1.57 G SI2 - What do you think?

[Sue16]

Hi,

I want to get your feedback on this diamond. Other than the pretty long feather (checking to see if this is eye-clean), what do you think of this? Is there anything that I should be worried or concerned about?

Thanks for the help!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6398/

 

[rainwood]

If the feather checks out okay, I say go for it. The G color and SI2 clarity are a lovely combination, and give great value for the money.

 

[Steel]

Ditto to the stone being eye clean.

It looks great(

), but I prefer to avoid stones with a 62% depth.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/24/2009 4:24:52 PM
Author:sappergirl
Hi,

I want to get your feedback on this diamond. Other than the pretty long feather (checking to see if this is eye-clean), what do you think of this? Is there anything that I should be worried or concerned about?

Thanks for the help!

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6398/

Very nice diamond, if you are concerned about the feather just have a word with Jon, he will be pleased to discuss it and answer any other questions you have on this diamond.

 

[tap02150]

Yeah, i was going to say the same thing as Miss L in the previous post The great thing about that diamond is you can just ask jon what he thinks about the feather for being eye clean and any durability issues!

P.S. that diamond looks like a great deal, good luck

 

[Sue16]

Well, I got confirmation from Marie, Charlie and Sarah that this is a great stone. The inclusion is white and off to the side. Most of it will be prongable!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/25/2009 3:19:13 PM
Author: sappergirl
Well, I got confirmation from Marie, Charlie and Sarah that this is a great stone. The inclusion is white and off to the side. Most of it will be prongable!

Congratulations!!!

 

[Upgradable]

Lovely stone! Great find! Keep us updated on the mounting. Congrats!!!

 

[Sue16]

Thanks! The price for this size and color was too good to pass up. This is my 1st wedding anniversary upgrade. I''ll be going from a .85 F VS1 to this bad boy.

I''m thinking of going with the Vatche Caroline as the setting.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Oh that looks like a LOVELY cut! Congrats!!

 

[kenny]

I would not buy a stone with an SI2 grade-setting feather that begins and ends at the girdle.
Feather is a pretty word for a crack.

If you insist on buying it I'd be sure to put it in a full bezel setting to protect the girdle from impact.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/27/2009 12:42:03 AM
Author: kenny
I would not buy a stone with an SI2 grade-setting feather that begins and ends at the girdle.
Feather is a pretty word for a crack.

If you insist on buying it I'd be sure to put it in a full bezel setting to protect the girdle from impact.

Thats fine that you wouldn't buy it Kenny, however you know you can't judge any diamond by the clarity plot, plus if the expert staff at GOG have inspected the stone and said it is ok then I would be inclined to think this is not one of those rare feathers that are cause for concern, plus this diamond is one Jon would be pleased to take back under a lifetime upgrade policy.

Also the above statement could really cause concern for the buyer of this diamond, could make them think their diamond is going to break at any moment should they hit it, as we know even flawless diamonds can break if hit and with bad luck.

Sapper if you want another expert opinion on this feather, get an independant appraiser to check it out if you are concerned. The staff at GOG are highly experienced and if they said the feather is not a durability issue then you can have confidence in that but if you do want another opinion the GOG staff will encourage you to get an independant appraisal.

https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx

 

[Upgradable]

Thanks for addressing that, Lor!

 

[kenny]

I love Johathan and GOG.
I spent a fortune there and recommend them a lot both here on PS and to friends and acquaintances in private.

The fact is diamonds with cracks are widely accepted and widely sold.
People have gotten used to them.
Clarity enhanced diamonds are also accepted by some people but not by the PS community or major labs.

To me, diamonds are expensive and already subject to cracking.
Why would I buy one that already has cracks?
Keep shopping - plenty do not have cracks.
I know my opinion regarding cracked diamonds is contrary to the majority here.
Cracks being acceptable must be a market-driven thing.

