single cut stones

[solange]

I collect vintage covered watches and was recently offered a vintage watch from the 1940''s with about 50 single cut G color diamonds totalling about 1.4 carats. The price is right and the watch is very attractive and would add to my collection.
I know single cut stones have fewer facetss but with stones of this size. set deep, would they look dead or unattractive if I wear it with a ring with a full cut large stone that is cut well? Would these stones look very dull because of the fewer facets? The watch looks nice to me but I wonder if single cut stones pick up light and fire in the same way.

 

[chrono]

I recall reading here on PS that for smaller stones (melee size), it is better to get single cut stones as they sparkle quite a bit; very comparable to full cut melees. It could have been one of those Leon Mege threads this year.

 

[solange]

What size is considered melee?

 

[chrono]

Found it! According to Bob @ WF, melees are diamonds from 0.0025ct to 0.22cts. Here''s the thread:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bob%E2%80%99s-flashes-%E2%80%93-decorating-with-melee-diamonds.7149/

 

[njc]

My wedding band has single cut stones smaller than 1 point from my grandmothers ering from about the 1930''s. I love them and think they have just the right amount of sparkle. Its not the same kind of sparkle my RB has, but it is beautiful in its own way. They can go "dead" when held at just the right angle... with fewer facets, at certain angles you can see straight through to the metal. You may want to take a look at some before you really decide... they may not be for you.

These are some good pics next to my RB...

 

[mrssalvo]

Leon Mege wrote an article on micropave and talks about why he prefers single cut stones in this article

 

[JohnQuixote]

Single cuts have a different character. In general you'll see larger flashes of light, but less of the scintillating quality typically associated with a brilliant. The appeal depends on personal taste, size/configuration of the diamonds and, as always, the lighting environment in which the piece is viewed.

If it helps, here are basic models of brilliant vs single cut (also known as an eight cut, since it's blocked in eight and not in sixteen).

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 6/27/2006 12:14:12 PM
Author: Chrono

Found it! According to Bob @ WF, melees are diamonds from 0.0025ct to 0.22cts. Here's the thread:https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bob’s-flashes-–-decorating-with-melee-diamonds.7149/

Right. Of course, what constitutes melee depends on who you talk to. You may hear 0.8 and down, 0.15 and down or 0.33 and down as well as the 0.22 or 0.25 interp.

Edited to add: Fire & Ice, if you read this I have an answer for your question from 3 years ago inhttps://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bob’s-flashes-–-decorating-with-melee-diamonds.7149/Your Gemlock band is bar and prong set. I can't bump that thread so please forgive the off-topic here - and the laaate reply

(thank you for the link, Chrono).

Date: 6/27/2006 12:22:02 PM
Author: njc

My wedding band has single cut stones smaller than 1 point from my grandmothers ering from about the 1930's. I love them and think they have just the right amount of sparkle. Its not the same kind of sparkle my RB has, but it is beautiful in its own way. They can go 'dead' when held at just the right angle... with fewer facets, at certain angles you can see straight through to the metal. You may want to take a look at some before you really decide... they may not be for you.

This is a great observer summary.