What do you think of this Champagne OEC diamond?

[GemFever]

Dear PSers,

A friend of mine was browsing NYC's diamond district and saw this champagne OEC (or OMC? Not sure in this case) diamond. It's 1.6ct, around 6.7mm, 5mm deep. Not graded, but based on some googling, she's guessing it's around a C3-4 champagne color. It also has eye-visible inclusions, so it's probably in the I-1-2-3 range, I'm guessing. We're both kind of scratching our heads and wondering whether to jump at this stone, which is being offered to her for $1.5K. She's more into non-diamond Colored Stones, so I wanted to offer some advice, but realized I'm also stumped when dealing with non-white diamonds. It looks like a pretty OEC/OMC, the facets seem lively enough. The crown is nice and pretty. Inclusions are a turn-off, but for the price and color maybe can be overlooked? It's new territory to me, so I'd love to hear your opinions.

I tried to see what ebay would tell me, the only similar stone I found was this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380448716946?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Which is significantly smaller in diameter, but looks much cleaner.

Then there is a pretty champagne OEC on DBL, which is again, smaller but cleaner:

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-67ct-old-european-cut-fancy-yellowish-brown-vs2-gia-r4444

Would you go for the 1.6ct included one? How's the price?

 

[mimB]

The pattern the facets make around the table looks gorgeous!
Does this stone count as deep, though, for its face?

Also, maybe also post this in Rocky Talky? I believe colored diamonds are also discussed there...

 

[kenny]

Value depends on grades.
Without a GIA report the value cannot be determined.
Tell the seller to send it to GIA then give you a call when the report arrives.

IMHO, it is not graded for a very good reason...to sucker someone into overpaying.

Also I'd never buy a round that deep.
It will have horrible light performance.
I realize FCDs are cut to strengthen the color, but I usually hold out for the few that also happen to have good light performance too- unless the color is unique and rare and highly desirable but this brown isn't a unique and rare FCD hue.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I would not buy it without a report. I think they are using the fancy name to get you to buy a stone that is probably S-T with a brown modifier (or something) and obvious inclusions under the table. Is it worth $1500? Not to me The cut is not that great anyways, I bet the under table area is lazy and dark. Those pics are all at an angle, looking straight on I am guessing Nail Head.

And I love brown diamonds, just not that one.

 

[ForteKitty]

Also I'd never buy a round that deep.
It will have horrible light performance.

Kenny, that's not a round brilliant. I have seen a 66% depth old european with excellent light performance. It had a tiny table and a gorgeous, fat crown. It was gorgeous.

That said, I do NOT think this one will have good light performance. The area under the table looks like windmills, which generally will appear dark and lifeless. A nailhead. When I see any hint of a windmill in a potential stone, I avoid!

 

[GemFever]

MimB: I also like the flowery look of the peripheral facets. Neat stuff. I wonder, though, how they would look IRL. Maybe just busy?

Kenny: I agree that it needs a report, especially to pass by PS standards. I'll suggest this to my friend.

Dreamer: I was wondering whether it might be a low color with some brown thrown in, as opposed to champagne. But my friend doesn't think it's the case. She also said there is no nail head as far as she can tell.

ForteKitty: I don't have anything against windmills per se. My OMCs have windmill faceting (I didn't call them that before, but now that you mention it, it's a pretty good description), and they perform just fine as earrings. Maybe it's different in a ring, I'm not sure. I agree with you that old stones have a special relationship with depth and fat crowns, so I wouldn't reject this stone just based on depth.

In the end, it'll be my friend who makes the decision. If I were making the decision... well, I'd have to see how it performs and what those inclusions look like IRL. But hypothetically, if I were to buy a brown diamond, I'd want it to be way more brown. More cognac than champagne. Well, good thing it's not my decision this time around

Thanks!

 

[justginger]

Honestly, I like it. I like the hue and saturation and could overlook the inclusions because they're not black boogers. It's a giant bonus that it's also an old cut, which makes my heart start racing.

Is the pricing fair? No clue. Comparing FCDs is nearly impossible, though certainly there are more champagnes around than most other colors. I don't think there's any chance that stone is an S-T. Having an O-P myself, the difference between it and this stone is night and day - no chance there's only 3 color grades separating them. I have no doubt this is a fancy brown.

Can she buy it with a return policy in place? Have it sent to GIA, have an appraiser look at it, then make the decision to keep or return.

 

[GemFever]

justginger: I'm so happy to hear a positive take on the stone. To be honest, I kinda want her to buy it, so then I can play with it Or maybe take it off her hands *if* she gets tired of it and I save up some money. It's up to her at the moment. I think there is no return policy exactly, but she can examine it before she commits to buy. I think she may take it to a smaller lab in NYC for their opinion, she's a bit of a regular around those parts. Just not usually dealing with diamonds.