What size to appreciate faceting in old cuts?

[Tonks]

Hi!
I am at the beginning stages of an eternity band project to celebrate both a milestone anniversary and a milestone birthday this year. I’ve decided that the band I want to create will be in CvB’s Norah setting, but I’m still debating about the stones.

The debate comes down to old cuts vs. new, and I wanted to seek your thoughts. Specifically, how big do you think stones need to be to appreciate the faceting of old cuts? I’m considering doing custom cut OECs by Yoram, and while I know they would be beautiful, at this size (4.2 mm), I’m wondering if it is a good use of funds. Would they end up looking like normal rounds at a usual viewing distance?

For comparison’s sake, I have an antique ring with a good many old cuts, but they are far from precision cut (one might describe them as “wonky”). According to its most recent appraisal, several of the old mine cuts are 4.2 mm on one side. I cannot easily discern a facet pattern from a normal viewing distance. However, they are old and have some tiny chips, so I don’t know how much this factors into things. Anyway, the main difference I notice at this size is not facet pattern, but rather more pastels and broader flashes of light.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[foxinsox]

I think if you have custom cut OECs by Yoram, you’ll have an incredible ring and also stones that look nothing like MRBs from a distance even at that size. Unless your eyesight is very bad, you’ll still see the difference even if the details need a loupe. A poster just recently got snared by the OEC bug courtesy of her sapphire halo stones and I think they’re only 3mm!
What an amazing project. I hope you do go for the OECs. And I think you need to post some pictures of your current ring with many old cuts - you know we love pictures here!

 

[Tonks]

I think if you have custom cut OECs by Yoram, you’ll have an incredible ring and also stones that look nothing like MRBs from a distance even at that size. Unless your eyesight is very bad, you’ll still see the difference even if the details need a loupe. A poster just recently got snared by the OEC bug courtesy of her sapphire halo stones and I think they’re only 3mm!
What an amazing project. I hope you do go for the OECs. And I think you need to post some pictures of your current ring with many old cuts - you know we love pictures here!

Fortunately, my eyesight is not bad. So I will assume that means I would still be able to see the difference!

I figured the comparison to my existing ring was not particularly fair. The stones may be the same size, but the cut quality would be very different.

I will post photos of the ring with lots of old cuts but it will probably be tomorrow. I’m doing the kid pickup/afternoon activity thing now and don’t have it with me!!!

 

[KKJohnson]

Did you see this listing?
https://loupetroop.com/listings/bands/two-day-flash-sale-cartier-cvb-victor-canera-etc-dot

 

[Tonks]

Did you see this listing?
https://loupetroop.com/listings/bands/two-day-flash-sale-cartier-cvb-victor-canera-etc-dot

I did, but I think she’s already got a buyer. I saw it before she had a buyer, but was waffling, because I really have my heart set on an eternity, and larger stones. Was checking it obsessively and trying to decide whether a 7 stone would scratch the itch when I saw it was on hold....

If her sale falls through I will definitely be going through this internal debate again! Thank you for pointing it out!

 

[WinkHPD]

While I agree with your reasoning that you will be able to see the difference even in a smaller diamond, I must admit, the first thought at seeing your title, was, "The Bigger the Better!"

I will also say that with well cut OEC you are going to see more of a difference because of the brightness of the gems than you would from run of the mill so-so cuts, which might not look so different from run of the mill so-so cut rounds.

Wink

 

[Tonks]

While I agree with your reasoning that you will be able to see the difference even in a smaller diamond, I must admit, the first thought at seeing your title, was, "The Bigger the Better!"

I will also say that with well cut OEC you are going to see more of a difference because of the brightness of the gems than you would from run of the mill so-so cuts, which might not look so different from run of the mill so-so cut rounds.

Wink

Thanks for the reply, Wink!

Btw, I was at a local jeweler trying things on for size the other day, and they happen to be a CBI retailer. I had not had the pleasure of seeing your stones before. She showed me a 1 carat because it was what they had set. And oh my goodness. It was so bright and full of fire! Your company does beautiful work.

