can you help me choose a diamond

[lostinround]

#1: 3.06 J/SI1 GIA ideal cut, polish EX and symmetry EX; depth 60.3%, table 58%, crown angle 34.5, pavilion angle 40.6, crown 14.5%, pavilion 42.5% no culet, thin to slightly thich girdle, HCA 0.8, cost:27160

#2: 3.01 H/SI2 GIA ideal cut, symmetry EX, and polish EX; depth 60%, table 56%, cown angle 34.5, pavilion angle 40.6, crown 15%, pavilion 43%, no nulet, thin to medium girdle HCA: 0.8, cost 32922

#3: 3.42 I/SI2 GIA ideal cut, symmetry VG, polish EX; depth 60%, table 59%, culet none, girdle thin to medium, crown angle 34, pavilion angle 41, crown:14%, pavilion 43.5%, HCA 1.7, cost 32083

#4: 3.43 I/SI1 GIA ideal cut, symmetry and polish EX, depth 60.8%, table 55%, crown angle 33.5, pavilion angle 40.8, crown 15%, pavilion 43%, culet : none, girdle: very thin to medium, HCA 0.8, cost: 35969

The main difference between #1 and #2 is the color H to J - how much of a difference is this? Is it worth 6000 dollars?

The fire and scintillation on the HCA score is "very good" on stone #3 and it is "excellent" on stone #4 - is this a noticeable difference which is worth almost an additional 4000 dollars

Sorry for the lenthy post but I am trying to use these numbers to help me decide since they are all online stones. I looked at a few stones and I could tell the difference between a J color and an E color. My main concern with the HCA score is that it sounds like it is a good reflection of the end beuaty of the stone.

I would greatly appreciate some guidance. Thanks

 

[lostinround]

Hi I just wanted to clarify the above post. The two main stones I am considering are #1 and #3. #1 has a higher HCA score while #3 has a bigger size. What do you all think is the difference in price warranted? Are either of them a good value for the price.

Would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

[Giangi]

I just wanted to point out that cut is an extremely important feature, but clarity shouldn''t be overlooked in 3 caraters. Not that many 3ct SIs will be eye-clean. That''s something to be considered.
Concerning cut, they are all good makes. The only one I am not crazy about is the last one, with the 33.5/40.8° combo.
A superideal J colored stone should face up pretty white - you may or may not able to tell the difference with a H.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome

I like the numbers best on #1 and #2 especially, but as Giangi says, you need to be careful in the larger diamonds in the SI clarities as to whether they are eyeclean. Best thing is to decide your own comfort level and ask the vendors concerning each diamond, what the grade setting inclusions are and visibility etc. Also the HCA is a very useful tool, but I will think you will find most say it isn't conclusive regarding the beauty of a diamond, but a tool to weed out the lesser performers.

Regarding the colour, a properly graded H and J as these are, will face up white to most eyes, but a touch of warmth may be visible from the side. Colour is best decided in person, is there a store near you with similar size and colour graded diamonds you can look at to see for yourself? A great cut will help a diamond to face up whiter, but you also need to bear in mind the larger you go, the more colour will be shown. I would expect between a J and E colour you would see a difference, see if you can compare closer colour grades. To give you some idea, Kristydarling has a 3.5 round which is an H and that looks incredibly white in pictures, but really you need to judge for yourself and see what your own colour perception is.

You are off to a really good start in finding some excellent diamonds! Online vendors are a really great bunch, don't be afraid to ask questions about the diamonds you are interested in and take their advice and suggestions. To help further, see if the vendors have a Sarin Report ( useful with GIA excellents as they give you the actual numbers rather than the rounded versions) and or any Idealscope images. These are not essential, but useful especially when spending a lot of money to help you decide further.

Also to help further, eyeclean is described in the industry as " no inclusions visible in normal light with normal vision at arms length," so you need to decide what your comfort level is. Sometimes diamonds are clean face up, but you might see something from the side. All SI clarity diamonds aren't created equal, but there are great ones out there, however in a larger diamond you might find it more difficult to find an eyeclean one.

 

[aljdewey]

Do you have a way to see these diamonds?

It looks like you are giving a lot of consideration to how the diamonds score on the HCA. Since these are all GIA diamonds, the numbers appear to be rounded. (GIA rounds information on its grading reports, including crown/pavilion angles).

As such, I'd caution relying too heavily on the attributes of the HCA---the information it provides isn't as accurate with rounded numbers.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Truthfully, I went to a jeweler on Friday and tried on diamond earrings from E to K color, and I definitely could see the yellow in the J and K on my ears (face up) in naatural light. So for me personally, the color I would be as low as I''d go. And since clarity is of concern in larger stones, I''d not look at under SI1, and even those would have to be checked to see if they are eyeclean.

So for me, the color and clarity would rule out #1,2,and 3, and I wouldn''t like the very thin girdle on the 4th one. So I''d look further and consider going just under 3 carats to get higher color and clarity. But if size is the only factor that is really important to you, then one of these might work for you. We each have different preferences as to the 4 C''s.

 

[kcoursolle]

I like the cuts on #1 and #2 the best. I would call up the vendor and ask for pictures and also if they think they are eye clean. I''m guessing the SI1 might be, but the SI2 probably won''t be in a 3 carat stone. Also, I would ask about the color of the stones, see if the J is a true J or if it is closer to an I or K. In a large stone you will see a tiny bit of warmth in the J stones, more so than in a smaller stone. To me personally though, I''m not sure the difference would be worth 6k, but I would want to make sure the stone is eye-clean or something that can be covered with a prong.

 

[lostinround]

Hey guys, really appreciate the input and your help.

What do you guys think of this stone?
3.25 H / SI1 / sarin cut 1 / depth 61.9% / table 57% / crown angle 34.5 / pavilion angle 41 / medium + girdle

I read something about the 61% depth rule supposudely a stone should have a depth less than 61% to be of a an ideal cut?

Thanks again

 

[lostinround]

Thanks alot for your reply and your help

What do you guys think of this stone?
3.25 H / SI1 / sarin cut 1 / depth 61.9% / table 57% / crown angle 34.5 / pavilion angle 41 / medium + girdle

I read something about the 61% depth rule supposudely a stone should have a depth less than 61% to be of a an ideal cut?

Thanks again

PS I forgot to say concerning the stone it is eyeclean , HCA 1.9, cost 27500