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Please help me pick a fiery OEC/OMC

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Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 9, 2024
Messages
2
Happy Friday! Longtime lurker, first time poster :)

In the market for an antique cut diamond for an engagement ring. Looking at both OEC rounds and OMC cushions. *I'm a novice, so looking for any / all advice (and grace, as I'm bound to mis-explain/name what I'm looking for!).

My priorities are:
  • Maximize amount of fiery pastel flashes,
  • consistency across facets (in brightness, contrast, and symmetry - with minimal dark spots or shadows/windowing and no crushed ice areas or too disproportionately long facets that stand out/draw attention)
  • From this group, I've learned I also like the more pillowy table / higher crown (which I'm not sure any of these have)
Currently between two stones: link to all videos
  1. 3.02ct OEC, VS1, E -- for $7,802
  2. 2.60ct "modified OMC cushion" (per jeweler), VS2, E -- for $7,252
I feel both are beautiful...so, can I go wrong? Or are there better out there (balancing price with size, more pastel fire, pillowy-er top, etc.)? Really out of my element here.

NOTE: for context, these were sourced by a local jeweler I have been working with on ring design...which ended up being fairly basic and perhaps not much custom at all: A dainty bezel with an open cathedral (by Bonnie and tik tok = round examples (closely matches current design, only a little daintier on the bezel than tik tok)...cushion example (most similar bezel I could find with an OMC shape)).

Can someone please help/weigh in? - Looking for feedback on stones, prices, or even alternatives! Total budget ~$10K. Was quoted a little under $2K for design. Was hoping for something bigger than 2.5 carats. My fingers/knuckles are not dainty. Your help is GREATLY appreciated!

*please excuse the poor photography; no clue how all of you take such beautiful pictures!!*
 
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Hello and welcome! I am a HUUUGE lover of OECs! I also love the flashes of pastel colors. THere are a bunch of rts on here who can guide you. I personally just like what I like, and I LOOOVE the big broad flashes of pastels, i like a flowery petal pattern. @Dreamer_D is extremely well educated and knows OECs backwards and forward! Also @lovedogs @0-0-0

So, not an expert, BUT i have purchased I dont know 8 OEC? 2 I specifically cut and the rest i found just searching the internet. In my opinion you can do WAY better for that price. I just sold a loose 5 carat OEC for $3600 that was cut to tolkowsky ideals.

I have been toying with selling one of my 2 actual personally recut to ideal proportions OECs, It's 5.8 carats but I paid $10k and planned on listing it for $5k and was thinking "NO ONE will pay this much for it, I wont bother" - No one is paying $1000 a carat anymore let alone over $2k a carat!!

On the OEC you posted, all the center mains go dark at once, thats not considered a good thing, they should alternate on and off.

Its tough in the videos because whoever is modeling is moving them really fast but the faceting doesnt look like the flowery petals, they look thinner. The table is 57 which most here would say is too big.

I cant stress enough how over priced that is though.

The cushion I guess you could say is rare because if you want a cushion you would generally want that cushiony shape, this almost looks oval to me. If you like it then I guess you could consider it but I dont like the oval shape it just looks like a bow tie then, It doesnt have the cool cross shape of a OMC. Again, it's super over priced for what it is.

If you are paying that much i would go to Jon at distinctive gem or Victor Canera because theirs are beautiful

If you are not in a rush then i HIGHLY recommend Alex Parks on Instagram (parksantiquelab) because his prices are reasonable like $900/carat or so and his are gorgeous but he doesnt stock huge inventory

Even check preloved here , because there was a really pretty OMC halo on there

What do you think of this 4 carat kind of old mine looking cushion from ritani for 3400?

4.34 Carat Cushion Lab Diamond IGI LG645467636 | Ritani

4.34 Carat Cushion Lab Diamond VG Cut H Color VS1 Clarity with diamond report number IGI #LG645467636
www.ritani.com www.ritani.com
 
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Inked said:
If you are not in a rush then i HIGHLY recommend Alex Parks on Instagram (parksantiquelab) because his prices are reasonable like $900/carat or so and his are gorgeous but he doesnt stock huge inventory
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the reply. I think I am going to pass on these two and look more into Alex Park or the other two you mentions as theirs are stunning and I’d rather more forward with someone I can trust that specializes in these cuts.

I actually have had my eye on these two from the AP Instagram. Thoughts?


 
I was coming to say the same thing as inked about the original ones that you posted. Neither one of them really cuts the mustard for me. Both have a very flat kind of lifeless look in the facets under the table which I find is a really common problem with lab diamonds. I think it’s because often they’re cutting them from round brilliant cuts and so the proportions just aren’t right to translate into the antique cut. Typically the table is too big and the depth is not enough to really re-create what an antique looks like.

On the other hand, those one’s from Alex Park are really fantastic and I would probably consider either one of them. I’m less confident about the OEC because when I look at the lab report, the proportions aren’t quite what I would like to see. However… and if I say this, you better put that stone on reserve… that cushion is amazing. It is exactly what I look for in an old style cushion. It looks incredibly authentic, and I would personally buy it for my own collection if I were in the market.
 
You've got some very good advice so far. Those lab diamonds you posted are so over priced and not great examples.

Alex Park specialises in antique cuts and has some of the most authentic cuts. He can also do a very nice bezel setting if that's what you're after and it'll probably end up being half of your 10k budget.

That link that you posted on Instagram from Gemhoarder with the antique cushion bezel was done by David Klass which is also an option. You could buy the stone from Alex and have DK make a setting for you. Both are very good options.
 
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