OEC or MRB?

[LLJsmom]

If there is already a thread about this, sorry. I am trying not to threadjack another poster's question and moved my answer here.

@Lessics

To give your question a fair answer, I want a super ideal DEF MRB. I want the edge to edge brightness in all lighting conditions. I'm not saying that in dark room a super ideal is bright white. But to me, from what light a diamond can capture, a super ideal shows almost no leakage, where as a non-super ideal (think AGS 000) does show some. This is from my own personal comparison. And I say "almost" not because I saw leakage, but I think maybe over time I might find something, but through initial observations (days) I could not see any. This is not to say I don't want an OEC. I think finding "my" perfect OEC is harder.

For an OEC, I think my sweet spot is a J/I. Mine is a K, and a smidge more tinted than I would like in very low lighting and warm colored environments (think warm colored walls). I have never seen a super ideal OEC in a large size IRL. I have seen beautiful large OECs in I- and lower range. I'm not in love with the "ok cut" OECs in the higher colors. I feel like in the higher colors, I see less "silvery" reflections and more white in certain environments, almost too much white where I can't easily distinguish the facets. I think I prefer more "silvery" which I find in the warmer colors, I, J, K, and I think I see more pastel reflections in lower lighting with the warmer colors, which for me is the whole point of OECs. If I saw a super ideal OEC, who is to say? To me, cut is everything.

As an example, I think @missy 's J OEC is probably one of the most beautiful, stunning OECs I have ever seen. I don't see tint, not even in low light. I see silver and white. I will say that the cut is amazing and it may be a high J. I've also seen another stunning checkboard OEC, 7-8 years ago at Single Stone that was a J, that to me looked white to me. But who is to say I wouldn't love an I in the SAME cut. I lived with an 3.28 I OEC for a week, that had an OK cut. It was definitely whiter than the K I have but the lack of symmetry and the obvious leakage bothered me so I went with my K.

I don't know which I would want more. I don't have both, so I cannot compare. It is not comparing apples to apples. They are different. If I had to choose one, I don't know which it would be. I would have to have both, and live with both over time to decide.

 

[xxxxxx]

Thank you for opening this thread! So interesting as a few years back (of what I've read in hindsight) a few people were going from MRB to OECs. I'm just about to cut a colorless MRB into an OEC. I just really don't care about the splintery look of a MRB. Then I sometimes think I've been brainwashed by PS to like OECs more and I doubt recutting my MRB. So reading your old thread when you were buying your OEC a few years ago was helpful!
Would you trade in your OEC for a Ideal Cut DEF MRB in a similiar size?
Or are you planning on having both a OEC and MRB?

 

[Big Fat Facets]

from what i understand, in your situation, i feel that living with a both a super ideal round brilliant in the colorless range and a super ideal oec in the i/j color range will help you determine which you favor. or it could be that you favor both and will eventually have one of each in your collection.

super ideal round brilliants are readily available, plenty of inventory. however, super ideal oec are going to be much more challenging to find in a genuine antique stone. if you are alright with a victor canera round or an august vintage round then you can shop from their very limited inventory. in the likelihood that you don't find what you are looking for then you can always have a super ideal oec custom cut for you.

im in a similar(ish) journey of my own. had i not discovered the forum for myself years ago, i wouldn't have ever considered h color diamonds. i've had and worn these h color oecs for 6-7 years, i am in the process of trying to discover if i prefer colorless super ideal old cut style or if i prefer the near colorless h. based on what i am experiencing, i am leaning towards colorless old cut. but until i acquired a colorless old cut and lived with it for awhile, i wouldn't have been able to confidently make that determination.

as for round brilliants, my experience with them are limited to d color gia xxx. they just never did anything for me. to be certain, i had the opportunity to see super ideal round brilliant, and again, nothing. (although, seeing a stone and actually living with a stone are very different. i feel more is discovered in living with a stone or piece of jewelry) but even after seeing a super ideal round brilliant, i was not compelled to bring the diamond home

but after all ive said, im sure you likely already know ...

best of luck and hope you are having fun on your journey

 

[xxxxxx]

from what i understand, in your situation, i feel that living with a both a super ideal round brilliant in the colorless range and a super ideal oec in the i/j color range will help you determine which you favor. or it could be that you favor both and will eventually have one of each in your collection.

super ideal round brilliants are readily available, plenty of inventory. however, super ideal oec are going to be much more challenging to find in a genuine antique stone. if you are alright with a victor canera round or an august vintage round then you can shop from their very limited inventory. in the likelihood that you don't find what you are looking for then you can always have a super ideal oec custom cut for you.

im in a similar(ish) journey of my own. had i not discovered the forum for myself years ago, i wouldn't have ever considered h color diamonds. i've had and worn these h color oecs for 6-7 years, i am in the process of trying to discover if i prefer colorless super ideal old cut style or if i prefer the near colorless h. based on what i am experiencing, i am leaning towards colorless old cut. but until i acquired a colorless old cut and lived with it for awhile, i wouldn't have been able to confidently make that determination.

