1.77ct E Si2 round brilliant worth buying?

[Beloved86]

Hi PSers! This is my very first post and I would just like to say how I am grateful for this site!!! I've learned so much just from reading and although I am still learning, I feel much more confident as new buyer thanks to this site!


My boyfriend and I are on the hunt for a stone for our engagement ring and we came across a nicely priced GIA certified 1.77ct RB with a very good cut rating. I've read everywhere that "cut is king" so I was set on finding a stone with an excellent-ideal cut. However, I was pleasantly surprised after looking through my ASET scope and through the hearts and arrows scope. Unfortunately, I did not get to view the diamond through an ideal scope and I do not have any images for you guys. (Sorry! We were at a shop in the diamond district of NYC.) Also, we got a chance to loupe it and it is surprisingly "eye clean" for an SI2.

The stone is priced at $11,000 and I was just wondering if there was a "catch". The proportions seem atypical and a bit on the shallow side but I'm not sure why it is graded with a cut rating of very good since the optics seemed excellent. I would really like to hear some input and any concerns that I should look out for.

Here are the specs:

Carat weight: 1.77
Color: E
Clarity: SI2
Cut: very good
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: very good
Fluorescence: none

Measurements: 7.91-7.96 x 4.71mm
Table: 55%
Depth: 59.4%
Crown angle: 33
Pavillion angle: 40.4
Crown height: 14.5%
Pavillion height: 42.5%
Girdle: very thin - to medium faceted 2.5%
Culet: non

HCA: 0.8
AGA: 1B

I tried to attach the image, but I'm not sure if I did it correctly so just in case, here is the link to the GIA report:
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?reportno=2125536466&c=Page&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&pagename=GIA%2FDispatcher&cid=1355954554547

With an excellent HCA score of 0.8 and excellent fire, scintillation, and spread, the light return was the only very good. Should I be concerned with the brilliance?

What do you guys think?

 

[diamond-enthusiast]

Proportions aren't good. The diamond is penalized for optics during observation in the lab. That's why you see a very good cut grade for that stone.

 

[04diamond<3]

Proportions aren't good. The diamond is penalized for optics during observation in the lab. That's why you see a very good cut grade for that stone.

Um....where do you get this from?!? there's NO way of you knowing something like that so it doesn't seem fair for you to just be hashing stuff like that out.

OP - The numbers DO look good and that's why the HCA score is .8, so I'd absolutely be interested. Can you go back and look through the ideal scope again and see that there's no white? If not, and it performs up to your standards in person (although I'd want to see it in different lighting, such as by a window...), then go for it! SI2 would definitely be the reason you are paying less, but I'd first want to see the report and I'd even ask for the inclusion to be pointed out. It could be a feather near the girdle so I'd confirm with the store (preferably a gemologist), that it won't be an issue.

 

[Beloved86]

Thank you for the replies!

I requested an IS image from the vendor, but I'm not sure if she will be able to take a photo of it.

The HCA score did surprise me because GIA graded the cut as only very good... I know the HCA has some limitations...

I will definitely post any images I receive. If she is unable to send me photos, I will have to go again in person to check it out.
For some reason, she could not find her ideal scope at the time so I only had a chance to view it through the hearts and arrows scope and luckily I had my ASET scope with me. I understand that ASETs can be difficult to interpret but IMO, the stone looked great through the ASET with lots of red, minimal leakage, and a nice contrast of blue arrows. The diamond looked very symmetrical through the hearts and arrows scope as well.

According to the GIA report, the crown has some clusters of crystals, but they were not visible to the naked eye and I could see the indented natural mark with a 10x loupe on the pavillion. I will definitely need to ask if it will be an issue since it is close to the girdle.

Also, the price shocked me because I have been searching for a 1.7ct RB, color D-F, Si2, only to find that prices ranged from $13,400 and up.

I have the diamond on hold until this Saturday so I appreciate any feedback please!

P.S. I tried to attach the GIA report image again *hope it works*

 

[diamond-enthusiast]

Once you been grading diamonds at GIA, you will know why. Proportions aren't penalized to downgrade stone to V.Good. Finish isn't penalized for an Excellent grade. By rule of elimination, there is only one factor left. That is human observation.

 

[diamond-enthusiast]

Instead of regurgitating stuff, I take time to think and reply before typing out each response. Given the amount of info the poster had researched, I suppose the poster might want to a critical assessment of the stone beyond the usual HCA and idealscope advice that she had probably already known.

 

[yssie]

Once you been grading diamonds at GIA, you will know why. Proportions aren't penalized to downgrade stone to V.Good. Finish isn't penalized for an Excellent grade. By rule of elimination, there is only one factor left. That is human observation.

GIA will downgrade cut to VG based on V.Thn girdle.

ETA: http://www.diamondcut.gia.edu/06_estimating_a_cut_grade.html

Proportions charts peg it as VG as well (2009): http://diamondcut.gia.edu/pdf/booklet_cut_estimation_tables_lowres.pdf

 

[yssie]

Not my pick. Shallow combo possibly (likely) has obstruction issues (does a good amount of the stone go black when you lean over to admire it?)... and I don't like V.Thn girdles combined with shallow crowns and pavs, it's a higher chipping risk - especially if you're going to put it in an "open" sort of setting that leaves a lot of the girdle exposed.

Thread on obstruction - [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/obstruction.129821/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/obstruction.129821/[/URL]
I can't find the video referenced but I'll poke around later, maybe it's been re-posted elsewhere.

 

[Christina...]

Once you been grading diamonds at GIA, you will know why. Proportions aren't penalized to downgrade stone to V.Good. Finish isn't penalized for an Excellent grade. By rule of elimination, there is only one factor left. That is human observation.

I know that you have been asked a number of times what your authority is and you've yet to respond, but if you are a member of the trade than you must apply the trade badge to your user profile. Doing so might also eliminate much of the confusion and frustration that has been felt by your posting. I know that one of the trade members referred to you by name at one point, so I'm going to assume that you are in fact a trade member.

 

[Beloved86]

I tried taking some amateur photos with my aset scope so here they are!
I am concerned about the chipping risk... the gemologist said that i shouldnt be too worried since its not an extremely thin girdle though.
I can see why it was not given an excellent cut grading but all things considered especially our budget and the price, it seems like a nice stone.
Thank you again for the replies.