Would you sacrifice colour in an OEC to maximise size?

[dk168]

I too fell in love OECs due to PS, and love wonky ones with characters like the ones I have seen at Ivy and Rose.

Happy to go down in colour and clarify to maximise the carat size.

DK

 

[Karl_K]

Its not a sacrifice if you enjoy it and like it.
If you don't enjoy it or don't like it then don't buy it.

 

[Agnasia]

I too fell in love OECs due to PS, and love wonky ones with characters like the ones I have seen at Ivy and Rose.

Happy to go down in colour and clarify to maximise the carat size.

DK

Yes Ivy and Rose seem to be a good option for OECs, I love their character too.

Its not a sacrifice if you enjoy it and like it.
If you don't enjoy it or don't like it then don't buy it.

Yes absolutely! Difficulty is getting the opportunity to see if I do enjoy it before having to commit.

 

[dk168]

With my idea for a wonky low colour OEC, the stone itself will be set in a Rose Gold metal halo of some sort instead of white metal, so that its tint is not as obvious as setting against white metal, as seen in some of the ring inspirations in the thread about getting O-P colour OEC.

DK

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I don't think of color as a sacrifice since I LOVE "lower colors". I go for the largest diamond with the most attractive cut as long as it's eye clean. My main diamonds have been an L asscher, a K rb, a P modern antique inspired cushion, and plenty of J-K french cuts

 

[RosieR]

I personally was happy to go down in colour, to a K, with SI clarity. There are some great deals to be had if you keep to our side of the pond, but you really need to look for them. I have found and bought great old cuts from John Joseph at Greys Antiques, In London. There are lots of stalls at Greys to help you train your eye. I also made a great purchase from a pawn broker in Birmingham who specialises in old cuts, and was able to make the purchase more palatable as I traded in an old cartier love bracelet I no longer wanted. What’s even better was he even has an upgrade policy!
One thing to be careful of is the dreaded European Diamond Report grading lab. Ishy Antiques and many others use this lab, and it’s TERRIBLE! If you do stick to buying in the uk, ask for your stone to be graded by Anchor cert. They are the most accurate grading lab here in the uk.

Also, if finger coverage at a good price is something you are thinking about, have you considered or tried on a Victorian OEC cluster ring?

 

[lulu_ma]

Oh good data on the EDR certs @RosieR ! I don’t have any experience with them.

 

[Agnasia]

With my idea for a wonky low colour OEC, the stone itself will be set in a Rose Gold metal halo of some sort instead of white metal, so that its tint is not as obvious as setting against white metal, as seen in some of the ring inspirations in the thread about getting O-P colour OEC.

DK

Aah ok that's a good point to consider. My main 'good' jewellery is in platinum, but I have a couple of cheap stackers in white gold and rose gold. I guess it depends on the tone of the tint? I would also need to consider if I would wear this ring with my wedding ring or whether to get another band to wear with it.

I don't think of color as a sacrifice since I LOVE "lower colors". I go for the largest diamond with the most attractive cut as long as it's eye clean. My main diamonds have been an L asscher, a K rb, a P modern antique inspired cushion, and plenty of J-K french cuts

It's wonderful to hear it doesn't have to mean a sacrifice as such, it seems they have their own charms and I just need to figure out if it's a love for me.

I personally was happy to go down in colour, to a K, with SI clarity. There are some great deals to be had if you keep to our side of the pond, but you really need to look for them. I have found and bought great old cuts from John Joseph at Greys Antiques, In London. There are lots of stalls at Greys to help you train your eye. I also made a great purchase from a pawn broker in Birmingham who specialises in old cuts, and was able to make the purchase more palatable as I traded in an old cartier love bracelet I no longer wanted. What’s even better was he even has an upgrade policy!
One thing to be careful of is the dreaded European Diamond Report grading lab. Ishy Antiques and many others use this lab, and it’s TERRIBLE! If you do stick to buying in the uk, ask for your stone to be graded by Anchor cert. They are the most accurate grading lab here in the uk.

Also, if finger coverage at a good price is something you are thinking about, have you considered or tried on a Victorian OEC cluster ring?

Thank you, this is such great advice. I haven't been to Greys Antiques, so I will l go and have a look if they have lots of choice, I just automatically thought of Hatton Garden! The pawn broker in Birmingham sounds like a great find.

I had no idea about the labs, I think I'm in the US bubble of AGS, GIA and EGL! It sounds like the European Diamond Report is the equivalent of an EGL report! I had never heard of this or Anchor, so really appreciate this.

I have seen lots of pretty OEC clusters but not sure if they will satisfy the big(ish) rock itch, but definitely worth trying a couple to see what I think. Thanks for the suggestion!