 

[WinkHPD]

I wish my company could take the credit for being the cutter. That is all Crafted by Infinity. I just happen to have been lucky enough to have met Paul on his first visit to the United States after he became the visionary who started Crafted by Infinity. I was actually one of his first clients and my company, High Performance Diamonds has become the primary Internet source for the wonderful Crafted by Infinity Diamonds.

May I ask which of the retailers you were visiting? I have met most of the other retailers in person and I have talked with those I have not met. They are a great group of people and I always like hearing about them.

Wink

 

[Tonks]

I wish my company could take the credit for being the cutter. That is all Crafted by Infinity. I just happen to have been lucky enough to have met Paul on his first visit to the United States after he became the visionary who started Crafted by Infinity. I was actually one of his first clients and my company, High Performance Diamonds has become the primary Internet source for the wonderful Crafted by Infinity Diamonds.

May I ask which of the retailers you were visiting? I have met most of the other retailers in person and I have talked with those I have not met. They are a great group of people and I always like hearing about them.

Wink

This was Morrison Smith.

 

[WinkHPD]

One of Crafted by Infinity's newer retailers and fine folks. I am glad you had a good time seeing their things.

By the way, had my teachers looked like your avatar, I would have paid more attention in school and perhaps been a doctor as my parents and all of my aunts and uncles predicted...

Wink

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hmm, you are in my region!

I have a ring with Yoram cut OECs as the halo. I think they are around 2.6mm. They definitely are not as flashy as ideal cut rounds. It's a more subtle look, but I love antique cut diamonds, so it fit what I wanted. Hathalove's ring probably shows you the best.

I am going to say that with 4.2mm, which would be maybe .35 cts+ each for OECs, that would make a thick eternity. I really would recommend considering making a 5 stone ring (or 7 depending on the ring size) rather than full eternity because of the height it will be off the finger which may be uncomfortable between the fingers. However, I do know that @Queenie60 had a really large one (around half carat stones) made with old OECs, so it might be worth asking her if she is happy with the large stones in an eternity.

 

[Tonks]

Hmm, you are in my region!

I have a ring with Yoram cut OECs as the halo. I think they are around 2.6mm. They definitely are not as flashy as ideal cut rounds. It's a more subtle look, but I love antique cut diamonds, so it fit what I wanted. Hathalove's ring probably shows you the best.

I am going to say that with 4.2mm, which would be maybe .35 cts+ each for OECs, that would make a thick eternity. I really would recommend considering making a 5 stone ring (or 7 depending on the ring size) rather than full eternity because of the height it will be off the finger which may be uncomfortable between the fingers. However, I do know that @Queenie60 had a really large one (around half carat stones) made with old OECs, so it might be worth asking her if she is happy with the large stones in an eternity.

Hi, DS! I didn’t realize you were in this neighborhood!

I know this will be a large eternity...but I have been comfortable with the ones I have tried on that are roughly the same width. Perhaps I need to spend more time with one on....

@Queenie60 ‘s ring is absolutely my inspiration ring. I looooove it so! What say you, Queenie? Has your eternity been comfortable? Is there anything you would change? My other inspiration ring is @sarahb ‘s beautiful eternity.

The thing that has bothered me in the past with rings has been height off the finger, so I have been focused on setting this low. I did think about a half eternity, but my limited experience with those included lots of spinning and staring at metal, so my preference was really for full eternity....but now you’ve got me thinking again! Gah!

 

[Tonks]

I think if you have custom cut OECs by Yoram, you’ll have an incredible ring and also stones that look nothing like MRBs from a distance even at that size. Unless your eyesight is very bad, you’ll still see the difference even if the details need a loupe. A poster just recently got snared by the OEC bug courtesy of her sapphire halo stones and I think they’re only 3mm!
What an amazing project. I hope you do go for the OECs. And I think you need to post some pictures of your current ring with many old cuts - you know we love pictures here!

Here you go, @foxinsox
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/introducing-miss-emma.243396/

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I’d totally go with your own experience trying them on plus Queenie’s first hand experience with the same setting. Her ring is just gorgeous! Caysie does well with making bands as low as possible. We might have to meet up one day to see your new ring!

