Cut Advisor - Excellent vs. Very Good

[nzwarner]

If two different diamonds both have scores under 2.0 when entering their data into the cut advisor, but one diamond comes up with a score of 1.5 (Light Return = Excellent, Fire = Excellent, Scintillation = Excellent, Spread = Very Good) while the other diamond comes up with a score of 1.8 (Light Return = Very Good, Fire = Excellent, Scintillation = Very Good, Spread = Very Good), is there really a difference between the two stones? I read that once the score is under 2.0, that it will only be a matter of preference, but does this also apply to the Excellent vs. Very Good properties? Thanks for your help!

Also, on a bit of different note, ladies, would you rather have a 2 carat H colored stone or a 1.7 carat G colored stone? Assuming they were both cut well?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

On behalf of the sheila's - 2ct any day!!!

I could not tell the difference between 1.5 and 1.8!

 

[sylvesterii]

hehe. funny australian terms...shiela...ok, so it is 2 in the morning. i should be sleeping...

.3 carats for 1 step lower in color, and STILL in the near colorless range. size. yet again, i am speaking for the "ladies" as i am a guy...sheesh. we dont follow directions well here.

 

[aljdewey]

I would rather have the 2 ct. H, providing it's well cut (which I assume it must be one of the two stones you listed HCA scores for, and therefore is well cut.)

 

[diamond dazed]

Imagine her girlfriends coming up to see this massive thing on her finger...."Oh migosh! Whadda rock!" followed by "How big *IS* it?"

Her possible answers:

"2 carats."
"One point seven carats."

Seems that the 2 carat would save her 3 syllables. Over the course of a life time, those could really add up -- more syllables to spend on you. Definitely go with the 2.

Kris

 

[fire&ice]

----------------
On 10/18/2003 8:12:39 AM diamond dazed wrote:



Imagine her girlfriends coming up to see this massive thing on her finger....'Oh migosh! Whadda rock!' followed by 'How big *IS* it?'

Her possible answers:

'2 carats.'
'One point seven carats.'

Seems that the 2 carat would save her 3 syllables. Over the course of a life time, those could really add up -- more syllables to spend on you. Definitely go with the 2.

Kris----------------

I LOVE this perpective! How true. Sometimes it worth it to buy on the mark.

 

[nzwarner]

Ok, now to complicate the issue just a little bit more. What if you were deciding between two stones that both score less than 2 on the HCA cut advisor, but one stone is a 1.7ct, G color, VS2 clarity while the other is a 2ct, H color, SI1 clarity stone? Does the clarity change your mind at all?

Thanks for all the advice - it has been extremely helpful already!

 

[sylvesterii]

eek. the proverbial SI1 vs. VS2..talk about throwing a wrench in a slam dunk...I am sure that many will chime in w/ their opinion, but it really is going to come down to how you feel about clarity in this situation. is it an "eye-clean" SI1? do you have the ability to see these stones, ergg...

 

[aljdewey]

As long as it's eyeclean........nope, wouldn't change my mind. I'd still take the H, SI1 2 ct.

 

[Mara]

2c baby!!!

Always!




Doubt there'd be any diff between 1.5 and 1.8...both are still under 2.0

 

[canadiangrrl]

*small voice* I'd prefer the 1.7 over the 2 ct. I would rather have a smaller G than a larger H, and besides, I would feel silly wearing a 2 carat stone. Even the 1.7 would seem too big.

*ducks*

 

[nzwarner]

Thank you all for your opinions. What exactly does "eyeclean" really mean? Does it mean that there aren't any visible imperfections to the unaided eye? Wouldn't that put it in the VS category?

Thanks again for all the help!

Noah

 

[Rank Amateur]

Eye-clean means different things to different people.

I take it to mean that a casual observer who grabs my wife's hand to look at her ring (at a fairly close distance - say 18" or so) cannot see anything with the unaided eye. A person who has good eyesight and is told where to look for the inclusions might be able to spot a few things that would otherwise go unnoticed. This might hold true for a woman who studies her stone and knows it inside and out - she might not consider it "eye-clean" because she knows where to look to pick out the clarity grade-setting flaws.

If you give her the stone loose, she might be able to pick up on inclusions from the pavillion side that disappear when viewed through the table (the way the inclusion looks through the table is how the grade is set). Or worse yet maybe she looks through an H&A viewer at the hearts side sees that single inclusion looking like 8 or more different inclusions because it is reflecting all around the pavillion!

I assume a diamond grade or experienced GG who looks at stones all day long can pick out things that we amateurs would miss. At least I sure HOPE so.

I don't think the major labs give any sort of "eye-clean" grade. GIA's scale is based on how difficult or easy it is to find the inclusions under certain lighting at 10x magnification. On top of that, there are many many different kinds of inclusions, some of which might be easier than others to see with the unaided eye.

 

[Mara]

CG...SACRILEGE!!

 

[ThatKoreanGuy]

I think of it like this. if this ring will be on her hand for months...wouldn't you consider that she'd admire it and take it off and stare at it for hours? most girls will say wow what a great diamond at first but how many seriously never look at it again? go for quality over quantity. she might not be as surprised but she'll be happier the diamond is better.

 

[pqcollectibles]

The old SI1 debate.

Depends on size, color, location, and type of inclusion(s) and how you plan to mount the diamond. It/They might or might show thru the side. The larger the diamond, typically, the more likely it is for inclusions to show.

Feel out your gal's preference on just how clean she wants her diamond to be. Then you'll know for sure. Some of us like "birthmarks" so we know it's really our diamond and others want "Mr. Clean"!

 

[fire&ice]

Well, I would look at both stones & make my decision based on what I liked better.

I like bigger - but who knows. And I do like a stone that is on mark; but, understand the value of one that is not.