Warm 1ct OEC O/P/Q ?

[hippi_pixi]

I've been stalking this website for years now and have been lusting over OEC's and well cut antique cushions (chunky facetted but not really OMC's)

I want to buy one for a project ring but don't want to spend too much money. Anyway I've found an OEC just over a carat for under $3500. Its is VS2, 6.23 x 6.15 x 4.23mm and its color is somewhere between N and Q.

I guess my issue is that although I've always preferred some warmth in OEC's preferring K/L over D/E. I'm not sure if Q would be too yellow? I like the look of it but I'm not sure if I'm just being attracted by the price. also the seller says it has some mild blue fluoro but only makes the stone look lighter in certain lighting. and i'm not sure its as chunky as other OEC's







The photos are directly off the sellers website which might be a no-no?? if so apologies to the seller

any thoughts??

 

[justginger]

I think the stone is just stunning. I purchased my ering center stone from that particular vendor and the experience was a delight - which only makes me think even more favorably of this stone. I love warm colored stones and would like to see one in that color range in person. There is a 3 day, no questions asked return policy so what do you have to lose?

 

[Enerchi]

It looks beautiful! Just a newbie with the OEC stones, but that facet pattern is appealing to me and the video shown is very sparkly in the sunlight!

IMO, I like that colouring - I like the warmth of that range and the price seems good. If you have some time to examine it in your own lighting conditions and take it to your own jeweller/appraiser - I say go for it!!!

Good luck!

 

[hippi_pixi]

Lol didn't take long for other people to find it online. My hesitation is that i live in Australia and I'm leaving in a week for a 2 weeks holiday so postage would be expensive and I might miss it and not see it till i got back etc.

I bought a J color .37 OEC from old world diamonds which i love and faces up as white, but is a little too small to see the facetting so i set it into a pendant instead of a ring. Now I'm looking for something big enough to admire the OEC facets without breaking my bank.

I feel that this stone might be in an akward area between a warm white diamond and a nice yellow diamond

 

[Enerchi]

Lol didn't take long for other people to find it online. My hesitation is that i live in Australia and I'm leaving in a week for a 2 weeks holiday so postage would be expensive and I might miss it and not see it till i got back etc.

I bought a J color .37 OEC from old world diamonds which i love and faces up as white, but is a little too small to see the facetting. So I'm looking for something big enough to admire the OEC facets without breaking my bank.

I feel that this stone might be in an akward area between a warm white diamond and a nice yellow diamond

I would agree with you that it is "more yellow than warm", but it is such a charming stone! I sense that the warmth is what appeals to you (along with the size and faceting...) but would it be such a bad thing if it was more yellow than warm? Only you can answer that and you really do have to see it to assess. Could you enquire if it could be put on hold for you - explaining your situation about holidays?

If you bought it, before setting, just 'live with it' for a while - maybe a cheapy temp setting to wear it around and determine if the lower colour is right for you. If it isn't - there is always another OEC lover just around the corner! (... or is that advice about men?? )

Contact the seller and see what they'd be willing to arrange with you.

 

[justginger]

Ah, I am in Australia too, so can understand the hesitation. Especially when you factor in the fact that you'll pay 10% GST, which is non-refundable if you choose to send the stone back.

If I were you, I would a) put that stone on hold, and b)contact a local diamond broker to see if they have any stones in this range of color that you can view. If you're on the east coast, there's Garry Holloway, who is always brilliant. Or on the west coast, Jogia Diamonds is well regarded and have been helpful when I've contacted them about matters that won't lead to a sale on their part.

And if you get it and don't love it, remember to send it to my house for a vacation!

 

[Enerchi]

And if you get it and don't love it, remember to send it to my house for a vacation!

See - there you go- you already have justginger lined up to purchase it if it doesn't work out!! LOL (ok, she didn't say BUY she said it was fine to HOLIDAY at her place, but still... point being...)

I agree - put it on hold NOW, explain your situation. Have never used that vendor but all reports seem to be they are reasonable and accommodating. Good luck!

 

[hippi_pixi]

ahh see I hadn't even factored in GST... I am east coast but in QLD, Sunshine coast. theres barely anyone here with nice diamonds let alone OEC or warm diamonds

Out of interest how would you guys set a stone of that color? i would think it would need to either try to make the stone look more white, emphasize the yellow in it, or a very antique looking setting

 

[justginger]

http://davidfrithjewellery.com/

Isabella's Fine & Antique Jewellery
Shop 2, Fairshore Bldg Hastings St
4567 Noosa Heads QLD

You could try these two antique jewellers, to see what colour of stones they have in stock.

 

[marymm]

In terms of setting, I think that vendor has a very similar (color-wise) stone set in their Lynda bezel setting.

IMHO a stone with such a changeable nature has to be viewed in person - you have to see it with your own eyes and against your skin - is there any way, given the geography involved and your travel plans, you could request a longer return period (maybe two weeks?) if you did go ahead with the purchase?

And, FWIW, I love old stones and have a couple OECs - and while in theory I adore the colors of N/O/P/Q/R, in reality I find they do not work so well with my skin color - that peachy-orangy-browny-pink color they often take on (particularly if they have any fluor) is not a pleasing shade on me.

I'm not trying to warn you away from this stone - I think it is beautiful! If the stone has caught your fancy and you can obtain a longer return period, I think you should buy it. I just want to throw out there a reminder that oftentimes we can really like (and covet) a certain stone or ring style from afar, but once we have it on our hand, we realize it is not for us. A color range like N/O/P/Q coupled with mild fluor can really show a wide range of colors - even if you had or saw another O-P stone with fluor, this new stone may perform and show color quite differently. Photos and videos are helpful, but our own eyes are the best judge particularly with old stones.

