Calling all experts! Diamond HCA, table, color questions!

[midnightsunmatt]

Hi all,

I was hoping to pick the minds of some of you knowledgeable diamond junkies out there. First, I want to say that this website is awesome. I have learned a ton from this website in the past few months. When I first started reading in August I knew absolutely nothing about diamonds, but now I think I have learned a fair amount for a novice and have a fair idea of what I am looking for (weathering the cold weather in Alaska provides lots of reading time...) I have some questions that I was hoping some of you cagey veterans could help me out with.

I am looking to buy a diamond for an engagement/wedding all in one ring. My wife is Chinese and we got married in China without a long engagement, and trying to buy a diamond in China without any background in diamonds seemed like an all around bad idea. As a result, I decided to table pulling the trigger on anything until I had time to research things, and save enough $ for something I had confidence in. In any case, in my long internet travels I found pricescope and here I am...

I have preliminarily my sights on a diamond between 1.00-1.20 carats, D-F color, VS2. After reading a lot of discussions here, I am convinced that I want to target a ''super-ideal, hearts & arrows'' diamond. Unless something else magic presents itself, I intend to buy it from Whiteflash ACA, Brian Gavin H&A, Good Old Gold H&A, or James Allen H&A.

Questions:

1. Holloway Cut Adviser: While the Holloway Cut Advisor states that most people prefer diamonds scoring from 1-2, and neither a higher or lower score is better or worse, are there actual differences in what the score means? For instance, does a higher score indicate certain diamond properties and a lower score others? If so, what tends to happen to diamond performance as scores rise or fall within the ideal range?

2. Table Size: The general consensus around here seems to be that table sizes between 54-57% are a good range to be in. Some people say 53-58%. Since I will be buying an ideal H&A''s diamond, I know that I won''t end up with an out of whack table size. What I want to know is will a smaller or larger table size within ideal ranges effect performance? I read somewhere that a larger table will increase the size that the stone appears to be, while a smaller table (like 55%) will increase fire. Is this true, and if so, is there any significant difference in diamond performance from say a 57% table and a 54-55% table? How much larger will a diamond with a 57% table look that a diamond with a 54% table? And how much more fire would a diamond with a 54% table have than a diamond with 57% table?

3. Diamond Color: I have decided I want to be in the D-F range, I don''t want any observable color, in any light. From my understanding, once set, an F diamond should show no recognizable color unless compared to another diamond. Is this true? My second question is, if I were to put a D and an F in settings, side by side, could I tell the difference between the two? Would the D look more white? In your opinion would I be better off with a D or E, or choosing an F and getting a larger diamond? With my budget I am probably roughly looking at choosing between a 1.00 carat D, 1.10 E, or 1.20 F (all VS2). What would be the better buy in your opinion.

4. Assuming that I will be buying the setting from someone other than I am buying the diamond from (I have my eye set on a specific Tacori), is there any real difference between buying from Whiteflash, Brian Gavin, James Allen, or Good Old Gold other than trade in, buy back policies? Are there any differences in actual product quality or consistency in their H&A lines? Is there any difference in the value of the "brand" as perceived by others in the business? If so, give me the lowdown on the ''rep'' of these guys as perceived by others in the business. I have noticed that Whiteflash seems to be a tad cheaper in price than the others...

I greatly appreciate your help. I look forward to reading your advice.



Thanks,

Matt

 

[stone-cold11]

Add HighperformanceDiamond to your list, the carry CraftedbyInfinity H&A stone.
1) HCA score is not necessary if you are buying H&A from the vendor you listed. IS/ASET images trumps HCA score. HCA is just a rejection tool not a selection tool, which you are attempting to you it as.

2)Table has no direct correlation to diameter of the stone, simple understanding of basic geometry will show that. Just different patterns which you will see from the images.

3)You will not be able to tell color difference once mounted as the setting will impart some colors to the diamond too. Which is why an accurate grading of the color of a diamond can only be done with a loose stone.

4)WF, BGD, GOG, CbI''s H&A are cut very tight and very similar, JA''s TH varies over a wider range of angles. I would choose one that is an authorized vendor of Tacori, easier that way.