Recuts - How much size are you willing to lose??

[msop04]

Random question here PLEASE help.
Has anyone used benzdiamonds.com
I was looking at a 2 carat diamond for ~10k-13k. They say everything is naturally made and Certified.
Why is it so cheap. I feel like I am missing something.

Thank you for the help

Hi! I haven't heard of this company, but you may want to start a new thread to ask... you'll get more responses that way.

 

[Shayne808]

Hi! I haven't heard of this company, but you may want to start a new thread to ask... you'll get more responses that way.

Thanks, i realized i made one in the wrong thread.

 

[msop04]

Thanks, i realized i made one in the wrong thread.

No problem!!

 

[donnabrsd]

I was fine to lose whatever weight to make 3 uncerted diamonds perform better and look better on paper incase I decided to sell. I spent about $1200 on the recuts, which was a long and unpleasant experience. They did not look better to me after the recut, I was actually more happy with them before. After six years of sitting unset, I ended up bringing them to GIA and spent $350 on grading reports. That made it worse because I feel they should have at least looked better on paper due to the recuts. They continue to sit unset and they definitely look smaller after the recuts! I think it would be better to save up and purchase something you love more than what you currently have rather than recut to something unknown.

 

[AV_]

@donnabrsd Was it one of the H&A cutters talked about around here that did this? I am sorry to hear...

 

[sledge]

I am also curious who performed your recuts. Can you please share a name? Also, do you mind sharing the original & updated certs if the stones that were re-cut? I am very curious where you started and where they went.

From the experiences I've read here, it seems people are usually very nervous to start the process and the wait period, and no one likes the loss of weight. But once done, most seem to really appreciate the improved performance they get.

I very sorry you had such an opposite and negative effect.

 

[sledge]

@sledge - I test drove an R8 a few years ago, but definitely spent longer researching and deliberating a 0.9 ct diamond purchase for an e-ring! (incidentally: I didn't gel with it and went for an AM Vantage instead).

Nice choice. I've not driven the Aston. What was the turn off with the R8 in comparison?



I'm quite the opposite when searching for a car. It all starts with attraction. Then I kind of flirt with the idea. Then I do loads of research and join forums to get into the nitty gritty. Then I start doing price comparisons. By this time I've usually made friends with someone in the community that helps me get a better than average deal. I then move money around for a cash purchase or secure my own financing.

On the plus side when I'm finally ready to pull the trigger I know exactly the vehicle, color and options I want. I go for a spirited test drive of the vehicle in question as I've learned exact models have minor performance variances and I have to also connect with the one I'm buying.

My wife is the opposite. She can walk in to buy X and walk out with Y and be so content, lol. For whatever reasons, cars have always been more to me.

 

[motownmama]

Brian Gavin recut mine. It went from 2.50 to 2.25. It was really sparkly and beautiful bf, but there were a few little nicks and I decided I just wanted it to be perfect.

 

[shady71]

About 15 years ago not really knowing much about diamonds, a good friend took DH and I to see her "diamond guy". This was before I knew about PS. With my friend's advice we purchased an uncerted 2.47 J SI1. It was set with new head on my existing chunky wide yellow gold ring that has about 1.7 tcw of round and baugetttes. I received an appraisal from the "guy's" wife, who was said to be a "Certified Appraiser". As a few years passed I eventually found PS and began learning just how badly cut my stone was, it was absolutely dead.

In 2009 I sent the ring to Brian Gavin for a recut. It went down from 2.47 to 2.105 and only lost .09 in diameter. Was graded as AGS-1, to cut for AGS-0 would have resulted in greater loss of weight.
I have no regrets having it recut, here is the before/after well as the finished ring. Original recut thread here

As an aside, it graded as K and other than weight just about everything in the "guy's wife's" appraisal was incorrect.

 

[missy]

About 15 years ago not really knowing much about diamonds, a good friend took DH and I to see her "diamond guy". This was before I knew about PS. With my friend's advice we purchased an uncerted 2.47 J SI1. It was set with new head on my existing chunky wide yellow gold ring that has about 1.7 tcw of round and baugetttes. I received an appraisal from the "guy's" wife, who was said to be a "Certified Appraiser". As a few years passed I eventually found PS and began learning just how badly cut my stone was, it was absolutely dead.

In 2009 I sent the ring to Brian Gavin for a recut. It went down from 2.47 to 2.105 and only lost .09 in diameter. Was graded as AGS-1, to cut for AGS-0 would have resulted in greater loss of weight.
I have no regrets having it recut, here is the before/after well as the finished ring. Original recut thread here

As an aside, it graded as K and other than weight just about everything in the "guy's wife's" appraisal was incorrect.

Wow! What a difference. That’s amazing.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree with you and the consensus here that you will regret the size loss. If your stone was deeper and only needed tweaking with little to no loss in diameter, that would be a different story. But it's a nice 60/60 with an amazing spread. You'd have to go above 3.5 cts in a superideal cut to get a similar diameter. You can always sell and buy a superideal later if you want to put the money into it. I am sure that no one would notice the difference besides you!

 

[donnabrsd]

@donnabrsd Was it one of the H&A cutters talked about around here that did this? I am sorry to hear...

Yes

 

[donnabrsd]

I am also curious who performed your recuts. Can you please share a name? Also, do you mind sharing the original & updated certs if the stones that were re-cut? I am very curious where you started and where they went.

From the experiences I've read here, it seems people are usually very nervous to start the process and the wait period, and no one likes the loss of weight. But once done, most seem to really appreciate the improved performance they get.

