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Source for melee and differenc between single and double cuts

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esumsea

Shiny_Rock
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Hello again everyone!
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I have yet another question. I need to find a source for melee diamonds. I have been getting a wide range of prices for these. I am looking for 1.5 mm(1 point) and 2.0 mm (3 point) mm stones for my setting. I want them to be ex to ideal cut, d-f in color and vs2 in clarity (unless you guys advise otherwise for some reason). Does anyone know a good sources for these (good means cheap). Whiteflash, apparently, does not sell their H&A melee anymore.

Also, I have a question on the differences between double cut and single cut melee. What is the difference between them?

A designer told me that when you are going 2mm and under single cut is the better way to go because you get bigger flashes of light and the double cut will look dead. What is your opinion on that?

Lastly, I have gotten quotes for H,I,J single cut melee for $750 a carat and for D-F single cut melee it would jump to $1500 a carat. This seems a little high, is this a good price (remember my qualification for good
emwink.gif
)?

I bought a D, VS1, VG,VG (though it should be Ex,Ex) emerald cut for my center stone. I think I should go with sidestones that are at least an F, even if they are small melee. What do you think.

Any opinions,suggestions, comments, criticisms, information etc are welcome, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

Let me know.

Kind Regards,
Mario
 
Date: 11/14/2007 4:10:34 PM
Author:esumsea
Hello again everyone!
35.gif


I have yet another question. I need to find a source for melee diamonds. I have been getting a wide range of prices for these. I am looking for 1.5 mm(1 point) and 2.0 mm (3 point) mm stones for my setting. I want them to be ex to ideal cut, d-f in color and vs2 in clarity (unless you guys advise otherwise for some reason). Does anyone know a good sources for these (good means cheap). Whiteflash, apparently, does not sell their H&A melee anymore.
Have your jeweller who is setting your ring source them. Melees are not cost effective for vendors to sell to the public. Vendors like Wink, GOG and WF will use ideal cut melees in their settings if you go with them.

Also, I have a question on the differences between double cut and single cut melee. What is the difference between them?
Single cut has less facets (1/2 the # of facets) than the double cut. Double cut is the normal RB faceting that we see today in RB solitaires.

A designer told me that when you are going 2mm and under single cut is the better way to go because you get bigger flashes of light and the double cut will look dead. What is your opinion on that?
I, too, prefer single cut for melees because you get larger flashes. However, I would not say that the double cut melees look dead. It would look very "busy" for a small stone.

Lastly, I have gotten quotes for H,I,J single cut melee for $750 a carat and for D-F single cut melee it would jump to $1500 a carat. This seems a little high, is this a good price (remember my qualification for good
emwink.gif
)?

I bought a D, VS1, VG,VG (though it should be Ex,Ex) emerald cut for my center stone. I think I should go with sidestones that are at least an F, even if they are small melee. What do you think.
It''s been a while so I''m not sure what is the going prices for melees. Since the stones are so tiny, the colour and clarity are very difficult to gauge in person. You can easily get away with H SI1 melees. Yes, even with your center EC D VS1.

Any opinions,suggestions, comments, criticisms, information etc are welcome, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

Let me know.

Kind Regards,
Mario
 
Date: 11/14/2007 4:22:39 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 11/14/2007 4:10:34 PM
Author:esumsea
Hello again everyone!
35.gif


I have yet another question. I need to find a source for melee diamonds. I have been getting a wide range of prices for these. I am looking for 1.5 mm(1 point) and 2.0 mm (3 point) mm stones for my setting. I want them to be ex to ideal cut, d-f in color and vs2 in clarity (unless you guys advise otherwise for some reason). Does anyone know a good sources for these (good means cheap). Whiteflash, apparently, does not sell their H&A melee anymore.
Have your jeweller who is setting your ring source them. Melees are not cost effective for vendors to sell to the public. Vendors like Wink, GOG and WF will use ideal cut melees in their settings if you go with them.

Also, I have a question on the differences between double cut and single cut melee. What is the difference between them?
Single cut has less facets (1/2 the # of facets) than the double cut. Double cut is the normal RB faceting that we see today in RB solitaires.
Single cuts are 8 fold rounds (16-17 facets) (with out brillianteering), double cut is not the name..., its full-cuts (57-57 facets)!

A designer told me that when you are going 2mm and under single cut is the better way to go because you get bigger flashes of light and the double cut will look dead. What is your opinion on that?
I, too, prefer single cut for melees because you get larger flashes. However, I would not say that the double cut melees look dead. It would look very ''busy'' for a small stone.

Lastly, I have gotten quotes for H,I,J single cut melee for $750 a carat and for D-F single cut melee it would jump to $1500 a carat. This seems a little high, is this a good price (remember my qualification for good
emwink.gif
)?

I bought a D, VS1, VG,VG (though it should be Ex,Ex) emerald cut for my center stone. I think I should go with sidestones that are at least an F, even if they are small melee. What do you think.
It''s been a while so I''m not sure what is the going prices for melees. Since the stones are so tiny, the colour and clarity are very difficult to gauge in person. You can easily get away with H SI1 melees. Yes, even with your center EC D VS1.

Any opinions,suggestions, comments, criticisms, information etc are welcome, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

Let me know.

Kind Regards,
Mario
 
Thank you for the correction DiaGem. I have never heard the term double cut but automatically assumed it as the normal full cut.
 
Thanks guys. Sorry for the terminology mistake. I am going to see if I can find some examples on line and then post them here.
 