as for round brilliants, my experience with them are limited to d color gia xxx. they just never did anything for me. to be certain, i had the opportunity to see super ideal round brilliant, and again, nothing. (although, seeing a stone and actually living with a stone are very different. i feel more is discovered in living with a stone or piece of jewelry) but even after seeing a super ideal round brilliant, i was not compelled to bring the diamond home

but after all ive said, im sure you likely already know ...

best of luck and hope you are having fun on your journey

Thank you for sharing your thougts. If only there was rent the runway for fine jewelery

 

[LLJsmom]

Thank you for opening this thread! So interesting as a few years back (of what I've read in hindsight) a few people were going from MRB to OECs. I'm just about to cut a colorless MRB into an OEC. I just really don't care about the splintery look of a MRB. Then I sometimes think I've been brainwashed by PS to like OECs more and I doubt recutting my MRB. So reading your old thread when you were buying your OEC a few years ago was helpful!
Would you trade in your OEC for a Ideal Cut DEF MRB in a similiar size?
Or are you planning on having both a OEC and MRB?

I worry about newbies applying my responses to their search because I am guessing many people aren't as picky and anal as me.

To answer your question, would I trade in my OEC for a super ideal DEF MRB in a similar size? Only under a very specific set of conditions. So far, there is only one super ideal vendor whose MRB I would trade in for, in a very narrow color range, in a minimum size. I'm being vague because I am the process and feel weird disclosing until the project is actually completed. And then after I live with my new stone, I can tell whether I would be willing to do the trade. Again, a "me" issue, I do wonder about my "3 year itch" problem. That's about how long it takes for me to find issues, and discover that I need to do something about it. So I don't want to get rid of a stone, and find that I want it back in a couple of years. I do plan to have both, and see over time if I have mental issues of having two rings, which really doesn't have as much to do with the beauty of each, but more that I may NOT be ok with loving one more than another. I have all or nothing tendencies.

It has occurred to me that I may be a little bit brainwashed by PS and the love of OECs. But when I saw all the beautiful OECs in person, IRL, I admit that I love them. The kaleidoscope of bold pastel flashes are almost too beautiful to be real. They are soooo different from MRBs that for a long while I completely had NO interest in MRBs. It took time for me to learn that I could appreciate both.

 

[LLJsmom]

from what i understand, in your situation, i feel that living with a both a super ideal round brilliant in the colorless range and a super ideal oec in the i/j color range will help you determine which you favor. or it could be that you favor both and will eventually have one of each in your collection.

super ideal round brilliants are readily available, plenty of inventory. however, super ideal oec are going to be much more challenging to find in a genuine antique stone. if you are alright with a victor canera round or an august vintage round then you can shop from their very limited inventory. in the likelihood that you don't find what you are looking for then you can always have a super ideal oec custom cut for you.

im in a similar(ish) journey of my own. had i not discovered the forum for myself years ago, i wouldn't have ever considered h color diamonds. i've had and worn these h color oecs for 6-7 years, i am in the process of trying to discover if i prefer colorless super ideal old cut style or if i prefer the near colorless h. based on what i am experiencing, i am leaning towards colorless old cut. but until i acquired a colorless old cut and lived with it for awhile, i wouldn't have been able to confidently make that determination.

as for round brilliants, my experience with them are limited to d color gia xxx. they just never did anything for me. to be certain, i had the opportunity to see super ideal round brilliant, and again, nothing. (although, seeing a stone and actually living with a stone are very different. i feel more is discovered in living with a stone or piece of jewelry) but even after seeing a super ideal round brilliant, i was not compelled to bring the diamond home

but after all ive said, im sure you likely already know ...

best of luck and hope you are having fun on your journey

Yes, I agree. For some people, like me and maybe you, it takes a while of living with your stone to get to know it, the pros, cons, or just what is right for you. Congratulations for getting closer to knowing. What I've learned for sure. It's a process. I envy people who know early on and don't change their mind. Or the people who have the budget to get one of each, or more. Why agonize?

 

[Big Fat Facets]

Yes, I agree. For some people, like me and maybe you, it takes a while of living with your stone to get to know it, the pros, cons, or just what is right for you. Congratulations for getting closer to knowing. What I've learned for sure. It's a process. I envy people who know early on and don't change their mind. Or the people who have the budget to get one of each, or more. Why agonize?

i think it might also depend on the make. for me, i knew right away with a step cut. it was instantaneous. but i needed to be certain so i continued to shop around. eventually, i committed to a step cut and i am still thrilled with it. with ideal old style cut, i dabbled in warmer h color diamonds to experience it for myself. and i am glad that i did.

an idea would be to have a fine specimen of each of the cuts you love, just not neccessarily in ring form. if you love a colorless super ideal round brilliant you can enjoy it in the form of a solitaire pendant and your super ideal i-j color oec can be your ring or the other way around, i-j color oec as a pendant and colorless round brilliant as your ring.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I will agree that many of us, myself included, like more than one style diamond. I would take one of all the stones Yoram masterfully cuts, including Jonathan's AV stones, and then I'd have some superideal cuts, too! My studs are superideal cuts, and I think they are the best for great light return on the ears. I have seen a few antique diamonds that I'd be thrilled to have, but I also appreciate the craftsmanship of my new AV/OEC cut by Yoram. He told me they spent a lot of time on it, and I think it shows! I love my well cut antique asscher as well. Cut is definitely the most important factor for me, but I like higher color and clarity, also. It's just that in some of my stones, I had no choice in those specs.

