Advice on 2 stones please!

[blakhawk]

Hi All

I''ve been reading these forums for a while and it''s a great place - what a wealth of information. To cut to the chase I''m currently looking at 2 round brilliants, the specs are below:


1.33/F/VS2 (+)

Depth: 62.7%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 35.5°
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41.0°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted (4.0%)
Culet: None

1.50/F/SI1

Depth: 61.8%
Table: 56%
Crown Angle: 34.0°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.6°
Pavilion Depth: 42.5%
Star length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted (4.0%)
Culet: None

Both have excellent cut and are of comparable price. Now I''ve plugged the values into HCA and the 2nd stone comes out a lot better than the 1st. The gemologist, however, has recommended the 1st and is of the opinion it is a lovely stone (they believe it is closer to VS1 hence the +). I''m hoping to have a look at them both but wouldn''t mind hearing some opinions.

Any thoughts?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[jet2ks]

They might both be graded excellent by GIA, but are on opposite ends of the spectrum. GIA's cut grade of excellent is a little broad and includes some angle combos that just don't work well together.

The first is what we refer to as a steep/deep, where light "leaks" out the pavillion instead of being reflected back to your eyes as sparkle--the angles are too steep to compliment each other. In the worst cases a steep/deep will have a dead, lifeless "ring of death" around the outside of the table and look smaller than it ought for it's carat weight.

The second diamond is getting into shallow/shallow range, where it can suffer from obstruction (the diamond going dark when being viewed at a close distance because the available light is blocked by the viewer's head). Of the two, I prefer the numbers on this one and if it doesn't have any obstruction isssues, could be a nice stone.

Are you going to be viewing these in person?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/6/2009 3:43:09 PM
Author: jet2ks
They might both be graded excellent by GIA, but are on opposite ends of the spectrum. GIA's cut grade of excellent is a little broad and includes some angle combos that just don't work well together.

The first is what we refer to as a steep/deep, where light 'leaks' out the pavillion instead of being reflected back to your eyes as sparkle--the angles are too steep to compliment each other. In the worst cases a steep/deep will have a dead, lifeless 'ring of death' around the outside of the table and look smaller than it ought for it's carat weight.

The second diamond is getting into shallow/shallow range, where it can suffer from obstruction (the diamond going dark when being viewed at a close distance because the available light is blocked by the viewer's head). Of the two, I prefer the numbers on this one and if it doesn't have any obstruction isssues, could be a nice stone.

Are you going to be viewing these in person?

Ditto. If you aren't seeing these in person if they are for sale with an online vendor, can you get images such as Idealscope?

 

[rockabee]

if#2 was eye clean, i would prefer that one. i''m not too worried about the "shallow" angles and if you decided to move forward, you should get an aset/is image before doing so.

 

[stone-cold11]

Ditto above, is idealscope image available?

 

[blakhawk]

Hi All

Thanks so much for the quick replies. Yes I will be seeing the stone in person. I''m in Australia and it is through a reputable jeweller based here - the stones are coming from the states - I have got a fully refundable deposit on the 1st stone but I''m thinking of putting a deposit on the 2nd and seeing if they can get both stones for me to compare in person. I will ask whether an aset/is image is available and post if so.

Any advice on questions to ask?

 

[jet2ks]

Just make sure to view the diamonds in as many lighting scenarios as possible--jewelry display lighting can make even a poorly cut stone shine. At the very least, try to get the diamonds into daylight, under fluorescent office-type lighting and in a low light setting, such as under a counter or desk. A well cut stone will look good in all lighting, while one not so well cut may look good in some but not others. A comparison in low light of two stones will really tell which one is better.

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 11/6/2009 3:27:45 PM
Author:blakhawk
The gemologist, however, has recommended the 1st and is of the opinion it is a lovely stone.

I''ll bet he is!!!

No disrespect to the jeweler - he is just doing his job which is selling jewelry in a way that is most beneficial for him. That is to say, the recommendation is not from a disinterested party. If I were in his shoes I might also try to get rid of the harder to sell stone first to someone that doesn''t know better. That way I have the better stone in inventory when someone walks in that does.

Questions I would ask... Fist one: can I get my deposit back on the first one and apply it to hold the second one? Second question: can I get IS and ASET images of the second one?

 

[blakhawk]

Thanks for the advice jet2ks.

outatouch0 - yea the deposit is a fully refundable deposit - all it is for is to hold the stone while I make my decision. They''ve used the deposit to hold both stones for me so shall the reports and see if they can get me more info.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Cheers