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Need help: GF wants big rock, I want eye-clean nice rock

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Professor

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 13, 2006
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I have been lurking for about 2 weeks now, and I want to thank everyone for their input and replies to these boards. Here is my problem and question:

My girlfriend is in her early 20''s and her only request for an engagement ring was "Over 2 Carats and antique looking". The problem is that she does not know anything about diamonds, pricing, cut, color, or anything that I have learned over the past month. I know she will like anything I get her, but I would like to do my best to get her a bigger ring without getting a non-firing piece of rock.

Right now, I am trying to keep the diamond price to $5000.00 and the ring to $2000.00 if possible. I am also in a time crunch, since the date is set very soon.

How can I get her a 1 carat SI1 ish G ish Ideal round and get her to understand that it is much better than a 2 carat M color I2 Good round? Also, does anyone have any ideas of put together rings that might fit the antique nice looking ring? I have been to all the vendors that are popular on this site, so I am trying to find out some non-traditional online vendors if anyone knows of something like that. There was one in a post with antique engagement rings in the name (had a lot of I-N color diamonds), but I can''t find the post anymore.

Anyway, thank you all so much for your time in advance!
 
Hey Professor,

Welcome to PS! I think the best thing to do is to show her some 2 carat M I2 stones, and see if that is still what she wants (could be). The whole thing with an engagement ring is to try and gt something that is as close as possible to what she wants, so if it's a 2 carat M I2, then so be it.

Incidentally, there's someone on PS with an M colored stone. I think a 3 carat named Stephen's stone?? I'll see if I can find the thread for you. He can see the tint, but he says the diamond is still beautiful.

Just for fun, I found this link on ebay for an I2 stone.

http://cgi.ebay.com/EGL-CERT-1-46ct-G-I1-Diamond-SOLITAIRE-Engagement-RING_W0QQitemZ8947721075QQihZ004QQcategoryZ67726QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Although funny enough, I can kind of see some arrows in there....but I'm confused at how 1.46 stone is 6.8 mm in diameter. In any case, it might not actually be an I2, maybe lower, who knows, but EGL certificate. Good luck with your search!

ETA: I found the link to the stone: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-little-piece-of-carbon.14419/
 
well, you could give her the information re what constitutes a ''quality'' stone. however, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, and if she wants a larger stone, she will never be happy with a smaller one. plan on an upgrade in the near future if you cannot convince her to settle for smaller....because in her mind, larger is better and she is settling for less. btw, i wouldn''t discount an M or perhaps even N if you can find it. there are pricescopers who love their over H diamonds!

movie zombie
 
You GF has told you what she wants... and what she wants is size. I would give it to her... and sacrifice the rest.

Here are a few nice antique mounted antique cut diamonds that would IMO work.

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/c918r5d.html

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/c603r6d.html

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/d127r1ds.html (I'd call and see if they'll negotiate this one down... and then raise my budget to get this one if you like it).

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/d128r3ds.html

Another option would be to go cheap with the setting ( a great option honestly) and devote the rest of the money to the center stone: here are two antiquey diamond studded settings for around 600 dollars:

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_500_999/product/LJ7720/product.asp?pf_id=LJ7682-SOL&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ephilipnoel%2Ecom%2F%5Fe%2Fdept%2F49%2D002%2F%5F500%5F999%2Ehtm

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_500_999/product/PN3961/14K_White_Gold_Ladies_Semi_Mount_Ring_0_29_TCW.htm


If you went that route... I'd get an eye-clean J SI2 either an oval or a round or a pear (they can change the head on these settings) get a nice but not ideal cut and go as large as you can. FROM A VENDOR with an UPGRADE policy (like James Allen or WF).

ETA: I would NOT buy a diamond on ebay.
 
In general I would say it's virtually impossible to find a (good) 2+ carat stone in an antique-y setting for 7k.

That said, I did see this ring at antiqueengagementrings.com:
Replica Edwardian Engagement Ring
Center early modern brilliant (circa 1950) weighs 1.92 carats K color and VS2 clarity. Set in an 18k white gold mounting with diamond centered lily of the valleys on the shoulders and an elegant swirling filligree design on the sides. The ring has an antiqued finish to give it a vintage look and feel. $7850


http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=1060
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My other thought is this: If your gf really knows nothing about diamonds, then she might be operating from an assumption of what she thinks 2 carats ought to look like. You could think about getting a fancy cut (like a mq or pear or other) that faces up larger than a round and get a smaller carat weight--but one w/ measurements that could still mimic what she presumes 2 carats is--not for the intent of fooling or misprepresenting, but just b/c "2 carats" is a bit arbitrary when maybe she doesn't know what that really would look like?


