New pics of 2 OECs (chunky and checkerboard)

[Bella_mezzo]

Thanks to Dreamer and TGal my photography skills are improving

Here were the tips they gave me and they helped A LOT!

1. Only natural light
2. Be sure you are 4-6 inches away

I'm still not in the ballpark of the awesome PS photogs, but at least now you can kind of see the facet patterns in these gorgeous stones

 

[Bella_mezzo]

getting below the bar....

 

[Bella_mezzo]

more getting below the bar....






As a reminder, these are my new ebay stones. "Checkers" is going to stay in its setting as RHR and "Chunky" is going into a pendant.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Here https://www.pricescope.com/communit...as DD pointed out the pics are not so good:-)

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Hopefully these pics will be a better viewing experience

 

[Bella_mezzo]

the sapphire ring is my ering...

 

[Bella_mezzo]

With the proceeds from my previous pendant sale, selling a bunch of stuff I owned but no longer needed on ebay, and what I hope to get for Chunky's setting, I should break about even on the stone purchases Now I just need to find some more suits and handbags to sell on ebay to finance the pendant setting

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Checkers was sold to me as "at least G VS, probably better" and is set in platinum

Chunky was sold to me as "G SI1 or SI2, eye clean" and is set in 14k gold with 12 side diamonds

According to the seller, both rings are from approx. 1890.

Thanks to work and the yucky inconvenience that most stores in the diamond district aren't open on the weekend, I am still trying to get to the jeweler. Hopefully this week!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I should note, I don't really care when the rings are from, as long as they are diamonds, are within 2 color grades of what they were sold to me, and are relatively eye clean, I am super satisfied! So psyched that ebay made this possible b/c it sure as heck would not have been in budget IRL outside of ebay! it took hours/days/weeks of searching, some great leads from DD, a crazy offer, and a leap of faith, but YAY

 

[Bella_mezzo]

each stone is between .75 and .79 according to the seller...

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Chunky has a lovely medium sized culet and Checkers has an itty bitty just barely culet.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I can't quite capture how amazing the checkerboard pattern is!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I love the setting too It's heavy and in great condition except for two little issues in the basket filigree.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

be nice...Chunky has some freckles up close, but looks amazing IRL!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I know, I need to learn how to edit Almost done...

 

[Bella_mezzo]

All done...for now

 

[Dreamer_D]

First, Bella, you naughty girl you were supposed to tell me FIRST about chunky!

Awesome photos, great work girl

And you are so lucky to have two amazing examples of antique cuts now! Checkers is spectacular, I don't think I have seen such a great tranny in a long time on PS. And Chucky is perfect for a pendant. And nice inclusions, they look like twinning wisps perhaps? I totally believe you that you cannot see them. The OEC I just sold had worse looking inclusions in macro but is really eye clean and spectacular in normal viewing. I have come to feel that while I do not prefer inclusions in my "keystone" pieces, the ones I obsess over in things like earrings, pendants, or even "fun rings" I don't mind them at all.

What do you think of chunks?

Oh, and based only on your photos I think they are likely both in the near colorless range, and SI2-ish sounds about right for chunky (just on the photos). Given what you paid and how gorgeous they both are, honestly, the "real stats" are irrelevant.

I am uber jealous

 

[Kalrik]

Your photos are great. Lovely faceting and I like the engraving.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I know, I went rogue.

They both came from the same seller. He doesn't usually deal in diamonds (he does mostly estate and antiques) and I think I got some awesome deals b/c of that. I actually lost the auction on chunky but the winning bid "made a mistake" and withdrew. not sure if that was true or if there was a shill bid going on, but either way as long as there are no major issues (like a chunk missing under a prong) I am really thrilled with my purchase!

I made about 20 low ball offers on ebay for stones I liked but didn't LOVE and then I ended up with these in two very different stones that pretty much represent my ideal ends of the spectrum!

I like chunky a lot. In some ways even more than checkers b/c the checkerboard pattern is just so perfect and it is so clear and white white white with blue and purple fire (I think that checkers has medium blue flour of some sort)...chunky has more personality and pastel fire which I love. The facets are always moving and throwing off chunky light and fire.

They are both so pretty.

DH thinks I am crazy, and B is walking around talking about "powils" (pearls) and "dahmands" (diamonds" and is asking to wear my jewelry all the time...(from day 1 he's be a blingaholic too...one day when we were in Ethiopia DH was like "why does my son have to look like MR. T" b/c B was wearing 2 bracelets a necklace doubled over and asking to wear my earrings ) but I am really excited and can't wait to get my pendant made later this spring!!!

 

[Amys Bling]

great pictures!!! I need to start practicing my picture taking

 

[cellentani]

Nice finds! What kind of pendant are you thinking of for Chunky? There actually are a scant handful of vendors open on Sunday - just don't get any same-day benchwork done.

 

[Imdanny]

Awesome!

I really admire those of you get these great diamonds for bargain prices on eBay!

I'm not that brave!

Congrats!

 

[Enerchi]

Beautiful stones of your twins, Chunky and Checkerboard!
I love the macro shots - I can't get enough of them.

Will make a gorgeous pendant!!

 

[Mara]

God I just love that tranny pattern, super fantastic!!

The OEC seems to have a larger culet... funny because what we think is medium or small, most jewelers will call it much larger. My OEC has a tiny culet to me, not even really visible in regular viewing, maybe even borderline tranny, but my jeweler called it a medium. And many OMC's have culets you can drive a truck through!

I love looking at the giant pics of old stones. It's like you can fall right in. Fantastic job, Bella!

 

[junebug17]

Your pics are fantastic!!! Both stones are beautiful, and your ering is so lovely!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Bella can you take a profile picture of chunky? I am curious about the crown height.

 

[Amys Bling]

I know, I went rogue.

They both came from the same seller. He doesn't usually deal in diamonds (he does mostly estate and antiques) and I think I got some awesome deals b/c of that. I actually lost the auction on chunky but the winning bid "made a mistake" and withdrew. not sure if that was true or if there was a shill bid going on, but either way as long as there are no major issues (like a chunk missing under a prong) I am really thrilled with my purchase!

I made about 20 low ball offers on ebay for stones I liked but didn't LOVE and then I ended up with these in two very different stones that pretty much represent my ideal ends of the spectrum!

I like chunky a lot. In some ways even more than checkers b/c the checkerboard pattern is just so perfect and it is so clear and white white white with blue and purple fire (I think that checkers has medium blue flour of some sort)...chunky has more personality and pastel fire which I love. The facets are always moving and throwing off chunky light and fire.

They are both so pretty.

DH thinks I am crazy, and B is walking around talking about "powils" (pearls) and "dahmands" (diamonds" and is asking to wear my jewelry all the time...(from day 1 he's be a blingaholic too...one day when we were in Ethiopia DH was like "why does my son have to look like MR. T" b/c B was wearing 2 bracelets a necklace doubled over and asking to wear my earrings ) but I am really excited and can't wait to get my pendant made later this spring!!!

haha

 

[Bella_mezzo]

thanks Mara, Enerchi, Danny, Amy, and Cellentani! I am super excited

DD-I'll get you a profile pick later this week (daylight is gone and I am hooked now on the better photos

Cellentani-The plan is to get a white gold bezel pendant with fine milgrain with a rose gold lotus back by Sally (heartofwater). But, I have to save up for the setting...

 

[minousbijoux]

Wow. Wish I had the ability to find diamond treasures on ebay.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Beautiful diamonds, Bella! I especially love the transitional ring!