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ť ConfusedBuyer seeks help deciding between two diamonds...

ConfusedBuyer seeks help deciding between two diamonds...

P: 2/20/2009 1:42:47 PM
confusedBuyer Rough Rock Total Posts: 3 Last Post: 2/21/2009 Member Since: 2/20/2009	My brain hurts. The volume of measurements, certifications, and other facets in the diamond purchasing process are staggering. (pardon the pun, I just couldn't resist) I've come to pricescope seeking guidance on a couple of points, namely ideal L/W ratios for round diamonds and girdle thickness. I'm trying to decide between the following two stones from Blue Nile's Signature Collection and can't for the life of me figure out which is "better" - I'm more interested in quality than size. What makes this decision most difficult for me is the different reports from AGSL, GCAL, and GIA - I have no frame of reference from which to compare, particularly in the optical brilliance/symmetry sections of the GCAL cert. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks, ConfusedBuyer AGSL: Link to Report GCAL: Link to Report Carat: 1.11 Cut: Signature Ideal Color: F Clarity: VVS2 Depth %: 61.9% Table %: 56% Symmetry: Ideal Polish: Ideal Girdle: Slightly thick, faceted Culet: Pointed Fluorescence: None Measurements: 6.61 x 6.64 x 4.10 mm GIA: Link to Report GCAL: Link to Report Carat weight: 1.03 Cut: Signature Ideal Color: F Clarity: IF Depth %: 61.3% Table %: 56% Symmetry: Excellent Polish: Excellent Girdle: Medium Culet: None Fluorescence: None Measurements: 6.55 x 6.50 x 4.00 mm
Posted: 2/20/2009 1:42:47 PM

There are 9 replies to this message. There are 9 replies on this page.

P: 2/20/2009 1:47:22 PM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,228 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	Date: 2/20/2009 1:42:47 PM Author:confusedBuyer My brain hurts. The volume of measurements, certifications, and other facets in the diamond purchasing process are staggering. (pardon the pun, I just couldn't resist) I've come to pricescope seeking guidance on a couple of points, namely ideal L/W ratios for round diamonds and girdle thickness. I'm trying to decide between the following two stones from Blue Nile's Signature Collection and can't for the life of me figure out which is 'better' - I'm more interested in quality than size. What makes this decision most difficult for me is the different reports from AGSL, GCAL, and GIA - I have no frame of reference from which to compare, particularly in the optical brilliance/symmetry sections of the GCAL cert. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks, ConfusedBuyer AGSL: Link to Report GCAL: Link to Report Carat: 1.11 Cut: Signature Ideal Color: F Clarity: VVS2 Depth %: 61.9% Table %: 56% Symmetry: Ideal Polish: Ideal Girdle: Slightly thick, faceted Culet: Pointed Fluorescence: None Measurements: 6.61 x 6.64 x 4.10 mm GIA: Link to Report GCAL: Link to Report Carat weight: 1.03 Cut: Signature Ideal Color: F Clarity: IF Depth %: 61.3% Table %: 56% Symmetry: Excellent Polish: Excellent Girdle: Medium Culet: None Fluorescence: None Measurements: 6.55 x 6.50 x 4.00 mm Welcome! I can't quite read the pavilion angle on the first diamond's AGS report, can you tell me what it is please, and the lower girdle facet measurement towards the bottom of the diamond diagram? Both diamonds look promising by the numbers, it depends on which quality combo you prefer and whether you would prefer the AGS0 cut grade and report or the GIA. Some would prefer the AGS cut grade and documentation and if you want very high colour and clarity the F VVS combo. They both look like very well cut diamonds, and you are probably aware it is cut quality which gives a diamond its beauty, moreso than colour and clarity. You are probably aware that you can drop both colour and clarity if you wished without visual sacrifice if the cut is good, but this is an entirely personal choice and if you prefer F VVS/ IF then that is absolutely fine! Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider...no other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, very existence dies also...but that can never be laid to rest, it is not meant to be... - Stephanie M Thorn
Posted: 2/20/2009 1:47:22 PM

P: 2/20/2009 5:17:08 PM
confusedBuyer Rough Rock Total Posts: 3 Last Post: 2/21/2009 Member Since: 2/20/2009	Lorelei, thanks for the quick reply. The AGS report is rather grainy and also truncated on the right side, but it appears that the pavilion angle is 40.3 degrees and the girdle measurements show 2.1% to 4.??% (truncated after the decimal point). It sounds like you prefer AGS paper over GIA for measuring cut, which seems consistent with most folks on pricescope and elsewhere; what's your take on the optical measurements in the GCAL? Are the two stones equivalent in light return and symmetry? I can see a difference in the two GCAL papers, but I don't know what it actually means. Regarding your feedback on clarity and color - I'm concerned with VS1 diamonds from Blue Nile's Signature Collection, because their description says the inclusions are "generally" not visible to the unaided eye. Is it generally not visible, or not ever visible? Thanks, ConfusedBuyer (Peter)
Posted: 2/20/2009 5:17:08 PM

