Appreciate feedback on this diamond, thanks! :)

[ethan]

I'm looking at this diamond and would appreciate any feedback from the experts on this forum.

0.81ct/G/SI1(3EX)
Measurements: 6.00 - 6.05 x 3.67mm
Clarity: Feather
Fluorescence: None
Depth: 60.9%
Table: 59%
Crown Height: 14%
Crown Angle: 35.0 deg
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41 deg
Star Length: 55%
Lower Halves: 80%
Girdle: thin - medium 3% (faceted)

HCA: 2.8 (VG, VG, G, VG)

The vendor doesn't not provide IS images. I've ordered an Ideal-Scope for myself but will take 7-14 days to arrive. The diamond looks bright and faces up nice and white, and is also eye-clean to me.

As with everyone on PS, I'd like to find a diamond that dazzles in all 3 areas if possible (brilliance, fire & scintillation). The HCA score seems to say otherwise....

 

[Christina...]

I'd be concerned that there is leakage under the table. Will they hold the stone for you while you wait for the IS scope to arrive? Have you had the opportunity to compare it to an AGS0? I'd want to be able to compare it side by side with another known performer before I walked out the door with it. Evaluate it in as many different lighting environments as you can. Outside in bright sunlight. An overcast day, in office lighting, under a tree, etc and judge it's performance in each location. Jewelry store lighting is incredible deceiving! Also only buy with a very good return policy, in writing!

 

[ethan]

I'd be concerned that there is leakage under the table. Will they hold the stone for you while you wait for the IS scope to arrive? Have you had the opportunity to compare it to an AGS0? I'd want to be able to compare it side by side with another known performer before I walked out the door with it. Evaluate it in as many different lighting environments as you can. Outside in bright sunlight. An overcast day, in office lighting, under a tree, etc and judge it's performance in each location. Jewelry store lighting is incredible deceiving! Also only buy with a very good return policy, in writing!

Thank you so much for your feedback Christina. I can ask them to hold the stone for me. What would I be seeing if there's leakage under the table as you say? I have seen it in different lightings and honestly, I'm not really good at telling whether what I'm seeing is good or not so good (sigh) In bright sunlight, it has sparkle. In office light (white fluorescent lighting), it looks white but I can see the table quite clearly and there's no sparkle there. Sometimes it seems to 'sing' and at other times... I don't know. My apologies for not being of much help.

 

[ethan]

Oh, and the vendor doesn't carry AGS certified stones so there's no way I would have the opportunity to compare with one

 

[Christina...]

When you view a well cut stone in bright sunlight it turns dark, but you will see lots of flashes of colored light, office lighting is the harshest environment, but you should see more white light return. Light leakage will look like a dead area under the table, while you may see the other facets light up and dance, the table area will remain lifeless and do little. Rocking the stone back forth will help you, while some of the facets dance, the others will go dark, but as you rock back the other way, the facets that were dark before will light up, while the others go dark. You want to make sure that when you view the stone it's bright and lively from side to side.

http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_reference_chart.asp
The link above is reference charts of what an ideal cut stone and a stone with leakage will look like under the IS. The white areas in the images represent the dark areas in the actual stone.

I was trying to find a video that would help demonstrate what I'm trying to say and this is the best that I could find.
http://vimeo.com/album/44212/video/2901034

in the video you can see the areas of darkness the represent leakage. The leakage in the particular stone isn't under the table, but you will be able to see what leakage looks like and then apply it to your situation.

edit: It's possible that your stone is gorgeous, the HCA only predicts potential LP, your eyes will be the judge in the end, but it's also important to train your eyes so that you know what to look for. The IS will be a great tool. I saw that they were on vacation, thus the delay.

 

[ethan]

Thank you Christina for taking the time to guide me through this. It's frustrating to think that I've found the one, only to find that it doesn't score so well on the HCA and AGA tool. I also failed to clarify that the diamond is already set in a ring. I came across it at the vendor's and thought it looked good, plus it was in the right price range for me. Would I have difficulty getting an IS image when the Ideal-Scope arrives, since the diamond is already mounted?

You said that the diamond may have light leakage under the table. Could you educate me on which parameters too look at, that indicates that? This is so that I can avoid those and give my vendor certain proportions to look for in the search for a great performing diamond, if I choose to release this one.

Would appreciate feedback from others too on this particular diamond.

Meanwhile, will just have to wait for the Ideal-Scope to arrive.

Thanks again Christina!

 

[yssie]

Thank you Christina for taking the time to guide me through this. It's frustrating to think that I've found the one, only to find that it doesn't score so well on the HCA and AGA tool. I also failed to clarify that the diamond is already set in a ring. I came across it at the vendor's and thought it looked good, plus it was in the right price range for me. Would I have difficulty getting an IS image when the Ideal-Scope arrives, since the diamond is already mounted?

You said that the diamond may have light leakage under the table. Could you educate me on which parameters too look at, that indicates that? This is so that I can avoid those and give my vendor certain proportions to look for in the search for a great performing diamond, if I choose to release this one.

Would appreciate feedback from others too on this particular diamond.

Meanwhile, will just have to wait for the Ideal-Scope to arrive.

Thanks again Christina!

Not Christina but I want to point out one thing - you can get an IS of a set stone, same way you would for a loose though it's a bit harder aligning the girdle of the stone w/ the bottom of the scope (see Christina's links) but you've got to make sure the stone is *spotlessly* clean and that can be tough depending on the setting, so have the vendor give it a steam first

 

[ethan]

Thank you Yssie. I'll be sure to ask the vendor to give the ring a steam before I view it with the scope Can't wait for the Ideal-scope to arrive.