OEC, VS2 M .98

[lauralu]

Okay so I found a beautiful OEC diamond set in it''s original plat setting. Setting i do not like. Sits super high. I thought about taking the diamond out and putting a gem stone into it. However, It just is so high I don''t think I would ever wear it. Non the less, it was beautiful. Whomever owned it so many years ago, must not have worn a wedding band with it as it did not show any wear that you would see from a wedding band placed next to it. This diamond is an M color with no flouro. I NEVER would have guessed this was an M color. I could not believe what I was seeing. This diamond shined and sparkled and was just gorgeous. However, it had a black spot....now, PS experts help me here. Looking right down the center of the diamond I saw a black spec. The owner in the BM store said it was from the cutlet. Not an inclusion rather just the cutlet. I have NO experience looking at these kinds of diamonds. I know I fell in love with the fact that he dated this diamond as being around the late 1800''s to early 1900''s. The thought of the history behind this diamond just made it so intriguing. The price was $5100 and he said he would sell me just the diamond without the setting if I wanted, but we never talked price.

I have gone to look at this diamond twice because it is just so beautiful and the fact that it was an M just made me feel like I was tempting the color sensitive people whom would be totally in shock to learn it was an M.However after seeing the black spot now twice. I know I could not live with it. it would bother me to no end. My FI did not see it until I pointed it out. Even then he had to look for it. To me though, after I saw it, it stood out like a sore thumb. I do have to say though. Seeing it in the setting and not out of it I know effected the color I was seeing. Facing up white is one thing. Seeing the sides of it outside the setting I imagine would be where I would see obvious color.


Okay back to the black spot.....could it really have been the cutlet showing a black speck right down the middle of the diamond?

 

[neatfreak]

You said it yourself. You can't live with the black spot. It doesn't matter where it comes from. (And I have never seen an OEC personally that had a black spot from the culet, could be reflecting into the center, but probably not from the culet?)

 

[ericad]

Open culets are common in antique diamonds. An open culet would look like a little round hold right in the center of the diamond. If the culet is large enough, you will be able to see through it. If it''s a small culet, it could look like a tiny dark dot in the center of the stone. I will dig up some example pics for you.

 

[ericad]

Large

 

[ericad]

Small

 

[surfgirl]

I was going to say the same thing but erica beat me to it and with great examples to boot! If it''s the culet, as is shown in the above photo, it shouldn''t look black all the time, only in some lighting conditions because other times it will look lighter as in the first above photo.

That said, if it bugs you, it bugs you and it means you dont like open culets. Nothing wrong with that but I dont think it will stop bugging you if you buy this stone. However, if it''s not an open culet that you''re seeing then no doubt it''s a carbon spot and that would bother me as well.

Also, I wouldn''t fall too in love with the history aspect of this stone until you have it independently appraised to make sure it is what it is. Always good to make sure! And yes, depending on the setting, if you can clearly see the side of the stone if may well be much warmer than it''s looking now. But you could always set it in a bezel...

 

[lauralu]

Erica D. That is exactly what I saw. Those pics are fantastic.
It does give me a different perspective now...........thank you a ton for the pics

 

[lauralu]

thanks surfgirl.........I am going to email a few venders for more info on EC. After seeing this stone, I think I need to investigate them further.

Thanks to Erica D''s photos and explanation. I have a new and different perspective on why it''s there, would it not bother me anymore? That I am thinking about. I will not be purchasing this stone though, but wow it did knock my socks off!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ericad]

Happy to help! The more old cuts you look at the more you will see various culets and figure out what you do and don''t like. If you prefer no culet, focus your search on late OEC''s or transitionals. Surfgirl is right - if you don''t like the look of the culet, you don''t like it! But one can find antique diamonds out there with very small culets, without sacrificing the chunky glowing facets, fire and history that are unique to antique cuts.

PS - when I first fell for old cuts, I didn''t like the open culets at all. Now I love them - so look at as many as you can before deciding. There are many threads and pics right here on PS where you can see OECs (and OMC''s and antique cushions).

And with regards to color, an M will definitely show tint from the side. My own e-ring is an M/N prong set in stark white platinum (intentionally wanted to flaunt the low color, which I personally adore) and faces up a lovely ivory white but shows a strong lemony tint from the side. Not everyone''s cup of tea, but I sure love it

 

[Pandora II]

I love open culets - it''s one of my favourite bits of old cuts.

 

[lauralu]

Erica...thank-you for all the advice. I feel like I have taken a class. Like I just attended an education seminar on old diamond cuts. I feel EDUCATED. Thanks again Lots to think about, and see, and try on, and dream about and so on and so on ...

Surfgirl......you have a spectacular transitional cut. Do you ever get tired of hearing that? NOT! as it should be...