My latest obsession (OEC)

[RetroQT]

I went to speak with a local jeweler who specializes in antique/vintage pieces about some of my pieces and she had a ring that just spoke to me. If I could have, I would have snatched it up then and there. Unfortunately, the cost was a bit prohibitive at $25,0000. (I do believe she would have sold it for less than that as she usually sells under listed price.) But I was wondering what y'all thought of it and what pricing is like now. (I haven't purchased a diamond in over three years.)

It measures as a 2.50ct OEC. It is a very bright, lively, and clean stone (even under the loupe). Even in natural light, I wasn't seeing warmth. It is set in platinum, she said. I just can't stop thinking about her and trying to figure out how to bring her home. Anyway, without further ado, here she is....

 

[lulu_ma]

She looks pretty. What did she say the color and clarity are? Dimensions of the stone?

 

[RetroQT]

She looks pretty. What did she say the color and clarity are? Dimensions of the stone?

She didn't take it out of the setting to have it graded, so I don't know. I do know it is not warm or if it is, it is barely noticeable. (I see a decent amount of warmth in my J colored stone, and when side-by-side, this one was far whiter.) As for the size, she told me the dimension, but I forgot the exact number. I do know she said it measures approximately 2.50ct and I also know she is a GIA gemologist, so I am assuming she grades stones for her mother's stores.

She wasn't into any high-pressure sales tactics, and we talked a lot about the various stones she had, so I didn't feel like she was trying to get me to make an emotional buy. She actually told me to go home and sleep on it. LOL!

 

[lulu_ma]

Can you get a color estimate from her? When you get one and the dimensions come back and post. If the stone is truly high color (which is hard to tell while it’s mounted), then this could be a good price.

I only discovered old cuts a little over a year ago and the prices have definitely creeped up.

 

[RetroQT]

Can you get a color estimate from her? When you get one and the dimensions come back and post. If the stone is truly high color (which is hard to tell while it’s mounted), then this could be a good price.

I only discovered old cuts a little over a year ago and the prices have definitely creeped up.

That's a good idea. I can see what she can provide as it isn't listed on their website.

 

[RetroQT]

For those following along… I e-mailed the store that has this beauty, and asked if I could get all the specs/details they have on this stone and setting. I also asked for a video. I’m hoping I will hear back soon. When I do, I will share it here.

 

[Mreader]

Yay! I am following because I want to see the video My first impression is without a GIA report I don't think I would want to spend that much. The pictures are a bit washed out but the pattern doesn't look as "tight" as on other oecs I have seen if that makes sense. But I like a nice petal pattern personally (or a checkered one but that gets into transitional territory I think). If it's a high color then that can be an ok price but the clarity is important too when it comes to that price point and again, no report. So while this seems to have grabbed your heart I would certainly also be looking around to compare. That is the price I paid for my 3.98 ring for example (but it's an SI2).

 

[RetroQT]

Yay! I am following because I want to see the video My first impression is without a GIA report I don't think I would want to spend that much. The pictures are a bit washed out but the pattern doesn't look as "tight" as on other oecs I have seen if that makes sense. But I like a nice petal pattern personally (or a checkered one but that gets into transitional territory I think). If it's a high color then that can be an ok price but the clarity is important too when it comes to that price point and again, no report. So while this seems to have grabbed your heart I would certainly also be looking around to compare. That is the price I paid for my 3.98 ring for example (but it's an SI2).

All great points to consider! Where did you luck into a 3.98 for that price? I wanna shop there.

 

[Mreader]

All great points to consider! Where did you luck into a 3.98 for that price? I wanna shop there.

Diana from SinCityFinds, an IG seller! SI2 isn't normally an acceptable PS standard but I was in love and was willing to sacrifice clarity for size.

 

[RetroQT]

Diana from SinCityFinds, an IG seller! SI2 isn't normally an acceptable PS standard but I was in love and was willing to sacrifice clarity for size.

She's gorgeous! Just stunning!

My dream is to find a nicely cut OEC, G/H, SI1+ in 2-2.5ct. I am color sensitive and find I prefer the whiter stones. (My J AVC is a tad too warm at times for me.)

 

[RetroQT]

I heard back. I can’t view the video as it was sent view Google Drive and requires permission. But here is what she said:

“I have attached a video of the diamond ring that you like. It is a 2.50ct old European cut diamond set in a platinum setting. We have graded it as an H color and VS2 clarity. It doesn't have a lab certification, but is a very lovely, unique piece!”

(The owner’s daughter does the grading and she is a GIA graduate gemologist.)

 

[LightBright]

We need a video to assess this diamond. This diamond is pretty, difficult to assess the cut so we need to see it in action, but looks like a nice but not exceptional one, and it’s a rare size in an H. I think it is plausibly an H. You would need a GIA report to confirm that, and pay that price. The setting is very average, not as well crafted as a typical antique in this style, looks like a cast piece and could be modern made.

