Advice on Princess Cuts

[sillybilly1234]

Hi everybody,

I'm looking for some advice/help on the following 2 princess cut diamonds. They are currently on hold for me at a local jeweler and I have already viewed them and am going back tomorrow for a second look.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-298854

http://www.brilliance.com/diamonds/...nd-D13180509?gclid=CIGL7vLq-cQCFTRn7Aod-h4Ajw

I've attached the grading reports. The first stone report on JA seems to be an older one before the diamond was recut and regraded

Just wondering what you think of them and if i should be looking at AGS0 diamonds like the following 2 diamonds instead

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.52-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-382005

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut/1.59-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-382016

What i am looking for is a princess cut that has ideal or excellent cut, around 1.5 ct, color between G to I and clarity between VS1 and VS2 with a budget between $7000 to $9000 for just the diamond.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thank you

 

[John P]

Here are direct links to the lab reports:

GIA 1.51 I VS1 (N/A)
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?rep...ename=GIA/Dispatcher&c=Page&cid=1355954554547

AGS 1.57 I VS2 (VG Perf)
http://www.agslab.com/pdf_sync_reports/104076646004-PLDQR.PDF

You're able to view them in-person so anything we can offer here is in the backseat. You're the driver. We can provide a map, however.

Compare the I colors face-up. You can also place them upside down on a white card and view them through the side, as they were color-graded at the lab, but face-up is more important. Check the corners especially. Clarity should not be an issue. There's a feather at the corner of the AGS 1.57, but a good stonesetter will understand the implications of proper seating/pressure depending on the setting you choose.

General cut observations: The GIA 1.51 has a larger physical spread than the AGS 1.57. They are also different makes. The GIA 1.51 has a 3-chevron pavilion configuration. The AGS 1.57 has a 4-chevron configuration which means there are 8-additional facets on the bottom. With all else equal (which we can't know) the character of the scintillation will be different, since 8-more facets means the surface-area of the facets which drive light return become smaller but more plentiful.

The GIA 1.51 ...(insert long silence here)... Honestly, GIA puts so little information on the report that it's impossible to even generalize beyond the above.

The AGS 1.57 has a better-than-average ASET image, in terms of that lab's measurements of brightness versus leakage. In live observations, princess cuts with equal-or-more red than green tend to remain reasonably bright in low light conditions, compared to pincess-cuts with dominant green and gray which go dark at the edges, thus appearing smaller. The visible components of fire and scintillation character must be observed in person.

Take them in holders, or on a neutral colored tray, through several lighting conditions. Under the showroom spotlights enjoy the sparkle. Compare size and distribution of scintillation events. See if you get more visible dispersive colors from one as opposed to the other. Look "past" the scintillation in that lighting and see if there are any bothersome, persistent dark areas under the center, at any of the compass points, around the girdle lines. Be absolutely sure to see them in low-light conditions. Many jewelry stores don't have such a place. If nothing else, take them underneath a counter, or go to a corner and block the light with your head-body. This is a critical test for fancy-shapes. See if either goes dark at the edges or in the center. See if one remains "larger" than the other - if so the critical angles are probably more conducive to returning even the small-amount of light entering the diamond back to your eye. I also like examination in natural daylight, by a window or even in a courtyard. Don't hesitate to go back to a prior spot.

Just wondering what you think of them and if i should be looking at AGS0 diamonds like the following 2 diamonds instead.

I really admire AGSL for offering a metric with performance standards for princess cuts. In their favor, any princess with an AGS "0" performance grade came from a production that was specifically aiming for the brightness and contrast standards they enforce, with very little leakage/darkness. That said, fewer than 1% are sent to AGS, so selection is limited.

Complete aside #1: It's cool that you found the original March 2014 report on JA. The curiosity-cat wonders what the story is there. Clearly the repolish-repair managed to chase-out the cavity and natural. I wonder if it took a tiny ding on that side, or a picky diamantaire said "Fix those corners, fool, it's only a 1 point loss!" while knowing it wouldn't improve clarity.

Either way, groovy.

 

[tyty333]

Wow...John P gave you lots of good info!

The only thing I can say is that the table on the first stone (JA) is so huge it would drive me* nuts! The glare off of it... .

 

[sillybilly1234]

Thank you John P for taking the time and for all the great info in your reply. It helped out a lot when I went back to view the diamonds today and it gives me a lot to think about as i figure out which diamond i like best.