 

[Haven]

Is this stone graded as an O/P/Q? If so, who graded it?

I agree with you and other posters that it looks more yellow than warm. Now, I'm not saying the yellow is BAD. In fact, I REALLY like this stone. But I'm wondering if the color grade is accurate, and if not, if the price is fair. Which is really important, at least it would be to me!

Also, I totally agree with Marymm. You should try to get a longer return period if you do buy this stone because it is really true that this stone is likely to look very different in different lighting conditions. I wear an O/P stone, and its chameleon-like nature is my favorite thing about it, but it is definitely something you have to appreciate if you're going to be happy with your stone. Unlike Marymm, I used to wear a higher-colored modern cushion that was set in platinum, and I thought it made my hand look horrible. My skin tone definitely looks better with lower colored diamonds. And rose gold, but that's a setting thing, not a stone thing.

I compared a bunch of photos of my stone in different lighting conditions. So, just to give you an idea of how much it changes, here it is:

ETA:
My stone has a fancy yellow RB set beneath its culet to bring out its warmth, so that changes the color, too.
I took the top left picture standing in our bright yellow bathroom, which is, of course, where it looks most yellow.
ETA2:
The stones in my eternity band are, I think, F-G stones.

 

[Gypsy]

Is this a retail price for the stone?

Because if it's from a private seller, the price is a little (okay a lot) high to me.

 

[MyDiamondSparkles]

Ohhhh, such a pretty diamond! I've been struggling with the same issues you have--am I liking more yellow or warmth because of the price. I think for me I like color down to N as long as the stone has chunky facets that reflect a lot of light and white. I thought I might like a P but seeing them in person they do seem more yellow than I think I want, that being said I've seen several Ps here and they look beautiful. Maybe it's the GIA EGL difference?

I do think the diamond you posted looks very yellow, so if you like that look it would be fun to play it up.

 

[MyDiamondSparkles]

Ohhhh, such a pretty diamond! I've been struggling with the same issues you have--am I liking more yellow or warmth because of the price. I think for me I like color down to N as long as the stone has chunky facets that reflect a lot of light and white. I thought I might like a P but seeing them in person they do seem more yellow than I think I want, that being said I've seen several Ps here and they look beautiful. Maybe it's the GIA EGL difference?

I do think the diamond you posted looks very yellow, so if you like that look it would be fun to play it up.

 

[justginger]

Gypsy, it's listed with a well-known PS vendor, so it is retail pricing.

And to clarify, of course I think you should get a delayed return period to scope out this exact stone - stones vary, you know. I just suggest trying to see some similar colors IRL first. If you don't like them at all, at least it will save you paying the non-refundable GST and international, insured shipping.

 

[hippi_pixi]

Well I did email the vendor and they graded it in house as OPQ but had a certifiation with EGL that came back as N. Am I right in saying GIA are stricter on color and tend to grade 2 grades lower??

Anyway I went out today to try and find an N colored diamond or even any warmer colored diamond but no luck. on a side note I'm very disappointed in a local jeweller I thought was promising. She warned me not to buy diamonds from USA as 'they are likely to be very included' and mentioned 'antique rings are likely to have a short lifespan before they fall apart' sweeping generalisations much??

I think it will be a case of having to see it in person which will be an expensive risk that I will have to think about

Marymm - I found the lynda setting with an N colored diamond which is gorgeous, although my appreciation is definately affected by the large culet and chunky facets... yum!

Haven - I am intriqued that you had a yellow diamond set underneath yours! it looks beautiful

 

[Dreamer_D]

The diamond is very pretty. There are no comps available for an EGL N OEC on OWD, the only other retail OEC outlet I can think of. The price is retail for sure, so you are paying a premium for the service that the vendor offers. I think you should request a longer return period, perhaps a video, perhaps some photos next to other diamonds of other colors.

Comps on ebay for color at least are in the low $2000s, just for your information.

 

[fridays_child]

Hi hippi pixi, I've been in the market for a warm OEC and I've been looking at a lot of images online of OECs recently. That stone above looks very warm-colored to me. It's hard to tell these things from pictures because there are so many different factors involved, but if you look at the diamond in relation to the skin tone it's pictured against, that helps.

I recently "tried on" a loose OEC in that color range and decided it was too warm for me - and I medium-tan skin that goes well with warmer colors. It doesn't sound like you are looking for an almost-yellow stone, so if I were you I'd keep looking. Also, the price to me seems a bit high - for the color.

I ended up going with a K (EGL USA)/L (per local appraiser). It's the ideal color for me, I'm really happy with it. Hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[Gypsy]

Okay. If it's retail and you have the benefits of that, and the lower risk.. I totally get the pricing. Just wanted to make sure you weren't taking on too much risk for the price.

 

[Haven]

Haven - I am intriqued that you had a yellow diamond set underneath yours! it looks beautiful

My jeweler put it there as a surprise for me, I had no idea he was going to do it.
When I learned the stone was an O/P I really wanted to play up its warmth, so that's something we talked about when we met about the setting. After having it in my hands and taking a million pictures of it, I actually think it's more steely-colored than yellow, which is something Dreamer pointed out to me in a thread. So now I'm really happy the yellow stone is there, because I like the way the tint looks with the rose gold setting.

I think there are just some things we can only learn about our preferences after wearing a stone for a particular amount of time. It took me a while to figure out that I love warmer stones, and once I had a hunch about it, I went back through all of the PS rings I saved and loved and wouldn't you know it? They were ALL warm diamonds.

Marketing and the market do a good job of telling us what we should prefer, but you really do have to trust your own eye and go with whatever makes your heart go pitter-pat.