projectwedding.com/
 

Diamond Jewelry Forums   Picture Gallery   Video Gallery   Journal

   
 Search Posted Today Most Active Help   
 » Home »  » Diamond Prices and Grading »  » RockyTalky »  » EGL Cut info for HCA rating


  

 EGL Cut info for HCA rating

P:  3/27/2003 6:21:20 PM  
micromonkey
micromonkey

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 11
Last Post: 4/16/2003
Member Since: 3/27/2003
 
Hey All-I have been lurking on this site for about a week and this place is great!!!

My head is spinning and I'm on the hunt for a great diamond--I have read all the awesome turorials, info etc. and have been using the HCA to rate some physically unseen diamonds.

Some of the HQ vendors include all the angles, bscope and good stuff but others will only provide certs. I have been going through some EGL certed diamonds and using their info which only has %'s for crown/pavillion. Culet I experiemented with a .1-.5 for none--actually I went up to 1.0 and it didn't make a difference really.

My question is how good is the EGL info to be used for the HCA? I have found a few "steals" which score pretty well and reasonably priced.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks


Posted:  3/27/2003 6:21:20 PM

 There are 6 replies to this message.  There are 6 replies on this page.

P: 3/27/2003 7:00:10 PM
micromonkey
micromonkey

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 11
Last Post: 4/16/2003
Member Since: 3/27/2003
 
Here is the stats on one I am looking at:
Depth 57.6%
Table 59%
Crown 12.2%
Pavil 43.1%

Girdle Thin to Med faceted
Culet: None

Depending on what I assume they mean for "none" on Culet I get between a 1.5 - 2.x on the HCA.

Posted:  3/27/2003 7:00:10 PM
P: 3/27/2003 11:49:53 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
 
It sounds pretty safe, but you should request the angles from the vendor.
The culet makes a difference in the abgle when you enter pav depth % because we use trig to estimate the pav angle. Culet mesurements are usually understated.

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

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

Posted:  3/27/2003 11:49:53 PM
P: 3/28/2003 8:22:16 AM
Richard Sherwood
Richard Sherwood

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 4,879
Last Post: 11/23/2009
Member Since: 9/25/2002
 
The EGL percentages are definitely better than nothing (which is what you get from a GIA report) in determining cut quality.

They will help you eliminate poor performers, and put you in the right "ballpark". After you reach that point, you can hone in on your research to arrive at "homebase".

The problem is that the HCA is estimating the crown/pavilion angles using the crown/pavilion height/depth as points of reference. Since these percentages are rounded, then sometimes the angle derived by the HCA will be a little off from what it actually is.

Often this doesn't make a huge difference, but sometimes it does. My advice would be to hone in on your likely "candidate", and then have it run through a Sarin machine for a final anaysis.

As you state, there's always the possibility of picking up a bargain in the EGL cert world, you know what you're doing. Another big thing to watch for is that the grading is not off one color or clarity grade. If something seems like a real "steal" to you, hypothetically theorize that it might be one color or clarity grade (or both) less, and see if it still falls in the steal/deal category.

If so, you might be on the right track, and of course you can't lose if you make the sale contingent upon the diamond appraising out to your satisfaction with an independent appraiser. This is a reasonable request, which most dealers will go along with.

Rich, Independent GG Appraiser
Sarasota Gemological Laboratory

Posted:  3/28/2003 8:22:16 AM
P: 3/28/2003 11:47:38 AM
micromonkey
micromonkey

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 11
Last Post: 4/16/2003
Member Since: 3/27/2003
 
Yeah the main problem is the color/clarity for EGL. The vendor told me pretty much that---it was an SI1 and F color which if to be safe I say may be SI2 and G then the price is still good but not great.

I think I am going to just pay the higher rate and limit my choices to one's with GIA/AGS and with more detailed (ie--at least megascope) stats. I have now been looking at some by Nice Ice and Superbcert and you get so much detail you can't go wrong.

It doesn't seem like the prices are really that much higher when you figure you get Bscope or simulated results and can enter acurate info for HCA. It's hard to tell with some vendors "Best" or "very good" cut since on some that were EGL/AGS (even AGS-0) I ran the numbers and some turned out 3.6-4.8 range. I mean if you are going to spend at least $3000 there is no reason not to spend $3500 and get one you "know" is cut awesome.

