Table size and EC.

[shminbabe]

So I went to visit the EC that "started it all" for me at the local b & m today.

I have the info from the GIA cert, nothing more.

F VS1
2.28 ct.

8.73 x 6.92 x 4.28 - - 1.62

(it looks quite large!) Depth 61.8 %
Table 72 %
girdle - thin

crown height - don''t know.

(owner wasn''t there).

This is a pretty stone. I can see all the steps. It''s big. When I move it about it doesn''t flash as much color as I''d like and I keep seeing the reflection of the table, I know it''s the table. A large,flat surface!

I have nothing to compare it with of a similar size and I really don''t know much about ECs in person. I only saw one other EC that I loved, and that one, as I recall, really was alive with light flashes.

I keep stopping in this store to see if I still love ECs and if I want to pursue one. I do. Now this one seems large...larger, even than the gorgeous 2.50 ct "lively" one I saw (D: 67.2 / T: 65 %). Is it because of the huge table size??

Also I was surprised when I came home and plugged the dimensions into gemappraiser and saw the EC''s L/W is 1.62. It did not appear as "narrow" as I thought a stone of that ratio would be.

It''s a pretty stone...not too colorful when I flash it but you can really see the facets and it does have some color. I just don''t know how much color it''s supposed to flash. And noticing the table itself...should you notice the table reflection or not?

The price is good for a larger stone than the one I''m seeing at ERD (2.05 E VS1 for $23,500) v. (2.28 F VS1 for $22,500).

Will the price difference really be reflected in a livlier stone, a better cut?

Everything about the ERD stone appears great. That L/W ratio is 1.39. How much smaller will it face up, do you think? and with a smaller table, will that be less noticeable?

Ah, geesh. More to obsess over.

jeannie

 

[strmrdr]

not sure what answer you are looking for.
You have seen the large table vs small table (high crown vs low crown) effect yourself in person so you are the one that has too decide.
Which did you love?

 

[Hest88]

Shmin, it might just be me, but I''m having a hard time following your quest since you start new threads instead of adding to your original thread.

 

[shminbabe]

i guess i''m trying to sort out what the "numbers" mean v. what I am seeing with my eyes. since i haven''t seen very many ECs in person.

so, the table size, then, IS the crown height, i.e. large table means high crown?

i don''t know what i like more - i like one that flashes color and i guess i''m afraid that if i get this one it will not be as lively as one with a smaller table size as seems to be advised. am i right? wrong? or just confused.

it''s hard to compare ECs when most of them in the stores are under 1 ct (or just 1 ct) and I''m looking at 2 cts or so.

the polish/symm on the ERD stone is better, smaller table, etc. i guess i should buy it already and then compare it myself, maybe?

the other one i loved was just too pricey, that''s all. it was $28 ! heck, what i am planning to buy is too expensive, quite frankly. they all are.

thanks for trying with me, strmrdr. i just want to figure it all out.

the ERD pic is prettier with color than the stone in the store is. but that''s a picture.

jeannie

Date: 7/27/2007 6:43:36 PM
Author: strmrdr
not sure what answer you are looking for.
You have seen the large table vs small table (high crown vs low crown) effect yourself in person so you are the one that has too decide.
Which did you love?

 

[shminbabe]

Date: 7/27/2007 6:51:22 PM
Author: Hest88
Shmin, it might just be me, but I''m having a hard time following your quest since you start new threads instead of adding to your original thread.

Sorry about that. I just get different thoughts about these various stones and didn''t think i had to pull from my original thread and keep it revived with everyone having to scroll through the previous messages. i realize it''s kind of confusing. I''m confused!

shminbabe

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I *think* my EC has a table around 72% and I think it is a very lively stone. I personally love it and am not bothered by a large table. I think like Storm said you need to decide what YOU love in a stone. Your eyes are better than numbers in an EC. If you think it is a beauty than it is!

 

[strmrdr]

With very few exceptions:
small table == higher crown == more fire
large table == low crown == more glassy/classic looking.
Decide which you like classic or fiery and find one.

 

[shminbabe]

Date: 7/27/2007 8:22:47 PM
Author: strmrdr
With very few exceptions:
small table == higher crown == more fire
large table == low crown == more glassy/classic looking.
Decide which you like classic or fiery and find one.