Here's another from faycullen.com: (One of my favorite looks - halo and sapphires)

This Art Deco engagement ring with diamonds and sapphires in platinum antique style weighs 4.4g and measures 14mm wide and 7mm deep. This enchanting round brilliant-cut sizable and distinguished bezel-set 2.24ct round brilliant-cut diamond center stone is graded N color VS1 clarity. Mounted in platinum, this extravagant ring is surrounded by 0.50cts of concentrically channel-set French-cut baguette sapphires graded ‘rich blue’ color and ‘very good’ clarity. A pierced open-work platinum gallery and 0.06cts of bead-set lustrous diamonds are shoulder mounted and graded H color and SI clarity connect the easily sizeable shank of this extravagant and generously proportioned Art Deco style diamond engagement ring.
$5700

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/c410r6ds.html


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There are a LOT of other options that could work for you on faycullen.com


The thing is--if she really wants an antique-y ring, then she might *like* the warmth of a lower color stone. (Some warmer stones can look really lovely and appropriate in antique settings.) It's totally a taste issue and judgement call. If something like that wouldn't be mind-clean for YOU, then maybe try to seek a compromise. OR get a more specific idea of what her parameters really mean--maybe rings like those 2 above aren't what she wants and she'd prefer a smaller whiter stone to a larger warmer stone..... And of course, you don't have the control over choosing CUT quality w/ a pre-set antique ring. But they can still be really charming so...... LOTS to consider!!!

http://www.estatediamondjewelry.com is another great site, but you'll see that their larger carat weight rings are waaaay pricier. But their pieces are gorgeous.


OR--what about a 2ct+ colored stone in an antique-blingy setting??
 
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=871486

Would be a GREAT budget friendly stone and it''s BIG.


Or this pear:


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=836807

Pears and Ovals are: cheaper than rounds per carat, and have the same, or similar spread as rounds (they have large size in terms of MM).

I''d call James Allen and see which of these two he recommends, call up Phillip Noel and have them stick a head on one of those two settings to accomodate either stone and go from there. Your GF will get a large stone in an antique setting AND an upgrade policy. You''ll get this done quickly and make her happy.
 
Gypsy,

I didn't mean for him to buy the diamond. I wanted to show him picture of an I2, only one I could find. Very few true PS'ers would buy a diamond from ebay. And I'm definitely a true PS'er
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Professor: If your set on a G color, Si1 maybe you can put it in a white diamond halo setting, that would help the size issue.
 
BLUEROSES you're on my brain again! lmao... look at my posts about the antique rings above. The Lilly of Valley ring's finish is FABULOUS! It's not finished that way to give it an antiquey feel-- it's got that finish to hide the warmth of that diamond! Fabulous!

Personally I'd go the Phillipe Noel and James Allen route. Why? Upgrade policy.
 
Date: 6/13/2006 7:30:20 PM
Author: allycat0303
Gypsy,

I didn''t mean for him to buy the diamond. I wanted to show him picture of an I2, only one I could find. Very few true PS''ers would buy a diamond from PS. And I''m definitely a true PS''er
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Professor: If your set on a G color, Si1 maybe you can put it in a white diamond halo setting, that would help the size issue.
Click to expand...

WHEW!!! You scared me!

Halo is a great idea. I still think he should go with an inexpensive (600 bucks for an antique setting-- Whoo hoo!) setting and put the rest of the $$ toward a bigger stone.
 
Gypsy get off MY brain, princess, b/c I was just about to write the same thing--of COURSE I saw that you posted the same faycullen ring! (I like the pear w/ the sapph halo too!)

I just had to go edit my post--yikes, those pictures made the post huge when they were spreading out horizontally!

Ally, you are the epitome of a true PSer, m''dear......I knew that you were putting it up there just for reference! Yeah, that I2 is worse than frozen monkey spit--it''s dead bugs in frozen monkey spit!!
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So what do you think, Professor? Have we made your head hurt yet?
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Well you know I''M on the halo train!! Who were we helping look for halo settings the other day? There were some cheapie ones from adwar that someone had posted. Hmmmmm.


Gypsy, tell me what you mean about the lily of the valley setting''s finish--I thought it was pretty nifty too, but don''t quite get what you mean! I can be such a newbie still.
 
