artofplatinum.com
 

Diamond Jewelry Forums   Picture Gallery   Video Gallery   Journal

   
 Search Posted Today Most Active Help   
 » Home »  » Diamond Prices and Grading »  » RockyTalky »  » cut advisor question


  

 cut advisor question

P:  5/18/2004 9:55:30 AM  
evofan
evofan

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 3
Last Post: 5/19/2004
Member Since: 4/28/2004
 
New to this, sorry. I've noticed that when plugging in stats for the HCA, I get better results using pavillion & crown percentages versus angles. Why is that?

 


evofan
Posted:  5/18/2004 9:55:30 AM

 There are 12 replies to this message.  There are 12 replies on this page.

P: 5/18/2004 10:12:20 AM
valeria101
valeria101

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 14,048
Last Post: 4/30/2006
Member Since: 8/29/2003
 

Hm...

It just happens. There is always some difference (usually around 1 unit, but it can be quite large indeed) between the HCA scores obtained by angles and by percentages.

The angles are in fact measured directly, averaged, and then percentages get calculated with some approximation: hence the difference and the recommendation to use angles whenever possible for better precission. Also, the indication to use the hCA to select stone with scores above 2 9and not tell apart stones with close scores in the 0-2 interval) should eliminate such measurement bias from your decission).

I cannot know what happened in the case of the stones you tested, however, the scores obtained using percentages can also be 'worse'. On AGS certs, only the averages are available for the angles, so it is not easy to guess what the effect of averaging out was. I suspect that the pavilion angle is a bit understated by the approximative percentage (common occurance), but who knows?


Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]

Posted:  5/18/2004 10:12:20 AM
P: 5/18/2004 3:44:18 PM
Garry H (Cut Nut)
Garry H (Cut Nut)

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 11,579
Last Post: 11/23/2009
Member Since: 8/16/2000
 
Just use %'s if that is all you have - then if the stones look like keepers, ask for the angles.
If you have both only use angles

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

http://www.ideal-scope.com and
http://www.HollowayDiamonds.com.au

Posted:  5/18/2004 3:44:18 PM
P: 5/18/2004 8:46:24 PM
Lynn B
Lynn B

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 5,142
Last Post: 11/22/2009
Member Since: 5/9/2004
 
I have a question about the HCA, too... I'm never quite sure how to fill in the "Culet" section.

Can someone advise me, please? Many thanks!

Lynn


And THAT'S my story and I'm sticking to it!

Posted:  5/18/2004 8:46:24 PM
P: 5/18/2004 9:01:54 PM
valeria101
valeria101

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 14,048
Last Post: 4/30/2006
Member Since: 8/29/2003
 

Hm... you only need it if you use percenatges, not angles. otherwise, "pointed" or "none" for culet means "don't bother" or 0%! The other options are listed in the respective table (red below). As you can see, for each type of culet on the cert, a range of percenatge measures is listed - it should make a really tiny difference if you use max, min or their average - hopefully!

On Sarin reports you get a percenatge for the cuet which can be plugged into the HCA, but then, on Sarin you have those angles so there is no need to use percentages in the HCA (and with angles givem the culet percenatge does not affect the result - you only get a note if it is darn big - but that you will see on the cert anyway and it is not common for modern cuts)



 

 

Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]

Posted:  5/18/2004 9:01:54 PM
P: 5/18/2004 9:14:21 PM
Magnum
Magnum

Cut Rock
Total Posts: 342
Last Post: 7/28/2004
Member Since: 3/26/2004
 
If you use crown/pavilion angles, it's not necessary. It's necessary if you only have crown/pavilion percentages, like what you'd get off an EGL report, because the HCA software needs the culet % to more accurately try to figure out the pavilion angle, which is what it uses, along with the crown angle, depth and table to give you a score.

Edited to add: Oops. I guess Valeria posted while i was typing. nice pictures, too.

Posted:  5/18/2004 9:14:21 PM
P: 5/18/2004 10:09:17 PM
Lynn B
Lynn B

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 5,142
Last Post: 11/22/2009
Member Since: 5/9/2004
 
AnA and Magnum,

THANK YOU so much for the clarification! I truly appreciate your time and patience with me!

Lynn


And THAT'S my story and I'm sticking to it!

Posted:  5/18/2004 10:09:17 PM
P: 5/19/2004 3:23:51 AM
Garry H (Cut Nut)
Garry H (Cut Nut)

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 11,579
Last Post: 11/23/2009
Member Since: 8/16/2000
 
Not quite so simple folks
HCA will also downgrade the score if the culet is too large.
This is for a 9% culet.