 

[foxinsox]

Here you go, @foxinsox
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/introducing-miss-emma.243396/

LOVE it!! Thank you for posting it!!

 

[JPie]

By the way, had my teachers looked like your avatar, I would have paid more attention in school and perhaps been a doctor as my parents and all of my aunts and uncles predicted...

Wink

No, you’d have been a wizard!

 

[Queenie60]

Hmm, you are in my region!

I have a ring with Yoram cut OECs as the halo. I think they are around 2.6mm. They definitely are not as flashy as ideal cut rounds. It's a more subtle look, but I love antique cut diamonds, so it fit what I wanted. Hathalove's ring probably shows you the best.

I am going to say that with 4.2mm, which would be maybe .35 cts+ each for OECs, that would make a thick eternity. I really would recommend considering making a 5 stone ring (or 7 depending on the ring size) rather than full eternity because of the height it will be off the finger which may be uncomfortable between the fingers. However, I do know that @Queenie60 had a really large one (around half carat stones) made with old OECs, so it might be worth asking her if she is happy with the large stones in an eternity.

I love the ring and it sits quite comfortably on my hand. I wear it daily - took a bit getting used to. Caysie did a great job of designing the ring to sit low. And, I have small hands.

 

[LLJsmom]

I have an AVR at .59 carats. I can appreciate the broad flashes, no problem.

 

[Tonks]

I’d totally go with your own experience trying them on plus Queenie’s first hand experience with the same setting. Her ring is just gorgeous! Caysie does well with making bands as low as possible. We might have to meet up one day to see your new ring!

Caysie did say she sets bands LOW. Which is exactly perfect. If I could just decide on the details and get things going we’d be set. No pun intended.

 

[Tonks]

No, you’d have been a wizard!

You beat me to it!!!

 

[Tonks]

I love the ring and it sits quite comfortably on my hand. I wear it daily - took a bit getting used to. Caysie did a great job of designing the ring to sit low. And, I have small hands.

Thank you so much for weighing in, Queenie! It is nice to know you have found it to be comfortable for daily wear. It certainly is gorgeous!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I love the ring and it sits quite comfortably on my hand. I wear it daily - took a bit getting used to. Caysie did a great job of designing the ring to sit low. And, I have small hands.

That is both a good and dangerous thing to know! It surely is gorgeous!

 

[Queenie60]

Hi!
I am at the beginning stages of an eternity band project to celebrate both a milestone anniversary and a milestone birthday this year. I’ve decided that the band I want to create will be in CvB’s Norah setting, but I’m still debating about the stones.

The debate comes down to old cuts vs. new, and I wanted to seek your thoughts. Specifically, how big do you think stones need to be to appreciate the faceting of old cuts? I’m considering doing custom cut OECs by Yoram, and while I know they would be beautiful, at this size (4.2 mm), I’m wondering if it is a good use of funds. Would they end up looking like normal rounds at a usual viewing distance?

For comparison’s sake, I have an antique ring with a good many old cuts, but they are far from precision cut (one might describe them as “wonky”). According to its most recent appraisal, several of the old mine cuts are 4.2 mm on one side. I cannot easily discern a facet pattern from a normal viewing distance. However, they are old and have some tiny chips, so I don’t know how much this factors into things. Anyway, the main difference I notice at this size is not facet pattern, but rather more pastels and broader flashes of light.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

I sourced my 1/2 carat each OEC's from Adam at Old World Diamonds. He matched them beautifully, and all stones are in excellent condition without chips. If you talk with him, tell him what you're looking for. They certainly look like old cuts, even from a distance and have a different personality than mrb's.; They sparkle in dim lighting. I have the Norah 3/4 eternity that Caysie made for me. My ring size is 4-3/4, she sized it at a 5 and put a stabilizer at the bottom of the ring. It doesn't spin at all. My hands are small and I assure you that this ring is not uncomfortable at all. And I love the 1/2 carat size stones, DSS hasn't set in as of yet! I highly recommend the Norah band and Caysie's work is top notch. Good luck to you.