Another critique request from a Newbie!

[David0722]

Long time reader, first time poster. Love the site!

I'm looking for advise from the pro's out there on a round stone I'm considering. I've read that undersized stones are a great value, but hard to find. I found the following that looks like a terrific value and I'd appreciate any input. I did the Holloway Cut Adviser, and it showed an [EDIT] "Excellent 0.8".

Price = $11,800 (tax free)

Scan of AGSL Certificate: http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4254/scan4vy.jpg

Round Brilliant 1.45
Color: G
Ideal Cut (0)
Clarity: VS1
Polish: Ideal
Symetry: Ideal
Proportions: Ideal
Fluorescence: Medium Blue
Measurements: 7.26 - 7.40 x 4.48mm
Depth: 61.4%
Table: 55.2%
Crown Angle: 35.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.6%

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Are those diameter measurements correct? 7.26 to 7.4 means the stone is not very round. Other than that, it might be great. Have you seen a copy of the cert?

 

[David0722]

Yes, 7.26 x 7.40. (Is that too unusual?)

Here''s the scan of the certificate: http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4254/scan4vy.jpg

 

[Arcam]

.14 is a relatively significant difference, which may explain the price. I would have expected to see that stone with those specs for another $1000 or so. Not sure if you will see lack of roundness, but it may be visible to the eye.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hmm, well, it is a recent AGS0, so that can''t be all bad. I''ll tell you honestly that I have also been looking at G-H VS1 or above in the 1.4 range, and this one appears to be brand new according to the date on the certificate. If it is from a reliable vendor with a good return policy, I''d be tempted, if I were you, to go ahead and order it and then get another appraisal just to be sure, assuming you like it. I promise I won''t try to find it or anything like that

, but since you have posted here, just be aware that there are other lurkers who might try to find it and snap it up, unless, of course, it is in-house at a brick and mortar jewelry store! Ideal cut stones just under 1.5 are hard to locate. The price sounds fine to me, too. Good luck and I hope you''ll post back once you see it!

(You might get advice that says there are better AGS0''s, but realistically, most of us would be happy with an AGS0!!!)

 

[David0722]

Good to know! Thankfully, it's on hold at a B&M.

Other comments on the specs/quality/value of this stone would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Oleander]

My stone has a .10 mm difference. I don''t know if that is significant or not, but you can _not_ tell it''s not perfectly round. At least I can''t.

 

[Mara]

that is a pretty large variance in the diameter. kind of odd for a well cut stone.

also the crown angle is a little steep but it''s got a more shallow pav angle to compensate so that''s not a huge deal.

the 0.5 on the HCA is a little worrying as some of the experts say anything under 40.6 may lose a bit of contrast in the stone. and since i love contrast, i wouldn''t want to chance it if i didn''t see the stone in person first.

but if there is a good return policy and you have seen it in person and your eye likes it, well then get it! if you can see it though take a look into the stone in natural lighting and see if you see any sort of lack of contrast between the white and darks in the stones.

 

[ladykemma]

the fluor will be cool. is it round?

 

[David0722]

Date: 6/28/2006 1:08:52 PM
Author: ladykemma
the fluor will be cool. is it round?

Yes, and from what I''ve read I think a little fluorescence is something I''d like to have.

 

[Mara]

The other thing that is kind of odd is it's a newly graded AGS stone, but it was done on an old certificate template, so it doesn't have light performance measure, which is a large strength of the new format. I wonder if this was an honest oversight, or if maybe it wouldn't have such great light performance scores so it was not accidental. That's curious...just musing...I'd ask about that it if you can.

ETA here is a link that talks about the differences between old and new certs:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ags-dqd-grading-reports-old-and-new.45611/

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think if you''ve seen the diamond and cannot detect that it is not perfectly round, then that is not a worry. It probably wouldn''t have gotten the AGS0 if it was too far off round.

 

[David0722]

Date: 6/28/2006 1:07:32 PM
Author: Mara
the 0.5 on the HCA is a little worrying as some of the experts say anything under 40.6 may lose a bit of contrast in the stone.

Interesting comment Mara. If it''s 40.6 then isn''t that within the acceptable parameter?

 

[Mara]

Date: 6/28/2006 1:22:39 PM
Author: David0722

Date: 6/28/2006 1:07:32 PM
Author: Mara
the 0.5 on the HCA is a little worrying as some of the experts say anything under 40.6 may lose a bit of contrast in the stone.

Interesting comment Mara. If it''s 40.6 then isn''t that within the acceptable parameter?

ACK sorry I meant anything under 0.6 on the HCA. I must have just typed 40.6 since that was the pav angle.

To clarify, anything under 0.6 on the HCA has been said to show some loss of contrast.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

David, keep in mind we are debating about the best of the best here. Maybe your stone is in the top 5% and yes, there may be a few better. I just don't want you to be turned off by the numbers analysis. Some of us have obsessed over the numbers to the point we can hardly find a stone! That size is so rare that you should seriously look at it if you haven't already. Let your eyes decide...it's AGS0, and G VS1 at just under 1.5. You may not find one more perfect than that within your parameters. I did look at a 1.44 H VS2 hearts and arrows stone at Dimend Scassi that was about $10,000 if you want something close to compare.

 

[Mara]

i agree re letting your eyes decide if that is possible, BUT there are some red flags here diamond seeker...and the potential buyer should know that. that is what PS is for. this could be an amazing stone...but there are a few things that stand out and people come here to be educated, not just told 'oh that looks great, it's hard to find size, so buy it'...

david can draw his own conclusions from the data put out here IMO, he was intelligent enough to find PS...by putting the information out there for the consumer, whatever they decide to do with it is totally their perogative. something like lack of contrast could be a total deal killer for some, or the diameter variance, or the strange AGS cert. in any case, he should at least ask more questions of his vendor, not just leap on the stone because it's in the top 5% maybe.

anyway, good luck david...

 

[David0722]

Date: 6/28/2006 1:28:05 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
David, keep in mind we are debating about the best of the best here. Maybe your stone is in the top 5% and yes, there may be a few better. I just don''t want you to be turned off by the numbers analysis. Some of us have obsessed over the numbers to the point we can hardly find a stone! That size is so rare that you should seriously look at it if you haven''t already. Let your eyes decide...it''s AGS0, and G VS1 at just under 1.5. You may not find one more perfect than that within your parameters. I did look at a 1.44 H VS2 hearts and arrows stone at Dimend Scassi that was about $10,000 if you want something close to compare.

Duly noted. Thank you (and everyone else) for your honesty and guidance!

 

[David0722]

Date: 6/28/2006 1:24:04 PM
Author: Mara

ACK sorry I meant anything under 0.6 on the HCA. I must have just typed 40.6 since that was the pav angle.

To clarify, anything under 0.6 on the HCA has been said to show some loss of contrast.

My turn for a typo! The actual HCA analysis I performed reads "0.8 - Excellent" not 0.5.