Advice on princess cut stone

[the314]

Hi all - been browsing around on here for awhile now trying to educate myself and was amazed at the wealth of info on here - by far the best on the web. It''s getting to be about the time i take the plunge and buy a diamond so i''m making my first post. I''m looking for a 0.8 to 1 ct princess cut for my gfs engagement setting, hopefully in the G-H color range and VS1-SI1 clarity, but as i''ve learned on here cut is king so could be at the lower end of those ranges for a great cut stone. I''ve found a stone at WF i like and recently received the idealscope and aset images (don''t know what to make of the black in the center of idealscope and 40x mag) and would very much appreciate anyone''s input or alternate suggestions. Dimensions are below and idealscope is attached. Thanks a bunch.

CW: 0.81 ct
Color: H
Clar: VS1
Dim: 5.39x5.16x3.67 (L/W = 1.04)
Total depth: 3.67 (71.1 %)
Pav depth: 3.03
Pav angle: 59.8 deg
Crown ht: 0.5mm
Crown angle: 28.5 deg
Table size: 3.44 - 3.64 (68.5%)
Girdle thk: 0.13-0.18

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome!

I am not loving the image to be honest, those dark patches will probably show in the actual diamond. Can you post the ASET image too please and the photo of the diamond?

 

[stone-cold11]

Ditto.

 

[the314]

40x attached

 

[the314]

ASET attached...thanks for the quick responses

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/29/2009 5:29:48 PM
Author: the314
40x attached

Thanks! Sorry, I believe you can do better.

This page explains ASET images and IS.

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

What we are seeing here is very little red and the distribution is not even, red is the most desirable colour in ASET and is direct light return. Although you don't want a solid red image like IS, you do want lots of red which shows evenly throughout the stone and flows through to the edges. You want more red than green, green is reflected light, here we have more green than red which isn't desirable.

Blue that we see in the centre is obstruction and a small amount which is well placed can provide contrast which is pleasing to the viewer. Here we see large chunks of light are being blocked ( blue) and black ( leakage) where light should be being reflected back to the viewer, the light is being blocked and is also escaping as leakage. These will probably show as dark patches when viewing the diamond.

 

[cindygenit]

Date: 6/29/2009 5:30:50 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/29/2009 5:29:48 PM
Author: the314
40x attached

Thanks! Sorry, I believe you can do better.

This page explains ASET images and IS.

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

What we are seeing here is very little red and the distribution is not even, red is the most desirable colour in ASET and is direct light return. Although you don''t want a solid red image like IS, you do want lots of red which shows evenly throughout the stone and flows through to the edges. You want more red than green, green is reflected light, here we have more green than red which isn''t desirable.

Blue that we see in the centre is obstruction and a small amount which is well placed can provide contrast which is pleasing to the viewer. Here we see large chunks of light are being blocked ( blue) and black ( leakage) where light should be being reflected back to the viewer, the light is being blocked and is also escaping as leakage. These will probably show as dark patches when viewing the diamond.

Lorelei said it all. You can do SO much better.

Hopefully stonecold, jstar or lorelei can give you some suggestions.

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 6/29/2009 9:45:52 PM
Author: cindygenit

Date: 6/29/2009 5:30:50 PM

Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/29/2009 5:29:48 PM

Author: the314

40x attached

Thanks! Sorry, I believe you can do better.


This page explains ASET images and IS.


http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance


What we are seeing here is very little red and the distribution is not even, red is the most desirable colour in ASET and is direct light return. Although you don't want a solid red image like IS, you do want lots of red which shows evenly throughout the stone and flows through to the edges. You want more red than green, green is reflected light, here we have more green than red which isn't desirable.


Blue that we see in the centre is obstruction and a small amount which is well placed can provide contrast which is pleasing to the viewer. Here we see large chunks of light are being blocked ( blue) and black ( leakage) where light should be being reflected back to the viewer, the light is being blocked and is also escaping as leakage. These will probably show as dark patches when viewing the diamond.

Lorelei said it all. You can do SO much better.

Hopefully stonecold, jstar or lorelei can give you some suggestions.

Sure can. What's your budget for the stone, the314?

ETA: Without knowing the budget, I can start with this one - a tad under size, but within the desired color/clarity specs. And that ASET! It reminds me of my own princess.

 

[jstarfireb]

Here''s another thought:
http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=view-id-diamond-infinity&id=267

We can definitely widen up the search when we know the budget though.

 

[cindygenit]

I like the first one better!

It's prettie and better cut. The second one is of a different cut (if i'm not mistaken it has only 2 chevrons?). Something i just learnt last week from karl.

ETA: I meant the first one suggested by jstar.