I personally think you should go as white as possible. Even though they are tiny, they still end up being a sea of sparkly diamond. I think they look fabulous in a really white shade. And in your case, the centre diamond can handle the white surrounds. I would only go lower in meele colour if I had a low coloured centre, so as not to show it up as coloured.
 
Date: 11/14/2007 7:05:33 PM
Author: JohnQuixote
We''ve cut single and full. They''re both wonderful when well-cut. The biggest difference in overall performance is always cut quality.
I, too, am becoming quite intrigued by these single cut melee; although I have never seen them in person (that I know of).

John, I''m assuming single cut melee do not exhibit H&A? And when WF cuts single cut melee, are they still called ACA?

Thanks!

Lynn
 
Date: 11/14/2007 7:33:47 PM
Author: Lynn B

I, too, am becoming quite intrigued by these single cut melee; although I have never seen them in person (that I know of).

John, I'm assuming single cut melee do not exhibit H&A? And when WF cuts single cut melee, are they still called ACA?

Thanks!

Lynn
You may have seen them Lynn, but most diamonds are not as optimized for performance as what you expect from your own jewelry. Cut quality, size/configuration and lighting all influence what you see. In older singles, especially, there is more ability to see 'through' the diamonds to the metal - but when well-done they are brilliant.

ACA melee is all full cut at the present time. As for "H&A," the reflection pattern is simple in a 17-18 facet stone so the patterning is different. Here are wire frames of single and full cuts, and simulations of what you would see in a H&A viewer.

single-full.jpg
 

Here are simulations of diamonds during the cutting process as they''d be seen through a regular Hearts & Arrows Viewer (if cut with perfect optical symmetry). The leftmost photos show the diamond blocked in 8. The center pair shows the pavilion fully cut, with crown still in 8. The pair on the right show the fully formed Hearts & Arrows when pavilion and crown have both been finished.



ha-formation.jpg
 
Thank you, sir John! How interesting!
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Last question, please... when a custom design job will utilize melee stones, is it becoming customary to ask which type of melee is preferred?

Thank you!
 
Date: 11/14/2007 8:21:39 PM
Author: Lynn B
Thank you, sir John! How interesting!
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Last question, please... when a custom design job will utilize melee stones, is it becoming customary to ask which type of melee is preferred?

Thank you!
No ma'am. We're only doing full cut at present.
 
Ohhh- I wish someone had a picture of actual piece of jewelry with the WF melee compared to just regular stuff. curious how much better it looks for the h&A melee...
 
Date: 11/14/2007 8:23:29 PM
Author: JohnQuixote

No ma''am. We''re only doing full cut at present.
And a thing of beauty they are indeed, sir!
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Signed,
A girl who knows!
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Date: 11/14/2007 8:26:56 PM
Author: Green with Envy
Ohhh- I wish someone had a picture of actual piece of jewelry with the WF melee compared to just regular stuff. curious how much better it looks for the h&A melee...

Well, like I said above... I don''t know if I''ve ever seen single cut melee... although I would LOVE to! But I can certainly vouch for WF''s ACA full cut melee... I have them in my e-ring and w-ring, and they are divine. Such TINY little beauties... less than 2 pointers, but sooo unbelievably sparkly, and OH, those perfect little arrows... swoon-worthy, for sure!

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So, while I have never had a chance to compare them to well-cut single cut melee, I have compared them to other melee... and just about every other melee stone I''ve ever seen IRL has pretty much looked like a dead little chippy. And THAT doesn''t do a THING for me!

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I have vintage single cuts in my wband...I love them. They''re not the highest quality stones, but they''re vintage and they go with my ering and I love that they''re old so...I see a lot of vintage single cuts and I''ve heard that high end watched like Rolex use high quality single cuts for their diamond face embellishments, though I''m not sure how true that is...
 
Man I wish I could get the Whiteflash melee a la carte but they only sell them in their settings.
 
I have single cut melee in one of my antique rings. The difference is very apparent even at a quick glance. Definitely larger flash because it has less but larger facets. My signed pieces melee (full cut) aren''t perfect H&A but they are definitely ideal cut. My band looks like a line of sparkle, so I would gladly take well cut melee and not necessarily go for H&A melees.
 
Date: 11/15/2007 1:05:05 PM
Author: Chrono
I have single cut melee in one of my antique rings. The difference is very apparent even at a quick glance. Definitely larger flash because it has less but larger facets. My signed pieces melee (full cut) aren't perfect H&A but they are definitely ideal cut. My band looks like a line of sparkle, so I would gladly take well cut melee and not necessarily go for H&A melees.

i agree, in diamonds that small the difference really will not be noticable. I think Mara once said she couldn't tell a difference b/t her e-ring which has ideal cut melee, 3 pointers i think and her WF wedding band H&A melee which is 2 pointers and she wears them next to each other.

don't know if it's still the case, but Wink Jones used to sell h&a melee in small lots...
 
When you have a custom piece made... how can you be sure about the quality of the melee? If you are supplying your own center stone... should you also provide your own melee? i thought it was most common and economical to have the jeweler supply... but I am sure not everyone has access to great cuts like the WF ones!
 
So, does anyone know where I can find single cut melee? I am having a tough time.
 
Date: 11/16/2007 2:50:12 AM
Author: esumsea
So, does anyone know where I can find single cut melee? I am having a tough time.
have your benchman/designer source them.
They are out there.

personally in 1 and 2 and even 3 pointers I wouldn''t likely go with anything but single cuts.
I saw another piece with them a few weeks ago and they rocked even more than I remembered.
 
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