Thoughts on this OEC stone?

[stray_mammoth]

Hello! I am considering purchasing this OEC from Alex Park. It's uncertified, so I don't have any specs beyond the estimated E/F color grade and VVS/VS clarity. I've heard great things about Alex Park OECs, but I'm new to diamonds, so don't quite have the eye yet to evaluate. I've mostly been relying on certificates so far and look at table and depth %s.

Here is a link to videos and a photo.

Would love any feedback / advice on:

1. Does this look like a good stone? Any major flaws/issues that you can detect?
2. Should I be concerned that there's no certificate? Should I try to ask them to get it certified before purchasing? Alex Park seems trustworthy from the reviews on this forum, so it sounds like I should be safe, but I'm also wary of my first stone purchase being uncertified.

Thank you!

 

[lala646]

Hard to say. Honestly, both the video and photos are terrible. I would ask for better images.

 

[Dreamer_D]

It always feels vaguely misleading when they immediately flip a gem like this. Can’t see anything of the faceting at all!

 

[Inked]

What size is it?

I just received yesterday 1 carat, 2 carat and 1.5 carat from his post last week... I'm making earrings. I am a bit of a snob with my faceting, and they're not perfect, but for the price i am MORE than thrilled.

I wouldnt love it for a 4 carat ring (meaning blowing up this faceting to a larger size), but for 1 and 2 ct, for that price, I'm very happy.

I guess i feel like : for that PRICE, they are AMAZING... they're not 'amazing' for normal price point, but they're not normal price point, so for this price, I am thrilled with them. LOL

Is this better for you to evaluate @Dreamer_D ? Again, these are from the lot he posted last week, so assuming it's similar if its from his post of 1 carat (275$), 1.5 ($500) and 2 carats ($875) i assume they're all about the same





*Note: i didnt actually clean them before I took the pics lol

 

[stray_mammoth]

Hard to say. Honestly, both the video and photos are terrible. I would ask for better images.

That was my immediate reaction to the videos as well, but I wasn't sure if it was just me being a novice and not knowing how to evaluate the videos. Good to know it's not just me!

They originally sent me the tweezer video. I responded asking for another video that showed the face better, and then they sent the other video, which is impossible to see light through the stone. Any advice on what video specifics to ask for? A tweezer video near natural light showing the face slowly?

 

[stray_mammoth]

@Inked it's a 2 carat stone from the recent post. Sounds like your stone is from the same batch. Good to know you are happy with yours!

When you say "they're not perfect," what are the things that you think could be better?

And were you able to see a good video of the stone before purchasing? Feels a bit like I am pulling teeth to get a video out of them, but it seems like it shouldn't be that hard for them to send one? The other videos they post on IG of stones are totally fine.

 

[Rfisher]

Random question - don’t know if I’m adding anything to this discussion or not -
Don’t they usually specify whether it’s their custom cut /not cut by us
And that’s to be taken into consideration when evaluating the stones he offers ?

 

[stray_mammoth]

@Rfisher this one is custom cut, according to the IG post

 

[Dreamer_D]

Those prices are so low! Wild. And frankly, you need to take that into consideration and temper your expectations for service and lab reports. I think there is enough trust built that you know they are lab diamond material. Beyond that, for that price, seems like you just take it.

The cuts are okay. They are chunky and approximate what natural old cuts look like. @Inked has seen a lot of newly cut, old style labs so she has a good feel for what is possible and what compromises there may be. If these satisfy her, considering price et al., then I think that's good enough. There are better cut -- better in terms of optics and light play (more complimentary angles, nicer patterning) and/or better in terms of more closely approximating true antiques. But you will pay more for those. So its all about priorities!

I think personally for a ring, and given the price of settings these days, I would prefer to have a higher level of service and a lab report and I would pay the extra $500 or whatever to get it.

 

[Dreamer_D]

See this is why I would want more images, lab report, better service to select for a ring, because if it looks like the one on the bottom, or maaaaybe the top, great, but I am not as much a fan of the one in the middle or the 2ct. And I would want to choose for a ring.

 

[Rfisher]

See this is why I would want more images, lab report, better service to select for a ring, because if it looks like the one on the bottom, or maaaaybe the top, great, but I am not as much a fan of the one in the middle or the 2ct. And I would want to choose for a ring.

This answers my question of their custom cuts being static in type, or not.
I think?

 

[Inked]

Random question - don’t know if I’m adding anything to this discussion or not -
Don’t they usually specify whether it’s their custom cut /not cut by us
And that’s to be taken into consideration when evaluating the stones he offers ?

