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Old cut bargain find!

MomInstyle

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
164
Hi all,
Yesterday I took home this old cut in 18kt WG setting. I really don’t know the carat weight. I measured it as 7mm. I don’t have time to take it to the jeweler or appraiser as I am packing and heading out for vacation tonight. I am just overexcited so I snap a quick pic. The Ring is eye clean and reasonable white.... not too warm. I notice that culet is not centered and one side is not chipped but I feel some roughness. I spent $1000 for the ring so far. Would it be worthwhile for me to recut? Is that normal for old cut to be off centered? Would more center culet improve performance?

F90B79CD-B906-4FB9-B132-9AFCC63548B7.jpeg 7A433E7B-DC67-43DE-88BF-DB863066E1D3.jpeg
 
I think if its 7mm it's at least a carat right? looks beautiful as far as I can tell! What a great bargain!
 
Wow, what a great find! Being an older cut it might be cut a little deep and could be closer to 1.5cts! That is a great price, can't wait for some better photos!
 
What a great find! My guess, although I think we would need more close up pics to tell, is that it once was a larger, chipped stone that was recut. I have seen something similar once in a cushion cut stone and the seller told me it har been cut to remove a damaged corner. It looked really wonky but still gorgeous. The seller wanted 4500 usd for it though, which felt a tad extreme for wonky 0.7 ct imho. Not sure if it is possible to recut without loosing a lot of weight.
 
Definitely a great find! $1k for a 7mm...I would have snatched that up too!

It would really need to be evaluated by someone who cuts old stones to see if it is worthy of a recut and how much weight/size you might lose.
 
What a great score - it looks pretty even with the off centre culet
 
That's a beautiful bargain! If the off-center culet is going to bug you every time you look at it, then a recut could be worthwhile.
 
For me there is a tremendous difference between re-cutting some dark, sad, steep-deep ‘excellent’ that came from a weight-focused factory and re-cutting something fashioned in a previous era, at a time when lighting was different. I am happy to see today’s sad, weight-focused ducklings transformed into the beautiful sparkling swan they could be. But looking at the bright, chunky, charming facets in your photo my first instinct is to leave it just as it is.

There is no doubt a story to that old stone, which may have started with someone polishing away under gas lamps, trying to maximize the reflections and refractions of that open flame. That is the reason we use the term ‘fire’ even today. It speaks to the motivations of the old cutters working on those antique style stones. Thank you for sharing those beautiful photos.

Wink
 
There is no doubt a story to that old stone, which may have started with someone polishing away under gas lamps, trying to maximize the reflections and refractions of that open flame. That is the reason we use the term ‘fire’ even today. It speaks to the motivations of the old cutters working on those antique style stones.
Wink

What an eloquent way to put it. This is exactly why I love old stones and I don't care if they're not perfectly symmetrical. I respect that it's not for everyone, but it's awesome when someone else feels the same way! =)2
 
I think if its 7mm it's at least a carat right? looks beautiful as far as I can tell! What a great bargain!

Thanks! I think it’s more than 1ct.
 
Wow, what a great find! Being an older cut it might be cut a little deep and could be closer to 1.5cts! That is a great price, can't wait for some better photos!

My digital caliber is out of battery. I agree it may be closer to 1.5ct. I have 1.65ct transitional cut and its 7.6mm. When I get back from trip, I will definitely get more pics.
 
Congrats on your find, that's a real beaut!
 
That's a beautiful bargain! If the off-center culet is going to bug you every time you look at it, then a recut could be worthwhile.
It does not bother that it’s off-center. I think it’s unique. I am exploring future options....
 
Gorgeous, and what a deal! Do you have more pictures from different angles? It almost appears asks if the diamond (or entire head) is tipped to the left in your pictures (?). I wonder if that is exaggerating the asymmetry.