So to restate, when people pay a premium for an antique diamond ring it’s usually because it is a rare color, an exceptional cut or an antique setting that would be hard to recreate. This diamond is said to be an H and in this size that is pretty rare. My recommendation is to get it certed by GIA and consider the price from there (which seems high but check the price per carat for that size in MRBs, maybe it is a comparable price?). You need to un-mount it to assess clarity. Or if you feel strongly this is “the one”, negotiate downwards if you feel she would be amenable to that.

 

[LightBright]

I actually think your diamond is plausibly a G/H which might account for the price. I just checked out G/H 2.5 carat stones on James Allen and whoops, it looks like the price she quoted you was decent even for a loose diamond (I am not an expert, and you should check comparables). For a true antique diamond, in a platinum setting, in that color/clarity/carat weight, maybe this is actually a decent price?? So, please do comparables.

Large old cuts in this size in G/H are rare. And since this is what you are looking for (a rare size and color) and the diamond performs beautifully for you and you love the color… well… I think the opportunity to come across a true antique in these specs again might take a very long time. Now I’m really curious to see that video! Others might have a different opinion.

 

[lulu_ma]

She's gorgeous! Just stunning!

My dream is to find a nicely cut OEC, G/H, SI1+ in 2-2.5ct. I am color sensitive and find I prefer the whiter stones. (My J AVC is a tad too warm at times for me.)

I considered myself very color sensitive, too, before discovering old cuts. Old cuts are such chameleons. I just don't understand how they face up whiter than their grades. For example, here is my F color emerald cut next to my M color OEC. I can see the tint difference, but I would never guess that they were 7 color grades apart.



My point is that the face ups of old cuts can be surprising. If the 2.5 ct is a true G/H then the price is a good one. However, if it's a J/K then it's not a great deal.

I hope you can post a video! I would love to know what color grade the stone actually is.

 

[RetroQT]

I actually think your diamond is plausibly a G/H which might account for the price. I just checked out G/H 2.5 carat stones on James Allen and whoops, it looks like the price she quoted you was decent even for a loose diamond (I am not an expert, and you should check comparables). For a true antique diamond, in a platinum setting, in that color/clarity/carat weight, maybe this is actually a decent price?? So, please do comparables.

Large old cuts in this size in G/H are rare. And since this is what you are looking for (a rare size and color) and the diamond performs beautifully for you and you love the color… well… I think the opportunity to come across a true antique in these specs again might take a very long time. Now I’m really curious to see that video! Others might have a different opinion.

Thank you for all of this information! I will definitely post the video as soon as I can. If she doesn’t resend it tomorrow, I may go up there Monday and get some pics/video myself.

As for the price, even the owner told me they would sell it to me for less than what they listed it for. So I’m hoping closer to $20k or even just under. I’ve purchased from them before and always had a good experience.

In regards to the setting, it’s okay, but I wouldn’t be opposed to switching it out for something more my style.

I considered myself very color sensitive, too, before discovering old cuts. Old cuts are such chameleons. I just don't understand how they face up whiter than their grades. For example, here is my F color emerald cut next to my M color OEC. I can see the tint difference, but I would never guess that they were 7 color grades apart.



My point is that the face ups of old cuts can be surprising. If the 2.5 ct is a true G/H then the price is a good one. However, if it's a J/K then it's not a great deal.

I hope you can post a video! I would love to know what color grade the stone actually is.

Wow! That is amazing! I guess I always think of it like my AVC that’s a J. It has a subtle warmth to it and I know I prefer the color of my pear (avatar) which is an E.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Thank you for all of this information! I will definitely post the video as soon as I can. If she doesn’t resend it tomorrow, I may go up there Monday and get some pics/video myself.

As for the price, even the owner told me they would sell it to me for less than what they listed it for. So I’m hoping closer to $20k or even just under. I’ve purchased from them before and always had a good experience.

In regards to the setting, it’s okay, but I wouldn’t be opposed to switching it out for something more my style.



Wow! That is amazing! I guess I always think of it like my AVC that’s a J. It has a subtle warmth to it and I know I prefer the color of my pear (avatar) which is an E.

I was just thinking that you might want to negotiate the price and then once you settle on that you can ask to send it to GIA to confirm the specs. If they don’t match but you still want the diamond then it’s an opportunity to get an even lower price.

 

[caolsen]

So, I’m an odd ball on this but if you trust the seller, and I mean TRUST the seller to grade color and clarity, I do buy without certs. Given the whole ‘don’t buy without a recent certification date‘ phenomena I figure if I want to sell a diamond I’ve owned for a while in the future, I have to get it recertified anyway.