Yes, even a flawless diamond can crack if it is hit just right but a diamond with a crack is not as strong as one without cracks.
If the customer is informed and still wants it, so be it.
I think of crack-awareness as being just another important part of diamond education, like color and cut.
Even the head of AGS said something like using the term feather for cracks is to prevent alarm.
I think fully informed customers should be the goal.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/27/2009 11:27:50 AM
Author: kenny
I love Johathan and GOG.
I spent a fortune there and recommend them a lot both here on PS and to friends and acquaintances in private.

The fact is diamonds with cracks are widely accepted and widely sold.
People have gotten used to them.
Clarity enhanced diamonds are also accepted by some people but not by the PS community or major labs.

To me, diamonds are expensive and already subject to cracking.
Why would I buy one that already has cracks?
Keep shopping - plenty do not have cracks.
I know my opinion regarding cracked diamonds is contrary to the majority here.
Cracks being acceptable must be a market-driven thing.

Yes, even a flawless diamond can crack if it is hit just right but a diamond with a crack is not as strong as one without cracks.
If the customer is informed and still wants it, so be it.
I think of crack-awareness as being just another important part of diamond education, like color and cut.
I think informed customers is the goal.

Thats fine that the customer/ prospective buyers are informed on all aspects of diamond buying, I certainly believe in that! My main concern is the statement above Kenny and what it implies -

"If you insist on buying it I'd be sure to put it in a full bezel setting to protect the girdle from impact."

If I were the one buying the diamond I would be very worried by that as it to me says " if you must buy this diamond, the only safe way to set it is in a full bezel otherwise it could break or shatter at any moment." That also to me implies not only is the diamond one with real durability issues but it would be unsafe to set it in a solitaire setting and that it is extremely risky to purchase or wear such a diamond. Now, personally I don't think that is the case with this stone, if it was from an unknown vendor it might be different, but not with a company which has such a solid rep here when we also know Jon has the highest standards especially with his in house stones he also offers upgrade policies on - and this diamond happens to be one.

Yes education and information is key for all buyers but my concern is casting doubt on a perfectly good diamond and possibly affecting the buyers pleasure and enjoyment of it. This buyer mentioned the feather in the first post and was advised to check it out with the vendor, which they did, and apparently there is not an issue. I am sure Jon and his staff won't sell or stand behind a diamond with durability issues ( and I know you have a very high opinion of both Jon and GOG!) - of course if the buyer is concerned then they can always get an independant appraisal to get an impartial opinion on the feather.

 

[kenny]

Lorelei, we disagree.

Now I expect a PS pileup.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/27/2009 11:56:19 AM
Author: kenny
Lorelei, we disagree.

Now I expect a PS pileup.

 

[Bosie]

Have an independent appraisor look at it. You have 30-day return to GOG, so you are protected.

 

[Sue16]

To ease everyone''s mind, I plan on getting an independant appraisal and to check to see if it is eyeclean to my standards.

 

[glitterata]

Does anyone have any actual data about how many diamonds with feathers break, compared to diamonds without feathers?

Does anyone have any actual data about how many prong-set diamonds break, compared to bezel-set diamonds?

Kenny, what are you basing your advice on?

If .01% of non-feathered diamonds break and .02% of diamonds with feathers break (I made up those numbers out of thin air), then I wouldn''t worry about it. If .01% of non-feathered diamonds break and 10% of diamonds with feathers break, then I definitely would.

My guess is that the difference is more like the first example. Otherwise the insurance companies--which are good at making money--would refuse to insure diamonds with feathers.

 

[kenny]

Date: 9/27/2009 12:46:32 PM
Author: glitterata

Kenny, what are you basing your advice on?

I am more expressing MY opinion than giving advice.
Besides anyone should understand that everything they read is just opinion and agreements.
When most people agree on something it approaches truth and stops feeling like opinion.

Something that is cracked is not as strong as something that is not cracked.

Any study data, saying crack X results in Y chance of fracture, would not sway me.

Again a flawless diamond can crack too.
But that does not mean a cracked diamond is as strong as a diamond with no cracks.
An already cracked diamond is more likely to crack than one with no cracks.
How much more likely? 1%? 50%? 0.00123%?
I don't know and I don't care.
Cracks affect strength.

