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ť Overwhelmed and Undecided....

Overwhelmed and Undecided....

P: 7/24/2008 12:44:51 AM
pumpkn888 Rough Rock Total Posts: 14 Last Post: 11/1/2008 Member Since: 7/24/2008	Hello. My boyfriend and I just started searching for a diamond. A family friend is trying to help us but says that due to the rise in diamond prices, he has to sell us something he already has in stock, to give us the best deal. I only liked one stone that he had, but, for some reason, I'm not convinced that its a nice cut. I had to look up on EGL the certificate number to find out what cut it was rated as, and it says Very Good. How good is very good? The specifics of the diamond are this: 2.00 CT Round 8.21-8.16x4.82 mm Depth: 58.9% Table: 61% Crown: 12.5% Crown Angle: 32.2 Pavillion: 42.0% Pavillion Angle: 40.2 Girdle: Thin to Med faceted Polish: VG Symmetry: VG Clarity: VS2 Color: G Fluorescence: None Cut Grade: VG He's offering to sell that stone to us for $22K Here are my questions: 1. How good of a cut is that? 2. Is that stone worth that cost? 3. Do larger cut stones sparkle less than smaller cut stones? 4. Do thicker girdles make a stone sparkle more? 5. What does it mean if when I looked down thru the center of this stone, the circle I saw at the bottom was off-centered? 6. Does the dark area in this picture mean anything? I took the picture and the flash went off. Thoughts/Opinions/Advice appreciated! PS - I did really like this stone. The color was very pretty, it sparkled very nicely in fluorescent light and in direct sunlight and the size looked nice on my hand. I just feel like I can't be excited about it if I should be concerned about the cut for that cost. Thank you so much!
Posted: 7/24/2008 12:44:51 AM

There are 11 replies to this message. There are 11 replies on this page.

P: 7/24/2008 1:01:32 AM
marchswallowbird Ideal Rock Total Posts: 849 Last Post: 9/28/2009 Member Since: 4/22/2008	Judging only from what I've read lately from others on this forum, don't buy from the family friend, especially if you're limited in choice like that. At the VERY least, before you buy anything, check out what is available at WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold and some of the other PriceScope recommended online vendors. I'm pretty certain you can get a much more beautiful stone for less money. You should also take a peek at the tutorials available at those vendors. The tutorials will help answer some of your questions. I would highly recommend that you do this before buying ANY stone. You'll be much more informed, and much more comfortable when you do make your purchase.
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:01:32 AM

P: 7/24/2008 1:26:29 AM
lovegem Cut Rock Total Posts: 387 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 12/26/2007	what's the color/clarity? those 2 parameters can make a big diff in price. below is the HCA. HCA can't tell you about the stone's polish, which can make the stone look dull. For me, if everything on the EGL cert is correct (i.e. very good cut, VG polish) I would pass this stone. Check out this stone in GOG to compare. http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4563/ run the HCA on your stone. It receives a 2.7- Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right Factor Grade Light Return Good Fire Excellent Scintillation Excellent Spread or diameter for weight Excellent
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:26:29 AM

P: 7/24/2008 1:29:42 AM
swingirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,283 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 4/6/2006	The stone you have looked at come up as a 2.7 on the HCA. (Holloway Cut Adviser) It's recommended to stay below 2.0. If you are spending that much you need to do more research. Here is a stone from GOG for $2K less but is an Excellent cut. 0.9 on the HCA. This is a fabulous stone and is graded by GIA, which is known to be stricter than EGL. For $22K I wouldn't get anything less than an excellent or ideal cut. Not sure I'd want to buy from a family friend. They probably are not offering a Lifetime Trade Up Policy. 2.03ct G SI1 from Good Old Gold
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:29:42 AM

P: 7/24/2008 1:36:02 AM
pumpkn888 Rough Rock Total Posts: 14 Last Post: 11/1/2008 Member Since: 7/24/2008	Color was G Clarity was VS2 Thank you for your post. Very similar, just a lower clarity. Question - what is HCA and how would I run it?
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:36:02 AM

