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Looking for an OEC - would love some help!

jaqjaqjaq

jaqjaqjaq

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 27, 2019
Messages
827
Hey everyone, I am on the hunt for an OEC that is at least 9.5mm, with a budget of $20K (though I am not sure how realistic that is). I love warm stones and am not overly concerned with clarity on paper, just looking for something full of sparkle and personality. My husband has been part of the process and has picked out a few diamonds he likes, but they are all so different that I feel even more indecisive!

On top of that, my sweet kitty, Opie, was diagnosed with cancer today, and we are starting chemotherapy next week. My mind is all over the place, and while I am trying to stay positive, I think diving into jewelry talk will be a welcome distraction.

Would love any thoughts on my search. Do you think my budget is reasonable? And if anyone has leads on a dreamy OEC, I am all ears! I’m starting the search now as my bonus comes in by month end.
 
jaqjaqjaq said:
I did see that one and knew it would fly off the shelf when she reduced the price! I keep telling myself that when my bonus is here the perfect piece or stone will be ready for me!
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Yeah that was one that I could think of off the top of my head and it was so pretty. There will always be others. I'll post any I see that fit your criteria. How exciting!
 
maryjane04 said:
Yeah that was one that I could think of off the top of my head and it was so pretty. There will always be others. I'll post any I see that fit your criteria. How exciting!
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Thank you!!! See, making my day better already!!! =)2
 
lala646 said:
I'm so sorry about Opie, but I hope the chemo works and he's back to feeling better in no time!!
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Thank you, sweet lady! I hope so too!!!
 
Slightly above your budget, and slightly below your size parameters, but this is pretty.

47jewelry.com

3.03 Carat Old European Cut Diamond color M Clarity VS2

Shape:Old European Cut, Carat Weight:3.03, Color Grade:M, Fancy Color:N/A, Fancy Color Intensity:N/A, Fancy Color Overtone:N/A, Clarity Grade:VS2, Length:9.36 , Width:8.93 , Depth:5.65 , Cut Grade:N/A, Polish:Good, Symmetry:Poor, Fluorescence:None, Stone Ratio:1.05, Table %:49, Depth %:61.8...
47jewelry.com 47jewelry.com
 
Ooohhh, Opie… I will be thinking of you! ❤️

Diamonds, distraction, oec, warm, eye clean, 9mm+ $20k. Got you! Off to look!
 
lala646 said:
Slightly above your budget, and slightly below your size parameters, but this is pretty.

47jewelry.com

3.03 Carat Old European Cut Diamond color M Clarity VS2

Shape:Old European Cut, Carat Weight:3.03, Color Grade:M, Fancy Color:N/A, Fancy Color Intensity:N/A, Fancy Color Overtone:N/A, Clarity Grade:VS2, Length:9.36 , Width:8.93 , Depth:5.65 , Cut Grade:N/A, Polish:Good, Symmetry:Poor, Fluorescence:None, Stone Ratio:1.05, Table %:49, Depth %:61.8...
47jewelry.com 47jewelry.com
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Do you sort by anything specific? Or do you shop by what catches your eye?
 
Dreamer_D said:
Of these I like 3 the best
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Do you like it in general or just out of the 3? I’m not committed to any of these without also looking around. Is this a good starting off point? I know you help everyone on here - I wouldn’t be offended if you’re tired of these posts :lol-2: I do try to be aware of the tables and depth based on your previous guidance!
 
jaqjaqjaq said:
Do you like it in general or just out of the 3? I’m not committed to any of these without also looking around. Is this a good starting off point? I know you help everyone on here - I wouldn’t be offended if you’re tired of these posts :lol-2: I do try to be aware of the tables and depth based on your previous guidance!
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It looks promising in general. It’s a very late style old cuts, bordering on transitional. Is that what you are after? All the ones your husband chose are more modern cuts with shallower crowns and larger tables.
 
Dreamer_D said:
It looks promising in general. It’s a very late style old cuts, bordering on transitional. Is that what you are after? All the ones your husband chose are more modern cuts with shallower crowns and larger tables.
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I’m not really sure I have a preference - a lot of the stones I like posted here and online have fallen into both older and transitional. I know I don’t love a strong petal pattern and I like a bit of chunky wonkiness. The puffy crown is nice but those seem to be harder to find. I want lots of sparkle but not after the splintery look of a MRB - if that makes sense?
 
Also, of the searches I turned up, I too chose stone number 3 to put on my list. So we did both come up with one of the same stones =)2
 
Fred from 47 also showed me this stone on FaceTime but I felt like it was kind of dead in the middle. Almost like the outside arrows didn’t match the overall sparkle or lack of sparkle in the middle.

 
jaqjaqjaq said:
Fred from 47 also showed me this stone on FaceTime but I felt like it was kind of dead in the middle. Almost like the outside arrows didn’t match the overall sparkle or lack of sparkle in the middle.

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Yeah that’s not as nice.

Have you seen any old cuts in person?
 
Dreamer_D said:
Yeah that’s not as nice.

