Victorian OEC Diamond Lavalier Pendant

[Dreamer_D]

This was a pleasant surprise when it arrived this morning.

I bought this on ebay based on the worst photos I have seen yet (see below). It was said to have an approximately 5mm diamond, and since I was looking for a stone that size, I took a chance and bought it for a very good price. Of course

My plan was to cannibalize it for the stone, but it is simply too beautiful. The diamond is smaller than advertised, clocking in at about 4.2mm to the inner edges of the bezel. I suspect it is 4.5mm or about 0.30ct, loose. It is white, clean, and beautifully cut, and as I suspected, an Old European.

The pendant needs a new chain (the one it came with is cheap gold filled junk), but otherwise it is perfect. Once I spruce it up and get a new chain, I will be giving it to my mom for her uncoming 60th birthday! I think it matches her engagement ring very well, which is an OEC in a yellow gold buttercup style mount.

First up, the hideous vendor photos. It saddens me when sellers cannot do better with their photography. I think she easily could have sold this for twice what I paid if people knew its true beauty.

 

[Dreamer_D]

And my photos.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The pendant is quite delicate, being about 1 inch top to bottom. I think my mom will love it! It is very much her style.

 

[LibbyLA]

Doesn't even look like the same diamond in the seller photos and yours. Beautiful diamond, beautiful pendant. I can see why you don't want to cannibalize it.

liz

 

[TravelingGal]

Dreamer, great find, and another pretty stone! And how nice of you to give to your mom.

But those vendor pics It actually makes me chuckle that you wouldn't have bought the recent RL 2+ carat ring based on their pics, which were WAY better than these horrid pics! Must have been a steal with a great return policy!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Dreamer, great find, and another pretty stone! And how nice of you to give to your mom.

But those vendor pics It actually makes me chuckle that you wouldn't have bought the recent RL 2+ carat ring based on their pics, which were WAY better than these horrid pics! Must have been a steal with a great return policy!

I paid $150 with 7 day returns It was a killer deal when the stone was 5mm as advertised, but still decent at 4.3mm+. The least expensive comps were $220. Anyways, I will gamble on that much money, but not on $5k.

Libby I know, they are horrendous photos. But I saw potential. You can see the little table.

 

[TravelingGal]

Dreamer, great find, and another pretty stone! And how nice of you to give to your mom.

But those vendor pics It actually makes me chuckle that you wouldn't have bought the recent RL 2+ carat ring based on their pics, which were WAY better than these horrid pics! Must have been a steal with a great return policy!

I paid $150 with 7 day returns It was a killer deal when the stone was 5mm as advertised, but still decent at 4.3mm+. The least expensive comps were $220. Anyways, I will gamble on that much money, but not on $5k.

Libby I know, they are horrendous photos. But I saw potential. You can see the little table.

Ooh girl, for that price, leave it as is, and give it to your mom. It looks to be a really pretty stone and yeah, I'd gamble for that much. 5+K would give me a heart attack. 4.3K nearly did me in!

 

[athenaworth]

OH wow, D! I'm so glad you're keeping it as is, it's amazing!

 

[Burk]

Another great find, DD!!

 

[Lotus99]

It's a really pretty piece, with a very pretty diamond, at a great price! The vendor pics are definitely a turn-off.

 

[Laila619]

Beautiful!! You have a knack.

 

[Christina...]

The diamond is super gorgeous, hard to believe its the stone stone as the vendor pic. I'm super envious of your ebay skill!!

 

[Rhea]

Very nice! $150 is a super bargain. I'm a bit disappointed to find out that it's not going to be one of your sidestones, but it'll make a great gift for your mother.

And um, no shame in having 5. I have 5. It's a good number.

 

[Amys Bling]

dreamer you are amazing. In your photos it looks like a completely different stone!!! Great find

 

[Dreamer_D]

The diamond is super gorgeous, hard to believe its the stone stone as the vendor pic. I'm super envious of your ebay skill!!

