Old European cut blue Zircon

[musicloveranthony]

A recent post inspired me to share this old European cut blue Cambodian zircon I had cut by Michelle Mai (https://www.instagram.com/mvmgems on Instagram). Michelle and I had talked about trying out an OEC on zircon to see how it would look. She happened to have some incredibly saturated and vibrant blue Cambodian zircon from Joe Henley Rough. She and Joe both said it was the highest quality blue zircon they'd seen. Interestingly, I have recently seen some blue zircon from Malawi that is incredibly high quality (might rival this batch).

All in all, I'm glad we did this experiment. I don't know that I would opt to have any of my zircon cut in OEC in the future, though. I don't think the cut style works as well as I'd hoped for with the double-refraction zircon displays. I think OEC works better with single refractive gems as they really allow the patterning to shine (see a recent post I made about an OEC YAG I had cut). I have a handful of pieces of zircon rough from Tanzania and Mozambique to eventually have cut, though

Please note there are two videos, so if you're interested make sure to scroll (and hit play) to see both

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[CaseyLouLou]

It looks nice but it seems to have an especially small table and a larger open culet. I experimented too with having a couple of spinels cut as OEC and while they turned out fine I think I learned that there is no real definition of what an OEC cut really means. It tends to chunkier facets and a higher crown and smaller table but to what degree? One of my OEC spinels has too low a crown and too small a table but it does have the chunky facets. It’s gorgeous but I prefer the higher crown and smaller (not tiny) table.

I also have a standard brilliant cut blue zircon that is absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn’t say it is any better or worse than the OEC vintage zircons in my vintage pendants, ring and brooches so maybe it doesn’t ‘need’ to be cut as an OEC but I do like the chunkier facets a bit more personally. I think I just like the idea that my vintage pieces have old cut stones in them.

 

[Neptune]

Very pretty.

 

[elle_71125]

It’s beautiful! I’ve seen a few OEC cut colored gems on here and it always makes me want to get one for myself. I think yours is just lovely.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I don't know that I would opt to have any of my zircon cut in OEC in the future, though. I don't think the cut style works as well as I'd hoped for with the double-refraction zircon displays. I think OEC works better with single refractive gems as they really allow the patterning to shine

I just want to say that I wasn’t meaning to criticize you stone. The color is gorgeous and the cut is amazing. I was just responding to your comment about not feeling that the OEC was the right cut and wanted to give you some insights into my experience with my own OEC cut experiments. I hope you enjoy your pretty blue zircon!

 

[dk168]

It’s beautiful! I’ve seen a few OEC cut colored gems on here and it always makes me want to get one for myself. I think yours is just lovely.

I love my OEC blue Zircon rehomed from another PSer.

DK

 

[Catmom]

It's a gorgeous stone and I personally like it cut as an OEC. My zircons are all brilliant cut and read very modern to me. I would love to have an OEC cut one.

 

[Mreader]

I think many zircons have their own cut referred to as a "zircon cut". It reminds me of a transition look. I no longer own this ring, but I made it from two different rings yet the cut was similar I think bc it was the zircon cut.

My new vertical ring from Daniel M with Vintage stones!

Ok so I didn't know whether to post this in colored gems, SMTB, show me your Daniel Ms etc. but settled on Antique and Vintage because I love this forum and I used old zircons from some vintage pieces. I was inspired by this vertical ring with transitional diamonds that I loved, but of course...

www.pricescope.com

I do love the oec cut of your stone!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I think many zircons have their own cut referred to as a "zircon cut". It reminds me of a transition look. I no longer own this ring, but I made it from two different rings yet the cut was similar I think bc it was the zircon cut.

That makes so much sense. All of my vintage zircons look like an old cut that I call an OEC but really are more like a transitional. And they all look spectacular.

 

[musicloveranthony]

That makes so much sense. All of my vintage zircons look like an old cut that I call an OEC but really are more like a transitional. And they all look spectacular.

Yes I think that's the cut I see on a lot of them too! I used to have a champagned colored zircon that was cut in a hearts and arrows and it was so beautiful! I lost that, though.

I also have one canary yellow zircon I'll post sometime that I had Ramon Tesoro (RTGemCutter on insta) cut for me that is done in one of his custom shapes. It's so different than what I'm used to seeing and it's really beautiful!

 

[musicloveranthony]

It looks nice but it seems to have an especially small table and a larger open culet. I experimented too with having a couple of spinels cut as OEC and while they turned out fine I think I learned that there is no real definition of what an OEC cut really means. It tends to chunkier facets and a higher crown and smaller table but to what degree? One of my OEC spinels has too low a crown and too small a table but it does have the chunky facets. It’s gorgeous but I prefer the higher crown and smaller (not tiny) table.

I know what you mean! This one has a very tall crown and very large culet. Almost like a round old mine cut in a way