No you are absolutely right … and they never actually answered… they said “custom cut” but everyone was asking “cut by you??” and they didn’t actually answer. Again for me, it’s not for a ring, they’re soooo inexpensive, so I’m very satisfied. If it were for a ring, I agree wholeheartedly with @Dreamer_D , I would want a cert/more video or pics

 

[Dreamer_D]

This answers my question of their custom cuts being static in type, or not.
I think?

Yeah these all look fairly different to me, but as a matter of degrees. They aren’t wildly different.

 

[Icebrakr7]

Check out lvy and Rose. Just bought a lab OEC from them and so happy with it.

 

[stray_mammoth]

Thank you all for your input (and Happy New Year)! Took your advice and decided to pass on the Alex Park stone--I didn't feel comfortable purchasing a stone without better videos and a certificate. I'm still on the hunt for a ~2ct OEC, preferably around $1k. I don't need it to be *perfect*, but I would still like something that is well cut and has good light return.

I saw that @Inked posted in another thread about being happy with a few OECs from Loose Grown and I've been browsing their website. I picked out a some that seem nice to my untrained eye... what do you all think? Would appreciate any feedback!

1. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG617405703
2. https://loupe360.com/diamond/614327661
3. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG634499896/
4. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG617405703/
5. https://loupe360.com/diamond/635451458/
6. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG636494201/
7. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG614327654/
8. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG652493679

Or if anyone has any links to other nice looking OECs for sale that fit my criteria, please send them my way

 

[Dreamer_D]

I’d eliminate 8 but otherwise they all look pretty good. I might choose the biggest that has the smallest table and highest crown.

 

[_diamondsovercoffee]

3 looks like it’d be pretty lively. I am still newer to OECs so take that with a grain of salt. I am also on the hunt for one.

 

[stray_mammoth]

Thank you! I ordered #1 and #3 to see which one I like better in person. Will report back once I receive them!

 

[stray_mammoth]

My OECs from Loose Grown Diamonds are here! Jokes on me for ordering two options that are nearly identical... I am having a tough time deciding which one I like better. I kind of feel like maaaaybe the 1.9 ct has a bit more contrast with the facets turning on and off, but I might just be imagining things. Which one do you all think is the better option? Help!

Imgur link with videos

 

[_diamondsovercoffee]

I like the bigger one personally! You're right that they're very similar, it just seems more fire-y to me.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Have you looked at them in bright sun and spotlighting? Have you looked at them in your office or whatever environment you spend the most time in?

 

[0515vision]

It's also about personal preference. I think it's @Inked who likes all four of her center facets to go off at the same time on her OMCs.

I'd video in different lighting, too. Also video with one on top and one of the bottom, stay in the same lighting and then switch the position of the stones. That way you see if your fingers are even affecting the light return.

How fun!

 

[stray_mammoth]

I like the bigger one personally! You're right that they're very similar, it just seems more fire-y to me.

Thanks! To me, the bigger one seems to throw more of a rainbow-like sparkle, whereas the smaller one has more of a bright white sparkle (that's what I was trying to convey by contrast). I can't decide which one I like better!

 

[stray_mammoth]

Have you looked at them in bright sun and spotlighting? Have you looked at them in your office or whatever environment you spend the most time in?

Yes! I've been wearing them on a ring holder around the house throughout the day. The best way to describe what I'm seeing when I'm in my office (north-facing window + soft white overhead light) is that the stones take on more of a moissanite look, where they appear less translucent and have less contrast, if that makes sense? But I don't see any part of them going dead, it's just that the overall tone of the stone changes.

I guess what I could use the most help with is: Does either stone look objectively better than the other from the videos I shared? Do these stones even look like good options or should I keep looking? Or are these both solid options and it's just up to me to figure out which one I like better?

These are the first OECs I've purchased to consider, so I don't have much to compare against. To me, thy seem pretty sparkly and without any dead spots, but I'm new at this, so I'm trying to figure out if there are any red flags I'm missing. Thank you all!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Do you live near any reputable antique stores? Can you compare them to true antiques just to see the difference and get a better feel for the nuances of the cut?

The best way to describe what I'm seeing when I'm in my office (north-facing window + soft white overhead light) is that the stones take on more of a moissanite look, where they appear less translucent and have less contrast, if that makes sense? But I don't see any part of them going dead, it's just that the overall tone of the stone changes.

^^ can you post a video in this lighting and one in bright sunlight or spot lighting?