Post # 1
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
After receiving a lot of advice from you all (thanks again!!), I’ve decided to get an enhanced moissanite gem, the setting will be custom made by a local jeweler. She didn’t even know moissanite existed until I showed her, so I doubt she can find any – though I did ask, I’m waiting for a reply. In the meantime, I’d like to look for it myself just in case she can’t find any.
My first and most important issue is that I’d like to avoid customs tax (which can get very pricey here, in Belgium) so if I can buy within the EU that would be great.
Secondly, I’d love an enhanced stone – preferably Forever Brilliant. (I found http://www.moissanite.co.uk but they only seem to carry unenhanced moissanite, I e-mailed to ask about enhanced stones).
Finally, I’ve seen several images of Old Euopean Cut stones, and I by far prefer those over the Round Brilliants I’ve been seeing everywhere on the various moissanite websites.
TL;DR: Any clue as to where I could find a 6.5mm/1ct Round OEC moissanite within the EU?
Those of you who have OEC enhanced moissanites, could you please share? (:
Post # 3
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: I am in the UK, where the tax is quite high – 20% VAT on imported goods, but I am still getting my OEC Moissy from the US. Because the quality of Moissanite here is just not the same (I think they are selling a lot of older stock here, because Moissy stones I had from US were cut better and were more colourless). I am getting an unenhanced OEC though. I just prefer unenhanced in antique cut. However, I have both unenhanced and FB RB (FB – 6.5mm and unenhanced – 6mm) and both are about the same as regards colour despite the fact that my FB is set in platinum and unenhanced is bezelled in yellow gold. Both don’t show any funky colour at all.
Also the price of Moissanite here is higher (even though it is not of the same quality as in the US) so I don’t mind paying extra duties to get a better quality stone.
Post # 4
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@sparkletiger: That’s interesting, I had no idea, though it does make a lot of sense. I found the OEC tab on MoissaniteCo (hah), and shipping is included, but unlike on Moissanite.com they don’t include the customs costs right away. Sadly on Moissanite.com they don’t have any enhanced OEC, which I do think I prefer after having seen pictures – would it be at all possible for you to post images of your two stones, if you have time? I’d really appreciate it (:
Post # 5
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: Both mine are Round Brilliant cuts . I have OEC on the way though (it is being set in a ring).
Here is my FB RB in platinum
Unenhanced RB is in a yellow gold ring with bezelled rubies:
Post # 6
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: I have been researching Moissy for a while now and trust me, the biggest problem with Moissy is not colour in FB v unenhanced, it is the consistency of cut. Wherever you decide to get your stone from, specify that you want a well cut stone. In a size like 6.5 mm I wouldn’t be concerned with colour of FB v unenhanced unless you are planning to use diamond melee stones in a halo or something like that and are worried about colour matching more precisely.
Post # 7
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@sparkletiger: I was going to mention the cut in any case, but thanks for reminding me! I keep seeing everywhere that that is the most important part. I will be using diamond melee in a halo,
this is the design I’ll be asking for. It’s not a HUGE deal if the stone isn’t exactly the same colour as the diamonds, but it would be a plus – I feel like the stone in this picture is actually a little yellowish, but it might just be the lighting, most of the seller’s gallery has a more golden tint in the lighting.
Post # 8
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: That is a fantastic design.. Share the pics when you get the ring!!! I understand why you want to go with FB (re matching),
@FutureDrAtkins has FB OEC in a double cushion halo and it matches beautifully…
Post # 9
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@sparkletiger: I definitely will! I’m actually stil torn on wether to get OEC or Round Brilliant… They both look nice but OEC had that little extra that makes me go back to it every time. The ring I linked you to has a FB RB, but the same shop has a OEC that looks very nice as well, but in a different setting.
What has your experience been like with customs tax? Did you buy loose stones or the entire piece?
Post # 10
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: To be honest, I love the look of OEC, but I love the look of modern cut RB too.
I decided to have both: my platinum set with RB, and now getting a YG set made with OEC. I will wear them according to how I feel I suppose.
With ruby Moissy ring – it was a second hand purchase from another forum member – and it was prong set, I reset the stones in bezel. I asked my friend to send it with the full value of sale (which was less than cost of new ring anyway).
With FB – I ordered it from MoissaniteCo – loose stone. They put $100 value on their packages and “costume jewelrey” description, so I hardly paid any taxes at all. However, there have been some threads here recently that people had problems with this in Canada (if I remember correctly).
I hope OEC ring gets here with no probs too. I don’t mind paying tax, I just want it all to go smoothly.
Post # 11
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@sparkletiger: That’s interesting about the costume jewelry description! Did you have to mention this at all during checkout or do they do it automatically?
Thank you so much for your help, you’ve made me feel a lot better about ordering from MoissaniteCo (:
Post # 12
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: No , they do it automatically when shipping. But some bees actually don’t like that because if Customs “work out” what happened , it is your responsibility (well, that is what they say). But in my case it went very well !
Post # 13
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@sparkletiger: I imagine it can also be negative in case the package is lost and you need to be refunded its value… Hmm!
I’m in contact with Steve from Moissanite.co.uk right now (on a Sunday evening, color me impressed), who said they don’t have OEC but they do have FB RB at a nice price, and no customs tax within the EU, so that’d be nice – but when I asked what cut and clarity I could expect he said “perfect” and “F” which doesn’t seem realistic to me… I thought only Amora gems went up to Excellent (as far as I know “perfect” doesn’t exist on that scale) and FB tends to stay between G and H? Am I being too picky about this? Sorry to keep sending you so many questions, haha! Thanks so much for putting up with me, I just want to do this right the first time.
Post # 14
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: I don’t like Amora Gems – I think they lack fire and something about them just looks odd to me. I hope you will get a nice stone from Steve! FBs do face up quite white and bright, but they can look like H – I or even J in crappy lighting. In your size of stone, I honestly wouldn’t worry.
Post # 15
Member
254 posts
Helper bee
@sparkletiger: He just replied saying it’s generation 2 FB, which reassures me! I think I’ll be ordering from them, they gave me a sizeable discount and even though they don’t have OEC moissanites, it’s too good to pass up. And even if the stone is horrible, it’s only a fraction of the price I would’ve paid elsewhere. Their T&C allow a 7 day “deciding” period so I can always return it.
From the pictures I’ve seen, I don’t much like Amora either – it looks too white rather than transparent, and I think I’d like the warmth of a near colorless stone better than a colorless one.
I’ll let you know how it goes in case you want to order there too (:
Post # 16
Member
669 posts
Busy bee
@perlerose: How wonderful! Do let me know how it goes. To be honest, as much as I adore OEC , I would put a modern cut stone in my e ring. I already have 3 rings with RB cut Moissy and just having an OEC as an extra set. But it is not one or the other for me, I love both. FB RBs are crazy fiery and the sparkle is spectacular …