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OEC Engagement Ring for ME!

I am so glad you found someone to love and who loves you. I don't remember the details, but I remember you had heartbreak long ago. However you are happy, I am here for it! I ended up remarrying after a real fiasco. Eight years now and we're best friends still, so happy endings are possible. And even just happy periods of time to keep it real. I am so glad to see your face here. You've been missed for sure.

And a beautiful sparkly ring to celebrate is just the best.
 
MMtwo said:
I am so glad you found someone to love and who loves you. I don't remember the details, but I remember you had heartbreak long ago. However you are happy, I am here for it! I ended up remarrying after a real fiasco. Eight years now and we're best friends still, so happy endings are possible. And even just happy periods of time to keep it real. I am so glad to see your face here. You've been missed for sure.

And a beautiful sparkly ring to celebrate is just the best.
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I am so happy to hear about your now husband. Mine wasn't a fiasco. Just a terminal relationship that neither of us let go of out of loyalty to the other.
 
Have you been following Alex Park's lab diamond Instagram account? They have been favoring affordable 1 carats or expensive 4+ carats lately over 2 carats, but you'll be guaranteed to avoid bluish, brown, or gray undertones if you wait till you see one that's ~8mm and then pounce.

Have you been looking at the usual suspects' lab diamond virtual inventories? Loose Grown Diamond, Calavera, Ruby Harper, and Jewels by Cleo are the ones popular on Reddit right now for low prices. And then you'd send it on to David Klass for a decent price on a well-constructed bezel.

As you no doubt know, the color is a big issue. F and G are generally the lowest you can see for precut stones. Only Ouros and Fiorese are the ones I see now as doing low-color antique cuts (e.g., a smaller M at Ouros, who also does JK OECs, and ~2ct G-Ks in various cuts at Fiorese). Those vendors will do custom-cut so you get your color and carat specs.

The particular facet pattern you showed earlier as an example are what I regard as the CER-style (Victor Canera style modern OECs). There's a 2.07 D VS1 at Calavera for $639 at the moment (not sure if this link will work, but here is the Loupe 360), but of course that's D.

For the kinds of labs that I personally think are like transitionals, I have seen a lot of F-color ones on these cheap loose sites. For instance, if you look at the three mid-priced ones in these search results (the ones priced around $850-1000) here, you'll see what I have in mind. Or click on the individual Loupe360s: example one; example two; example three.

Happy to suggest others if you give me feedback on these. I'm bored recovering from dental surgery and am looking at diamonds aimlessly online right now.

*edited for typos
 
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@ShawnaRoss Thank you so much. I don't know who the "usual suspects" for lab diamonds are. But you clearly do! And you found some viable ones for me.

I have reached out to Alex. He had one option, but I disliked the faceting.

That said, I really like three on Calavera. I would appreciate your opinions!

1. https://calaveranewyork.com/pages/l...1a7a-43f0-8f6b-fad4b940cf14&stoneType=diamond This one has a checkerboard and a very strong Kobize effect. It's an F. Otherwise, it looks like a contender.

2. https://calaveranewyork.com/product...93421&pr_ref_pid=8972656312557&pr_seq=uniform This one has a tiny table, I love the faceting. At least it's not a D, and there is no lab report or video. I've asked for both because I really like this one.

3. And this one: https://calaveranewyork.com/product...s1-igi-certified?_pos=66&_sid=a0c905b56&_ss=r F color, nice faceting, At least the lab report is posted. I've asked for a video
 
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Gypsy said:
@ShawnaRoss Thank you so much. I don't know who the "usual suspects" for lab diamonds are. But you clearly do! And you found some viable ones for me.

I have reached out to Alex. He had one option, but I disliked the faceting.

That said, I really like three on Calavera. I would appreciate your opinions!

1. https://calaveranewyork.com/pages/l...1a7a-43f0-8f6b-fad4b940cf14&stoneType=diamond This one has a checkerboard and a very strong Kobize effect. It's an F. Otherwise, it looks like a contender.

2. https://calaveranewyork.com/product...93421&pr_ref_pid=8972656312557&pr_seq=uniform This one has a tiny table, I love the faceting. At least it's not a D, and there is no lab report or video. I've asked for both because I really like this one.

3. And this one: https://calaveranewyork.com/product...s1-igi-certified?_pos=66&_sid=a0c905b56&_ss=r F color, nice faceting, At least the lab report is posted. I've asked for a video
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Fixing the first link: https://calaveranewyork.com/product...s2-igi-certified?_pos=62&_sid=06ce06ea0&_ss=r
 
Hi again!