Have you seen any old cuts in person?
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Yes, I used to own an OEC many moons ago. It has been a very long time though since I’ve seen any in person. If I had to say what I want most it’s a chunkier flash of color. So I assume that would take me more out of the transitional cut.
 
Transitionals look like chunky modern diamonds. Older styles like OECs and OMCs are even chunkier and look like completely different beasties than modern rounds.
 
Dreamer_D said:
Transitionals look like chunky modern diamonds. Older styles like OECs and OMCs are even chunkier and look like completely different beasties than modern rounds.
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It’s so confusing because online vendors categorize the stones as OECs and then the certs call them circular brilliant with only some actually calling them OECs. I do like the OMCs but they seem to have more of the petal pattern which I’m not after.
 
I really liked this stone and the table is 50% and the GIA cert says OEC but I felt like the crown should be puffier? I like the chunkiness of these arrows though along with the warmth.

 
jaqjaqjaq said:
It’s so confusing because online vendors categorize the stones as OECs and then the certs call them circular brilliant with only some actually calling them OECs. I do like the OMCs but they seem to have more of the petal pattern which I’m not after.
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Ignore the names and labels that GIA or the vendors use. There is so much variety in the categories that it’s not helpful at all.

Are there any good estate or antique jewelry stores near you where you can see some different stones?
 
Dreamer_D said:
Ignore the names and labels that GIA or the vendors use. There is so much variety in the categories that it’s not helpful at all.

Are there any good estate or antique jewelry stores near you where you can see some different stones?
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Ok, that is very helpful!

There are two small ones in town. It may be worth a drive to Dallas or Austin if they have any well known stores.
 
jaqjaqjaq said:
I really liked this stone and the table is 50% and the GIA cert says OEC but I felt like the crown should be puffier? I like the chunkiness of these arrows though along with the warmth.

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You keep being drawn to diamonds like this which may look nice in pictures but they aren’t so exciting in person. I don’t buy stones like this when I’m hunting. They aren’t my favourite. They are neither here nor there in terms of cut and I think they can tend to be a little flat and boring.

The most exciting old cut IMO have a table under 50%, a high crown greater than 15 (I like 20%) and a depth greater than 65%. These are just ballparks but it’s a starting point. Look for something with a cushiony outline because those are older than perfectly round ones. Look for kozibe — culet reflections— because it’s evidence of complimentary crown and pavilion angles. Don’t focus on “petals”, that’s just a photography and blown up photos thing IMO.

Just my 2c as a long time collector.
 
Like this would be an exciting old cut that will look totally distinct from a modern round:

47jewelry.com

3.04 Carat Old European Cut Diamond color M Clarity VS2

Shape:Old European Cut, Carat Weight:3.04, Color Grade:M, Fancy Color:N/A, Fancy Color Intensity:N/A, Fancy Color Overtone:N/A, Clarity Grade:VS2, Length:9.14 , Width:8.98 , Depth:5.70 , Cut Grade:N/A, Polish:Good, Symmetry:Fair, Fluorescence:Faint/Slight, Stone Ratio:1.02, Table %:47, Depth...
47jewelry.com 47jewelry.com
 
Dreamer_D said:
Like this would be an exciting old cut that will look totally distinct from a modern round:

47jewelry.com

3.04 Carat Old European Cut Diamond color M Clarity VS2

Shape:Old European Cut, Carat Weight:3.04, Color Grade:M, Fancy Color:N/A, Fancy Color Intensity:N/A, Fancy Color Overtone:N/A, Clarity Grade:VS2, Length:9.14 , Width:8.98 , Depth:5.70 , Cut Grade:N/A, Polish:Good, Symmetry:Fair, Fluorescence:Faint/Slight, Stone Ratio:1.02, Table %:47, Depth...
47jewelry.com 47jewelry.com
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Does this have the kozibe? Is that what I’m seeing on the side reflection?
 
Yes the red circles are kozibe which are culet reflections. In person it add life to the stone. It’s what makes it sparkle and it’s part of the distinctive facet patterning in old cuts.

IMG_4587.jpeg

You may enjoy this old thread from the heyday of PS IMO:


dianabarbara said:
It's now been a long time I have been searching for a stone. And I have stopped wondering how comes many ladies on this forum seem to shift from modern cuts to antique stones. Luckily, it's been a relatively quick process for me ;))

After crazy days of shopping in Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Milano, I know that I prefer round over cushiony, that I don't mind a bit of warmth, and that I like plenty of fire. But I also want to have a lot of brilliance.

Many times I read on this forum that certain OEC have beautiful patterns, and still it's hard for me to understand whether 'beauty' here can be defined in an objective way or if it is totally subjective. So I am a bit afraid to take the plunge. I have seen some tables on this website defining the parameters of beauty for old cuts, but I have not yet found a post defining the beauty of an OEC when crown and pavilion angles are not available data.

I attach the pictures of three stones that look beautiful to me. Please, comment and share your thoughts on these.
They all range between 12 and 16K (which is stretched but feasible, if there is a tad of wiggle room), they are all warmer color (say, J - in paper - to R), and they are all described as OEC (or tranny?).

So I am curious to learn: Which one would you pick and why?

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