P: 7/24/2008 1:43:19 AM
lovegem Cut Rock Total Posts: 387 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 12/26/2007	HCA: http://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp If you dare (actually nothing to fear), you may want to try getting a stone online. I just got one myself. I am planning to order a 2nd stone in for comparison.
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:43:19 AM

P: 7/24/2008 1:49:06 AM
pumpkn888 Rough Rock Total Posts: 14 Last Post: 11/1/2008 Member Since: 7/24/2008	Thank you. >> Yes, I've been wondering about that... I really don't want to pay retail prices if it can be avoided. Like everyone else, I want the biggest, sparkliest and best stone our money can buy! :) Please be sure to keep us posted on how that goes for you. Do they include loops for you to evaluate the stone with?
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:49:06 AM

P: 7/24/2008 1:52:16 AM
jstarfireb Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,143 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 3/24/2007	Are you sure you don't have the depth and table switched around? I get a 2.2 on HCA when I use 61 for table and 58.8 for depth. Either way, I'd keep looking, because it only gets a "good" for light return (even though it does get EX for fire and scintillation). I'd want at least all "very good" on the HCA. In my (non-expert) opinion... 1. How good of a cut is that? See above. It's not terrible, but I think you can do better. 2. Is that stone worth that cost? It is if you love it, but I think you can get something less expensive with better cut online. It's also tough to tell whether it's a "true" G/VS2. Some labs (GIA, AGS) are more stringent/more accurate on their grading than others (EGL, IGI). Since your stone is EGL-graded, for example, it may not be a GIA G, but more like an I or J. This is especially risky if EGL-Israel or EGL-Europe graded the stone. EGL-USA is more trustworthy. 3. Do larger cut stones sparkle less than smaller cut stones? No, it depends on cut quality, not carat size. A better cut stone will sparkle more than a poorly cut one, no matter what the relative sizes. 4. Do thicker girdles make a stone sparkle more? No, a girdle that is too thick is basically a waste of carat weight. I wouldn't go above "slightly thick." 5. What does it mean if when I looked down thru the center of this stone, the circle I saw at the bottom was off-centered? Not sure, but I think that's a consequence of symmetry not being ideal. 6. Does the dark area in this picture mean anything? I took the picture and the flash went off. I don't think it means anything, since pictures are so variable. Might I suggest this stone as a better-cut stone for a similar price? It gets 1.5 on the HCA (ex/ex/ex/vg). ************************** "In the end, I wonder if the true movement of the world might not be a voice raised in song." -Muriel Barbary
Posted: 7/24/2008 1:52:16 AM

P: 7/24/2008 4:23:46 AM
honey22 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,950 Last Post: 11/19/2009 Member Since: 7/29/2007	Date: 7/24/2008 1:49:06 AM Author: pumpkn888 Thank you. >> Yes, I've been wondering about that... I really don't want to pay retail prices if it can be avoided. Like everyone else, I want the biggest, sparkliest and best stone our money can buy! :) Please be sure to keep us posted on how that goes for you. Do they include loops for you to evaluate the stone with? You are paying more than you should! You can get a better cut stone for less money online. Your friend isn't giving you a great price at all. If you want the sparkliest stone you can buy, then you can do a lot better than that stone to be honest. I really would avoid buying from a friend in the business - we hear stories like this all the time and I have never once seen anyone post a really great stone at a great price. Good luck with your search - you will find the perfect stone!!! Wedding Date Take 2: 26th November 2009!
Posted: 7/24/2008 4:23:46 AM

P: 7/24/2008 7:55:27 AM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,228 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	This appears to be a shallow shallow combo, you can do better! 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: 7/24/2008 7:55:27 AM

P: 7/24/2008 8:05:38 AM
MissGotRocks Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,590 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 6/23/2005	Date: 7/24/2008 7:55:27 AM Author: Lorelei This appears to be a shallow shallow combo, you can do better! Ditto!
Posted: 7/24/2008 8:05:38 AM

P: 7/24/2008 9:05:25 AM
dockman3 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 547 Last Post: 3/5/2009 Member Since: 5/30/2008	Thritto!
Posted: 7/24/2008 9:05:25 AM

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