Help needed in finding an e-ring <3

[elizat]

@Lolalol you mentioned old cuts. What about antique ovals?

@lovedogs these would harder to find, right?

Finding an antique oval is a needle in a haystack, particularly one of any size.

I have a bracelet of old cut ovals that I have held on to a long time, just because the stones are rare. An antique oval of a size larger than 1 carat is a long hunt. Even smaller ones are a hard find and they only pop up sporadically. They usually come from harvested pieces.

 

[elizat]

That first one screams antique style but modern cut...it just seems too perfect? So many antique ovals I have seen are quite quirky....but I have no idea!

Like this below..many look like very elongated, roundish OMCs...but I am out of my depth in knowledge on antique ovals, they seem incredibly rare

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I suspect both are newly cut based upon the stones. I think you can find antique style faceting on newer stones easier, for certain.

 

[Cerulean]

oh just another factor to consider - many antiques face up small for their size.

what does that mean exactly?

carat weight doesn't necessarily mean it is visually bigger. to get those big chunky facets and puffy crowns - well, they need more...aherm...junk in the trunk they are also cut by hand, so there are more quirks which can add up to weight. nothing wrong with it, it's what makes them special and each one unique.

For example, my old european cut diamond is 1.3 carats, and faces up 6.7mm. Whereas, a diamond from Whiteflash that is nearly the exact same weight faces up 7mm.

Here's how they would compare visually ...6.7 on the left, 7mm on the right (here is the chart where you can try yourself):



That may not sound like a whole lot, but it can really make a difference. Some antique diamonds face up even smaller than mine.

if you want more visual presence for your budget, a modern diamond might be a good fit. you are also buying overseas. buying a stone from a place like Whiteflash takes the guessing out of it. it will not only be incredible, it will far exceed anything typical.

old cuts are charming - but some don't play well with cameras, and it takes a lot of practice to figure out what you do/don't like in individual stones. (i am still learning)...your margin for error is obsolete given your location, so i think an antique might mean there is a larger chance that it wont meet expectations in IRL

 

[elizat]

There hasnt been a single stone that you have shared that I havent loved, how do I pick? Did anyone else struggle making a decision? They are all so beautiful in their own way!

Can you go to a store that stocks both estate/antique and modern? Try a lot of things on. A budget of your size is a nice budget for a nice piece of jewelry. I would take the time to get it right. If you are liking everything right now, you are probably in the mindset of oh, it's pretty and it sparkles (not said with snark at all!). You probably have a bit to go in deciding what you really like. Go try things on. Take photos. Think about it and weigh the pros and cons.

If you want to upgrade, an antique stone is a bad idea. I say that as someone that doesn't buy modern stones really. I probably own 2 modern cut diamonds.

With an antique stone, you'll be selling it and/or trading it and maybe taking a loss. You can do a straight upgrade on a modern stone with Blue Nile, etc. If that's important, an antique stone is not the best buy financially.

 

[elizat]

A true antique oval will be just as top heavy and wonky as omc's. The two IG ovals, that is why I say they aren't antique, just faceted to look like it because they just don't look right to me. There are a couple other flags for me, but the visual of the profile is helpful, I think.

A profile shot of my bracelet. Those have some very high crowns on some and others, don't look as high, but they are. It's due to the others having a ring pop profile.

 

[lulu_ma]

ok @elizat where's the thread on that bracelet! I need to see more pics

 

[elizat]

ok @elizat where's the thread on that bracelet! I need to see more pics

I never did a thread!

I am contemplating finally consigning it with someone though, so I don't want to make it seem like I'm advertising for sale though. I think it's probably time to consider letting it go. I have worn it 2 times over the course of a few years. I'm probably getting rid of all bracelets apart from one.

 

[munchee]

There hasnt been a single stone that you have shared that I havent loved, how do I pick? Did anyone else struggle making a decision? They are all so beautiful in their own way!

That’s why PSers love to help anyone else searching for diamond!!!!! Because its easier than for ourselves

 

[CoffeeAndDiamonds]

Hi all, I hope you might be able to help me in finding an engagement ring. I am based in Ireland and currently all the jewelers are still closed which has made it quite tricky to try styles on and really settle on something I love. However I have been able to order some dummy rings and I love a plan round solitaire or a wider oval.

I am not overly color sensitive and could sacrifice color for size (I also don't mind some fluorescence) I am of course looking for loads of sparkle and love old cut stones as much as the modern brilliant.
Our budget is €7-8k which would be about $8-9.5 USD. If buying in the US we will need to incur import duties and taxes and this will be about 25%.

I would really appreciate any help and suggestions that you might have! Thank you!!

Are you in Dublin? Luisa Verling custom made my ring and she was lovely to work with.

Old cuts are tricky. It's best to judge them in person as each has their own personality. If you are in Dublin, there's loads of shops to go try both antique and modern rings to see what calls to you.

 

[Lolalol]

Thank you for all your help! I really appreciate all of the advice! We have been engaged for acquits a few months but have not been able to purchase a ring due to the COVID restrictions which has made it slightly more challenging.

After weighing all the pros and cons I am set on a modern brilliant cut diamond.
I wanted to ask if there would be much of a noticeable difference between a 1.2 and a 1.4? I have checked online diamdb and I can’t really tell that one is bigger than the other.

When it comes to cut and going with an excellent cut will there be a huge difference between hearts ACA and other stones that still Have an excellent cut?

Thank you for all your help!

 

[lulu_ma]

It’s roughly a difference between 6.8 mm and 7.2 mm in diameter. Can you easily order cz tester rings in both diameters? I believe that .2 mm difference is usually discernible.

 

[Lolalol]

Would anyone be able to help me with analysing this diamond Please? Does it look a little dull? Thank you in advance!

I also love this one here but it’s a K vs a J. What do you think the better stone is?

 

[Lolalol]

I also love how much bigger this stone is and it has some fluorescence whic makes it look slightly whiter. I know the cut is not hearts and arrows but excellent, is this a good stone?

1.7 K SI1

 

[magpie2]

Has your budget changed? The J you refer to will be over 10k by the time you've paid taxes etc. You have also gone from SI1 on the K to VVS2 on the J so you are paying for clarity you'll never discern.
In my opinion the K SI1 has too many inclusions bang centre of the table and isn't terribly well cut either. It's big, but that's about it. The J is obviously much better cut but looks a little bit leaky under the table judging by the IS overlaid on the hearts image - though others are more qualified than me to comment on that.
By the way, It would help if you asked JA to send you the certs for stones you like and post them here for comment.
Of course it's all up to your taste and budget in the end, but my recommendation would be to go a little better colour and clarity than the K, and a little smaller too if you want to keep a lid on your spend. I saw this one - SKU 11272060 - 1.5ct HVS2. It may not be H&A like the JVVS2 but it looks very well cut to me. Strong fluorescence, but usually that's a plus rather than the minus a lot of people would have you believe in diamonds other than say D-F. It's also an IGI rather than GIA or AGS cert, but I wouldn't let that put you off either (I bought an IGI recently and it's lovely). It comes in slightly cheaper than the J.
Incidentally, I'm in the UK and have bought from both BN and JA recently. Both good experiences, though I wish JA would post certs you could access directly!
Good luck with the search.