Christina...
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2011
- Messages
- 5,028
Ok, so initially I wasn't going to post a thread in SMTB for a couple of different reasons. 1. I wasn't sure that I was going to keep it and 2. because even if I did decide to keep it I was going to reset it and figured I'd just wait until then. However, since I have decided to keep it and because I'm embarking on a journey with Mike at RDG later this fall, I thought that it would be nice to post some pics and have something to compare with my upcoming reset.
Some of you may remember my 1.01ct asscher. I loved the diamond, but it never seemed to 'fit' my finger. I knew when I purchased it that it would face up smaller than many other cuts but I thought that uniqueness of the stone would out weigh size decrease. Slowly though I became dissatisfied and began thinking about upgrading. I tried on a bunch of sizes and really liked how a 7mm looked on my hand, but that translated to a 2ct asscher and out of our budget if I also wanted to work with Mike on the setting. I was also having a difficult time finding a setting that I loved that would fit an asscher, it seemed that every time I found one that I adored, it was made for an RB. So, after lots of thought I began to look for a round stone that would give me the finger coverage that I was looking for and also leave enough in the budget for a custom setting.
One of things that I loved about my asscher was the big bold flashes of color. I knew obviously that a RB would perform differently than a step cut, but I knew that if I was going to be happy with an RB that it would have to have lots of fire. So I began searching for a stone with a high crown and small table, but this proved harder than I had thought. I finally found a diamond that I was really interested in, however it was a GIA VG good. I really thought that the combination of angles could work though, but was still reluctant to move forward though without posting and asking for some 'expert' advice. So I started a new thread and was happy that DD, Yssie and Dancing Fire all pitched in and offered me their opinions. Based on their advice I decided to take a chance and order the stone. I want to be very clear here, that this was not an undertaking that I would have felt comfortable with without the guidance of some very knowledgeable and respected PS members. I personally feel that cut quality is the most important factor in a beautiful diamond and that GIA's Excellent range is quite broad, however, if someone where to be looking for a particular type cut, it may make sense to move outside of that cut grade. It happens that my particular stone didn't qualify for GIA's excellent cut grade but that it is however an AGS excellent candidate (assuming that it would be knocked for vg polish/symetry). I'm considering having it sent to AGS for grading but haven't yet investigated it to see if it's a viable option.
So, I took a chance and ordered the diamond. When I first opened the box and slid the diamond on my hand, I was beyond thrilled! I loved the way it fit my hand, it felt like putting on a favorite pair of old jeans...it just fit! But as the day wore on, I started to notice a really strange 'hole' was how I described it, in the center of my diamond at certain tilt angles and lighting environments. I began to panic thinking that it was light leakage that hadn't shown in the IS. I thought that this is what happens when you buy a VG cut instead of EX. I took photos and started yet another thread, but was quickly relieved when it was determined to be table reflection and not leakage. In the back of my mind that I couldn't get passed the report and the cut of the stone. I kept thinking that there was something wrong with my diamond, it didn't behave the way my asscher did and though I didn't expect to,but I didn't really expect it to behave quite as it was either. I should mention that this was my first large RB, I had only owned fancy cuts previously and other than under the magical jewelry store lighting I had never seen a well cut RB before. I started thinking that I had made a really big mistake, and on top of all this, I was questioning the color as well. My asscher was an I and I had always heard that RBs hid body color better than other cuts, so I had assumed that a J RB would be similar to an I asscher, but each time I had my new RB outside it seemed yellow or gray to me. Needless to say, I was not loving my new diamond...
And then the sun came out!! After almost 10 days of rain the sun came out something caught the corner of my eye and when I looked down at my ring, it was a disco ball of fire! And white! I had never seen anything like it before, it was incredible, I had to stop what I was doing and just play with it. I'm sure people thought I was crazy, but I couldn't believe that my ring had finally woken up and it was so exciting!
So, I learned a couple of things, first, I should never had tried to determine it's color on a sunny day under a tree, or outside on a gloomy rainy day. 2. RB's reflect much much differently than a step cut does. 3. I believe that each diamond has its own unique personality and while you may not like the person you met at work the other day, if you give them a chance to make another impression, you may find that they become your best friend. and 4. PSers know more than me!! Trust them!
So, I want to say a big thank you to Yssie, Dreamer and Dancing FIre for understanding what I was looking for and encouraging me to take a chance on this diamond. It took a couple of weeks, but I'm very happy that I listened.
I'll shut up now and just show you some pics.
edit: oops! I forgot specs!