P: 2/20/2009 6:06:02 PM
blastdoor Cut Rock Total Posts: 159 Last Post: 3/4/2009 Member Since: 12/30/2008	Date: 2/20/2009 5:17:08 PM Author: confusedBuyer Regarding your feedback on clarity and color - I'm concerned with VS1 diamonds from Blue Nile's Signature Collection, because their description says the inclusions are 'generally' not visible to the unaided eye. Is it generally not visible, or not ever visible? ConfusedBuyer (Peter) Anything above VS2 (from a reputable lab such as GIA or AGS) is usually quite safe in terms of eye cleanliness, meaning most people won't be able to see the inclusion with their naked eyes.. But fact remains that there will be inclusion/s as long as it is not an IF stone, and just in case someone with superbly good vision comes along, hence the term "generally".. If you would like an idea of how the inclusions in a VS1 stone looks like, or any other clarity level for that matter, you might like to take a look at some vendors that provide magnified pics of their diamonds on their website... I know GOG has lots of microscopic pics of their diamonds, and JA and a few other vendors has loupe functions where you can see magnified pics of their in-house diamonds too... hope this helps..
Posted: 2/20/2009 6:06:02 PM

P: 2/20/2009 6:35:11 PM
ejv207 Rough Rock Total Posts: 33 Last Post: 4/12/2009 Member Since: 1/10/2009	Hey Peter, You can call Blue Nile up and have them send you a blown-up hi-res scan of the report. Especially since this is a Signature Ideal, they should have it quickly. I had a grainy AGS report, and they sent it to me within 24 hours. Along the same line as blastdoor's great advice, I think you should check out some stones in person at a B&M and look at the difference between a IF, VVS,VS with the naked eye and with a 10x loupe. During my search, I viewed RB GIA ex/ex/ex stones from VVS1 to SI2. To me, the differences between the VVS1 and VS2 were undetectable. IMO, those differences did not justify the difference in pricing. Good luck!
Posted: 2/20/2009 6:35:11 PM

P: 2/20/2009 6:38:22 PM
Stone-cold11 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,895 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 9/9/2008	Date: 2/20/2009 6:06:02 PM Author: blastdoor But fact remains that there will be inclusion/s as long as it is not an IF stone, and just in case someone with superbly good vision comes along, hence the term 'generally'.. Just something to note, there is no such thing as a stone without inclusion. Inclusion grading is done at 10X face up. So even if it is graded IF, there is no guarantee that at higher resolution there will not be inclusion.
Posted: 2/20/2009 6:38:22 PM

P: 2/20/2009 6:46:14 PM
blastdoor Cut Rock Total Posts: 159 Last Post: 3/4/2009 Member Since: 12/30/2008	Date: 2/20/2009 6:38:22 PM Author: Stone-cold11 Date: 2/20/2009 6:06:02 PM Author: blastdoor But fact remains that there will be inclusion/s as long as it is not an IF stone, and just in case someone with superbly good vision comes along, hence the term 'generally'.. Just something to note, there is no such thing as a stone without inclusion. Inclusion grading is done at 10X face up. So even if it is graded IF, there is no guarantee that at higher resolution there will not be inclusion. oops... thanks for pointing that out Stone-cold...
Posted: 2/20/2009 6:46:14 PM

P: 2/21/2009 6:13:10 AM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,228 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	Date: 2/20/2009 5:17:08 PM Author: confusedBuyer Lorelei, thanks for the quick reply. The AGS report is rather grainy and also truncated on the right side, but it appears that the pavilion angle is 40.3 degrees and the girdle measurements show 2.1% to 4.??% (truncated after the decimal point). It sounds like you prefer AGS paper over GIA for measuring cut, which seems consistent with most folks on pricescope and elsewhere; what's your take on the optical measurements in the GCAL? Are the two stones equivalent in light return and symmetry? I can see a difference in the two GCAL papers, but I don't know what it actually means. Regarding your feedback on clarity and color - I'm concerned with VS1 diamonds from Blue Nile's Signature Collection, because their description says the inclusions are 'generally' not visible to the unaided eye. Is it generally not visible, or not ever visible? Thanks, ConfusedBuyer (Peter) Thanks! If the pav angle is 40.3 then I would ask if you can get an Idealscope or ASET image for that AGS diamond. AGS numbers aren't rounded like GIA so they are considered to be more accurate. VS1 in the size you are considering should be pretty much completely eyeclean, however if you are concerned and want to make absolutely sure, then get someone from BN to check for you, there can sometimes be an exception to this ' rule'! Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider...no other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, very existence dies also...but that can never be laid to rest, it is not meant to be... - Stephanie M Thorn
Posted: 2/21/2009 6:13:10 AM

P: 2/21/2009 10:04:50 PM
confusedBuyer Rough Rock Total Posts: 3 Last Post: 2/21/2009 Member Since: 2/20/2009	After looking at a few diamonds at a B&M I'm now leaning towards a VS1. I greatly appreciate the feedback from everyone at pricescope!
Posted: 2/21/2009 10:04:50 PM

P: 2/22/2009 5:37:11 AM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,228 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	Date: 2/21/2009 10:04:50 PM Author: confusedBuyer After looking at a few diamonds at a B&M I'm now leaning towards a VS1. I greatly appreciate the feedback from everyone at pricescope! Most welcome! If you wish you could post the numbers for that diamond so we can take a look for you. Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider...no other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, very existence dies also...but that can never be laid to rest, it is not meant to be... - Stephanie M Thorn
Posted: 2/22/2009 5:37:11 AM

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