I would not be able to just choose one...superideal, antique, ideal cut antique style. Each is beautiful in it's own way. One does have to come to know color, clarity, and size preferences, and most of the regulars here have gone through a few diamonds and settings to figure that out!

 

[LLJsmom]

Thank you for opening this thread! So interesting as a few years back (of what I've read in hindsight) a few people were going from MRB to OECs. I'm just about to cut a colorless MRB into an OEC. I just really don't care about the splintery look of a MRB. Then I sometimes think I've been brainwashed by PS to like OECs more and I doubt recutting my MRB. So reading your old thread when you were buying your OEC a few years ago was helpful!
Would you trade in your OEC for a Ideal Cut DEF MRB in a similiar size?
Or are you planning on having both a OEC and MRB?

Are you trying to decide about color of the OEC or whether you want an OEC? it sounds like you want an OEC for sure (rather than MRB). Are you trying to decide on color?

 

[xxxxxx]

Are you trying to decide about color of the OEC or whether you want an OEC? it sounds like you want an OEC for sure (rather than MRB). Are you trying to decide on color?

No my MRB is already colorless (: After reading PS and looking at a lot of diamonds in real life I came to the. Conclusion that longterm colorless would make me happy.

 

[nala]

Have you developed an action plan? Maybe if you share it, we can all chime in.

 

[LLJsmom]

No my MRB is already colorless (: After reading PS and looking at a lot of diamonds in real life I came to the. Conclusion that longterm colorless would make me happy.

I see. I wasn’t sure if you were ordering a MMD OEC or considering alternatives. I think you’ll probably love a colorless OEC. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

 

[xxxxxx]

I see. I wasn’t sure if you were ordering a MMD OEC or considering alternatives. I think you’ll probably love a colorless OEC. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

I‘m so excited and scared at the same time to see the result!

 

[Big Fat Facets]

I‘m so excited and scared at the same time to see the result!

i think it is going to be incredible! a colorless old european cut

are you able to share, which facility, you are having recut your round brilliant into an oec??

 

[LLJsmom]

I‘m so excited and scared at the same time to see the result!

Yes, I can imagine!! How long do you need to wait?

 

[missy]

No my MRB is already colorless (: After reading PS and looking at a lot of diamonds in real life I came to the. Conclusion that longterm colorless would make me happy.

@Lessics I am so excited for you and cannot wait to see you wearing your "old cut" beauty!
Knowing you need colorless "old cut" is most of the challenge. Knowing what you love and need. Good luck with the recut and I cannot wait to see you wearing and enjoying your beautifully recut diamond.

@LLJsmom it has been a journey for sure. One that we will always be on IMO in some form or another. And that is OK. The journey truly is part of the passion.

You love old cuts, you love modern cuts. Just with different qualities and characteristics. They are all beautiful. Some make your heart go pitter patter faster than others and happily you know what that takes. You have done all the hard (but fun too) work up to this point. You know what you love and what you need with each different cut of diamond. I am super excited for you.

To answer your thread question (though you already know my answer LLJ). For me it is antique cut all the way. I want one in every shape though. Old European cut is my top but I also love antique emerald cut, antique pear cut, antique oval cut, antique asscher cut, and maybe even an old mine cut too. LOL I want it all but I want them to be antique cut.

I have found my HG ER stone and for that I feel very fortunate. It was a journey for me as well. Reading what some of you have written rings true for me. Colorless OECs didn't do it for me, but too tinted didn't do it for me either. I definitely see color. My sweet spot (and it took many years to realize what my sweet spot it) is J (VS) GIA for old cut. I have a pretty specific range (GIA color) and sure there might be some outliers there but generally it is J that does it for me if the old cut is beautifully cut.

For modern cut (and yes I do appreciate modern cuts as well but my heart doesn't go pitter patter like it does for old cuts) it would be DEF. I had a G (GIA) MRB to start with and in hindsight while it was beautiful I would have wanted even higher a color. I am very color sensitive. But with old cuts I need a bit of color for those pastel chunkalicous colors. I lived with an I OEC and have seen higher color OECs that I spent time with as well. They didn't do it for me the way Bubbalah does. It is true she is cut beautifully (so was my first OEC that was an L) and I know that is necessary but for me not sufficient. That J in conduction with the cut made her my Holy Grail stone.

Having said that if I had a money tree I would want one in each antique cut. There is something special about old cut stones for me. And there is something special about high color MRBs too. And all of the beautifully cut diamonds in between of all colors and shapes.

Diamonds are beautiful. Diamonds have special meaning to many who wear them. And there is no right or wrong. It comes down to what makes *your* heartbeat go faster. And that takes time to know. You aren't born knowing it and sometimes it takes a journey of owning and living with a number of different stones to know which is *the one* for you. And for some it is more than one HG.

Why I love OECs.