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- Mar 11, 2013
- Messages
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Hi dropsonde,
I liked all of your selections to tell you the truth! Here's where you will have to do some thinking and prioritization. Take some time to talk to your girlfriend about what she wants in a diamond cut. Does she gravitate to a certain old cut style? Would she prefer the look of a high (puffy) crown and smaller table of an OEC, does she want the rustic sometimes primitive look of an OMC or does she like the precision of a Transitional cut?
It might be helpful if you started out by describing the reason she is drawn to old cuts, her color/clarity/diameter size preferences, her setting preferences, what type of jewelry she wears, her lifestyle and stuff like that. Also, is there a specific reason that you chose CvB for a solitaire, or do you want more than a simple solitaire from Caysie?
In terms of the diamonds you've selected. When you visit Pricescope for advice you will likely hear from very experienced "thought leader" Pricescope users who have high technical standards for old cuts based on years of honing their preferences, likes and dislikes. So most users here will steer you towards a "Classic" form of an OEC and a "Classic" form of a Transitional. Unfortunately, in reality the Classic cut types (prized by Pricescope members) of the OEC and Transitional styles are rare in higher colors and clarities, and somewhat difficult to find in even low colors and clarities.
In general, you can often find the cut you want sooner and for a more affordable price if you go to a lower color or clarity. And conversely, if you flex on CUT by not having extremely high standards for symmetry etc, you will able to find a higher color or clarity. You need to decide your tolerances. What are your preferences?
What you will encounter most in your old cut diamond search is variation. Lots and lots of "variations on a theme". That's because there were hundreds of diamond cutters in the old days (European and American) each house or cutter cutting their own style of diamond. Old Cuts weren't standardized universally.
In my opinion, non-standard cuts all can be beautiful. But the reason you are seeing Fair symmetry and different table and crown sizes than what people here prefer is because the technically perfect stones are rarer, and are snapped up quickly or are very expensive. Some Pricescope people will hesitate to endorse non-Classic stones, mostly because it's difficult to to assess performance in non-standard stones.
I'm going to repeat myself here:
If you want optimal cut, symmetry and light return (basically a sure thing you don't have to think about because the cut is standardized) you can purchase a new old cut from GOG or Victor.
If you want technically perfect antique you will pay a premium and you will look a long time. Adam from Old World Diamonds has an inventory of very nice OEC cuts for which you will pay a premium. Grace of Jewels by Grace and Erica of Love Affair Diamonds have had Classic Transitionals and often have Classic OECs. But these vendors also have many variations of cuts, and I personally like these cuts, but they will not always have the specs you have been told to look for and to prioritize.
I liked the stones you found. They are all beautiful. The J looked very fiery and lively to me, but you need to be sure you are okay with a J color for an engagement ring. The G looked more like a Transitional cut, which means bright and white with that large table. I loved the high crown of the 1.34 G, and I thought the I had potential because of the small crown and pretty cut pattern.
If you are going to put the stone in a solitaire, you really need to get a standout stone that you both love. Aside from the inventories you found on-line at Love Affaire Diamonds and Jewels by Grace, have tried calling Adam at Old World Diamonds to see what he might have for you? His inventory is mostly not pictured on-line. He can provide photos and then overnight a stone to you very easily.
Please keep us posted!
I liked all of your selections to tell you the truth! Here's where you will have to do some thinking and prioritization. Take some time to talk to your girlfriend about what she wants in a diamond cut. Does she gravitate to a certain old cut style? Would she prefer the look of a high (puffy) crown and smaller table of an OEC, does she want the rustic sometimes primitive look of an OMC or does she like the precision of a Transitional cut?
It might be helpful if you started out by describing the reason she is drawn to old cuts, her color/clarity/diameter size preferences, her setting preferences, what type of jewelry she wears, her lifestyle and stuff like that. Also, is there a specific reason that you chose CvB for a solitaire, or do you want more than a simple solitaire from Caysie?
In terms of the diamonds you've selected. When you visit Pricescope for advice you will likely hear from very experienced "thought leader" Pricescope users who have high technical standards for old cuts based on years of honing their preferences, likes and dislikes. So most users here will steer you towards a "Classic" form of an OEC and a "Classic" form of a Transitional. Unfortunately, in reality the Classic cut types (prized by Pricescope members) of the OEC and Transitional styles are rare in higher colors and clarities, and somewhat difficult to find in even low colors and clarities.
In general, you can often find the cut you want sooner and for a more affordable price if you go to a lower color or clarity. And conversely, if you flex on CUT by not having extremely high standards for symmetry etc, you will able to find a higher color or clarity. You need to decide your tolerances. What are your preferences?
What you will encounter most in your old cut diamond search is variation. Lots and lots of "variations on a theme". That's because there were hundreds of diamond cutters in the old days (European and American) each house or cutter cutting their own style of diamond. Old Cuts weren't standardized universally.
In my opinion, non-standard cuts all can be beautiful. But the reason you are seeing Fair symmetry and different table and crown sizes than what people here prefer is because the technically perfect stones are rarer, and are snapped up quickly or are very expensive. Some Pricescope people will hesitate to endorse non-Classic stones, mostly because it's difficult to to assess performance in non-standard stones.
I'm going to repeat myself here:
If you want optimal cut, symmetry and light return (basically a sure thing you don't have to think about because the cut is standardized) you can purchase a new old cut from GOG or Victor.
If you want technically perfect antique you will pay a premium and you will look a long time. Adam from Old World Diamonds has an inventory of very nice OEC cuts for which you will pay a premium. Grace of Jewels by Grace and Erica of Love Affair Diamonds have had Classic Transitionals and often have Classic OECs. But these vendors also have many variations of cuts, and I personally like these cuts, but they will not always have the specs you have been told to look for and to prioritize.
I liked the stones you found. They are all beautiful. The J looked very fiery and lively to me, but you need to be sure you are okay with a J color for an engagement ring. The G looked more like a Transitional cut, which means bright and white with that large table. I loved the high crown of the 1.34 G, and I thought the I had potential because of the small crown and pretty cut pattern.
If you are going to put the stone in a solitaire, you really need to get a standout stone that you both love. Aside from the inventories you found on-line at Love Affaire Diamonds and Jewels by Grace, have tried calling Adam at Old World Diamonds to see what he might have for you? His inventory is mostly not pictured on-line. He can provide photos and then overnight a stone to you very easily.
Please keep us posted!
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