I very sorry you had such an opposite and negative effect.

Brian Gavin.

I would have to go look for the before specs. I did not take before photos and I do not think I even have close up photos of any. I know the largest started out at a 1.322

Here is part of the spreadsheet from GIA after the recuts...


I was not nervous at all about the process. And again, I was not nervous about the loss of weight. The wait time for the recutting was probably within the quoted timeframe. It was after the recut and trying to get responses and quotes for what I wanted to do with them, is the wait that I was not happy with.

I guess I expected the larger diamond to end up with an EX cut. Maybe I expected too much?

 

[donnabrsd]

@shady71 WOW, your recut is fabulous!

 

[shady71]

@shady71 WOW, your recut is fabulous!

Thank you, I have no regrets! But time to start thinking about a new setting, that one over 25 years old.

 

[distracts]

Brian Gavin.

I would have to go look for the before specs. I did not take before photos and I do not think I even have close up photos of any. I know the largest started out at a 1.322

Here is part of the spreadsheet from GIA after the recuts...


I was not nervous at all about the process. And again, I was not nervous about the loss of weight. The wait time for the recutting was probably within the quoted timeframe. It was after the recut and trying to get responses and quotes for what I wanted to do with them, is the wait that I was not happy with.

I guess I expected the larger diamond to end up with an EX cut. Maybe I expected too much?

looking at these, given the shallowness of the bigger diamond, I suspect it would have had to lose a LOT of size to get to superideal specs. All of them are on the shallower side of things, actually - idk if there was some discussion about how much size loss was acceptable but if so maybe that's a reason?

 

[Sopranojla]

I know this totally depends on the person and what their ultimate goals are... Don't get me wrong, I love my diamond as is, but I have been entertaining the idea of a recut for a little while, and have been considering it even more as of late. Here are my pros/cons:

Pros of Recut:
- ideal cut... duh!
- increase light performance/fire
- ideal cut for significantly less than trying to upgrade with another diamond altogether

Cons of Recut:
- regretting the loss of size
- failure to "see" the difference after all is said and done
- ending up with a lower color and/or inclusion(s) being more apparent
- risk of damage

So my stone is 9.8 x 9.75 right now... I think I'd be okay going down to 9.55-9.6, but not in the 9.4 range. I'm a size ho first, mind you. I just wanted to hear from others who have had this done to get a little more perspective.

Here are the stone's angles:

I agree with you and the consensus here that you will regret the size loss. If your stone was deeper and only needed tweaking with little to no loss in diameter, that would be a different story. But it's a nice 60/60 with an amazing spread. You'd have to go above 3.5 cts in a superideal cut to get a similar diameter. You can always sell and buy a superideal later if you want to put the money into it. I am sure that no one would notice the difference besides you!

This answer is particularly helpful for me, someone who is struggling with a recut myself.

I have a 1.16 H VS2 that measures 6.2 or 6.3mm, facing up at around .90 which tells me it is carrying most of the weight in the bottom. It’s currently set in a pendant that has a deep basket confirming my initial thoughts. It was a gift—was at one time my moms stone in her e ring. I feel bad that they paid for carat weight you can’t see. No PS back in the 80’s when it was purchased!

I’m in the process of working with David Klass on a setting; he will evaluate my stone once I send it to him and see if a recut would help the overall performance of the stone.

I was afraid of recutting it because it already appears small on my size 6.5-7 finger but I suppose there is some hope that that won’t happen. Plus the performance benefits from the recut will make it appear more appealing.
Right now, if it’s the slightest bit dirty, it looks terrible.

 

[mission1]

@sledge - we're way off topic, but the R8 just left me a bit cold. Some of the switchgear also reminded me of a TT! This was 2015 I think, and was to replace my first Aston - I ended up going for another Aston, and am now pondering replacement of my third and not sure what to replace it with. I change cars too often! I love the handbuilt element, the relative rarity, and how it drives (though the tech on my current car is way out of date!).

@shady71 - I love those before and after pics! Looks and sounds like an amazing recut result.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Simple rule - the more weight you remove (toward perfection) the better the result.
If you want to look great on the beach and you need to loose XX lbs or Kgs - and you loose half as much, you may go from Ugly to OK, but not gorgeous.
The only great way to save weight is to follow the 5:1 rule either side of 34.5/40.75.

 

[Mlh]

Simple rule - the more weight you remove (toward perfection) the better the result.
If you want to look great on the beach and you need to loose XX lbs or Kgs - and you loose half as much, you may go from Ugly to OK, but not gorgeous.
The only great way to save weight is to follow the 5:1 rule either side of 34.5/40.75.

@Garry H (Cut Nut) , what is the 5:1rule?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

@Garry H (Cut Nut) , what is the 5:1rule?

There is an inverse proportion ratio between crown and pavilion angles..
If you raise a crown angle by plus 1 degree you can compensate by lowering the pavilion angle by 0.2 degrees and vice-a-versa.
So if you crown angle is a bit steep for example you may only need to make the pavilion angle shallower there by reducing the overall carat weight loss.

 

[Mlh]

There is an inverse proportion ratio between crown and pavilion angles..
If you raise a crown angle by plus 1 degree you can compensate by lowering the pavilion angle by 0.2 degrees and vice-a-versa.
So if you crown angle is a bit steep for example you may only need to make the pavilion angle shallower there by reducing the overall carat weight loss.

Thank you @Garry H (Cut Nut) !!