone with diamond sides. Whenever I wear colored gem rings I get tons of compliments. Never get any compliments when wearing diamond or moissanite rings.

Which just goes to show - buy what you want and what you like. Unless what you want is a ring that people will compliment you on regularly, in which case get a colored gem. But if you're buying the ring for YOU to look at, get what you like best. I like OECs more than MRBs and I always find them more eye-catching. But not everyone is the same - obviously many many people prefer MRBs. So decide if you're buying the ring for other people's reactions or for your own.

I do still want the new studs but it is going to be around a $10k investment so in the meantime I think I will be happy with what I have until I can get the others (but I also want new kitchen cabinets this year lol!).

Ah, the familiar dilemma - jewelry, or more home improvements?
 

pricescopenewbie

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@headlight and @elizat and @distracts thanks a lot for your input! My DH, knowing or caring nothing about diamonds, only hopes this ring being "really sparkly". As much as I like old cuts, I would also want him satisfied with what I get, because this is his gift to me for our anniversary ;-):P2

You are right though - this will be a ring I wear and look everyday. I have to get one I like.
 

PreRaphaelite

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She may have 30 years experience. But she evidently doesn’t have the same taste in stones. One may consult a 30-year Sommelier for champagne selection, but he/she might not consider a Chardonnay worth pouring!

When jewellery professionals offer that kind of comment, I nod along with kindness in my heart, and ignore them. They mean well.
 

PreRaphaelite

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Maybe modern round brilliants ‘catch more attention’ from the buying public at large? An argument could definitely be made for that comment. But I don’t believe they have more fire. They do have more scintillation.
 

gregchang35

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Each cut has its own flavour and it really depends on what you want out of it. ie personal preference is king.

WHat catches your eye, may not be what catches my eye.

And, it will also depend on the budget and size of the stone that you are looking at.

For me: I love old cuts and broad flashes of light.
MRB are faster flashes of light- splintery...and can be appreciated in any size.

I feel that to visually appreciate on OEC flowery pattern- it has to be around the 2ct mark.
To appreciate the broad flashes, i think anywhere from 0.75ct.
 
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monipod

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I guess in theory the MRB is supposed to be an evolution of the old cuts and therefore superior but I think there's more to a diamond than the number of facets. Old cuts catch my eye more often than MRBs. Just a matter of taste I think and perhaps the jeweller likes MRBs and has only seen the wonkier OMC/OEC?
 

missy

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What catches someone's eye is very personal. Some are drawn to big and flashy and some to the vibrant colors and others are drawn in for entirely different reasons. So it's a hard question to accurately answer.

What we can say is what draws *us* in and that of course is different for each individual and should be answered by each individual for any conclusions to be drawn.

I am drawn in by big chunky facets. With their slow flashes of light and pastel soft colors. And as @gregchang35 (should have just quoted his post and wrote ditto) wisely writes, the bigger OECs catch my eye because their delicious facets are so much more easily appreciated.

My parents love the splintery white flashes of the MRB. They feel that is a superior diamond. I might be putting words in their mouths but that is the conclusion I draw from them. And that is OK. My mom loves her MRB and it is objectively beautiful. However I find my OEC more beautiful (to me). Different strokes for different folks.

The thing is, MRBs are more popular (as in more people have an MRB than an old cut) so that is what most people are familiar with as opposed to the old cut diamonds. So for that reason alone the saleslady can be drawling her conclusions. I wouldn't read anything into her preferences as they are simply that. Her preferences. And who knows what her motivation might be.
 

sledge

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First day in statistics class, the professor starts off with, "99% of all statistics are made up and BS".

As others have already noted, while your sales lady may have been trying to be helpful the flaw in her logic is that her data set is limited to HER experience and the stones that pass through her hands. When considering the large mass of the population, her experience is a very tiny piece of the pie.

More importantly -- what catches YOUR eye the most? You should buy based on what you find attractive. Just be prepared, because as you see more and more you will begin to develop your own set of tastes and preferences, and it may even change over time.

I personally really like OEC's and the big chunky facets. Then tend to be firey and more eye catching for those reasons. However, my wife prefers the look of MRB's. She can't pinpoint the reason, but my guess is she prefers the smaller facets and more splintery light return. Also, she easily detects color and prefers less color, so the brilliance plays into the equation.

But even with the realm of MRB you can get different personalities. For instance, I prefer fat arrows (so 75% or so LGF) and find that look much more attractive than skinny arrows (80%+ LGF). Aesthetically they look different, but they also have slight performance differences as well and the fatter arrows are more similar to OEC's than skinny arrows. Not that either truly mimics OEC's, but just using that as a reference point as I believe that is why my preference in MRB's run this way.

Not long ago I was helping someone find a stone, and two stones were presented. I preferred the first, and they preferred the second.

Capture9998.PNG

Capture9999.PNG
 

Niel

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Yes my first point would be - are you buying a ring for yourself or to catch the most attention?
as for this jewelers opinion idk if I agree - depending on where she works who’s to say she’s seen all that many old cuts. I know jewelers in my town that mayhave “don’t it for 30 years” and I still wouldn’t necessarily value their opinion haha
 

flyingpig

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She kept telling me that the MRBs in general are brighter and more fire-y, and will catch more attention than OEC, per her "30 years of experience"
I bet she mostly worked with leaky poorly cut OECs for 30 yrs.
 

