My Diamond Extreme Makeover

[shady71]

Some of the folks here may have been following my recut threads:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/planning-to-have-diamond-recut-part-two.104056/
and https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-recut-is-done.105443/

Well, after only 30 days from the day I mailed the ring out to Brian Gavin my beautiful diamond makeover came back home. From reading others recut experiences, I expected it to take several months and had planned to use that time to shop/select a wedding set to replace my chunky gold ring. Once I realized how quick it would be done, rather than hastily select a setting I might not be happy with, I decided just to upgrade the platinum head on my current ring. The original head put on when the stone was purchased was nasty looking, crooked and leaning. Brian''s benchman did a beautiful job

with the new head and repaired some loose side stones, polished the ring, it looks better than it ever did, I am so very happy with it. Many thanks to Brian for such a wonderful experience and to Lesley for putting up with my numerous emails and calls, I could not be happier!!

I noticed yesterday that Brian put up a video of my recut on his blog, check it out at BrianTheCutter.com

Here''s a few photos...

 

[shady71]

 

[shady71]

 

[Upgradable]

It''s beautiful!!! Quite dazzling!! I''m glad the project was a success for you, and thanks for sharing it with all of us!

 

[shady71]

Before and after...

 

[Tuckins1]

Wow, it look stunning!!! He did a great job, it doesn''t even look like the same stone!!

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/11/2009 4:58:08 PM
Author: Upgradable
It''s beautiful!!! Quite dazzling!! I''m glad the project was a success for you, and thanks for sharing it with all of us!

Thank you Upgradable... it was truly a wonderful experience dealing with Brian & Lesley. And now I can look forward to eventually putting this diamond into a pretty wedding set and I have my MIL''s 1.10ct to put into this ring. I realize this ring is quite "dated", but I really do love it

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/11/2009 5:04:00 PM
Author: Tuckins1
Wow, it look stunning!!! He did a great job, it doesn''t even look like the same stone!!

Thanks Tuckins! I am thrilled with it!!

Forgot to mention, the diamond was sent to AGS for grading, just missed Ideal-0 by a smidge because of one natural. I knew this at the start, but Brian and I agreed not to lose additional diameter, or go down below 2 carat. It finished with less than 1/10mm of diameter loss, but lost all the nasty naturals, extra facets, and dead weight. I can''t get over how much it sparkles!!

 

[Tuckins1]

... Handshots?

 

[shady71]

One more thing... The original grading certificate from IGL stated "No Flourescence" and the "certified" appraiser (the dealer''s wife) also stated "No Flourescence" so imagine my surprise to find "Strong Blue Flourescence" on the AGS certificate. Considering the diamond graded K in color, I guess this is a good thing

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/11/2009 5:26:23 PM
Author: Tuckins1
... Handshots?

Been trying, nothing good enough to post... yet

 

[coatimundi_org]

The stone looks amazing! Yay!

 

[JulieN]

Super clean and sparkly setting!

 

[chiquitapet]

WOW! It looks amazing!!

 

[joflier]

Your stone is totally gorgeous!!!!!

 

[tyty333]

It use to look like a sad lonely little (well, maybe not so little) diamond and now its a ring anyone would be proud to wear! Congrats!!!

 

[AprilBaby]

Unbelievable! I can hardly believe that is the same stone. CUT is King!

 

[arjunajane]

Wow, what an improvement! And great job on the setting too - the prongs look great !

 

[shady71]

Thanks Coati, Julie, Chiquitapet, & Joflier. I really appreciate all your kind comments. I am so glad I found Brian after he left WF!! He did an amazing job with this diamond, so much more than I ever expected.

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/11/2009 6:53:21 PM
Author: tyty333
It use to look like a sad lonely little (well, maybe not so little) diamond and now its a ring anyone would be proud to wear! Congrats!!!

Thanks, but more dead and bloated than sad and lonely. Amazing what some liposuction and polish can do

Now I think I can use some lipo and polish too

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/11/2009 6:57:23 PM
Author: AprilBaby
Unbelievable! I can hardly believe that is the same stone. CUT is King!

Yes, I have been walking around mumbling that mantra... CUT is King! Husband thinks I am nuts

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/11/2009 7:04:30 PM
Author: arjunajane
Wow, what an improvement! And great job on the setting too - the prongs look great !

Thanks, I just love the new delicate prongs, and lower head. The old head was ugly and so very high, I hated it. I actually knocked it off the ring once putting a heavy case of bottled water in a grocery cart

This lower head is so much prettier and less likely to get me into trouble!!

 

[stone-cold11]

Nice.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I absolutely love your recut!!! What an amazing transformation!!! It makes me want to recut my original diamond, but a recut will take it below 1 ct. So I am not sure if it is worth it or not.

 

[bgray]

absolutely STUNNING!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Just beautiful - what a complete transformation. I''m just thrilled for you and can''t wait to see handshots!!

 

[Kelli]

WOW!! How exciting for you! Now I can''t wait to go watch that video!

 

[shady71]

Date: 2/12/2009 8:28:53 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I absolutely love your recut!!! What an amazing transformation!!! It makes me want to recut my original diamond, but a recut will take it below 1 ct. So I am not sure if it is worth it or not.

Thanks DS. How big is your diamond? Is it deep? In my case I lost very little diameter and it actually looks bigger since it is so much brighter. My thought was what good are the points if it doesn''t perform?? I''m sure Brian could give you a good estimation of what you would wind up with.

 

[shady71]

Thanks bgray

Date: 2/12/2009 8:48:32 PM
Author: MissGotRocks
Just beautiful - what a complete transformation. I''m just thrilled for you and can''t wait to see handshots!!

Working on the handshots, needs lots of lotion first

 

[Lorelei]

It looks incredible!!