Date: 6/13/2006 7:35:58 PM
Author: blueroses
Gypsy get off MY brain, princess, b/c I was just about to write the same thing--of COURSE I saw that you posted the same faycullen ring! (I like the pear w/ the sapph halo too!)
Click to expand...
Princess???? What did I do to deserve that? LMAO. We''ve been mind-linked for days... it''s been cracking me up. Nice job with the 2 carat stones... I was wimpy couldn''t (except with one of them) go below J in clarity...lol.

I think we are definitely making his head hurt.
 
Date: 6/13/2006 7:39:02 PM
Author: blueroses
Well you know I''M on the halo train!! Who were we helping look for halo settings the other day? There were some cheapie ones from adwar that someone had posted. Hmmmmm.


Gypsy, tell me what you mean about the lily of the valley setting''s finish--I thought it was pretty nifty too, but don''t quite get what you mean! I can be such a newbie still.
Click to expand...

I mean it''s not a WHITE WHITE gold. It''s like a mellow ecru finish, it looks like from the pictures. If you look at the first ring from Fay that I posted the sucker is a J and it looks yellow in that blindingly white finished setting. But the Lilly of the Valley''s is a K and looks white... because the contrast with the ''antiqued'' setting is in it''s favor. The setting is yellower... stone appears whiter. Does that make sense?
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Beautiful finds, blueroses! I like your idea of inexpensive settings to allow more for the diamond, too, Gypsy.
 
Yeah, white gold without rhodium will probably look a little yellow. Maybe that''s what they were going for.
 
What about a colored diamond or gemstone center?

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/d118r1d.html
This Art Deco engagement ring with European-cut diamonds in platinum and antique style weighs 3.9g and measures 14mm wide and 6.5mm deep. Constructed in precious platinum, this bursting floral bloom-inspired Art Deco style ring features an inimitable, mesmeric 1.40ct bezel-set European-cut diamond center-stone graded ‘medium greenish-yellow’ color and SI2 clarity framed in masterfully created torsade edgework mounted in a floating frame. An illustrious concentric circular border composed of twelve individual collet-set full-cut diamonds mounted within perfect cylindrical frames surrounds this exquisite European-cut diamond center stone complimented by a pair of important shoulder accents collectively weighing 0.90cts and graded G-H color and VS-SI clarity. Angular pierced openwork shoulders and this curvaceous, scallop-edge setting are characteristic of the exceptionally decadent Art Deco design element. This sophisticated antique style platinum engagement ring is concluded with subtly chased shoulders, a spherical band and an easily sizeable shank.
The introduction of cubism in the art world after 1925 brought about strong geometrical patterns strongly associated with Art Deco style to this day. Diamonds and platinum were used disregarding cost. Gemstones were cut into triangles, trapezoids, oblong shapes and emerald cuts. Oriental Jade and Coral were carved in oriental style for pendants, bracelets and earrings. Aquamarines, topaz and citrine are also part of the Art Deco style and widely used to express the feelings of the period. Although the great Depression of the 1930''s was a hard time for everyone, the Art Deco style infused the everyday world with elegance and sophistication.
D118R1D (More pics on site)


Your Price: $5,200.00


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Wonder if this baby is that rare beast: an eye clean I1??

http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/c1229r6d.html

This marquise diamond engagement ring platinum Edwardian style weighs 3.4g and measures 7mm wide and 5.5mm deep. This exceptionally sophisticated Edwardian style engagement ring is essentially positioned with a mesmeric 2.17ct marquise-cut diamond center-stone graded ‘light fancy-yellow’ color and ‘I1’ clarity, horizontally channel-set. This poised marquise-cut diamond focal point is mounted above a magical botanically-inspired pierced openwork gallery further complimented by bejeweled foliate shoulders enveloped in 0.12cts of bead-set European-cut diamonds graded I/J color and SI clarity. Outstanding finely mille-grained edgework frames these captivating shoulder profiles that lead across the sleek, spherical platinum band concluded with an easily sizeable shank. Masterfully created in a luminous aura of brilliant diamond luxuriousness, this stunning masterfully mounted, marquise-cut diamond center stone is graced with an internal fire and intense scintillating light bursting forth from its magical core, dancing as vital flashes of light spread across the surface of this illustrious center stone.
$7500