I have a wonky old cut diamond ring, and I love it. Lots of personality. :)
 
Amazing find! It’s beautiful and I think you did fantastic @MomInstyle! Definitely post more photos; would love to see the beauty from different perspectives.
 
For me there is a tremendous difference between re-cutting some dark, sad, steep-deep ‘excellent’ that came from a weight-focused factory and re-cutting something fashioned in a previous era, at a time when lighting was different. I am happy to see today’s sad, weight-focused ducklings transformed into the beautiful sparkling swan they could be. But looking at the bright, chunky, charming facets in your photo my first instinct is to leave it just as it is.

There is no doubt a story to that old stone, which may have started with someone polishing away under gas lamps, trying to maximize the reflections and refractions of that open flame. That is the reason we use the term ‘fire’ even today. It speaks to the motivations of the old cutters working on those antique style stones. Thank you for sharing those beautiful photos.

Wink

Thank you for your articulated comment! The like the way as is with wonky shape, not evenly round or quite cushion. I will just resizing to fit my finger. I will inspect the girdle closer and if it needs to polish.
 
Gorgeous, and what a deal! Do you have more pictures from different angles? It almost appears asks if the diamond (or entire head) is tipped to the left in your pictures (?). I wonder if that is exaggerating the asymmetry.

I have a wonky old cut diamond ring, and I love it. Lots of personality. :)

Thanks! My dh took to the safe deposit box when he went to get other pieces for traveling. I didn’t think of it, I should have taken that ring with me and take pics and confer with you all during my down time. I will get more pics next week.

Yes, it appears that one side of the stone larger than other side. I don’t know if the spaces between the head distribute out evenly. The ring is too big for my finger so it makes its look more tilted.
 
I like it in all its wonkiness :))

I would call it 'character' :D
 
Thank you for your articulated comment! The like the way as is with wonky shape, not evenly round or quite cushion. I will just resizing to fit my finger. I will inspect the girdle closer and if it needs to polish.

As a younger jeweler many years ago I used to have many people bring in their recently inherited diamonds for recutting. When the diamonds were dull, lifeless lumps of crystallized carbon, it was an honor and a joy to help them. Some, however, were sparkly treasures with large sheets of fire and large flashes of white.

Those I always showed side by side with a well cut round. This is what we can end up with, but please understand that many love this older style of comparatively HUGE flashes of white and colored light. I was always pleasantly surprised at how many kept the original old Euro.

Congratulations on your choice!

Wink
 
Wow I love it. I'm with wink and others. Leave the stone as is, size the ring tin tillfit you ... or sell it to one of the old cut lovers!!
 
4FFA726D-90DE-47DF-A228-FD9362570704.jpeg

Is the 30x loupe close up with iPhone.
 
IMG_6586.JPG Wow! The light play on that stone. Incredible and wonky and so so white and clear. How special! Love it.

Maybe it's the camera, but maybe have a jeweler check out all those prongs. One seems off the edge.
 
If it helps, my 7mm OEC weighs in at 1.47ct (IIRC). I think you found one heckuva deal and I'd leave it as-is and appreciate it's charm & character. :love:

ETA: If the wonkiness bothers you, maybe set it for a pendant? That's a huge diamond for the price paid.
 
I love it for all it's beauty and charm. I think if it was mine I would get the girdle re-polished as from the pics it looks like it has some chips. That would improve the light performance and help protect the stone from further damage. It should not result in very much weight loss.
 
Amazing find! I kinda like it the way it is, but I would definitely get the prongs checked out...it looks like it might have had fishtail prongs at some point, but they were out/off...which might explain some of the roughness in the girdle.
 
I just dropped my ring as well as 3 others at my jeweler. Today somehow I managed to lost one on melee on the side. It needs some works: two girdles chip that needs repoloshing, prongs need to retip, one melee needs replace, and size down sz5 which 1 size more my actual size. I notice my finger swell up during summer and golf season.

I ask the jeweler to weigh the stone when he unmounts the stone.
 
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