I don’t buy for investments, so if I trust a seller, my math says a certification adds a price premium and I’m happy to buy a stone at a non certified discount and get it certified later if I want to have it or need to sell the stone/ring.

 

[lulu_ma]

@RetroQT if you go see the ring again, take your E and your J and take lots of pics/ vids adjacent to the prospective stone. This is give you some good visual data.

 

[marymm]

The OEC is beautiful!

When you go back to the store, please take another look at the stone and how it is mounted in the ring ... I took the liberty of dropping your 1st pic into Paint because the culet looked slightly off-center to my eyes ... it could be an artifact of the photo itself and the angle/lighting, or it could be the stone culet is centered but the stone is mounted a bit crooked in the ring, or it could be the stone itself has an off-center culet. I also noted what appears to be an indent or unevenness on the girdle ... which also could be just an artifact of the photo/angle, or as it was originally cut by hand way back when ... but maybe just eyeball it or loupe it to confirm?

 

[oldworlddiamonds]

That setting looks easy enough to unmount the stone and have it graded at GIA. It will go back in without any harm to the setting. Many times jewelry stores think an antique cut is a higher color because they face much whiter than a comparable modern stone. It’s always a win/win for everyone once the diamond is graded. Having that said, if it is a H/VS $25,000 is an excellent price and even down to J/VS it is a very good price if its a 2.50. You can also offer to pay for the GIA report as part of the deal.

 

[RetroQT]

UPDATE: I went in and took another look. This time I brought my loupe (for comfort), and three of my rings as comparison.

This OEC is brighter than my AVC (J/VS), so that was good. Then I compared it to my Lucy (OEC) and that was what did it for me. My Lucy’s facets blew this one out of the damn water. Proving once again, that Lucy is the most precious of them all.


(I love Lucy!)

That OEC will have to find another buyer, because it won’t be me. However, I may have said yes to a quaint little aquamarine in platinum.

 

[Mreader]

UPDATE: I went in and took another look. This time I brought my loupe (for comfort), and three of my rings as comparison.

This OEC is brighter than my AVC (J/VS), so that was good. Then I compared it to my Lucy (OEC) and that was what did it for me. My Lucy’s facets blew this one out of the damn water. Proving once again, that Lucy is the most precious of them all.


(I love Lucy!)

That OEC will have to find another buyer, because it won’t be me. However, I may have said yes to a quaint little aquamarine in platinum.

That’s a beautiful pattern on Lucy! Let’s see a pic of that Aqua!

 

[RetroQT]

That’s a beautiful pattern on Lucy! Let’s see a pic of that Aqua!

Yes, Lucy is a star! I’m so lucky I found her.

And here is the aquamarine. TBH, I found her online at a reputable store and she should arrive Wednesday. I’ve wanted one for years because it is my favorite color (the lighter shade of blue) but I just never found one that really gave me the Ohh-ahhhhhs til I saw this little cutie. She’s approximately .55 and set in platinum.

 

[RetroQT]

The OEC is beautiful!

When you go back to the store, please take another look at the stone and how it is mounted in the ring ... I took the liberty of dropping your 1st pic into Paint because the culet looked slightly off-center to my eyes ... it could be an artifact of the photo itself and the angle/lighting, or it could be the stone culet is centered but the stone is mounted a bit crooked in the ring, or it could be the stone itself has an off-center culet. I also noted what appears to be an indent or unevenness on the girdle ... which also could be just an artifact of the photo/angle, or as it was originally cut by hand way back when ... but maybe just eyeball it or loupe it to confirm?

I meant to thank you for this. I did take a look for this specific thing to see if it was off-center and it was not. I think it’s just where the picture was. But I appreciate you pointing that out because I definitely looked.

 

[RetroQT]

 

[Mreader]

I love that! I love art deco halos.

 

[RetroQT]

And I scratched the OEC itch. Got a sweet deal on this pretty thing.
Specs: 2.03ct M-VS1; side stones .75ctw; GIA cert 6/2021

 

[MamaBee]

And I scratched the OEC itch. Got a sweet deal on this pretty thing.
Specs: 2.03ct M-VS1; side stones .75ctw; GIA cert 6/2021

How can that be an M! It’s so gorgeous!!! Did you purchase her this afternoon? How did you find her?

 

[RetroQT]

How can that be an M! It’s so gorgeous!!! Did you purchase her this afternoon? How did you find her?

I found her on Trumpet & Horn. I spent a good bit of time talking to them today about her. (They sent me more pictures so I could see her floral pattern and everything but I forgot to save them.) She gets here Friday! Here’s the indoor video and more pics:

 

[RetroQT]

I opened my laptop and realized that I still had the two other pictures they sent up on the screen, so here they are. @MamaBee you can see the golden color better in these indoor shots. I usually don't like warmer diamonds, but I like this deeper golden color more than a yellowish hue. I will know more tomorrow night when it's on my finger.