Storm and Tacori,

you guys are right! i think i''m finally figuring it out. i went for my swim and visualized these stones and their tables, etc as i went up and down the pool. i finally get the ''crown'' thing, too. (duh). i really do like this stone in the b & m store. it''s the one that caught my eye in the first place. i do think it''s more on the glassy side for sure but those lines are beautiful and it''s a great big rock and beautiful and when i took it outside the store a few weeks ago it was pretty in the sunlight. today it was cloudy out so it didn''t throw any color. my problem is having not seen very many ECs so i''ve nothing to really compare it to. i am going to be in an area in a couple of weeks that will have some major jewelry stores so perhaps i can finally see some good ones. i might buy the one from ERD and then compare the two. i have to say i like the idea that this stone has a big appearance and it''s definitely classic and i think i could be happy with it. the ERD stone looks like it has good fire, though...

i do need to decide.

do you guys have a picture of your rings in the picture forum? i''d love to see your ECs and your settings!!

thanks!

jeannie

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am not the best at taking diamond pics but this gives you an idea. I have a thread with lots of photos of my ring on here somewhere.

My EC is 1.72 VS1 I

 

[shminbabe]

tacori,

it''s soooo pretty! i actually spent the last two hours (yes, TWO hours - eek!) scrolling thru pics on the ''show me your EC'' thread on the pics forum and saw yours! so very pretty and the blue really makes your stone POP. Love it!

Now where''s storm''s?!!

thanks

jeannie

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks! I do love my setting. I wish I could capture the sparkle of my EC. IRL it has lots of life & fire. I don''t think Storm owns a step cut. I am pretty sure his FI has RBs.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/28/2007 5:50:27 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Thanks! I do love my setting. I wish I could capture the sparkle of my EC. IRL it has lots of life & fire. I don''t think Storm owns a step cut. I am pretty sure his FI has RBs.

true dat,,, not yet anyway someday she is gonna have honkin asscher on her finger :}

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 7/28/2007 6:30:45 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 7/28/2007 5:50:27 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

Thanks! I do love my setting. I wish I could capture the sparkle of my EC. IRL it has lots of life & fire. I don''t think Storm owns a step cut. I am pretty sure his FI has RBs.

true dat,,, not yet anyway someday she is gonna have honkin asscher on her finger :}

I am sure it will be beautiful and worth the wait!

 

[shminbabe]

Okay, I''m (hopefully) attaching a picture of the diamond from the local b & m store. Stats are already reported on this thread.

I should explain that the stone is set so try to ignore the ring, which has a "halo" of micro pave just below the stone. Please tell me what you think. I have more I can share. I''ll have to see how/if this picture posts when I hit ''submit'', now.

jeannie

 

[shminbabe]

okay, it looks terrible after i resized this one. so, i''ll try another. hopefully you can see it well enough.

jeannie

 

[shminbabe]

Here is another shot.

Please tell me what you think!

jeannie

 

[Po10472]

It looks beautiful but the question is do you like it? Does it sparkle like crazy? My ECs are extremely sparkly and this is because they are cut extremely well and for me that''s the most important aspect of the diamond.

If you are still unsure about ECs why don''t you look for a more square type, like the asscher and see if that floats your boat.

 

[strmrdr]

It has really nice patterns.
Do you like the large table look?
If so that is a very nice one.

 

[Lorelei]

I like it too and it is BIG....

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/29/2007 2:02:13 AM
Author: shminbabe
Here is another shot.

Please tell me what you think!

jeannie

Shmin...,

Please take into account there are two "significant" visual options on E/C''s...
The one you posted has pavilion corners reaching the facet junction of the last (culet)step. (not reaching the culet itself...)
The other option is: pavilion corners reaching the culet itself.

Its a mater of taste, (my preference is the second one!!)
But do take it into consideration!

 

[Lady Lulu]

I think that stone (and the setting) are perfectly gorgeous.

To the naked eye, the symetry is very nice, the steps are even and well pronounced. It looks quite significant on your hand. If that stone is really speaking to you, you should get it. If you still have reservations and think you can find something superior online, then hold off.

If it is meant to be....it will be.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think it is a very pretty stone. Seems like you are in love with it and at the end of the day that is ALL that matters!

 

[shminbabe]

I do love this stone, actually. It''s the stone that pulled me away from the oval hunt and I keep going back to the store to visit it.

I didn''t know there was a difference in how the corners were cut, reaching the culet or not. I''m still pretty un-learned in the ways of the EC. I understand it''s personal preference as so much of this is...but why do you prefer the corners that reach the culet? How will that be visually different?