I see feathers as a comfort level thing just like color or clarity grades.
Even if the most competent appraiser, or GIA or AGS tells you the crack, excuse me feather, is "healed" or not reaching the pavilion or crown or girdle - STILL - an uncracked crystal is stronger than an uncracked one.

I guess I'm basing this on my reasoning powers.

Perfect diamonds are too expensive.
People just got used to diamonds with feathers like the got used to ones with low color and clarity.
Some people accept clarity enhanced diamonds.

To me any crack is undesirable and there are plenty for sale without cracks.
The crack in this diamond is particularly alarming to me - it starts and ends at the girdle and is visible in all the pics even the hearts pic of the pavilion at 11:00.

 

[Upgradable]

Then the Colosseum is doomed!

 

[elle_chris]

Normally feathers don''t alarm me, but since this one does extend to the girdle (on both ends of it), i can see how a hard knock "could" increase the chances of the stone breaking.

For someone like me who''s always banging her ring around, I wouldn''t chance it. Then again, that is what insurance is for.

 

[Rhino]

While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it''s interesting how some of Kenny''s opinion is being accepted as fact when Kenny has not seen or inspected this diamond.

Here are the facts.

The feather does not reach both ends of the diamond.
It does not reach from one point of the girdle to another (as has been suggested).
Nor does it reach from crown to pavilion.
There is a point where the inclusion does reach a surface but when inclusions reach the surface they are either healed or open feathers.
Healed feathers are no problem. Open feathers are eliminated from our purchasing and one of the criteria (amongst other gemological tests we perform) that comprise our signature line. Structural durability is important to our purchasing decisions. We have rejected diamonds as high as VVS2 for open feathers and will be using an example in an upcoming video on the subject where we examine an AGS graded VS2 that didnt'' qualify for our signature line (perfect H&A).

Bottom line: This is a fine SI2 diamond with a translucent/transparent feather on the side. I''d buy it for my own wife.

If you are in the habit of punching concrete walls regularly perhaps I''d recommend a higher clarity otherwise you are fine.

Regarding feathers/cracks in diamonds bear in mind that saws are manufactured which are diamond tipped which do in fact cut through concrete. The quality of diamond that is used on these saws are commercial grade diamonds ... ie. they are equal to or lower than I3 clarities.

Of course we recommend having a professional 2nd opinion for your own peace of mind.

Kind regards,

 

[Sue16]

Thanks for responding Jon. I''ve been waiting for your professional opinion on it!

 

[Rhino]

No prob. My staff examines these kind of things each day. If anything questionable comes before their eyes in any of our exams for clarity, color or cut they'll consult me to make sure if its a pass or fail.

 

[Diamondbug]

Thanks for clarifying the feather issue, all this feather talk was making me uneasy and CONFUSED. I knew that GOG has a high standard for quality but to have it reiterated is most comforting for peace of mind.

 

[kenny]

Date: 9/27/2009 1:07:32 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 9/27/2009 12:46:32 PM

Author: glitterata


Kenny, what are you basing your advice on?

I am more expressing MY opinion than giving advice.

. . .

I quote myself to repeat, I am expressing my opinion.

A cracked crystal is weaker than one NOT cracked.

Whether a person selects a stone with a feather (feels the risk is acceptable) is a comfort level thing.

Comfort levels vary between people and I respect everyones choices.

 

[Rhino]

Amen Ken and I would fight for your right and freedom to express your opinion (in fact I have as I''m a veteran).

 

[kenny]

Me too.
Six years active duty in the US Navy.

Jonathan, honestly feathers are an accepted reality in the eyes of the most respected labs and vendors.

Perhaps it is wrong of me to mention my discomfort with them.
You know that I'm a OCD neurotic perfectionist who pays for ridiculously high color and clarity.
While not wanting to impose my "comfort level" onto others I, like that Peter guy who heads AGS, do see the industry using the term feather instead of crack as to not alarm the public to be most unfortunate.
The whole subject leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I think PS is all about education and awareness prior to selection.
The recent several-page threads about feathers has just added another subject to pay attention to.