Oh good data on the EDR certs @RosieR ! I don’t have any experience with them.

Yes this was all new info to me and good to know!

 

[Lookinagain]

My OEC/transitional (not really sure which it is) is a K and shows very little tint. I could easily go to an L and do have some smaller OEC's that are L's and look pretty white. At M, I do see more tint. I tend to put lower color stones (M and below) in yellow or rose, depending on the color of the tint. Here's my GIA K.



these are newly cut antique cushions, AGS M color, set in yellow

 

[lovedogs]

I don't think of color as a sacrifice since I LOVE "lower colors". I go for the largest diamond with the most attractive cut as long as it's eye clean. My main diamonds have been an L asscher, a K rb, a P modern antique inspired cushion, and plenty of J-K french cuts

Exactly my thoughts as well!! I don't see it as a sacrifice so it wouldnt bother me. But people differ in terms of color tolerance

 

[junebug17]

@Agnasia, I agree with pps, it all comes down to personal preference and color tolerance. I don't want to mislead...I currently have a GIA N, two GIA M's, and an EGL J, and I see tint in all of them occasionally. For some reason the N looks more tinted in pics than what I see IRL. I took a chance and luckily it worked out for me. That said, some people would not be happy with my diamonds. It would be great if you could see a few different colors IRL. That's really the only way you'll know for sure.

 

[Agnasia]

My OEC/transitional (not really sure which it is) is a K and shows very little tint. I could easily go to an L and do have some smaller OEC's that are L's and look pretty white. At M, I do see more tint. I tend to put lower color stones (M and below) in yellow or rose, depending on the color of the tint. Here's my GIA K.



these are newly cut antique cushions, AGS M color, set in yellow

Your diamond is beautiful! It also looks very white to me. Those cushions are gorgeous, are they from distinctive gem? I wish yellow gold worked on me but it just doesn't, rose gold is ok but I like it more as a contrast against other white metals. I like the idea of unplated white gold, my white gold stacker I have never had re-plated and it looks a bit softer which I like but not sure how that would look against a lower colour.

Exactly my thoughts as well!! I don't see it as a sacrifice so it wouldnt bother me. But people differ in terms of color tolerance

I don't think I will be bothered by it either. However, does it affect which bands you wear with the lower colours? Most diamond bands seem to have higher colour melee? The diamonds in my wedding band are from an antique brooch but they look pretty white.

 

[Agnasia]

@Agnasia, I agree with pps, it all comes down to personal preference and color tolerance. I don't want to mislead...I currently have a GIA N, two GIA M's, and an EGL J, and I see tint in all of them occasionally. For some reason the N looks more tinted in pics than what I see IRL. I took a chance and luckily it worked out for me. That said, some people would not be happy with my diamonds. It would be great if you could see a few different colors IRL. That's really the only way you'll know for sure.

Yes that's what I think I'm going to try and do. I might be able to get in to London tomorrow, I'll see.

 

[junebug17]

Yes that's what I think I'm going to try and do. I might be able to get in to London tomorrow, I'll see.

If you do, let us know how it goes! I'd love to visit London, I wish I could go with!

 

[Austina]

My OEC is an L and I would describe the colour as vanilla. They definitely pick up colour from their surroundings, but honestly, I think the fact that they’re not usually stark white is all part of their charm.




I went to Berganza, but I found them to be very pricey.

 

[Agnasia]

If you do, let us know how it goes! I'd love to visit London, I wish I could go with!

I’m going in! Packing the kids off to tennis in the morning. I have to pop to Harrods first to get the post changed on a Maria Tash piercing but then I’m planning to go to Grays Antiques as it’s not too far away.

My OEC is an L and I would describe the colour as vanilla. They definitely pick up colour from their surroundings, but honestly, I think the fact that they’re not usually stark white is all part of their charm.




I went to Berganza, but I found them to be very pricey.

Oh it’s beautiful, I like softness and love the description of vanilla, sounds so scrummy!

Ha ha Berganza is the shop I didn’t dare go in, I just drooled over what was in the window!!

 

[RetroQT]

I’m going in! Packing the kids off to tennis in the morning. I have to pop to Harrods first to get the post changed on a Maria Tash piercing but then I’m planning to go to Grays Antiques as it’s not too far away.



Oh it’s beautiful, I like softness and love the description of vanilla, sounds so scrummy!

Ha ha Berganza is the shop I didn’t dare go in, I just drooled over what was in the window!!

Get pictures!!!!

 

[Lookinagain]

Those cushions are gorgeous, are they from distinctive gem?

The center one was purchased pre-loved so I'm not sure it it is from DG or from GOG. I was able to find the small sides at GOG last year (which was lucky and with the help of a PSer).