It IS speaking to me...I''m feeling more and more like I want it. Large table v. smaller table? Again, unlearned. I need to see a smaller tabled stone. Mark has one for me to see. Then I can compare. Whoever said "if it''s meant to be it will be" is right. I am leaving for two weeks and will not be able to do anything with regards to buying a diamond. So I think I''m feeling some of, ''gasp'', "what if it''s sold when I get back?" and am trying to let that go...I want to march in there tomorrow and buy it!

Still. I do want to see what Mark has for me. If I buy it here, there''s sales tax to consider too.

Also, the store here has a NO return policy. Store credit. Is that typical of local stores? I appreciate the return policy of the online vendors.

They do have an upgrade program. I don''t know the details though.

After looking at the pictures all weekend I feel like it''s "my" diamond already. I have to distance myself from that setting, too. It''s pretty but not what I want. I could get it tomorrow and have it set in a cheap solitaire band and wear it on my vacation! And shop around for setting ideas.

No, Jeannie. No. Wait.

It''s hard...

jeannie

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/27/2007 6:33:19 PM
Author:shminbabe

This is a pretty stone. I can see all the steps. It''s big. When I move it about it doesn''t flash as much color as I''d like and I keep seeing the reflection of the table, I know it''s the table. A large,flat surface!
The larger the table, the less fire/coloured light it has. That is trade off. It all depends on what you like. For me, I prefer more fire. I also don''t like too much table glare.

I have nothing to compare it with of a similar size and I really don''t know much about ECs in person. I only saw one other EC that I loved, and that one, as I recall, really was alive with light flashes.

I keep stopping in this store to see if I still love ECs and if I want to pursue one. I do. Now this one seems large...larger, even than the gorgeous 2.50 ct ''lively'' one I saw (D: 67.2 / T: 65 %). Is it because of the huge table size??
I''m thinking the large table seems to give it the appearance of looking larger.

It''s a pretty stone...not too colorful when I flash it but you can really see the facets and it does have some color. I just don''t know how much color it''s supposed to flash. And noticing the table itself...should you notice the table reflection or not?
There will always be table reflection; it is a matter of how often you see it. A smaller table (with a good high crown height) will give more fire and less table glare. A larger table with lower crown height will give off lots of table reflection and be mostly glassy or white looking.

Will the price difference really be reflected in a livlier stone, a better cut?
Yes.

Everything about the ERD stone appears great. That L/W ratio is 1.39. How much smaller will it face up, do you think? and with a smaller table, will that be less noticeable?
Face up size depends on the depth of the stone. If it is over 65%, it''ll look smaller than a stone under 65% depth. A large table % gives the impression of looking larger, but if you measure the dimensions, it really isn''t. The smaller table also helps with the deep look of the EC steps.

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/27/2007 6:51:22 PM
Author: Hest88
Shmin, it might just be me, but I''m having a hard time following your quest since you start new threads instead of adding to your original thread.

Agreed. I''m getting very confused and most of the time I don''t know which thread to reply to. There are so many on the same topics!

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/27/2007 7:05:00 PM
Author: shminbabe
so, the table size, then, IS the crown height, i.e. large table means high crown?
All the information is equally important.
What table size do YOU like? Most like a smaller table for more fire.
Table size has nothing to do with crown height. A large table can have either a high or low crown height.
A high crown height will give the stone enough angle to return FIRE to the eye.
A small table means less table glare.

i don''t know what i like more - i like one that flashes color and i guess i''m afraid that if i get this one it will not be as lively as one with a smaller table size as seems to be advised. am i right? wrong? or just confused.
That is your preference. I like more colour and fire, so I go for something with a smaller table and high crown = a lively stone. What do YOU like? There is no right or wrong. You just have to decide which look you prefer.

the polish/symm on the ERD stone is better, smaller table, etc. i guess i should buy it already and then compare it myself, maybe?
Yes. If all the numbers check out well, it may be worth it to see it in person and gauge if you like it.

the ERD pic is prettier with color than the stone in the store is. but that''s a picture.
Yes it is, therefore to decide, you have to call in the stone and see it in person. If it speaks to you, then it is the stone for you. Just like the other F that was too pricey. You loved it because you were able to see for yourself. Why are you NOT giving this EC a chance? What is holding you back from reviewing this stone in person?

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/29/2007 5:35:06 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 7/29/2007 2:02:13 AM
Author: shminbabe
Here is another shot.

Please tell me what you think!

jeannie

Shmin...,

Please take into account there are two ''significant'' visual options on E/C''s...
The one you posted has pavilion corners reaching the facet junction of the last (culet)step. (not reaching the culet itself...)
The other option is: pavilion corners reaching the culet itself.