1.21 GIA VG/VG/VG
J SI2
55/62.2/36/40.5
HCA .9
Some of you may remember my 1.01ct asscher. I loved the diamond, but it never seemed to 'fit' my finger. I knew when I purchased it that it would face up smaller than many other cuts but I thought that uniqueness of the stone would out weigh size decrease. Slowly though I became dissatisfied and began thinking about upgrading. I tried on a bunch of sizes and really liked how a 7mm looked on my hand, but that translated to a 2ct asscher and out of our budget if I also wanted to work with Mike on the setting. I was also having a difficult time finding a setting that I loved that would fit an asscher, it seemed that every time I found one that I adored, it was made for an RB. So, after lots of thought I began to look for a round stone that would give me the finger coverage that I was looking for and also leave enough in the budget for a custom setting.
One of things that I loved about my asscher was the big bold flashes of color. I knew obviously that a RB would perform differently than a step cut, but I knew that if I was going to be happy with an RB that it would have to have lots of fire. So I began searching for a stone with a high crown and small table, but this proved harder than I had thought. I finally found a diamond that I was really interested in, however it was a GIA VG good. I really thought that the combination of angles could work though, but was still reluctant to move forward though without posting and asking for some 'expert' advice. So I started a new thread and was happy that DD, Yssie and Dancing Fire all pitched in and offered me their opinions. Based on their advice I decided to take a chance and order the stone. I want to be very clear here, that this was not an undertaking that I would have felt comfortable with without the guidance of some very knowledgeable and respected PS members. I personally feel that cut quality is the most important factor in a beautiful diamond and that GIA's Excellent range is quite broad, however, if someone where to be looking for a particular type cut, it may make sense to move outside of that cut grade. It happens that my particular stone didn't qualify for GIA's excellent cut grade but that it is however an AGS excellent candidate (assuming that it would be knocked for vg polish/symetry). I'm considering having it sent to AGS for grading but haven't yet investigated it to see if it's a viable option.
So, I took a chance and ordered the diamond. When I first opened the box and slid the diamond on my hand, I was beyond thrilled! I loved the way it fit my hand, it felt like putting on a favorite pair of old jeans...it just fit! But as the day wore on, I started to notice a really strange 'hole' was how I described it, in the center of my diamond at certain tilt angles and lighting environments. I began to panic thinking that it was light leakage that hadn't shown in the IS. I thought that this is what happens when you buy a VG cut instead of EX. I took photos and started yet another thread, but was quickly relieved when it was determined to be table reflection and not leakage. In the back of my mind that I couldn't get passed the report and the cut of the stone. I kept thinking that there was something wrong with my diamond, it didn't behave the way my asscher did and though I didn't expect to,but I didn't really expect it to behave quite as it was either. I should mention that this was my first large RB, I had only owned fancy cuts previously and other than under the magical jewelry store lighting I had never seen a well cut RB before. I started thinking that I had made a really big mistake, and on top of all this, I was questioning the color as well. My asscher was an I and I had always heard that RBs hid body color better than other cuts, so I had assumed that a J RB would be similar to an I asscher, but each time I had my new RB outside it seemed yellow or gray to me. Needless to say, I was not loving my new diamond...
And then the sun came out!! After almost 10 days of rain the sun came out something caught the corner of my eye and when I looked down at my ring, it was a disco ball of fire! And white! I had never seen anything like it before, it was incredible, I had to stop what I was doing and just play with it. I'm sure people thought I was crazy, but I couldn't believe that my ring had finally woken up and it was so exciting!
So, I learned a couple of things, first, I should never had tried to determine it's color on a sunny day under a tree, or outside on a gloomy rainy day. 2. RB's reflect much much differently than a step cut does. 3. I believe that each diamond has its own unique personality and while you may not like the person you met at work the other day, if you give them a chance to make another impression, you may find that they become your best friend. and 4. PSers know more than me!! Trust them!
So, I want to say a big thank you to Yssie, Dreamer and Dancing FIre for understanding what I was looking for and encouraging me to take a chance on this diamond. It took a couple of weeks, but I'm very happy that I listened.
I'll shut up now and just show you some pics.
edit: oops! I forgot specs!
1.21 GIA VG/VG/VG
J SI2
55/62.2/36/40.5
HCA .9
I agree though, I never think that anyone elses pics are too large. I like being able to see the details that make the design so unique and amazing. 
It took me a little longer than usual to fall in love with her, but now that I have, I'm ready to show the world! 
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