Austina

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When I was considering an OEC, I went to an old cut specialist in London’s diamond district (Hatton Garden). What I saw there left me distinctly unimpressed, and thinking that I definitely wanted a MRB.

Fast forward a couple of months and I was in NY. @missy kindly arranged an appointment for me at Old World Diamonds. I went, I saw and I was conquered, and my planned visit to Whiteflash later in the year didn’t happen.

What I’m trying to say is that, for me, despite feeling that I’d probably prefer a MRB, once I saw fabulous OEC’s that was it. There’s just something about them that had me totally smitten.

Last year I was on a cruise and a man actually came up to me and asked to see my ring because in his words ”he’d seen me sparkling all around the ship”. There were plenty of women on board with big diamonds, but he noticed mine.

Having said all this, it’s personal preference, and for every one of us who loves the charm and beauty of old cuts, there are plenty of others who much prefer a MRB.
 

prs

Brilliant_Rock
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Your sales lady had one year of experience, thirty times over! =)2
 

MarionC

Ideal_Rock
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When I was considering an OEC, I went to an old cut specialist in London’s diamond district (Hatton Garden). What I saw there left me distinctly unimpressed, and thinking that I definitely wanted a MRB.

Fast forward a couple of months and I was in NY. @missy kindly arranged an appointment for me at Old World Diamonds. I went, I saw and I was conquered, and my planned visit to Whiteflash later in the year didn’t happen.

What I’m trying to say is that, for me, despite feeling that I’d probably prefer a MRB, once I saw fabulous OEC’s that was it. There’s just something about them that had me totally smitten.

Last year I was on a cruise and a man actually came up to me and asked to see my ring because in his words ”he’d seen me sparkling all around the ship”. There were plenty of women on board with big diamonds, but he noticed mine.

Having said all this, it’s personal preference, and for every one of us who loves the charm and beauty of old cuts, there are plenty of others who much prefer a MRB.

“I went, I saw, I was conquered”.
How sweet it is : )
 

soxfan

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Both my CBI and my old OEC caught attention. The OEC was chunky and flashy, and my CBI is more splintery and flashy. I got equal amount of compliments on them both. If you pick the right OEC, they can outperform a lot of modern cut diamonds.
 

Karl_K

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Define "catch more attention ".
The vast majority of the time with the vast majority of people they are not going to notice any diamond or ring.
They see them all the time and they just become what is expected so draw no particular attention.
The awesome sapphire ring above will catch more attention than most any diamond ring.
It is different and unexpected and awesome!

Wifey4vr's concave cut topaz pendant draws a lot of attention, far more than her rings.
People are curious about the very bright blue glow.
 

dk168

Super_Ideal_Rock
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If I were to buy a diamond for myself now to set in a ring, I would choose an OEC, as I prefer the look of an OEC over a MRB. Can't really explain why though except for the look.

However, I am not going to sneeze at the near 1.9ct MRB that my mum has given me. It will be set in an open bangle.

DK :))
 

diamondsR4eVR

Brilliant_Rock
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I can’t wait to see an OEC or even a OMC in person. As far as I know I’ve never seen one, but the OEC stones here on PS has me drooling.
 

Honeybasil

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I can’t wait to see an OEC or even a OMC in person. As far as I know I’ve never seen one, but the OEC stones here on PS has me drooling.

Off topic, but your doggie is so cute!
 

Bonfire

Ideal_Rock
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My opinion is, salesmanship 101. “My 30 years experience will tell you what you should prefer.” She’s manipulating you by appealing to your insecurities. They do this all the time. She’s selling you on a MRB that she surely has plenty to choose from. Unless you asked her what her opinion was about which one gets more attention, it’s irrelevant for her to make the statement other than to sell you something in her inventory. Stick with what your heart wants and don’t be swayed by the opinion of a salesperson who trying to make a sale.
Both MRB and old cuts get my attention, I love them both!
 
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nala

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I think the common person not the PSer will gravitate to a mrb. Before ps, only big modern diamonds caught my eye. I actually came across 2 oec’s on acquaintances that I no longer frequent and I remember thinking at the time Wondering what their stones were but quickly losing interest. So. Yes. It’s possible that this lady was speaking from her experience and in regard to non PSers which is typical for sales people.
my experience? My 2.52 gets more attention than my 1.5 omc or my 1 carat oec. Always. Size I suspect might be the reason for that.
 
Q

Queenie60

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It's a matter of opinion - which do you like best? I have a few of each and personally, prefer old cuts and newly cut old cuts over mrb.
 

junebug17

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I think she's trying to sell you an MRB. I've gotten cynical in my old age LOL.

ETA - I have an OEC and I'm very pleased with how it sparkles. Idk, maybe in certain ligthing conditions an MRB might have a bit more sparkle? There are a lot of variables that can affect sparkle and fire of any diamond...cut, clarity, etc. Both flavors are beautiful. I think you should just get whatever appeals to you.
 
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Bonfire

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With age comes wisdom right @junebug17? :geek2: And maybe some healthy cynicism too. Blanket statements always set off my radar. Salespeople want to sell (the good ones like to educate too) so buyer beware.
 
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