 

[Agnasia]

Get pictures!!!!

I will - promise!!

The center one was purchased pre-loved so I'm not sure it it is from DG or from GOG. I was able to find the small sides at GOG last year (which was lucky and with the help of a PSer).

What a good buy, they are beautiful and go so well together.

 

[RosieR]

I’m going in! Packing the kids off to tennis in the morning. I have to pop to Harrods first to get the post changed on a Maria Tash piercing but then I’m planning to go to Grays Antiques as it’s not too far away.



Oh it’s beautiful, I like softness and love the description of vanilla, sounds so scrummy!

Ha ha Berganza is the shop I didn’t dare go in, I just drooled over what was in the window!!

Enjoy Greys!
Make sure to take loads of pictures and video on your phone. Do pop by the following stalls:
1. John Joseph antiques - you can check out some of his inventory online or on his Instagram account https://www.john-joseph.co.uk/
2. Wimpole antiques
3. Anthea (can’t remember the name of her stall, she’s downstairs on the right hand side) so friendly chatty and kind!

Veer right when going in the main entrance to see 1 and 2. Just get chatting with the vendors most people are friendly and open. That’s how and when vendors started to offer discount in the sticker price on their items.
Oh and have fun!! I’m excited for you

 

[Agnasia]

Enjoy Greys!
Make sure to take loads of pictures and video on your phone. Do pop by the following stalls:
1. John Joseph antiques - you can check out some of his inventory online or on his Instagram account https://www.john-joseph.co.uk/
2. Wimpole antiques
3. Anthea (can’t remember the name of her stall, she’s downstairs on the right hand side) so friendly chatty and kind!

Veer right when going in the main entrance to see 1 and 2. Just get chatting with the vendors most people are friendly and open. That’s how and when vendors started to offer discount in the sticker price on their items.
Oh and have fun!! I’m excited for you

Thank you so much - this is perfect! Really appreciate all the recommendations and I will take lots of photos!

 

[Agnasia]

I may have asked for a video comparing a couple of diamonds! The left is a N and the right O-P, both VS2 and GIA certs. I see the tint more in the O-P but in this lighting I like it. Are the centres a bit dark?

17302_17457-hand.mp4

drive.google.com

 

[Lookinagain]

Sorry, it's making me download to view and I won't download. Can you post it on utube? I think that permits us to view without downloading.

 

[Austina]

Just based on what I can make out from the video, yes, I can see more tint in the larger stone, but I also like the facet pattern more.

I did go in to Berganza, they were very nice, and not at all pushy, just found their prices OTT.

 

[lulu_ma]

I may have asked for a video comparing a couple of diamonds! The left is a N and the right O-P, both VS2 and GIA certs. I see the tint more in the O-P but in this lighting I like it. Are the centres a bit dark?

17302_17457-hand.mp4

drive.google.com

Hard to tell from the just the one vid, but the center of the OP looks a little dark. This is more of a comment on the cut not the color comparison between the N and the OP. I would be curious to know what the depth differences are in the two stones.

 

[Agnasia]

Sorry, it's making me download to view and I won't download. Can you post it on utube? I think that permits us to view without downloading.

YouTube isn’t working for me at the moment, I have uploaded it to Vimeo. Hope this link works!

N and O-P OEC

This is "N and O-P OEC" by Agnes Dewhirst on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

vimeo.com

 

[Agnasia]

Just based on what I can make out from the video, yes, I can see more tint in the larger stone, but I also like the facet pattern more.

I did go in to Berganza, they were very nice, and not at all pushy, just found their prices OTT.

Yes I like the larger one better.

Berganza did seem intimidating so that’s good to know. Looking online their prices seem really high, similarly overpriced compared to one of the other shops I went to.

 

[junebug17]

The OP seems just ever so slightly more tinted but honestly I'm not seeing a big difference between the two. I like the faceting of the larger one better. As for the dark center, it's so hard to judge by one video. Could be camera reflection, could be the cut, hard to tell.

 

[Agnasia]

Hard to tell from the just the one vid, but the center of the OP looks a little dark. This is more of a comment on the cut not the color comparison between the N and the OP. I would be curious to know what the depth differences are in the two stones.

The left (N) has a table of 58% and depth of 61.6%; the right (O-P) has a table of 54% and a table of 61.4% so depths are very similar!

 

[Agnasia]

The OP seems just ever so slightly more tinted but honestly I'm not seeing a big difference between the two. I like the faceting of the larger one better. As for the dark center, it's so hard to judge by one video. Could be camera reflection, could be the cut, hard to tell.

I feel like there’s more nuance in the O-P and the N seems flatter somehow, not sure if that makes any kind of sense though!! Is it worth asking for another video just of the O-P?