8 Carats, anyone?

[GemView]

Recently, I had my 1.04 RB diamond reset into the setting that is in my avatar (pictures in another thread). Anyhow, I went back last week due to a prong catching fuzz. The bench jeweler filed it down too far and to make a long story short I ended up having the entire set of prongs re-tipped.

While they were polishing up the ring, one of my heart side diamonds popped out.

They spent a half hour looking for it with me saying the whole time that I thought it was likely that it stuck in the vent tube thingy. The tube was supposed to exit into a holding bin for leftover dust, metal shavings, etc. When at last they disconnected the suction tube whatchamacallit they found my heart lodged inside. Whew! Well, better it happened there than on the street where I would never have found it (I figure). Needless to say, he reset both heart side stones with "V" tip prongs on the bottom for added security. All told, it was a 2-hour repair of a ring I've only had three-odd weeks! (It looks better, but tomorrow I'm taking it somewhere else just to have a second opinion about the work.)

On the plus side, I did have a chance, while I was waiting, to see something I have never seen in person: A whopping 8 carat RB diamond wedding ring (not including side stones). One of the other bench jewelers was in the process of checking the prongs and cleaning it when I peered over his shoulder and exclaimed "OMG, is THAT a diamond?" He set it down and I had a chance to swoon. It looked to be a size 8 or 9 ring set in a wide yellow gold band with a lot of invisible set (?) princess cut stones on the shoulders. The owner was nowhere in sight so I said -- because I have small fingers -- "Even if I had a diamond that size, I wouldn't wear it on my hand. It's too big. I'd wear it on a necklace though." The jeweler laughed and said "She wears it to school." What a lucky schoolteacher! (Or student????) If only I had a picture, I'd post it! I doubt it was an ideal cut -- the table looked a tad big -- but it was big and sparkly enough to cause traffic accidents. (But I swear, officer! Before I lost control of my car I saw this blinding flash of light!)

 

[IrishBreakfast]

Awesome! I would have loved to have tried it on too. If I owned it, I''d never take it off either! I''d be washing windows in it, gardening - you name it! Not that I''d be able to afford a garden if I owned it.......or a house for that matter........houses are over-rated, right?!

 

[Rhea]

Houses are over-rated!

I like to drool, but I think the largest I''ve ever had the pleasure of drooling in the direction of was a 5 carat. I''d take 8. 8 is good!

 

[Elmorton]

The biggest I''ve ever seen IRL was 6 ct - MAN was it large, but it was far from droolworthy. I was told "It''s got another diamond growing inside!" - to which I replied "It''s got a huge, black inclusion growing inside!" I don''t care how big a stone is, if it doesn''t sparkle (this one was cloudy to boot), it''s not fun.

Now, an 8 ct sparkler...?!? That''s gotta weigh down a woman''s hand. Poor thing...I sincerely hope she''s not a student/teacher, because I don''t know how anyone would be able to study with that in the room.

 

[GemView]

Date: 6/4/2008 4:45:25 PM
Author: Elmorton
The biggest I''ve ever seen IRL was 6 ct - MAN was it large, but it was far from droolworthy. I was told ''It''s got another diamond growing inside!'' - to which I replied ''It''s got a huge, black inclusion growing inside!'' I don''t care how big a stone is, if it doesn''t sparkle (this one was cloudy to boot), it''s not fun.


Now, an 8 ct sparkler...?!? That''s gotta weigh down a woman''s hand. Poor thing...I sincerely hope she''s not a student/teacher, because I don''t know how anyone would be able to study with that in the room.

Exactly!

I have no concept of how much an 8 carat RB would run. If I had to guess, I''d probably be 50 grand off.

When I tried to find a rough estimate, a diamond of that size wouldn''t even come up on the PS quote/search box! I don''t live or shop in Hollywood or Beverly Hills so it was a real shocker to see it. I can only guess she is a schoolteacher or student because the bench jeweler laughed and said she wears it to school. Based on the size of the ring she may even be a tall enough gal to pull it off. There''s no way I could with a size ~5.25 ring finger! And yes, if I were a fellow student or teacher I wouldn''t be looking or listening to anything else if that rock were in the room!

 

[diamondfan]

Did it appear to be of good quality?

Huge rounds look like headlights to me.

 

[GemView]

Date: 6/4/2008 3:06:32 PM
Author: Addy

... I like to drool, but I think the largest I''ve ever had the pleasure of drooling in the direction of was a 5 carat. I''d take 8. 8 is good!

Speaking of which, seeing that 8 carat show stopper did bring up an interesting idea: What is the largest diamond PS members have seen in person? (In the "real world" as opposed to a museum exhibit?)

 

[GemView]

Date: 6/4/2008 6:32:11 AM
Author: IrishBreakfast
Awesome! I would have loved to have tried it on too. If I owned it, I''d never take it off either! I''d be washing windows in it, gardening - you name it! Not that I''d be able to afford a garden if I owned it.......or a house for that matter........houses are over-rated, right?!

If I owned a diamond that big, my arms would be red from pinching myself every day just to make certain I wasn''t dreaming!

