Antique Pear for an engagement ring, but from when?

[catagem98]

Hello!

This lovely forum and people have taught lurker me so much useful info as I am going through the engagement ring process! I recently just picked out the center stone, an old veryy spready 1.2 ct H SI2 diamond. It looks gorgeous (to me) in person (what do I know), but the knowledge gremlin in me demands to know how they determined when the stone was cut, and the internet provides little help in this regard. According the the jeweler's dealer, the stone if likely 1930s...and looks closer to a 1.5/1.8 ct (good for my budget) but I guess how do you know its the 1930s?

I'm also sitting here impatiently waiting for the GIA report haha.

Also if anyone with more knowledge than me feels that this stone is a terrible mistake or things I need to look out for please let me know!

Video: https://pin.it/Dxd1LOx95

 

[Dreamer_D]

I’m curious what makes you thinks it’s not a modern cut? The dealer said it’s old?

 

[catagem98]

I’m curious what makes you thinks it’s not a modern cut? The dealer said it’s old?

Yeah, when I was picking out stones this was I was told is an antique from Victoria/Edwards ish/1930s, and it looked quite different from the 2 other modern brilliants in the set

 

[maryjane04]

This does not look like a Victorian/Edwardian era stone. I would also question if it's actually from 1930s. There's different types of modern pear cuts with either 6 or 8 mains that either give it chunkier facets or more brilliant like. It will be interesting to see what the GIA report says but it doesn't give me old cut vibes.

 

[catagem98]

This does not look like a Victorian/Edwardian era stone. I would also question if it's actually from 1930s. There's different types of modern pear cuts with either 6 or 8 mains that either give it chunkier facets or more brilliant like. It will be interesting to see what the GIA report says but it doesn't give me old cut vibes.

Looks like its time to do some anxious waiting. I have it on writing on the deposit invoice that this is a 1930s stone with pending GIA, so if theres a huge difference...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I didn't set out demanding an antique stone but this one was definitely priced a good amount higher than the 1ct stones I was shown with similar color/clarity

 

[Mreader]

An antique would have at a minimum the open culet - very recognizable once you know what to look for - I posted an example pic below.

I would cancel your order asap.

 

[Lookinagain]

No offense, but I would not buy that stone. Whether it's an old cut or not, it's not a very good looking pear. What is your budget and what are you looking for regarding color and clarity, and do you care if it's an old or new cut?

 

[Dreamer_D]

No culet, splintery faceting. Can you examine the girdle with a loupe? If antique I would expect it to be bruted.

I think it’s a modern stone, could be 1950s but it’s not what we would call and old cut. And like another poster said, it is poorly cut to boot. “Spready” is the enemy of sparkle as a general rule.

 

[catagem98]

An antique would have at a minimum the open culet - very recognizable once you know what to look for - I posted an example pic below.

I would cancel your order asap.

hmm yes I noticed there wasn't a culet but it wasn't clear when I was looking around if this was a requirement

No offense, but I would not buy that stone. Whether it's an old cut or not, it's not a very good looking pear. What is your budget and what are you looking for regarding color and clarity, and do you care if it's an old or new cut?

Ahhh thats tough to hear. My overall budget is around or below 10k. Out of the all the stones I've seen my current jeweler he has definitely shown me the best which is one of the reasons we ended up going with him. Anything above I1 is fine, ideally no yellow tinged and truth be told I did not care if is old or new cut, this one just happened to be the best looking one I saw. Here is admittedly another low resolution picture of it next to 2 better spec modern brilliants and this one had more fire. (Current stone is bottom left)

No culet, splintery faceting. Can you examine the girdle with a loupe? If antique I would expect it to be bruted.

I think it’s a modern stone, could be 1950s but it’s not what we would call and old cut. And like another poster said, it is poorly cut to boot. “Spready” is the enemy of sparkle as a general rule.

unfortunately currently not in my hands and at the GIA :/. If it is 1950s, its not that I set out for an antique so that does not really bother me. It was not the most brilliant/sparkly diamond I've seen on my hunt (that does to a VS1 stone way out of budget) but it did have a lot of fire.

If the GIA certification comes out to be a dumpster fire then I agree, I think serious talks need to be had with my current jeweler.

 

[RRfromR]

I second what everyone said before. This is my pear and a dream pair that I saved for setting inspiration

 

[Lookinagain]

If the GIA certification comes out to be a dumpster fire then I agree, I think serious talks need to be had with my current jeweler.

The certificate isn't going to really let you know that it's well cut. Your eyes need to do that. Are you opposed to buying a stone online? You'll have more choices that way, will see videos and the certificate.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I suppose if your jeweler mostly showed poorly cut stones a modestly cut one will stand out.

fYI clarity does not determine sparkle unless there are huge inclusions interrupting the facets. It has to do with the proportions and angles of the cut. For fancies those are not included in the GIA report other than table and depth. So the report won’t show you anything other than clarity and color and those two rather informative angles. It will show if there is a culet or if the girdle is bruted or faceted and those might give leverage to dispute the sale. But really you are never “locked” into a sale with a vendor especially if you do not have possession of the stone! Cancel it.

 

[lovedogs]

I suppose if your jeweler mostly showed poorly cut stones a modestly cut one will stand out.

fYI clarity does not determine sparkle unless there are huge inclusions interrupting the facets. It has to do with the proportions and angles of the cut. For fancies those are not included in the GIA report other than table and depth. So the report won’t show you anything other than clarity and color and those two rather informative angles. It will show if there is a culet or if the girdle is bruted or faceted and those might give leverage to dispute the sale. But really you are never “locked” into a sale with a vendor especially if you do not have possession of the stone! Cancel it.

This 100%
It really isn't a well cut stone, unfortunately. And I'd be shocked if it were antique/vintage