Thoughts on this OEC stone?

[stray_mammoth]

Hello! I am considering purchasing this OEC from Alex Park. It's uncertified, so I don't have any specs beyond the estimated E/F color grade and VVS/VS clarity. I've heard great things about Alex Park OECs, but I'm new to diamonds, so don't quite have the eye yet to evaluate. I've mostly been relying on certificates so far and look at table and depth %s.

Here is a link to videos and a photo.

Would love any feedback / advice on:

1. Does this look like a good stone? Any major flaws/issues that you can detect?
2. Should I be concerned that there's no certificate? Should I try to ask them to get it certified before purchasing? Alex Park seems trustworthy from the reviews on this forum, so it sounds like I should be safe, but I'm also wary of my first stone purchase being uncertified.

Thank you!

 

[lala646]

Hard to say. Honestly, both the video and photos are terrible. I would ask for better images.

 

[Dreamer_D]

It always feels vaguely misleading when they immediately flip a gem like this. Can’t see anything of the faceting at all!

 

[Inked]

What size is it?

I just received yesterday 1 carat, 2 carat and 1.5 carat from his post last week... I'm making earrings. I am a bit of a snob with my faceting, and they're not perfect, but for the price i am MORE than thrilled.

I wouldnt love it for a 4 carat ring (meaning blowing up this faceting to a larger size), but for 1 and 2 ct, for that price, I'm very happy.

I guess i feel like : for that PRICE, they are AMAZING... they're not 'amazing' for normal price point, but they're not normal price point, so for this price, I am thrilled with them. LOL

Is this better for you to evaluate @Dreamer_D ? Again, these are from the lot he posted last week, so assuming it's similar if its from his post of 1 carat (275$), 1.5 ($500) and 2 carats ($875) i assume they're all about the same





*Note: i didnt actually clean them before I took the pics lol

 

[stray_mammoth]

Hard to say. Honestly, both the video and photos are terrible. I would ask for better images.

That was my immediate reaction to the videos as well, but I wasn't sure if it was just me being a novice and not knowing how to evaluate the videos. Good to know it's not just me!

They originally sent me the tweezer video. I responded asking for another video that showed the face better, and then they sent the other video, which is impossible to see light through the stone. Any advice on what video specifics to ask for? A tweezer video near natural light showing the face slowly?

 

[stray_mammoth]

@Inked it's a 2 carat stone from the recent post. Sounds like your stone is from the same batch. Good to know you are happy with yours!

When you say "they're not perfect," what are the things that you think could be better?

And were you able to see a good video of the stone before purchasing? Feels a bit like I am pulling teeth to get a video out of them, but it seems like it shouldn't be that hard for them to send one? The other videos they post on IG of stones are totally fine.

 

[Rfisher]

Random question - don’t know if I’m adding anything to this discussion or not -
Don’t they usually specify whether it’s their custom cut /not cut by us
And that’s to be taken into consideration when evaluating the stones he offers ?

 

[stray_mammoth]

@Rfisher this one is custom cut, according to the IG post

 

[Dreamer_D]

Those prices are so low! Wild. And frankly, you need to take that into consideration and temper your expectations for service and lab reports. I think there is enough trust built that you know they are lab diamond material. Beyond that, for that price, seems like you just take it.

The cuts are okay. They are chunky and approximate what natural old cuts look like. @Inked has seen a lot of newly cut, old style labs so she has a good feel for what is possible and what compromises there may be. If these satisfy her, considering price et al., then I think that's good enough. There are better cut -- better in terms of optics and light play (more complimentary angles, nicer patterning) and/or better in terms of more closely approximating true antiques. But you will pay more for those. So its all about priorities!

I think personally for a ring, and given the price of settings these days, I would prefer to have a higher level of service and a lab report and I would pay the extra $500 or whatever to get it.

 

[Dreamer_D]

See this is why I would want more images, lab report, better service to select for a ring, because if it looks like the one on the bottom, or maaaaybe the top, great, but I am not as much a fan of the one in the middle or the 2ct. And I would want to choose for a ring.

 

[Rfisher]

See this is why I would want more images, lab report, better service to select for a ring, because if it looks like the one on the bottom, or maaaaybe the top, great, but I am not as much a fan of the one in the middle or the 2ct. And I would want to choose for a ring.

This answers my question of their custom cuts being static in type, or not.
I think?

 

[Inked]

Random question - don’t know if I’m adding anything to this discussion or not -
Don’t they usually specify whether it’s their custom cut /not cut by us
And that’s to be taken into consideration when evaluating the stones he offers ?

No you are absolutely right … and they never actually answered… they said “custom cut” but everyone was asking “cut by you??” and they didn’t actually answer. Again for me, it’s not for a ring, they’re soooo inexpensive, so I’m very satisfied. If it were for a ring, I agree wholeheartedly with @Dreamer_D , I would want a cert/more video or pics

 

[Dreamer_D]

This answers my question of their custom cuts being static in type, or not.
I think?

Yeah these all look fairly different to me, but as a matter of degrees. They aren’t wildly different.