Hello fabulous PSers-
Thank you in advance for your help. I am working on the diamond hunt for my engagement ring(!!). I am really still debating between OECs and OMB/Antique Cushions. I am planning on a bezel setting if that is important to choosing a diamond by cut (do you think it is? What should I look at regarding the stone with a bezel setting in the works?).
The bezel setting will either be a bit more raw/organic (like Malcolm Betts), more like an antique setting (ala Single Stone LA with maybe a touch of Cathy Waterman) or perhaps something more classic and minimal (fantasy for that version is to see Leon Mege's take on a Tiffany Bezet... it looks like he hasn't done anything like that). I know that's a wide range of style still... sorry all of you on Pricescope are making this tougher with your fantastic rings!
I want a really nicely cut stone that will display that pastel look. I live in the midwest and have not had much luck finding these stones to look at, I've only been able to find 3 OECs and one OMB, and I otherwise got a bunch of quizzical looks... So I'm trying to learn about how to analyze these cuts.
I could choose one from James Allen, but I'm also very open to OWD, ERD, GOG (I would consider AVC but have concerns about where all I could get it set, and I find the strong maltese cross off-putting in some pictures... maybe need to see it in person?), Perry at Leon Mege (not sure about getting the diamond there in case I decide I don't want to have Leon do the setting), and am open to other sources for the diamond. I do prefer an actual antique diamond over a newly cut antique style because I like the idea of something with history.
I am wanting to get a good value on the diamond. My boyfriend/future fiance is not as concerned about the spending as I am, but he will get me a nice sapphire ring too if I keep the spending down, so I'm trying! On clarity, I am comfortable with VS1-VS2, maybe SI1. I don't want to pay the higher premium for anything over VVS1 or 2 for sure. For color, on the OECs I would prefer to stick around F-I (D and E aren't worth extra expense to me), but would be fine with a J likely. I am not as certain on how that would work for cushions, but a salesperson suggested maybe I would want to stay H/I and better with cushions because of my preferences on rounds. Sizewise, I want it to face up around at least 7mm (so rounds it's usually close to 1.3, cushions seems to be 1.6-1.8 maybe? There seems to be more variance there. But I do notice a quality cut in the flesh. I have a harder time with it in pictures online... I like that James Allen has videos. If you've worked with one of the vendors above remotely, what would you recommend I tell them to describe what I want? Or would you strongly recommend planning a trip to NYC or elsewhere to pick a diamond?
I looked at two OECs in my city. One was 1.96 VS1 H for 25k, the other was 1.34 VS1 H for 15.8k. The 1.34 was over 7 mm, 7.4 at the biggest face up , and the 1.96 was about .6 mm bigger in face up. To me, that slightly bigger look, which was what I originally thought I wanted, doesn't seem worth 9k more to me. But I'd maybe spend 3 or 4k for a similar bump in size. The OMB they had was not very well cut. I don't feel confident that any of them are as nice a stones as I could get from some vendors in NYC and elsewhere, but then again, I don't feel like I have an educated enough eye to really say. Sorry, wasn't allowed to take pictures or videos of those stones.
I got some help from James Allen finding their antique style cushion brilliants and old mines in my budget and approximate desired size to analyze. Can you all give me your thoughts on these? the 2.02 G is now reserved for someone else, but all of these are within budget (though I'd like to spend less than 15k if possible on the stone).
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.72-carat-d-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-177005
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.03-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-191574
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.02-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-203914
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-177021
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.69-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-178745
My first thought is that I like the 2.03 H VS1's cut quite a bit. I like the minimal culet. I have concerns with some of the SI1s that have inclusions etc on the table. Do you think I would regret getting one with an inclusion on the table?
Sorry for all the rambling, but please, some advice on this process. Thank you!
Thank you in advance for your help. I am working on the diamond hunt for my engagement ring(!!). I am really still debating between OECs and OMB/Antique Cushions. I am planning on a bezel setting if that is important to choosing a diamond by cut (do you think it is? What should I look at regarding the stone with a bezel setting in the works?).
The bezel setting will either be a bit more raw/organic (like Malcolm Betts), more like an antique setting (ala Single Stone LA with maybe a touch of Cathy Waterman) or perhaps something more classic and minimal (fantasy for that version is to see Leon Mege's take on a Tiffany Bezet... it looks like he hasn't done anything like that). I know that's a wide range of style still... sorry all of you on Pricescope are making this tougher with your fantastic rings!
I want a really nicely cut stone that will display that pastel look. I live in the midwest and have not had much luck finding these stones to look at, I've only been able to find 3 OECs and one OMB, and I otherwise got a bunch of quizzical looks... So I'm trying to learn about how to analyze these cuts.
I could choose one from James Allen, but I'm also very open to OWD, ERD, GOG (I would consider AVC but have concerns about where all I could get it set, and I find the strong maltese cross off-putting in some pictures... maybe need to see it in person?), Perry at Leon Mege (not sure about getting the diamond there in case I decide I don't want to have Leon do the setting), and am open to other sources for the diamond. I do prefer an actual antique diamond over a newly cut antique style because I like the idea of something with history.
I am wanting to get a good value on the diamond. My boyfriend/future fiance is not as concerned about the spending as I am, but he will get me a nice sapphire ring too if I keep the spending down, so I'm trying! On clarity, I am comfortable with VS1-VS2, maybe SI1. I don't want to pay the higher premium for anything over VVS1 or 2 for sure. For color, on the OECs I would prefer to stick around F-I (D and E aren't worth extra expense to me), but would be fine with a J likely. I am not as certain on how that would work for cushions, but a salesperson suggested maybe I would want to stay H/I and better with cushions because of my preferences on rounds. Sizewise, I want it to face up around at least 7mm (so rounds it's usually close to 1.3, cushions seems to be 1.6-1.8 maybe? There seems to be more variance there. But I do notice a quality cut in the flesh. I have a harder time with it in pictures online... I like that James Allen has videos. If you've worked with one of the vendors above remotely, what would you recommend I tell them to describe what I want? Or would you strongly recommend planning a trip to NYC or elsewhere to pick a diamond?
I looked at two OECs in my city. One was 1.96 VS1 H for 25k, the other was 1.34 VS1 H for 15.8k. The 1.34 was over 7 mm, 7.4 at the biggest face up , and the 1.96 was about .6 mm bigger in face up. To me, that slightly bigger look, which was what I originally thought I wanted, doesn't seem worth 9k more to me. But I'd maybe spend 3 or 4k for a similar bump in size. The OMB they had was not very well cut. I don't feel confident that any of them are as nice a stones as I could get from some vendors in NYC and elsewhere, but then again, I don't feel like I have an educated enough eye to really say. Sorry, wasn't allowed to take pictures or videos of those stones.
I got some help from James Allen finding their antique style cushion brilliants and old mines in my budget and approximate desired size to analyze. Can you all give me your thoughts on these? the 2.02 G is now reserved for someone else, but all of these are within budget (though I'd like to spend less than 15k if possible on the stone).
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.72-carat-d-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-177005
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.03-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-191574
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.02-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-203914
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-177021
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.69-carat-f-color-si1-clarity-sku-178745
My first thought is that I like the 2.03 H VS1's cut quite a bit. I like the minimal culet. I have concerns with some of the SI1s that have inclusions etc on the table. Do you think I would regret getting one with an inclusion on the table?
Sorry for all the rambling, but please, some advice on this process. Thank you!
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