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Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 13, 2012
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14
I posted here a couple of days ago. My GF loves the antique cut stones and is fine with the antique style stones; though she really likes the character real antique stones possess. After contacting Adam from OWD, Grace from JBEG, Perry Chen, and GOG, I’ve come up with four stones (shown later). However, I am also open to any stone suggestions. My budget is “only” $7,000 for the entire ring (about $5,500 towards the stone and $1,500 towards the setting) Here is what I am searching for and TIA; your help and knowledge is greatly appreciated:

Carat weight – around 1-1.25 with nice spread
Size – as close to 7mm would be divine
Color – no lower than L – faces up white
Clarity – “eye clean”; down to SI2
Maybe chunky flashes – it’s what appeals to her on videos
Preferably certified
Budget: $5,500 for stone

Now for the stones that have caught my eye:

1. OEC - GIA 1.15ct L VS2 (6.96*6.78*4.07)
http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=1857&SHAPE=EU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icWmWRILau0&feature=youtu.be
Adam said that he can polish out the "nicks" on the outline of the stone without losing carat weight or compromising the integrity of the stone and that the girdle should not be problematic if set in a prong setting. The darkness in the stone in the video is due to lighting; it is white and bright in person.

2. Antique cushion - AGS 1.286ct J VS2 (6.99*6.68*3.71)
Depth: 55.4 Table:53.5 Polish: Good Symmetry: Fair Girdle: tn to vtn Culet: v.large
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGpeZQ-Zd9c&feature=youtu.be

3. OEC – EGL 1.28ct K SI2 (6.93*6.44*4.48)
http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/128-Old-European-Cut-Diamond/23083579_QkqZkq#!i=1872993026&k=GPCZ6vx
This stone is very fiery and flashes so many delicious colors. Grace assures me that it is a beautiful stone and shows no darkness in real life; it is some head obstruction. Is that bad?

4. August Vintage Round – AGS 1.04ct K SI2 (6.46*6.45*4.00)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9002/
The only antique style stone of the bunch and smaller spread

Please help! I didn’t realize how much information there was about diamonds until I started looking for her “perfect” diamond. Thank you so much for your time; you all help so many people find their dream rings ☺
 
*bump* - anyone please able to help? Please and thank you. Your advice would be greatly appreciated =)
 
One last attempt to *bump* with the hopes that an old cut expert will weight in. Thanks again in advance.
 
If it were my purchase, I would go with number 1. It has a very good spread and I love the faceting! :love:

Number 2 concerns me because it is shallow.

Number 3 is a good option as well, though the head obstruction could be a problem. I don't know too much about it, but I am sure some other experts will chime in on that.

Number 4 is beautiful, but I personally lean towards true antique cuts-plus it has a smaller spread.
 
I like #1 and #3.. at least my eyes like those best... it would be a toss up...
 
I like the first one best. I do like the AVR's tho, so it's hard, but the first one is bigger. The LM one I can't really see head on. I'd vote #1.
 
Even though the video is head on, I think you'll be pleased as punch with #2. I'd definitely ask for more head on pics.

The JbEG stone is a stunner too.

Those are my choices :D
 
Thank you very much for your responses. There are so many beautiful stones, I find it difficult to make a decision. The JBEG diamond is so fiery, but I'm afraid the obstruction will bother me. #1 really is beautiful in person, at least to my eyes. Though it was the first time that I've seen antique stones in person, so almost everything was stunning :love:. As for #2, I'll ask for some head-on pictures. Thanks, again!
 
ADORE that OED stone, love that style of OEC, just great.

I hate obstruction and would not choose that JBEG stone for an e-ring.

Cushion is fine, perry picks good ones, they all look fairly similar. Is he saying its a true antique? Looks more like the modern repros that are common to Perry and ERD.

The AVR is nice of course. Depends what you are after.
 
Dreamer_D|1341036463|3226411 said:
ADORE that OED stone, love that style of OEC, just great.

I hate obstruction and would not choose that JBEG stone for an e-ring.
Click to expand...

I agree. I would pick the OED stone. It's 7mm, a fabulous size and really a lovely cut to boot!
 