#3 would be my top choice out of those (the 1.97). It's really symmetrical!! It's super frustrating not to be able to see a video yet!

I had seen #1 before! I forgot where, but someone on Reddit had a ring that had an OEC with those culet reflections under the table. They actually showed up instead of the strong "petal" flashes that I personally prefer. For me, those dark spots had a major darkening effect over the diamond as a whole. But you might like it because I do think it gives some depth...?

I like the shading on #3 over #2, which has some pretty dark facets here and there. One thing I like to do with these ones is to take a screenshot and zoom out out out until the image of the diamond is about the size it would look like if I had the diamond in real life. That way, I can get a better idea of how the pattern of light and dark looks like in the real-life scale.

With all of these, the "petals" are similar in length and shape to me... is that the shape you like best?

One kind we haven't mentioned is the ones I'm calling snowflakes in my own mind ... ones with really clear geometry and pastels/fire. Here's an example in the 8mm range (Loupe 360 here). For me, these kind are the ones where you can see the facet patterning from space, no squinting or pulling it close in!

There's another genre that I like to call Schubach ones—ones with medium culets that reflect juuuust outside the table and get that "bubbly" look. There don't seem to be any 2 carats in that style banging about. Here's a 1-carat one just for an example (Loupe 360). To me, they look "rocky," like my favorite true antique diamonds are, with all that Kozibe action.

My absolute favorite on Calavera right now is this one (Loupe 360 here). Whereas your 1.97 up there is more like the Victor Canera, this one is more of an August Vintage look IMO. It might look too dark outside the table, where there's what I'm calling a "wreath" kind of pattern surrounding the table, but those virtual facet patterns shimmer so well that I think it's stunning (see this one on their insta and how the "wreath" gives contrast and frames the petals!) The pavilion angles on this type allow for a LOT of fire. (That's my only knock on Canera-type, that they don't seem to have fire... not real Canera diamonds, but like "ones that aren't actually Victor Canera but are trying to approach it" category.).

Looking at 47 Jewelry last night, I also saw this lovely one, though it's very different in terms of facet pattern (Loupe 360 here). Very romantic, though S1.
 
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For one that's totally out of left field, DiamondRensu has what I think is a spectacularly cut OEC. It is a bit bigger & a bit out of your budget - 2.3 carats for $1350. I would have bought if it had come down in price sooner. It started its life on Etsy for $2300. Before I saw the price reduction, I had already bought a 2.07 D VS1 from Loose Grown Diamonds. That took forever to find because they don't let you see pictures until you've clicked a lot.

DiamondRensu's lovely stone is the one in the tweezers; the bare face-up shot is my own lil' dude, currently awaiting a decision about setting! I decided I wanted somewhere between the "squashed bubbles" look of the more transitional-looking ones and the longer, flowy, long-petalled ones of the Canera type. Mine felt like a magical in-betweener, and it's got a puffy crown, so I bought it though I was not thrilled to pay $1200.
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Oh that Diamond Renzu one is gorgeous. And if it was warmer- in the H-I-K range I would pay the extra money. I know, backwards, but I'm willing to pay more for warmer color. But for right now, I don't want to pay that much for colorless range.
 
Okay so #3 is not available. It's on their site, but they can't order it. Darn it.
 
Re: color, understood! I would approach Ouros or Fiorese to custom-cut one in the JKL range or whatever you're going for. I know both of them had some M rough in the past. Ouros offers JK for a few of the cuts.

Ivy & Rose have well-priced antique diamonds, but it's definitely too high (price-per-carat) for 2 carats at $1000, unfortunately. They currently have two lovely 1 carat labs, but they are quite white and obviously too small too boot. If you like any of their in-stock settings, you might be able to swing 2 carat lab or natural if you had a bigger budget on your setting (e.g., put less money on a simpler I&R stock setting and put it in the rock).

Re: Calavera not having it, ugh, that's annoying. I did wonder what was going on with the diamonds that are on those "incomplete" webpages (not formatted like the others). Now I know there's danger there! :)

A different approach would be to ask whoever is making the setting to source the diamond for you. They'll have a better idea of what's around and may be able to get a better price. You'd just want to tell them the budget up front and see what they can do. Sako (https://www.instagram.com/cjd_sako/) seems chill and open to working with a variety of budgets.
 
You are a pro! Such great advice. You rock @ShawnaRoss.

1. I reached out to Ouros about a I/J/K color.
2. YES! That snowflake faceting is the one I want.
3. I dislike the bubble ones, for me, personally
4. I will check out Sako too!