Selected:  58% depth, 57% table, 34° crown angle, 40.5° pavilion angle
The result is for a symmetrical diamond with a medium girdle and very good polish
HCA scores were adjusted Dec. 15, 2001 and Feb. 6, 2003.
 The culet is clearly visible in the center of this diamond. 1.1 - Excellent
within
TIC  range

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

http://www.ideal-scope.com and
http://www.HollowayDiamonds.com.au

Posted:  5/19/2004 3:23:51 AM
P: 5/19/2004 3:26:35 AM
Garry H (Cut Nut)
Garry H (Cut Nut)

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 11,579
Last Post: 11/23/2009
Member Since: 8/16/2000
 
try it and you will see the 9% culet will add about 1.0 penalty and will change all sorts of other relationships like girdle allowances etc

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

http://www.ideal-scope.com and
http://www.HollowayDiamonds.com.au

Posted:  5/19/2004 3:26:35 AM
P: 5/19/2004 3:53:50 AM
Magnum
Magnum

Cut Rock
Total Posts: 342
Last Post: 7/28/2004
Member Since: 3/26/2004
 
Garry, thanks for the info. I did some playing around with the HCA and went back to your website and see what you're talking about. Is it safe to say, though, that as long as the diamond's culet is less than or equal to 3%, or small -> none on a GIA report, there won't be any difference. Or does, say, a 1% culet still affect the score. I didn't see any difference when I plugged my diamond's numbers in and used a culet of 3% or less. Thanks again for the help.

Posted:  5/19/2004 3:53:50 AM
P: 5/19/2004 4:26:28 AM
Garry H (Cut Nut)
Garry H (Cut Nut)

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 11,579
Last Post: 11/23/2009
Member Since: 8/16/2000
 
yeah, something like that
 
But remeber that the limitataions of this sort of system is that it works off proportions alone and is not related to size. A 3% culet on a 50ct stone would look shocking, and a 10% culaet on a 0.10ct is hard to see.
 
One of the things GIA has got right is the method of girdle thickness - it depends more on mm's than %'s

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

http://www.ideal-scope.com and
http://www.HollowayDiamonds.com.au

Posted:  5/19/2004 4:26:28 AM
P: 5/19/2004 6:39:26 AM
Lynn B
Lynn B

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 5,142
Last Post: 11/22/2009
Member Since: 5/9/2004
 
YIKES! Just when I start to think I'm BEGINNING to figure something out...

Seriously, THANK YOU all for the great input!

Lynn


And THAT'S my story and I'm sticking to it!

Posted:  5/19/2004 6:39:26 AM
P: 5/19/2004 8:14:27 AM
evofan
evofan

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 3
Last Post: 5/19/2004
Member Since: 4/28/2004
 
Thanks for the clarifation, everyone. I normally just go with the angle, but curiosity got to me, so I tried the percentages instead. I used it on two diamonds and the results were better with the %.

evofan

evofan

Posted:  5/19/2004 8:14:27 AM

 Previous Page Next Page 
« Another good experience with Paul Antwerp «» Please Review Princess Value Based On GIA Cert »
Next Topics
Your Take on this Princess Cut ... Diamond cuts and a few stones at dirtcheapdiamonds E-Rings in Europe What Do You Prefer For Right Hand... Fancy Yellow or Jubilee? Diamond Advice Piece of Advice – Don’t skimp on the setting. Another, Tell me what to buy... thread Can some HELP with Jack Kelege seeting Repost from Show-me: I'm new & need some input Please Advise On This Diamond Question about diamond diameter I need a expert opinion Sorry to be such a newbie...Advice on diamond prices Advice for a first time buyer Need opinions and advice, down to two candidates! Need opinions and advice, down to two candidates! Can someone give me some expert feedback? what do you think about this rock for my wedding ring Help - my jeweler chipped my diamond!!! Please Review Princess Value Based On GIA Cert What is the effect (if any) on brilliance of >61.0% depth? Diamonds in Amsterdam.. rip off? Princess cut Is this Radiant Price reasonable? Question about dark arrows Diamond Pricing ??? help finding an unsual setting for engagement ring Princess Cut and Dark Spot You can't go wrong with PS vendors and appraisers! I'm getting SCAMMED! HELP! experience with Niwaka?

Jump to:



Contact Us  |  Back Home  |  Privacy Statement  |  Forum Agreement  |  Forum Policies

Ideal BB Version: 0.1.5.4.beta1 Message forum software powered by  the Ideal BB

IdealBB Badge


Pricescope - Knowledge - Diamond Prices - Tools - Resources - About

© 2000-2009 Pricescope. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Disclaimer
forum archives