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Carat vs Cut

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szotyoriadam

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 23, 2015
Messages
7
Hi!

I just bought a diamond with the following specifications:

Shape: brilliant
Carat: 0.41 ct
Color: I
Clarity VS2
Cut (prop./pol./symm.): Fair/ Very Good/ Good
Certification: HRD

I wonder, if the following diamond had been a better choice:

Shape: brilliant
Carat: 0.34 ct
Color: I
Clarity VVS2
Cut (prop./pol./symm.): Excellent/ Excellent/ Excellent
Certification: HRD

Both diamond had the same price, but finally I got a 10% discount on the first one.
I made the right decision, or I should go for the smaller but triple excellent diamond?
 
You've come to the land of Cut obsessed diamond enthusiasts.
It's like going to Texas and asking if you should have voted for the Republicans or Democrats :)

Jokes aside, go with the second diamond.
"Good" cut is a misnomer. It ain't good at all.
(Even pfunk will agree with me on this :) )
There may be a reason why the seller finally "agree" to give you a 10% discount on that one.

If you want to go up a bit on carat, you may dial down the clarity grade, unless you are looking at such high clarity grades for cultural or other strong reasons.
A lot of SI1s will be eye clean for diamonds <.5c, even more so with VS2s.

And if possible get a GIA/AGS graded stone.
 
I would never go with Fair cut and stones with Fair Cut people generally do not buy, may be that is one of the reason you have been offered discount, size perhaps you can determine by comparing the dimensions, I don't think their would be any noticeable difference between the two stones to naked eyes from the perspective of size.
 
I have read that a fair cut is „more acceptable in diamonds of less than .75 carats, where differences in sparkle are more difficult to perceive.” and “symmetry is more important in diamonds of VVS2 Clarity and higher” It has a significant impact on price (10%-15% higher than a diamond with Good Symmetry and Polish), but low impact on appearance.

http://www.lumeradiamonds.com/diamond-education/diamond-cut

Is it true?

I feel that these are only good excuses for not to feel guilty of making poor choice…

HRD certification is more common in Europe.
 
You would have to see an example of both side by side to decide for yourself. For me, I can tell the cut and performance difference easily even in melee sizes.
 
I have seen both diamond, side by side. My instinct said to buy the triple excellent. Finally the dealer convinced me that de difference won't be noticeable, especially when it will be mounted into a ring, and girls like it big (although I'm a perfectionist)
 
I would have listened to your gut. The fair cut likely has a very similar face up size despite its higher carat weight. Do you have an opportunity to return or exchange?
 
Did you view them under different types of light sources? Even poorly cut diamonds will sparkle well under the store's specially placed lights. Away from these lights, most people can tell the difference easily.
 
@ pfunk: Theoretically, the price of the ring includes a free adjustment, and they have a 14 day return policy.
Sizes:
0,41 ct: 0,71-4,88 mm x 3,00 mm
0.34 ct: 4,46-4,47 mm x 2,77 mm

@Chrono: No, I have seen it only under the store’s spotlight.
 
I don't think you'll notice much of a size difference so I'd pick the better cut. But one would have to see both stones to see how they perform as the triple EX might not even be that great. As for symmetry and clarity there is a bit of a relationship but I think size also matters. Patterning becomes more noticeable with larger sizes.

As for the jeweler pushing the bigger stone he probably did so because it's a poor or mediocre cut and thus harder to sell so he pushes it on unsuspecting customers. Given the size you're looking at you can sacrifice clarity and color and look for a larger carat size and better cut. An excellent cut will suffice as you might not notice much difference between it and ideal or super ideal cuts. I'd look at SI1 and I color stones and see what's available.
 
The size difference is enough to be noticed, but perhaps only in the right lighting. There is a large variance in diameter in that stone, which is evidence of the wonky cutting and the fair cut grade. In less than optimal lighting it might appear smaller than it actually is, as the edges could go dark making the diamond look smaller. In a diamond 0.4 carat and smaller I would not sacrifice so much on cut.
 
szotyoriadam|1437657698|3906455 said:
I have seen both diamond, side by side. My instinct said to buy the triple excellent. Finally the dealer convinced me that de difference won't be noticeable, especially when it will be mounted into a ring, and girls like it big (although I'm a perfectionist)
Click to expand...
Don't believe him...he is trying to sell you a POS!
A fair cut is one step away from a poor cut... :rolleyes: :knockout:
 
Why is so much difference in the cut grade if the following numbers are similar?

Cut (prop./pol./symm.) excellent excellent excellent
Fluorescence nil
Measurements 4.46 - 4.47 mm x 2.77 mm
Girdle medium 3.5 % faceted
Culet pointed
Total Depth 62.1 %
Table Width 57 %
Cr. Height ( b ) 15.5 % ( 35.3 deg )
Pav. Depth ( a ) 43.5 % ( 41.1 deg )

Cut (prop./pol./symm.) fair very good good
Fluorescence nil
Measurements 4.71 - 4.88 mm x 3.00 mm
Girdle thin 2.0 %
Culet 2.6 % polished
Total Depth 62.2 %
Table Width 50 %
Cr. Height ( b ) 15.5 % ( 30.9 deg )
Pav. Depth ( a ) 44.5 % ( 42.4 deg )
 
HRD certificates frequently are not as accurate as GIA. Your triple ex stone gets a HCA of 3.7 and the fair/good stone has a HCA of 4.6. What is your budget? Neither stone does it for me.
 
? What do you mean the numbers are very similar?
Small discrepancies in numbers (angles, table sizes etc.) can mean a big difference.
There is quite a small range of numbers to get GIA excellent cut (even smaller for AGS ideal).
 
arkieb1|1437716309|3906838 said:
HRD certificates frequently are not as accurate as GIA. Your triple ex stone gets a HCA of 3.7 and the fair/good stone has a HCA of 4.6. What is your budget? Neither stone does it for me.
Click to expand...


Do you mean that the HRD made a mistake and the “triple excellent” is just a very good stone?
Both stones was 863 USD. With the 10% reduction, I bought the fair diamond for 775 USD.
 
szotyoriadam|1437929693|3907692 said:
arkieb1|1437716309|3906838 said:
HRD certificates frequently are not as accurate as GIA. Your triple ex stone gets a HCA of 3.7 and the fair/good stone has a HCA of 4.6. What is your budget? Neither stone does it for me.
Click to expand...


Do you mean that the HRD made a mistake and the “triple excellent” is just a very good stone?
Both stones was 863 USD. With the 10% reduction, I bought the fair diamond for 775 USD.
Click to expand...

I suggest you read more about HRD as a grading lab. Most Pricescopers look for GIA or AGS certification because they are very reliable grading certificates. EGL and HRD may seem less consistent, or not as reliable, or whatever. It's not an apples to apples comparison if you are looking at HRD vs. GIA. Make sense?
 
 
Thank you all for the responses, but sadly they sold the triple excellent diamond.
 
szotyoriadam|1438166755|3908599 said:
Thank you all for the responses, but sadly they sold the triple excellent diamond.
Click to expand...

I don't think this seems like a loss at all. Did you read our other posts? It wasn't that well cut of a stone, regardless of what HRD called it. Come back to start a new post with your budget and preferred specifications (carat, color, clarity), and we'll help you find something lovely within budget. :wavey:
 
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