 

[jstarfireb]

Cindy, you''re correct about the chevrons. ACAs have 3 and Infinity princesses have 2. However, they''re both cut to the highest standards for princesses, so I wouldn''t say the ACA is better cut than the Infinity. It''s just a matter of personal preference - some people prefer the "crushed ice" look of 3 chevrons (myself included). Others prefer the more "crisp" or "bold" appearance of 2 chevrons.

 

[cindygenit]

Oh right... but the cert said that the Infinity is AGS1, while the ACA is AGS0. That was the reason behind my assuming that the ACA is better cut, not because of my preference for 3 chevrons.

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 6/29/2009 11:03:48 PM
Author: cindygenit
Oh right... but the cert said that the Infinity is AGS1, while the ACA is AGS0. That was the reason behind my assuming that the ACA is better cut, not because of my preference for 3 chevrons.

Gotcha. Looking at the AGS report, the deduction on the Infinity is for polish, not light performance, and it''s unlikely to affect the visual appearance of the stone. Wink has published a few videos on his site that showcase stones that got dinged by AGS for polish or symmetry, but still have the same beautiful light performance as an AGS0. However, you''re right that it technically can''t be called "ideal" because of that.

 

[cindygenit]

Date: 6/29/2009 11:15:26 PM
Author: jstarfireb

Date: 6/29/2009 11:03:48 PM
Author: cindygenit
Oh right... but the cert said that the Infinity is AGS1, while the ACA is AGS0. That was the reason behind my assuming that the ACA is better cut, not because of my preference for 3 chevrons.

Gotcha. Looking at the AGS report, the deduction on the Infinity is for polish, not light performance, and it's unlikely to affect the visual appearance of the stone. Wink has published a few videos on his site that showcase stones that got dinged by AGS for polish or symmetry, but still have the same beautiful light performance as an AGS0. However, you're right that it technically can't be called 'ideal' because of that.

Yeap. I agree with you 100%.

Good luck the314! You have two excellent stones to look at here as provided by jstar. Let us know what you pick. I LOVE princess stones

 

[Lorelei]

FAB selections Jstar, we can always rely on you for great Princess!!!

 

[the314]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions...i actually was looking at the .76 aca at whiteflash last evening...tad smaller but like it a lot...have about $2k in the setting so stone budget is about $2500-$3k. Any other suggestions would be great but as of now i''m leaning towards the wf .76.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/30/2009 9:03:40 AM
Author: the314
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions...i actually was looking at the .76 aca at whiteflash last evening...tad smaller but like it a lot...have about $2k in the setting so stone budget is about $2500-$3k. Any other suggestions would be great but as of now i''m leaning towards the wf .76.

Could you attach the images for that one please?

 

[the314]

It was the one linked by jstar above...also here. ASET, IS, and 40x are shown on the site but i''d be glad to post here if you''d like me to. I like this stone a lot (and esp for the price) but hard to tell how much size difference there is b/t this and .8-.9ct when viewing online. I''ve seen quite a few in local stores to get an idea but so many same cw stones seem to face up differently due to dimensions.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/30/2009 10:30:50 AM
Author: the314
It was the one linked by jstar above...also here. ASET, IS, and 40x are shown on the site but i''d be glad to post here if you''d like me to. I like this stone a lot (and esp for the price) but hard to tell how much size difference there is b/t this and .8-.9ct when viewing online. I''ve seen quite a few in local stores to get an idea but so many same cw stones seem to face up differently due to dimensions.

Oh ok, I must have misread and thought it was a different diamond, that one is a stunner, beautiful ASET!

 

[jstarfireb]

The314, I took a look through James Allen''s inventory just now and didn''t really see anything I liked within your parameters. I think the ACA is your best bet.

Based on the dimensions, you may notice a difference in size compared to your first stone. However, since the ACA has corner-to-corner light return, the eye will be drawn out to the edges of the stone, and it will look larger than life. It''s hard to say exactly how much size this will make up for, but I would choose a smaller, better-cut stone any day!

 

[the314]

Thanks to all for your input...went with the wf aca.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/1/2009 9:25:52 AM
Author: the314
Thanks to all for your input...went with the wf aca.

CONGRATS!!!

 

[jstarfireb]

Nice choice! Please come back with pictures when you''re done. Which setting did you choose?

And thanks as always Lorelei - you''re too kind!

 

[stone-cold11]

Congrats.

 

[cindygenit]

Congrats the314!

pics!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/1/2009 5:04:51 PM
Author: jstarfireb
Nice choice! Please come back with pictures when you''re done. Which setting did you choose?

And thanks as always Lorelei - you''re too kind!

MOST welcome my dear, its true!!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!