Hi All,
I love building checklists, find it helpful when there are so many factors to consider, like when buying diamonds.
Below are what I have managed to pool from different resources and threads.
The simple way, as discussed in another thread is: ideal proportions -> HCA <= 2? If yes, get IS & ASET images? If they look good, done.
Maybe this is nitpicking, but I find asking (at least some) of these questions BEFORE purchase helpful (or better still, during the selection process, to whittle down some before badgering the ever so patient sales associates).
It minimizes buyer's remorse and better than finding our self second-guessing our choice and thought about these AFTER the fact (or worse, after the return window has expired).
And my understanding is, no matter how simple the process is, both consumers and vendors would like to avoid returns/exchanges.
Would appreciate additional inputs.
What did I miss?
Which ones do you think "wow, you're cray, you don't really need to know that"
Note: this list is built for MRBs. If others can include checklist for other shapes, that'd be great!
General
Is it GIA/AGS certified?
Cut/Specs
Depth: 60 – 62%
Table: 53 – 58%
Crown: 34.0 – 35.0 degrees
Pavilion: 40.6 – 41.0 degrees
(Complementary crown and pavilion angles if possible)
Lower Girdle: 76 – 80%
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: None or Pointed
- Are there significant variances between the minimum and maximum angles?
- Are there significant impact from azimuth shifts?
Carat
Is the diamond of the right size for its weight/carat?
Clarity
- Is it eye clean?
- What is the vendor's definition of eye clean versus our definition? e.g. Is it clean when viewed from the pavilion? Viewing distance? (Note: normal human eyes cannot focus, much less see tiny inclusions, on objects held closer than 6 inches)
- Location(s) of the inclusions? crown/pavilion/girdle? Are they dead centre/can be covered by the settings (prong-able)?
- Size of the inclusions?
- What is the colour of the inclusions (crystal, cloud etc.)? Carbon (black), white, brown etc.?
- Are there surface breaching inclusions? If so, are they open or healed?
- Does any of the inclusion pose durability issue to the diamond? (esp. if they are near the girdle)
- Does it have red flags? e.g. clarity grade is based on clouds not shown, additional clouds and/or surface graining not shown (esp. for lower clarity levels, SI1 and below)
Colour
- Does it face up white?
- How does it look seen from the pavilion?
- What colour is the diamond's hue? Yellow/brown/grey/other colour?
Fluorescence
- Does it have fluorescence?
- Does the fluorescence make the diamond look milky/hazy?
- What is the colour of the fluorescence?
- Does the fluorescence help to make the diamond appear whiter or the presence of flurescence actually caused the diamond to be misgraded upward?
Light performance:
- Are there light leakages present observed from the Ideal Scope and ASET images?
- How significant are the light leakages for the size I am considering?
- Are there any signs of painting and/or digging? To what degree? Will that have noticeable impact on the light performance of the diamond?
Cost
Is it priced fairly? (Do price comparisons with diamonds with simlar specs from other vendors)
Setting
- Ring size
- Metal choice?
- Effect on diamond colour? (makes it faces up whiter, makes the yellow tint less visible)
- Does the setting mostly cover the side view or does it have an open gallery?
- Does it allow for maximum light entry?
- Is it too thin/thick considering finger & diamond size?
- Is it structurally sound?
- Is it practical? (Consider lifestyle, occupation type etc.)
- # of prongs + pros & cons?
Policies
Limitations, length they are good for, etc. on:
- Trade-up
- Buyback
- Return
- Shipping
I love building checklists, find it helpful when there are so many factors to consider, like when buying diamonds.
Below are what I have managed to pool from different resources and threads.
The simple way, as discussed in another thread is: ideal proportions -> HCA <= 2? If yes, get IS & ASET images? If they look good, done.
Maybe this is nitpicking, but I find asking (at least some) of these questions BEFORE purchase helpful (or better still, during the selection process, to whittle down some before badgering the ever so patient sales associates).
It minimizes buyer's remorse and better than finding our self second-guessing our choice and thought about these AFTER the fact (or worse, after the return window has expired).
And my understanding is, no matter how simple the process is, both consumers and vendors would like to avoid returns/exchanges.
Would appreciate additional inputs.
What did I miss?
Which ones do you think "wow, you're cray, you don't really need to know that"
Note: this list is built for MRBs. If others can include checklist for other shapes, that'd be great!
General
Is it GIA/AGS certified?
Cut/Specs
Depth: 60 – 62%
Table: 53 – 58%
Crown: 34.0 – 35.0 degrees
Pavilion: 40.6 – 41.0 degrees
(Complementary crown and pavilion angles if possible)
Lower Girdle: 76 – 80%
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: None or Pointed
- Are there significant variances between the minimum and maximum angles?
- Are there significant impact from azimuth shifts?
Carat
Is the diamond of the right size for its weight/carat?
Clarity
- Is it eye clean?
- What is the vendor's definition of eye clean versus our definition? e.g. Is it clean when viewed from the pavilion? Viewing distance? (Note: normal human eyes cannot focus, much less see tiny inclusions, on objects held closer than 6 inches)
- Location(s) of the inclusions? crown/pavilion/girdle? Are they dead centre/can be covered by the settings (prong-able)?
- Size of the inclusions?
- What is the colour of the inclusions (crystal, cloud etc.)? Carbon (black), white, brown etc.?
- Are there surface breaching inclusions? If so, are they open or healed?
- Does any of the inclusion pose durability issue to the diamond? (esp. if they are near the girdle)
- Does it have red flags? e.g. clarity grade is based on clouds not shown, additional clouds and/or surface graining not shown (esp. for lower clarity levels, SI1 and below)
Colour
- Does it face up white?
- How does it look seen from the pavilion?
- What colour is the diamond's hue? Yellow/brown/grey/other colour?
Fluorescence
- Does it have fluorescence?
- Does the fluorescence make the diamond look milky/hazy?
- What is the colour of the fluorescence?
- Does the fluorescence help to make the diamond appear whiter or the presence of flurescence actually caused the diamond to be misgraded upward?
Light performance:
- Are there light leakages present observed from the Ideal Scope and ASET images?
- How significant are the light leakages for the size I am considering?
- Are there any signs of painting and/or digging? To what degree? Will that have noticeable impact on the light performance of the diamond?
Cost
Is it priced fairly? (Do price comparisons with diamonds with simlar specs from other vendors)
Setting
- Ring size
- Metal choice?
- Effect on diamond colour? (makes it faces up whiter, makes the yellow tint less visible)
- Does the setting mostly cover the side view or does it have an open gallery?
- Does it allow for maximum light entry?
- Is it too thin/thick considering finger & diamond size?
- Is it structurally sound?
- Is it practical? (Consider lifestyle, occupation type etc.)
- # of prongs + pros & cons?
Policies
Limitations, length they are good for, etc. on:
- Trade-up
- Buyback
- Return
- Shipping