Its a mater of taste, (my preference is the second one!!)
But do take it into consideration!

You have really observant eyes, Diagem! I too prefer the pavilion corners to TOUCH the culet itself.

Jeannie,
I love the ribbon prongs!

 

[shminbabe]

Date: 7/30/2007 9:07:48 AM
Author: Chrono

Date: 7/27/2007 7:05:00 PM
Author: shminbabe
so, the table size, then, IS the crown height, i.e. large table means high crown?
All the information is equally important.
What table size do YOU like? Most like a smaller table for more fire.
Table size has nothing to do with crown height. A large table can have either a high or low crown height.
A high crown height will give the stone enough angle to return FIRE to the eye.
A small table means less table glare.

i don''t know what i like more - i like one that flashes color and i guess i''m afraid that if i get this one it will not be as lively as one with a smaller table size as seems to be advised. am i right? wrong? or just confused.
That is your preference. I like more colour and fire, so I go for something with a smaller table and high crown = a lively stone. What do YOU like? There is no right or wrong. You just have to decide which look you prefer.

the polish/symm on the ERD stone is better, smaller table, etc. i guess i should buy it already and then compare it myself, maybe?
Yes. If all the numbers check out well, it may be worth it to see it in person and gauge if you like it.

the ERD pic is prettier with color than the stone in the store is. but that''s a picture.
Yes it is, therefore to decide, you have to call in the stone and see it in person. If it speaks to you, then it is the stone for you. Just like the other F that was too pricey. You loved it because you were able to see for yourself. Why are you NOT giving this EC a chance? What is holding you back from reviewing this stone in person?

Date: 7/30/2007 9:07:48 AM
Author: Chrono

Date: 7/27/2007 7:05:00 PM
Author: shminbabe
so, the table size, then, IS the crown height, i.e. large table means high crown?
All the information is equally important.
What table size do YOU like? Most like a smaller table for more fire.
Table size has nothing to do with crown height. A large table can have either a high or low crown height.
A high crown height will give the stone enough angle to return FIRE to the eye.
A small table means less table glare.

i don''t know what i like more - i like one that flashes color and i guess i''m afraid that if i get this one it will not be as lively as one with a smaller table size as seems to be advised. am i right? wrong? or just confused.
That is your preference. I like more colour and fire, so I go for something with a smaller table and high crown = a lively stone. What do YOU like? There is no right or wrong. You just have to decide which look you prefer.

the polish/symm on the ERD stone is better, smaller table, etc. i guess i should buy it already and then compare it myself, maybe?
Yes. If all the numbers check out well, it may be worth it to see it in person and gauge if you like it.

the ERD pic is prettier with color than the stone in the store is. but that''s a picture.
Yes it is, therefore to decide, you have to call in the stone and see it in person. If it speaks to you, then it is the stone for you. Just like the other F that was too pricey. You loved it because you were able to see for yourself. Why are you NOT giving this EC a chance? What is holding you back from reviewing this stone in person?

Okay, Chrono, very good points, all. Thanks. I''m taking all this under advisement.

What''s holding me back from seeing the ERD stone in person is that I am leaving for vacation tomorrow and just can''t organize the transaction, etc. while I am not at home. Mark knows. I need to arrange things so I can respond to it within the return times so I can get it back to him if I don''t love it.

Chrono, I''ve been reading historical EC threads and followed your beginning EC journey...what did YOU end up with? Would love to see your stone ring!

Jeannie

 

[chrono]

I got this baby from a local brick and mortar store (small family owned):

0.76ct EC
E vs1
ratio of 1:1.4
Symm VG
Polish Ex
Table 63
Depth 66
Crown 15%
No culet
Med girdle

The picture is really poor but I hope you get the idea of the setting:

It''s the one on the pinkie finger, closest to the palm part of the hand, in a plain split shank setting.

 

[shminbabe]

Date: 7/30/2007 12:10:16 PM
Author: Chrono
I got this baby from a local brick and mortar store (small family owned):

0.76ct EC
E vs1
ratio of 1:1.4
Symm VG
Polish Ex
Table 63
Depth 66
Crown 15%
No culet
Med girdle

The picture is really poor but I hope you get the idea of the setting:

It''s the one on the pinkie finger, closest to the palm part of the hand, in a plain split shank setting.

wow you''ve got some nice jewels there, girl. okay, i can see your EC. Just wish it was a little clearer! Like the setting, east / west.

guess my hunt''s suspended for the time being.

that is, NWA is cancelling flights on us..maybe there''s still time to buy a rock!

jeannie