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This aquamarine is gorgeous--of course a very different look:
http://www.faycullen.com/engagement_rings/800/d224r1ad.html
$1950
This antique aquamarine engagement ring with diamonds in Edwardian style weighs 4.1g and measures 10mm wide and 8mm deep. Constructed in fine 18k white gold, this striking Edwardian engagement ring is fundamentally positioned with a stunning 3.72ct prong-set round faceted aquamarine center-stone graded ‘grayish sky-blue’ color and ‘good’ clarity measuring 9.98mm in diameter. Mounted within a sumptuous diamond-adorned, dual-tiered crown setting embellished with dramatically reeded prongs, this captivating aquamarine focal point is surrounded by a sea of eminent diamond grandeur swathed in 0.40cts of bead-set full-cut diamonds graded H-I color and VS-SI clarity. Boxy silhouettes adorn beguiling, multi-dimensional shoulders framed in finely mille-grained edgework, leading the eye from the cerulean focal point across hand-engraved botanical tracery enveloping descending shoulders and a curvilinear gallery. This extravagant Edwardian engagement ring is concluded with a fully engraved spherical band, an easily sizeable shank and finely mille-grained edgework throughout.

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Professor: Is never going to check in again because we bombarded him
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and scared him off. Ya know this is the halo issue....

a) From a far the thing looks bigger (I would know cause I have one)
b) From up close, it''s a little hard to know exactly what size the center stone is. I don''t know if that''s good or bad
c) Halo setting tend to be expensive so you''re wasting money that can be spent on more stone

So I think you just got to LOVE a halo to get one, cause well its a little unusal and not everyone will love it.

Funny enough, if I were a guy and my girl said I want *this* I''d do my best. There''s a PS''er that got an I1 lately (Heather...perhaps) looked good to me, so it can be done. But my bet is she''ll look at that quality of stone and decide that a smaller one will be better.
 
Gypsy, I call all my girls princess, princessa, principessa, bellissima, things like that--it's princess in a good way not a mall way!
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AH--yes, good call on the "warmer" white gold. I see what you mean about the finish.


Ally, you're right on about the halo. I LOVE them (so many on PS do) but they are a very specific taste.


'Tanks, Diamondseeker.....I love a good antique-budgety project
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Date: 6/13/2006 6:49:23 PM
Author:Professor
I have been lurking for about 2 weeks now, and I want to thank everyone for their input and replies to these boards. Here is my problem and question:

My girlfriend is in her early 20''s and her only request for an engagement ring was ''Over 2 Carats and antique looking''. The problem is that she does not know anything about diamonds, pricing, cut, color, or anything that I have learned over the past month. I know she will like anything I get her, but I would like to do my best to get her a bigger ring without getting a non-firing piece of rock.

Right now, I am trying to keep the diamond price to $5000.00 and the ring to $2000.00 if possible. I am also in a time crunch, since the date is set very soon.

How can I get her a 1 carat SI1 ish G ish Ideal round and get her to understand that it is much better than a 2 carat M color I2 Good round? Also, does anyone have any ideas of put together rings that might fit the antique nice looking ring? I have been to all the vendors that are popular on this site, so I am trying to find out some non-traditional online vendors if anyone knows of something like that. There was one in a post with antique engagement rings in the name (had a lot of I-N color diamonds), but I can''t find the post anymore.

Anyway, thank you all so much for your time in advance!
Click to expand...
tell her to go to e-bay and take a look at some M I2 stones
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she will change her mind real quick.
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i''ll take an "ideal cut" 1ct G-H SI1 anyday of the week
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http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/PNR3272BG/14K_White_Gold_Diamond_Semi_Mount_Ring_0_30_TCW.htm

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/PNR4704BG/14k_White_Gold_Diamond_Semi_Mount_Ring_0_44_TCW.htm

More inexpensive antiquey settings! The ones above are great cause you can get ANY head on it.

Here''s are SETS for under 500!

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/LJ79584/14K_White_Gold_Ladies_Two_Piece_Wedding_Set_0_30_TCW.htm

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/LJ79601SM/14K_White_Gold_Two_Piece_Semi_Mount_Ring_Set_0_30_TCW.htm

OKAY!!

18K WG. Hearly 1/2 a carat in diamonds... and a SET for 419 bucks! (I am having WAY too much fun here)

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2551a%2Dring/18K_White_Gold_2_Piece_Diamond_Semi_Mount_0_46_TCW.htm


Then there''s these, 18K
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:

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2553c/18K_White_Gold_Semi_Mount_Diamond_Ring_0_20_TCW.htm

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2504a%2Dring/18K_White_Gold_Semi_Mount_Diamond_Ring_0_27_TCW.htm

http://www.philipnoel.com/_e/_99_499/product/sm2262a%2Dring/18K_White_Gold_Diamond_Semi_Mount_0_26_TCW.htm

Okay the last one isn''t antiquey but it''s cool and you can''t beat that price.
 
