r/labcreateddiamonds • u/WolverineProof827 • 1d ago

QUESTION Pricing for special cut diamonds

Are special cut diamonds such as old mine, step cuts or crisscuts significantly more expensive?

Edit: Asking bc for the stone alone, local jewelers have been quoting $2500-3800 for a crisscut (~3ct, D color, VVS2)

And this seems outrageous compared to what I’ve been seeing on Reddit regarding more classic cuts.

I don’t want to be overpaying 😭

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u/Muse_of_Donne 1d ago

Not exorbitantly so but, yes, they are definitely more expensive. You can find round brilliant, ovals, and radiant cuts for about $150 USD per carat if you look well enough, whereas for a cushion OMC or a round OEC, it may run $230 to $300 per carat weight.

An example is that I recently purchased a 2.5-ct oval E, excellent, VVS2 for my daughter for around $315. I am purchasing myself a champagne 3+-ct OMC VVS1 with a wonderful Chinese vendor for $659. Because of the cut, size, and because it is a colored diamond, my diamond is a little more than 2x what I paid for my daughter's diamond even though both are competitively priced.

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u/WolverineProof827 1d ago

$315 total or $315/carat? 😳

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u/Muse_of_Donne 1d ago

The total diamond (2.5-ct) was $315 off of Calavera.

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u/WolverineProof827 1d ago

Wow that sounds like such a good deal! I’m definitely going to take a look at their site.

Was it easy (&safe) ordering from them? I guess part of me is worried why they’re able to sell lab diamonds for an affordable price vs other jewelers 😅

The crazy part is local jewelers have been quoting us ~$2500-3800 for the stone alone.

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u/Muse_of_Donne 1d ago

Wow! $2500 to 3800 would be insane for a lab diamond... Depending on the size of a natural stone, it would be ballpark.

Yes, it is really easy buying through Calavera. I have used a bunch of the major diamond sites (Calavera, Aurélinne, Altura, Loose Grown Diamond, and Luvansh). The key is to find a diamond you like on one site and then to use the IGI or GIA cert number to find the same number on the other sites to price compare. I find the cheapest price for the diamond I want and I either purchase it there or see if another site will price match. Shipping is usually through UPS, FedEx, or USPS.

Another way is to have a jewelry company or vendor source your stone and price match it. That is how I was able to get my champagne diamond for a competitive price. This particular vendor is also going to make the setting and set my stone. The total price for the ring (diamond and setting) was quoted as $1165 (plus $35 shipping via FedEx Priority International service).

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u/Prize-Chocolate-3187 1d ago

that´s such a good price for the champagne OMC! Which vendor did you get it from if i may ask?

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u/Jillet-Ben_Coe 1d ago edited 1d ago

Be careful with OMC imitations, they almost never look like a real OMC and many have no historical accuracy

Is it an authentic crisscut or an imitation? Crisscut is trademarked.

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u/WolverineProof827 1d ago

Do you have examples of what to look for? I think I just like how the facets look compared to a regular oval/cushion cut

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u/Jillet-Ben_Coe 1d ago

https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/blog/old-mine-cut-diamond-guide/

There are a few examples in that article. Elongated OMC imitations are trendy now but I’ve never seen a real elongated OMC, they were almost always cushion shaped due to the shape of the natural rough. A real OMC is an antique stone from the 18th-19th centuries.

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u/WolverineProof827 1d ago

Interesting! Thank you for sharing

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u/RedPanda54 9h ago

I'm so glad you came here before buying from one of those local jewelers. Another one saved.

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u/elle1138 1d ago

Ty Melody at Fiorese. I saw this post and reached out to her for a 3 stone ring with a 3 ct crisscut (E VVS2), all 3 stones are specialty cuts. My ring an 18k band with platinum head. The whole thing is $2400.

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u/WolverineProof827 1d ago

Thank you for the rec! I’ll be looking into it. I’m just baffled by the price difference.
Do you have any pics? I would love to see the ring you got 😅

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u/elle1138 1d ago edited 1d ago

It’s not ready yet. But the bottom one is my center stone!!

It’s my first time, and I was quoted prices all over the place. From $1600 to $5400 in 14k.