A Cut Above H&A vs Round Ideal? Difference?

[february2003bride]

Can someone tell me the difference between a Cut Above H&A round and a Round Ideal cut from WhiteFlash?

Thanks!

Carrie

 

[Patty]

The difference is a fraction of a fraction of a percentage in most cases.

For whatever reason, the stones that are part of their Expert Selection Ideal Cut did not make the stringent ACA guidelines. They are still beautiful stones.

If you are asking about another company's round ideal cuts versus Whiteflash's ACA, then that's another discussion, lol.

This is a quote from another thread where John talks about the difference between their ACAs and ESs.

Here’s an overview on ACA and Expert Selection, as well as diamonds we can offer that are not on-site.

“A Cut Above” Hearts & Arrows diamonds are cut for precise patterning, with optimum alignment of pavilion facets (Hearts) as the emphasis of their craftsmanship. ACA diamonds were designed by Brian Gavin, produced by our Antwerp-based sightholder and live in our vault waiting for someone to adopt them.

“Expert Selection” diamonds are also in our inventory. Some are “A Cut Above” candidates that did not meet ACA criteria, but may closely resemble ACAs (the one you have posted is a good example). Others come from different sources; Brian hand-selects all of them to appear in the inventory. Though many ES diamonds are of ideal/top quality, not all of them are. The premise of ES is 'best value for the money.'

The only difference you might detect between ACA and some of the ideal-cut ES rounds may be when viewing pavilion patterning through a H&A viewer (more on H&A here). You chose two nice diamonds, above. If you look at the ACA ideal-scope image you will notice a slightly crisper look in this arrows view.

As for performance – opinions run on both sides of the line. Many will tell you that non-H&A diamonds can perform as well as H&A diamonds. Others will offer that over a broad range of lighting conditions the specific construction (esp of minor facets) and optimum alignment in a well-patterned diamond make some difference as you move through every possible illumination scenario (direct light to diffuse light to soft or distant light).

Every ACA and ES diamond is on-site. The third option at WF is a search of the virtual diamond database, available to many vendors. Still, no matter where you find your candidate – on-site or somewhere else in the world – we do not sell it to you without first bringing it in for inspection and analysis.

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM or call me if you would like further input.

John
www.whiteflash.com
mobile.whiteflash.com

 

[Regular Guy]

You also may find this thread, with a real case of interest, the theoretical one below my signature.

Besides the ES, there's the virtual options, which have less data, still available through WF, and may be what you're talking about. They can most readily vouch for in-house wares, but can spin the wheel with you for those options sight unseen.

Secondarily, this thread is also relevant, as well.