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ť Advice Needed! Selecting Loose diamond

Advice Needed! Selecting Loose diamond

P: 10/2/2007 12:13:10 PM
jellybellies Rough Rock Total Posts: 17 Last Post: 10/15/2007 Member Since: 9/18/2007	I have basically selected Blue Nile as my store of choice. I did go to some B&M stores just to get some perspective on the differences in color between a F G and G, and clarity between VVS2, VS1, and VS2. I have gone with the approach to find a F-H color, VVS2 - VS2 clarity, Ideal cut, 1.5 carat diamond. I did my search and have basically narrowed down the diamonds by using the cut advisor on pricescope. The range for the signature ideal diamonds on Blue Nile (their best ones) is from .6 to 3.0. How accurate is the cut advisor and can I buy soley from that reading (meaning the .6 will be much better than the 1.5 or is there a significant margin of error in the cut advisor)? Also, I have basically disregarded the differences between F,G and H and VVS2, VS1, and VS2. Im I right to do this? I couldnt tell the difference between these at the store... Any advice on this aspect is also much appreciated.
Posted: 10/2/2007 12:13:10 PM

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

P: 10/2/2007 12:20:56 PM
Skippy123 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 19,840 Last Post: 11/24/2009 Member Since: 11/24/2006	If you couldn't tell the difference in the store then you won't w/the F-H range. I have a VS2 and I see no inclusions so you can be safe w/that. Just my 2 cents. There are lots of good vendors and if you want a lifetime upgrade BN does not do that; WF and GOG do just an fyi. Happy Shopping Skippy "The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible" Rich Devos
Posted: 10/2/2007 12:20:56 PM

P: 10/2/2007 12:28:42 PM
Chrono Ideal Rock Total Posts: 11,338 Last Post: 11/24/2009 Member Since: 4/22/2004	The HCA is basically one tool a lay person can use to weed out bad performing stones. It does not rate the stone. Basically anything under 2.0 is most likely a great looking stone. Sometimes, a HCA 2.5 stone might be all right though, but it depends. So, in short, a 0.6 isn't better than a 1.5 That said, some picky PSers actually prefer a 1.5 over a 0.6 due to something called head obstruction, but it isn't a biggie. I just call it personal preference. It is always nice to back up the HCA with an Idealscope picture but BN does not provide Idealscope pictures. If you can't tell the difference between a FGH and a VVS and VS stone, why not save yourself some $$$ and just shop for a H VS2?
Posted: 10/2/2007 12:28:42 PM

P: 10/2/2007 12:31:32 PM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,254 Last Post: 11/24/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	Date: 10/2/2007 12:13:10 PM Author:jellybellies I have basically selected Blue Nile as my store of choice. I did go to some B&M stores just to get some perspective on the differences in color between a F G and G, and clarity between VVS2, VS1, and VS2. I have gone with the approach to find a F-H color, VVS2 - VS2 clarity, Ideal cut, 1.5 carat diamond. I did my search and have basically narrowed down the diamonds by using the cut advisor on pricescope. The range for the signature ideal diamonds on Blue Nile (their best ones) is from .6 to 3.0. How accurate is the cut advisor and can I buy soley from that reading (meaning the .6 will be much better than the 1.5 or is there a significant margin of error in the cut advisor)? Also, I have basically disregarded the differences between F,G and H and VVS2, VS1, and VS2. Im I right to do this? I couldnt tell the difference between these at the store... Any advice on this aspect is also much appreciated. No - the cut advisor doesn't work that way, it is an elimination tool which helps to weed out diamonds which may not perform so well, a score under 2 is considered cherry, but once you get there you need to evaluate each diamond with your eyes and other cut technologies. It isn't the case that the lower the HCA score, the better the diamond, more that a score under 2 means it is worth further consideration. Find a well cut diamond and a G or H VS should be a good choice. 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: 10/2/2007 12:31:32 PM

P: 10/2/2007 12:42:26 PM
jellybellies Rough Rock Total Posts: 17 Last Post: 10/15/2007 Member Since: 9/18/2007	It also seems that the grading reports give different values for the table, depth, and the angles. any comments or advice on this? How can the GCAL (BN's own report) differ from the GIA or AGSL's reports?
Posted: 10/2/2007 12:42:26 PM

P: 10/2/2007 12:48:46 PM
Regular Guy Ideal Rock Total Posts: 5,327 Last Post: 11/24/2009 Member Since: 7/7/2004	Date: 10/2/2007 12:42:26 PM Author: jellybellies It also seems that the grading reports give different values for the table, depth, and the angles. any comments or advice on this? How can the GCAL (BN's own report) differ from the GIA or AGSL's reports? Attribute to measurement error...do you see anything radical? Consider for accuracy...AGS trumps GCAL trumps (?) GIA. Ideally, if only one gives you HCA you like...be safe & move on. But, as others have said...HCA is recommended for rejection, not selection. Ira (Ruffles have Ridges) Z. ____________ If you're looking for diamond shopping tips...this (along with this update) might do the trick! however...caution: known to have been regarded as armed and dangerous
Posted: 10/2/2007 12:48:46 PM

P: 10/3/2007 11:07:36 PM
stebbo Cut Rock Total Posts: 466 Last Post: 1/27/2008 Member Since: 6/8/2006	Date: 10/2/2007 12:42:26 PM Author: jellybellies It also seems that the grading reports give different values for the table, depth, and the angles. any comments or advice on this? How can the GCAL (BN's own report) differ from the GIA or AGSL's reports? Also various levels of rounding. GCAL are similar to AGS, except their table gets rounded to the nearest full percent, like the GIA's (the GCAL report misleadingly writes the figure to one decimal place though). GIA's - well..... pavilion gets pushed to the closest 0.2 deg boundary and crown 0.5. AGS and GCAL keep them both at 0.1 deg. Apparently a premise of being a Blue Nile Signature diamond is that the GCAL matches the AGS/GIA report--I'd expect them to be within (some sort) of tolerance. Also misleadingly, GCAL is an independent report, it's just customized to their clients and looks in-house. You'll find many other vendors have them, including the big Whitehall/Lundstrom chain.
Posted: 10/3/2007 11:07:36 PM

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