OEC vs FIC?

[DentD]

I''''ve been reading quite a bit lately about OEC diamonds and Fiery Ideal Cut diamonds and have been thinking for awhile about it. I don''''t plan on changing my E-Ring anytime soon but I think in the future I would love to own a super fireball of a diamond (maybe for a pendant, or upgrade my e-ring and use the old diamond for something else?). My diamond right now is very bright and white but unless I''''m in spotlighting conditions I don''''t see nearly as many glints of fire that I want! I''''d rather have a rainbow of a diamond than a piece of ice.

So I''''m turning to you guys for some thoughts and opinions. If my main goal is getting the most fire for my money would I be better off trying to find a FIC or an OEC diamond? Would I notice a difference between the two in terms of performance? What would you guys prefer?

Also do settings make a difference in how well a diamond performs? Such as bezel versus prongs, or is it more about the height of the head?

Thanks!

 

[strmrdr]

fic - small but large number of flashes
oec - fewer but larger flashes

I would describe a well cut fic as a disco ball in the right lighting.

Fic is at its best in bright direct lighting
oec is at its best in lower and softer lighting

Like candle light dinners a lot get oec
chandelier in dining room get fic

office lighting maybe a slight edge to the fic but a well cut oec can keep it close.

 

[strmrdr]

Fic Fire

 

[strmrdr]

oec fire

 

[strmrdr]

side by side

 

[DentD]

Interesting comparison, strmrdr! Can you explain the difference in color tones for the OEC and FIC? I''m not quite sure how to interpret them.

My real problem I guess is that I don''t really have an opportunity to see examples of a FIC vs OEC in person. I would love to be able to "test drive" one of each and see how they perform in different lighting conditions.

Would it be easier and/or cheaper to find a FIC versus an OEC?

 

[strmrdr]

The colors are just the calculate light color.
The size of each and the number of the different light areas is the difference in the cuts.
These are virtual images created by computer.

OEC is likely more available than a Fic but neither are that hard to find.

 

[Dancing Fire]

would love to own a FIC.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/1/2009 1:18:03 AM
Author: strmrdr
The colors are just the calculate light color.
The size of each and the number of the different light areas is the difference in the cuts.
These are virtual images created by computer.

OEC is likely more available than a Fic but neither are that hard to find.

Nice work matey!

 

[Gothgrrl]

I have a pair of OEC''s set into earrings. And I just purchased a FIC stone. Both are beautiful stones, although I really love the OEC. I like the broad chunky facets, the open culet, and the romantic feel/look to it.

In terms in finding either stones, I found the OEC''s rather easily. I just went to pawn shops and antique stores. I found one stone and purchased it. Later I went back looking for a match, and they had one that was pretty close in size. The FIC stone....well, that one was a bit more difficult to find. I spent a couple of nights just looking at every round stone I could find. Out of all the stones I looked at, I probably found maybe 3. What can I say? I was bored one night.

Strmrdr gave a great discription of both. I hope that helps.

 

[NeverEndingUpgrade]

Why are FICs hard to find? I should say, harder to find than an OEC?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/1/2009 10:05:02 PM
Author: NeverEndingUpgrade
Why are FICs hard to find? I should say, harder to find than an OEC?

Mainly because no one specializes in them and collects a bunch in one place where there are several that do so with oec.

 

[megeve]

Storm,
When searching for FIC, is there a certain numbers/ideal angles one has to stay within? Lorelei has posted somewhere the cliff notes for Tolkowsky ideal angles but I couldn't find any for FIC. I hope Lorelei will chime in.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/2/2009 3:33:35 AM
Author: megeve
Storm,

When searching for FIC, is there a certain numbers/ideal angles one has to stay within? Lorelei has posted somewhere the cliff notes for Tolkowsky ideal angles but I couldn't find any for FIC. I hope Lorelei will chime in.

50-56 table
40.6P C Range 35-36
40.5P C Range 35.5-37
40.4P C Range 36.5-38 or even higher
long lower girdles 79-80+% is good.
Depth will be a little deeper than tolk out to around 63-63.5 on some.
Face up optical symmetry helps
A good FIC will score on cut: GIA VG and AGS1 or sometimes 2, some but very few of them will score ags0.