Date: 6/13/2006 7:58:35 PM
Author: blueroses
Gypsy, I call all my girls princess, princessa, principessa, bellissima, things like that--it''s princess in a good way not a mall way!
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Click to expand...

Oh. Alright then.
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Well done, Gypsy! Those Philip Noel settings are awesome! That last one is great too--love the split shank.


Poor Professor. He''s running far far away from the diamond loonies
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wow...this thread is very picture-link-ariffic!
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Date: 6/13/2006 8:11:08 PM
Author: blueroses
Well done, Gypsy! Those Philip Noel settings are awesome! That last one is great too--love the split shank.


Poor Professor. He's running far far away from the diamond loonies
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Click to expand...

Hmm... What??? Oh sorry I was busy downloading all the pics of those lovely rings you posted. That weird colored round is really growing on me... I saw it on the site. If I had that I'd totally be like, "Oh this? This is an extremely rare... um... Brazilian Cockatiel diamond. Isn't it gorgeous! Cost a FORTUNE of course, but we don't talk about that."

I know... he had NO IDEA what the PS ladies would be like with a PROJECT and a budget that demands creative thinking and scouring the net.

hehehehe That'll learn him!
 
If she wants antique, I don't see anything wrong with using a visibly tinted diamond...it lends it a certain dated charm!

1.263 N VVS1 Infinity (with med blue flour!): http://www.infinitydiamonds.be/diamond.php?ID=80

1.248 M VVS1 http://www.infinitydiamonds.be/diamond.php?ID=81

The M is 5.3K, so the N should be in your 5K budget, both available from Wink.

The thing that makes these stones work is that they're not trying to be near colorless, like K/L diamonds.

These stones are ...7 mm, a 2 ct is 8 mm.

Staying in the near colorless... I wonder how much this 1.27 H I1 is (probably overbudget)... looks like it could be "eye-cleanish" http://www.infinitydiamonds.be/diamond.php?ID=159

1.5 J I1 5K http://www.elmyrservices.net/stonepreview.php?id=96fe00e1e0e6bfe9187740f0835a115a&cid=2 but doesn't look as clean as the H
1.235 I I1 4.3K http://www.elmyrservices.net/stonepreview.php?id=8d13a39028d96a82eb40f0c3f2ead255&cid=2, these two both from Wink, again.
 
ok, you did it. you found a diamond i like! that fay cullen art deco for $5200 is THE winner, imho. i think its the hand shot that did it for me.

movie zombie

ps that aqua isn''t bad either. he could certainly ''make budget'' if he came over to the world of color....but if she wants a diamond, this art deco ring has ''buy me'' written all over it.
 
Date: 6/13/2006 9:24:10 PM
Author: movie zombie
ok, you did it. you found a diamond i like! that fay cullen art deco for $5200 is THE winner, imho. i think its the hand shot that did it for me.

movie zombie

ps that aqua isn''t bad either. he could certainly ''make budget'' if he came over to the world of color....but if she wants a diamond, this art deco ring has ''buy me'' written all over it.
Click to expand...
See I told you! The Brazillian Cockatiel Diamond is a hit.

Would make a lovely RHR too, frankly.
 

Here''s this one from GOG:


1.8ct N SI1 Hand Selected Round


Reserve Diamond

Shape: Round
Carat Weight: 1.80ct
Color: N
Clarity: SI1
AGS Cut Grade: NA*
GIA Cut Grade: NA*
Fluorescence: Negligible
Girdle: 0.94%
Culet: None
Lab Report #: NA
In House: Yes
Width: 7.82mm
Length: 7.86mm
Depth: 4.77mm
Table Percentage: 61.03%
Depth Percentage: 61.00%
Crown Ú: 37.93‹
Crown Depth: 15.55%
Pavilion Ú: 40.71‹
Pavilion Depth: 43.30%
Upper Girdle Ú: 44.82‹
Lower Girdle Ú: 41.79‹

Price: $6,684.03
(Bank wire price: $6,458)

pic1.jpg



Tilt Photo:
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And Megascope cert is attached.

This baby in one of those settings Gypsy posted? It is under 2 cts but at around 7.8mm is a NICE spread!!

MegaScope%20Certificate.gif
 
......

MegaScope%20Certificate1.JPG
 
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