Thank you Dreamer_D and Gypsy for responding. PriceScope is making me more comfortable and confident to pull the trigger on this purchase; I've never bought a diamond before (let alone an antique cut) and this is a pretty big purchase for me. PriceScope and PriceScopers, especially the experts, provide such a service providing knowledge and resources to diamond newbies, like me =).

Dreamer: Yes, Perry has identified this as a true antique cushion
 
A lot would depend on how you're setting it, but I think #2 is absolutely gorgeous (and J VS2 is higher than the others)! :love: But I can see it enhanced in size by a halo setting, and good ones are pricey. #1 is pretty but I am not sure how I'd feel about L color. #4 an AVR will be gorgeous but I am also not sure about the color. I do not like #3.
 
Hi diamondseeker! Thanks for responding. My GF actually loves the look of the rose gold Tacori 2620, the one with the “blooming” halo (I think that’s how she described it). The color of #1 doesn’t worry me too much. She saw this stone in person and said that it did show a little warmth (though she liked that) and Adam also mentioned that it faced up whiter than the graded color. I think we’ve decided against the AVR; it’s a beautiful stone, but she says that there’s just something extra (personality or character, maybe?) in the true antique diamonds she’s seen.

As for #2, we are actually headed out today to look at cushions. This is more to decide whether she prefers the cushion shape to the round, or vise versa. Thanks again.

ETA: She's also in love with Haven's ring. Once I've got the diamond, I know settings will be a while other process =)
 
I like stones 1 & 2. I guess it just depends on whether or not she prefers a cushion or a round...
 
After going to look at diamond shapes, it turns out that both she and I prefer the cushion shape over the round shape. I didn't want to start a new thread, though I did want a couple more opinions on stone #2. I contacted Perry and asked for a few pictures of the diamond. I also mentioned the concern about the depth of the diamond; he responded "If you judge the depth by number it might look to shallow, but the diamond has plenty of life which is why we bought it last year and had it certified." He does not seem the least bit concerned with its performance. I also asked him if he noted any light leakage or darkness, and he again said that the diamond has "plenty of life". I'm not totally sure if that means that I shouldn't worry about it, or if he is trying to avoid answering my question directly. Many on this site have mentioned that Perry finds really beautiful stones, so since he is the expert, maybe I should just take his word for it. I am finding it somewhat difficult to purchase a diamond that I haven't seen and would love your opinions. The ratio of this cushion in 1.05.

Given my criteria, if you were to buy a cushion diamond would you proceed with this diamond? Or do you have a suggestion to another stone? TIA again.
http://youtu.be/sGpeZQ-Zd9c - here is the video again
cushion_1.jpg
cushion_1_0.jpg
1_9.jpg

ETA the video, along with the pictures
 
Ugh, I loved it in the video, but it looks a little wonky in the pictures and I do not like it as well. Have you contacted Perry Chen? He can source cushions, Mark at Engagement Rings Direct may have one, and of course, Good Old Gold has August Vintage Cushions.

I'll tell you, though, you are losing some spread going with cushions. And it might matter with this size stone unless you do a halo.
 
Because you are still asking for advice and have not purchased yet, I will be direct - I don't like that cushion from Perry at all. It's wonky, and not in an endearing way. Plus I find the culet too large for my tastes.

Have you asked Adam at OWD about cushions instead of OECs? Is there anything he's come up with? My newest stone was from him, an antique cushion, and it's brilliant. I can't imagine that Adam wouldn't be able to source something right for you. Of all the vendors named in this thread (all the same people I checked with in the pursuit for my stone as well), I felt as if Adam had the largest, most frequently changing inventory from which to pull stones.

Honestly though, I do not like that stone. You can find much better on your budget. :))
 
NO. I do not like that last cushion AT ALL.

I gotta tell you, that first stone from OWD would still be my choice.
 
Thank you so much for all your answers. I, too, loved it in the video, but when I received those pictures, it kind of threw me off. I couldn't really tell what it was, it just didn't look right. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't "feel" right when I saw it. I thought it may have just been me.

This is the diamond that Perry found for me when I contacted him. I'm still waiting to hear back from Adam regarding cushions; his OEC really is beautiful. It's the one diamond that my GF saw in person. I've also contacted ERD and GOG and am waiting to hear back from them.

So the search continues. Thank you again.
 
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