Comparing the photos it is like Jekyll and Hyde! Somehow I was optimistic. I have not been wrong yet interpeting these crappy pictures. You see the tiny little table in the first photo, and the long kite facet reflecting blue? You can also get a sense of the steep crown in that first picture too. The second photo also shows some very bright light patches, which in a really crappy cut stone you would not really see that contrast pattern at all, even masked as it is in that picture. Those are the signs I look for.

 

[Gypsy]

Can I make a design suggestion you can take or leave? I'd remove the pearl drop and the loop that attaches to it. I think it would make it a much cleaner design plus I don't really like that pearl, to ME it's a very inexpensive looking pearl whereas the rest of the pearls and the pendant are very upscale looking.

Great buy!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Gypsy in person the pearl on the bottom is a really pretty lustrous fresh water pearl It looks good. Scale is a little hard to determine in the pictures, when I ordered it I thought I would take the pearl off too. But now I like it. But I wil think about it when I have it cleaned up and the new chain attached!

 

[Mrsacornblue]

Can I make a design suggestion you can take or leave? I'd remove the pearl drop and the loop that attaches to it. I think it would make it a much cleaner design plus I don't really like that pearl, to ME it's a very inexpensive looking pearl whereas the rest of the pearls and the pendant are very upscale looking.

Great buy!

I agree with Gypsy...I think that the pearl at the bottom is an odd addition. But, whatever you decide to do, it is a very lovely piece and I'm sure your mom will greatly enjoy it!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Here is a very unflattering neck shot for perspective, it is a dainty little thing. Looking now at the pendant again, the pearl does draw attention away from the diamond. But I also think the style of the pendant needs something there. What about a small briolet instead?

I just asked my husband and he said, 'The pearl sort of looks like a blob of bird poop hanging there!" But, without it, "It just looks like a Christmas tree!"

Not sure how much help that is.

 

[TravelingGal]

A plain small pearl that's round maybe? They can't cost that much...

I agree that something dangling there looks nice.

 

[SparklyOEC]

Dang girl! Another great find. I love it and am glad you are keeping it as is. I also love the idea of a briolet.

 

[alene]

Wow, great find! Hope your mom enjoys it!

 

[slg47]

Dreamer i'm sure you can get PP to make a pearl teardrop dangly or round dangly for not too much $$. They will install the pearl cap for free.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Dreamer i'm sure you can get PP to make a pearl teardrop dangly or round dangly for not too much $$. They will install the pearl cap for free.

I looked there (after I figured out what PP was) and all the loose ones are so big? I think I need a tear drop shape, white, and no bigger than about 4-5mm. Help?

 

[Cachette]

Beautiful pendant! Great find!!


Cachette

 

[FairieMoon79]

Maybe replace the pearl with your moms birthstone in a bezel?

 

[slg47]

Dreamer i'm sure you can get PP to make a pearl teardrop dangly or round dangly for not too much $$. They will install the pearl cap for free.

I looked there (after I figured out what PP was) and all the loose ones are so big? I think I need a tear drop shape, white, and no bigger than about 4-5mm. Help?

oh sorry...I ordered a 7 mm tear drop shape I think? Anyway I would talk to them and ask if they might have a smaller one (you can use the online chat if you don't like phone, I found it to be super helpful). The 7 mm is only $15 and the finding is $12 in 14kt.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Maybe replace the pearl with your moms birthstone in a bezel?

I was thining of her birthstone in a briolet, it is peridot and that would look nice. I will find a bead and gem store and look at options.

 

[athenaworth]

Maybe replace the pearl with your moms birthstone in a bezel?

I was thining of her birthstone in a briolet, it is peridot and that would look nice. I will find a bead and gem store and look at options.

I was just going to suggest that!

 

[Gypsy]

I just asked my husband and he said, 'The pearl sort of looks like a blob of bird poop hanging there!" But, without it, "It just looks like a Christmas tree!"

Aren't husband's wonderful with all these bling decisions?

I don't think I'd add a peridot briolette. They usually aren't saturated enough to stand on their own on the chest, they can be kinda see through. I'd do a pearl just one that looks less like bird poop. 15 bucks: http://www.pearlparadise.com/Loose-White-Freshwater-Drop-Pearl2219.aspx