I found this superbcert that I am Jonesin' for:
Diameter 6.22 (6.2-6.24) .8%
Depth: 60.8 3.78mm
crown angle 34.1 (33.8-34.4) 0
crown height 14.8 (14.6-15.1)
pavil angle 40.9 (40.8-41)
pavil depth 43.1 (42.7-43.3) 0
culet .6%
table size 55.2 (54.9-55.4)
girdle thickness 1.2% (1-1.4) Thin

HCA comes in at 1.1 and
The Bscope verifies that
White Light: Middle of V High
Color Light: TOp of V High
Scintillation: Top of HIgh and bottom of V High.

.87 VS2 / H (Gia). I can live with "H" I've seen it and it looks white to me (and her ;-)) stones with --"I" and "J" I can tell (only a little--with other stones next to it).

In any case this forum rocks (ha ha) and I would have spend more for a worse stone at the jeweler if I hadn't stopped here.

Keep up the good work and hopefully in the future detailed cut info is put on all certs---everyone can argue about rating systems later! I know I'm preaching to the choir but it'd seem reasonable to have more detail in cut and bscope data--the cut ratings seem rather Victorian in this modern age. With the synthetic whites around the corner these labs should be doing some more detailed testing.

Posted:  3/28/2003 11:47:38 AM
P: 1/5/2004 4:17:32 PM
highendgems
highendgems

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 51
Last Post: 1/20/2004
Member Since: 12/31/2003
 
the dealer you are talking to does not what what he/she is talking about. most important thing about EGL is--was it EGL or EGL USA. if it was EGL USA, buy with confidence. if EGL overseas, then the grading will likley be off on color/clarity.

EGL USA lists BOTH angles and percentages on their reports and they are highly detailed.

an EGL USA cert. is a great way to get a steal on a terrific stone.

Posted:  1/5/2004 4:17:32 PM
P: 1/5/2004 5:35:10 PM
aljdewey
aljdewey

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 8,236
Last Post: 2/11/2008
Member Since: 11/25/2002
 
I'm officially going to make this my mission: to reply to every erroneous comment made by Highendgems that I can find to hopefully stem incorrect information.

Highend expects us to believe that folks like the vendors (or like Rich Sherwood - with a gazillion and a half! years in the business)....ALL of these knowledgable people are wrong and that EGL US is the best thing since the wheel. He shares NO basis for his expertise....we're just supposed to take his word for it.

Sorry.....not buying. Some EGL US gradings are on the money. Some ARE NOT. It really doesn't matter as long as the price a customer pays reflects what the stone IS, not what the report says.

Regarding accuracy....EGL reports only give percentages on crown and pavilion. I've yet to see otherwise, so *show me*. Percentages simply ARE NOT as accurate as angles. Period. Percentages are rounded. That's like saying $1.51 and $2.00 are the same thing....when one is nearly 25% more.

Micro, you're on the right track! Keep with it.

_____________________
Note: Chainsaw Not Sold Separately.

Posted:  1/5/2004 5:35:10 PM

 Previous Page Next Page 
« SOS! NEED PICS OF D, E, F & G DIAMONDS STAT! «» Good Old Gold vs. the other guys, and what i've learned »
Next Topics
Vendors with brilliance scope reports online Settings ??? Need Advice Please Help Where's the Guy who was Going to Cancun to Propose? Help!? How much does Rough cost? Views please on brilliancescope result for Princess Setting for a princess stone Anybody can evaluate a diamond. AGS - more expensive? How does magnification itself work? Quality Questions How do I compare the diamond ratings Isee 2?? 8.5 out of 10?? Good deal? Radiant Table Which ring to choose T & Co. Rings Dangerously thin advice on appraisal White Fluorescence? Is an estate Cartier ring worth it..? Is I Color really that different from a G Setings Any comments on this stone I am about to buy... Needles............ Looking for a price quote! Advise on 6ct !! *-------Which one would you buy and why?-------* Over Excellent Diamonds DiamondInfo??? I need help!

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