You are really wonderful. I so appreciate it.
 
I would be careful with Ouros @Gypsy - some people have had good experiences, but some people have not and they tend to be pushy and it seems like it’s inconsistent to where stones that are shown on their website are completely different from what you get. Just a heads up.
 
Mreader said:
I would be careful with Ouros @Gypsy - some people have had good experiences, but some people have not and they tend to be pushy and it seems like it’s inconsistent to where stones that are shown on their website are completely different from what you get. Just a heads up.
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Good information. I will be careful for sure.
 
Mreader said:
I would be careful with Ouros @Gypsy - some people have had good experiences, but some people have not and they tend to be pushy and it seems like it’s inconsistent to where stones that are shown on their website are completely different from what you get. Just a heads up.
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Definitely have to watch them carefully. But if the budget is $1000 for 8mm and the color must be low, there's not a lot of options.
 
ShawnaRoss said:
Definitely have to watch them carefully. But if the budget is $1000 for 8mm and the color must be low, there's not a lot of options.
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Fair point. :) And yeah. I'm just not willing to spend more. As usual I want a custom setting, and since that is where my passion is at, that's where I'd rather the money go.
 
Gypsy said:
Fair point. :) And yeah. I'm just not willing to spend more. As usual I want a custom setting, and since that is where my passion is at, that's where I'd rather the money go.
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Got to have priorities, or no project will ever get completed. Totally understand!

You could always try Fiorese if you're unhappy with Ouros. I hope you keep updating us! It's exciting.
 
I will keep updating :). How do I reach Fiorese are they on etsy?
 
Gypsy said:
I will keep updating :). How do I reach Fiorese are they on etsy?
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There's contact info on the fioresejewelry.com if you want to find the email them. I believe that most people text them on WhatsApp once they've established a relationship with a particular sales representative. Finding the rep is easiest to do on Instagram if you don't want to just email them. Matthew is the one who I think is the most senior, but you can also look at their accounts on Instagram and decide whose work you like best. This image shows the names of the individual Instagram accounts affiliated with the company.

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Have you looked at Distinctive Gems (Rhino) ?
 
Garnetgirl said:
Have you looked at Distinctive Gems (Rhino) ?
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Hello Garnetgirl, I looked but didn't see anything there. I could ask him if he does custom cuts, and at what price I suppose.
 
Gypsy said:
Hello Garnetgirl, I looked but didn't see anything there. I could ask him if he does custom cuts, and at what price I suppose.
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An 8mm AVR OEC moissanite would definitely be in the budget. Just don't know if they have access to warm colors.

I just remembered another person you could consult. This is a Reddit user who is verified in a number of places as a great diamond concierge. She can help you find a dynamic stone if none of these other tracks lead anywhere. Definitely look around yourself on Reddit to see sample stones she's sourced for people to see if you agree that she's got a great eye.


There's not much love for Reddit over in the natural diamond area around here on Pricescope, and for good reason, but if it's labs you're lookin', there's also a good hivemind over there at r/labdiamonds. They aren't are skilled with the technical issues of great cut (except for a few folks), but they do have know-how.
 
I don't want the rainbow refraction that Moissanites through. But I do like their warmth. I think I'd prefer to stick with a lab diamond. David (RD) is looking so we'll see.
 
Ankit at diamondrensu can deliver what you want but you have to deal with him, not the other staff. Hint: Flatter him.
I would rule out Ouros.
 
Ibrakeforpossums said:
Ankit at diamondrensu can deliver what you want but you have to deal with him, not the other staff. Hint: Flatter him.
I would rule out Ouros.
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Excellent hint. :) Love it. OK no to Ouros. David is on it for now. And I sent an email to David Klass too, since I know he can do the setting I want.
 
What website should I use to find a diamond offered at multiple vendors by report number?
 
Loose Grown Diamonds has one of the biggest inventories, but also check Ritani. Calavera, Ruby Harper, et al, have smaller inventories. Lower prices, of course, but that only really matters if you're intent on buying through them.
 
I’m not sure if anyone has recommended Ivy and Rose yet but they do sell old cut lab diamonds.

I’ve seen very nice authentic looking old cut labs listed on Instagram by Parks Fine Group, eg Alex. I think they have a separate account on Instagram for labs.

Old World Diamonds was getting into lab a few months ago, if I recall correctly.
 
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Awesome suggestions LightBright and ShawnaRoss. I will look. Both RockDiamond and David Klass are looking for me. And I got a reasonable setting quote from DK. So... on my way.
 
Found two I like on loose grown diamonds
 
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