Seeing a diamond that gigantic immediately reminded me of a recent TV commercial. The ad features two ladies on a crowded subway. The point is to advertise a breakfast food, but the woman standing adjacent to the woman eating her tasty breakfast is fixating on her enormous wedding ring -- which is clearly visible because the woman is using her free hand to grasp the poll in the moving subway car. The the woman standing next to her asks something like, "Where did you get THAT?" Of course, the woman eating the item is so wrapped up in her delicious breakfast that she has no idea that the other woman is referring to her HUGE ring so she gushingly replies, "My husband brings me one every morning!" Not realizing that her fellow passenger is referring to her meal and not her ring, the other woman asks, "Aren''t you afraid someone will steal it?" But, of course, the woman with the enormous diamond solitaire remains so enamored with her breakfast that her answers have everything to do with the food and nothing to do with the ring.

 

[GemView]

Date: 6/4/2008 10:44:08 PM
Author: diamondfan
Did it appear to be of good quality?


Huge rounds look like headlights to me.

Judging from all the sparkles, it did appear to be a decent cut, but not perfect. The table was a tad big and there was a bit of an inclusion visible upon close inspection in one spot. I own an SI diamond and with the naked eye I can see some but not all of my inclusions. I see them only very, very close up and with some patience, however. This diamond was similar -- except that it was so huge to begin with that looking deep into the stone didn't present as much of a challenge. So if I had to guess, it may have been I color SI quality.

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 6/4/2008 10:47:30 PM
Author: GemView

Date: 6/4/2008 3:06:32 PM
Author: Addy

... I like to drool, but I think the largest I''ve ever had the pleasure of drooling in the direction of was a 5 carat. I''d take 8. 8 is good!

Speaking of which, seeing that 8 carat show stopper did bring up an interesting idea: What is the largest diamond PS members have seen in person? (In the ''real world'' as opposed to a museum exhibit?)

Ooooohhhh me, pick me, pick me!!! *raising hand excitedly so I can speak*!!!!!

Last week I got to try on a 10+ct D/IF asscher at a new Tiffany''s that just opened up and let me tell you it was GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!! The price was ummm CRAZY at a staggering $1.9 MILLION!

The sales guy was so nice to have let me try in on! He had to take me into a special room where they had this huge mirror that gave off all different types of lighting so you could see what it would look like. This thing was amazing, let me tell you, and I would have NO PROBLEM sporting a honker like that on a daily basis!! It was definitely large, and get this, they even put it in a halo!!!!

As the sales guy was like

I was in my own little world. He even showed me a 5 ct oval, 3 ct pear, 5+ct pendant, and several eternity bands. Let me just say he was my new best friend for the day!!!!

It was such a thrill to have tried on a ring like that though and as my friend and I were walking through the mall it dawned on me that the taxes alone on the $1.9 million could have nearly bought the 3ct pear!!! CRAZY!

I had her take a picture with her camera phone but it didn''t come out very well.

Oh well, at least I have the memory!

 

[Beacon]

Gorgeous!

Where was this new Tiffany store? I may want to have a peek!

 

[jewelerman]

Addy,
ive been very lucky to handle some large beautiful diamonds in my career.The largest ive handled for a client was a 15 carat round brilliant (SI1-J)But the client decided to buy down to a 7 carat emerald cut for her e-ring because the 15 carat wasnt a practical size for every day wear.Plus I suggested that a better color would be a benifit.The people at Tiffanys are really great about letting people handle and try on the larger diamonds.I viewed a beautiful 11 carat emerald cut diamond at the Houston,TX location that was a fancy intense yellow color and VS clarity.The biggest diamond i ever viewed that i wanted for myself was an 8.5 carat emerald cut white diamond(SI1-G) set in a plat gents.ring with 18kt yellow gold around the top of the ring.This was on a buying trip for the company I worked for and even in 1992 was way out of my budget!

 

[GemView]

Date: 6/5/2008 8:39:33 AM
Author: 777_LDY

Date: 6/4/2008 10:47:30 PM

Author: GemView

Date: 6/4/2008 3:06:32 PM

Author: Addy


... I like to drool, but I think the largest I''ve ever had the pleasure of drooling in the direction of was a 5 carat. I''d take 8. 8 is good!

Speaking of which, seeing that 8 carat show stopper did bring up an interesting idea: What is the largest diamond PS members have seen in person? (In the ''real world'' as opposed to a museum exhibit?)

Ooooohhhh me, pick me, pick me!!! *raising hand excitedly so I can speak*!!!!!


...

I had her take a picture with her camera phone but it didn''t come out very well.

Oh well, at least I have the memory!

That rock is absolutely astounding! I can''t believe they put a HALO on a stone that size, though! I think the sheer weight of that ring, especially if it was a plat setting, would cause my arm to drag on the ground!

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 6/5/2008 8:27:06 PM
Author: GemView

That rock is absolutely astounding! I can''t believe they put a HALO on a stone that size, though! I think the sheer weight of that ring, especially if it was a plat setting, would cause my arm to drag on the ground!

I wish the picture was better though because there are so many people that could appreciate it here!

I was so disappointed that it didn''t come out! I knew I should have asked my friend to take more, but well, she thought I was a bit nuts for even wanting to try it on, lol! And it didn''t seem too heavy to me. I honestly think I could pull it off! in my wildest dreams, heehee!!

 

[777_LDY]

Date: 6/5/2008 12:53:49 PM
Author: Beacon
Gorgeous!

Where was this new Tiffany store? I may want to have a peek!

Well, I''m in CT, but apparently this ring was a "traveling piece" he said. I can''t remember where it was going next or if it''s home was in NY maybe and they just brought it in for the opening. I really was having such a hard time focusing on what the sales guy was saying!! I''m hoping that it will show up on the website under the statement pieces. I''m really surprised it isn''t there already!!