The really should be considered a separate cut like oec are.

 

[megeve]

Very interesting and thanks, storm.

If depth is deeper, that means it will be smaller than tolk in the same size?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/2/2009 3:48:06 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/2/2009 3:33:35 AM
Author: megeve
Storm,

When searching for FIC, is there a certain numbers/ideal angles one has to stay within? Lorelei has posted somewhere the cliff notes for Tolkowsky ideal angles but I couldn''t find any for FIC. I hope Lorelei will chime in.

50-56 table
40.6P C Range 35-36
40.5P C Range 35.5-37
40.4P C Range 36.5-38 or even higher
long lower girdles 79-80+% is good.
Depth will be a little deeper than tolk out to around 63-63.5 on some.
Face up optical symmetry helps
A good FIC will score on cut: GIA VG and AGS1 or sometimes 2, some but very few of them will score ags0.

The really should be considered a separate cut like oec are.

Ditto, good examples again!!

 

[Demon]

Date: 3/2/2009 3:48:06 AM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/2/2009 3:33:35 AM
Author: megeve
Storm,

When searching for FIC, is there a certain numbers/ideal angles one has to stay within? Lorelei has posted somewhere the cliff notes for Tolkowsky ideal angles but I couldn't find any for FIC. I hope Lorelei will chime in.

50-56 table
40.6P C Range 35-36
40.5P C Range 35.5-37
40.4P C Range 36.5-38 or even higher
long lower girdles 79-80+% is good.
Depth will be a little deeper than tolk out to around 63-63.5 on some.
Face up optical symmetry helps
A good FIC will score on cut: GIA VG and AGS1 or sometimes 2, some but very few of them will score ags0.

The really should be considered a separate cut like oec are.

You are so helpful! And it was because of your visual the other day that I finally 'got' what painting looks like. : )

Any sort of guideline on how deep the crown can/should be?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/2/2009 3:56:00 AM
Author: megeve
Very interesting and thanks, storm.


If depth is deeper, that means it will be smaller than tolk in the same size?

Yes but they can look just as big because of the high crown.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/2/2009 11:57:03 AM
Author: Demon

Date: 3/2/2009 3:48:06 AM

Any sort of guideline on how deep the crown can/should be?

They start at about ~15.8% CH and go up from there to around 19%(very rare).

 

[Demon]

Date: 3/2/2009 1:35:27 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/2/2009 11:57:03 AM
Author: Demon

Date: 3/2/2009 3:48:06 AM

Any sort of guideline on how deep the crown can/should be?

They start at about ~15.8% CH and go up from there to around 19%(very rare).

Thank you. Is there any particular range for stars (seems like everytime I read a thread I have more questions!), or are they not as important?

And do all the angles hold true for any diameter?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 3/2/2009 3:35:14 PM
Author: Demon

Date: 3/2/2009 1:35:27 PM

Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/2/2009 11:57:03 AM

Author: Demon

Date: 3/2/2009 3:48:06 AM


Any sort of guideline on how deep the crown can/should be?

They start at about ~15.8% CH and go up from there to around 19%(very rare).

Thank you. Is there any particular range for stars (seems like everytime I read a thread I have more questions!), or are they not as important?


And do all the angles hold true for any diameter?

The normal range for stars is fine 50-60 I would be cautious of over 60(check IS/ASET) and 45 would be fine also.

Yes a fic can be any diameter and it is the same range.

 

[Demon]

Date: 3/2/2009 3:54:17 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/2/2009 3:35:14 PM
Author: Demon

Date: 3/2/2009 1:35:27 PM

Author: strmrdr

Date: 3/2/2009 11:57:03 AM

Author: Demon

Date: 3/2/2009 3:48:06 AM


Any sort of guideline on how deep the crown can/should be?

They start at about ~15.8% CH and go up from there to around 19%(very rare).

Thank you. Is there any particular range for stars (seems like everytime I read a thread I have more questions!), or are they not as important?


And do all the angles hold true for any diameter?

The normal range for stars is fine 50-60 I would be cautious of over 60(check IS/ASET) and 45 would be fine also.

Yes a fic can be any diameter and it is the same range.

Thank you for your patience - you''ve been most helpful.