dazed and confused...

[dolby77]

This site has been very helpful, so thanks to all...though each time I think I understand topics, I find more to get me confused!!!

1. How closely matching should bullets be to the center stone? It looks like I may have to purchase the center stone separately from the ring. I''ve heard one color grade is acceptable. I haven''t read anything about cut and I would figure that to be the most important.

2. Is there a depth% and table% ratio that is a safe rule of thumb to go with when looking at round diamonds? I''ve looked at the AGA grading chart, so I''m just wondering what the easiest way to judge a good combo of each...

3. As a novice, how concerned should I be with the measurement numbers or are they covered by the depth%, table% and symmetry?

4. Opinion: Which would be a better pick? H VS2 or G Si1


Whew! I only want to do this once, so I want to make sure I do it right! Thanks

 

[marypoppins]

This table should be helpful with measurements Round Brilliant Chart
I joined this group not too long ago. I''ve come to learn that cut is the most important of the 4 C''s to ensure beauty
As for the 2 color choices you have I think it might come down to your personal preference.
I''m sure some of the more experienced ones will join in soon.

 

[Lorelei]

Here is a cheat sheet some of us use to find well cut round diamonds.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

With that said, here's a "Cliff's Notes" for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA "EX" in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 11/24/2008 6:08:11 PM
Author:dolby77

3. As a novice, how concerned should I be with the measurement numbers or are they covered by the depth%, table% and symmetry?

4. Opinion: Which would be a better pick? H VS2 or G Si1

Whew! I only want to do this once, so I want to make sure I do it right! Thanks

Measurements are the physical dimension, aka, how lare the stone will look. The % numbers are all in reference to the diameter of the stone.

SI1 is good, especially if you are trying to match colors to the side stone, as long as the SI1 is eye-clean to you, just ask the vendors to verify for you first and make sure they have a good return policy so that in the event that you can see the inclusions that the vendors can''t you can still return it. Some people are just more sensitive to inclusions, color, etc. Everyone is different.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/24/2008 6:08:11 PM
Author:dolby77

This site has been very helpful, so thanks to all...though each time I think I understand topics, I find more to get me confused!!!

1. How closely matching should bullets be to the center stone? It looks like I may have to purchase the center stone separately from the ring. I've heard one color grade is acceptable. I haven't read anything about cut and I would figure that to be the most important.

2. Is there a depth% and table% ratio that is a safe rule of thumb to go with when looking at round diamonds? I've looked at the AGA grading chart, so I'm just wondering what the easiest way to judge a good combo of each...

3. As a novice, how concerned should I be with the measurement numbers or are they covered by the depth%, table% and symmetry?

4. Opinion: Which would be a better pick? H VS2 or G Si1


Whew! I only want to do this once, so I want to make sure I do it right! Thanks

You want to be concerned with the whole diamond, not just the depth and table but how well each set of proportions are likely to work together to produce the best light return - or sparkle. The percents are used for depth and table as well as the diameter of the stone. The crown and pavilion are measured in angles for GIA and AGS stones. The angles are critical as these are the engines which drive light return. Symmetry and polish, experts say good and above are indistinguishable to the naked untrained eye, so depending on the quality of total cut you are looking for, some look for at least very good and above, but if you find a superideal cut stone you will normally find excellent or ideal depending on lab and actual grade as part of the overall package. Evaluate each diamond as a whole.

 

[diagem]

Date: 11/24/2008 6:31:47 PM
Author: marypoppins
This table should be helpful with measurements Round Brilliant Chart
I joined this group not too long ago. I''ve come to learn that cut is the most important of the 4 C''s to ensure beauty
As for the 2 color choices you have I think it might come down to your personal preference.
I''m sure some of the more experienced ones will join in soon.

You mean to ensure all other relevant factors..., like light-return, fire etc...

Beauty is measured individually

, and each has his/her own personal taste...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/25/2008 6:02:30 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 11/24/2008 6:31:47 PM
Author: marypoppins
This table should be helpful with measurements Round Brilliant Chart
I joined this group not too long ago. I''ve come to learn that cut is the most important of the 4 C''s to ensure beauty
As for the 2 color choices you have I think it might come down to your personal preference.
I''m sure some of the more experienced ones will join in soon.

You mean to ensure all other relevant factors..., like light-return, fire etc...

Beauty is measured individually

, and each has his/her own personal taste...

Ditto!

 

[dolby77]

thanks for the "cheat sheet"...it will come in handy

I''m still wondering how closely the bullets have to match the center stone? One color grade? one cut grade? is there a general rule of thumb? thanks

 

[diagem]

Date: 11/25/2008 3:35:45 PM
Author: dolby77
thanks for the ''cheat sheet''...it will come in handy

I''m still wondering how closely the bullets have to match the center stone? One color grade? one cut grade? is there a general rule of thumb? thanks

One color grade is safe..., no problem!
No cut grades on bullets (except polish and symmetry)

 

[dolby77]

maybe bullets is the wrong term...maybe it''s side-stones. there are cut grades for diamonds on the 0.3-0.4ct range right? do you have to worry about the cut when matching them to the center stone?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/25/2008 4:30:26 PM
Author: dolby77
maybe bullets is the wrong term...maybe it''s side-stones. there are cut grades for diamonds on the 0.3-0.4ct range right? do you have to worry about the cut when matching them to the center stone?

There aren''t any cut grades for side stones like bullets, traps etc, and they can vary also. Best thing to do is to ask the vendor you are working with to source you the best looking ones he can, an experienced vendor should be able to tackle this and find you some good possible selections.

 

[dolby77]

couldn''t i theoretically get two very similar 0.35ct''s off bluenile? they are rated by cut... what am i missing?

 

[diagem]

Date: 11/25/2008 4:43:01 PM
Author: dolby77

couldn''t i theoretically get two very similar 0.35ct''s off bluenile? they are rated by cut... what am i missing?

Youre missing the info. of "who" is responsible for rating those bullet cut Diamonds?
Are they accompanied by a lab report? If yes..., which?

 

[dolby77]

maybe i'm confused...aren't the side stones just smaller round diamonds? here is a blue nile GIA rating for a 0.35ct round stone...

here's the link... http://www.bluenile.com/pop_int_cert_view.jsp?pid=LD01446755


and if you can get rated stones this small, how closely should they match the center?

 

[diagem]

Date: 11/25/2008 6:07:27 PM
Author: dolby77
maybe i''m confused...aren''t the side stones just smaller round diamonds? here is a blue nile GIA rating for a 0.35ct round stone...

here''s the link... http://www.bluenile.com/pop_int_cert_view.jsp?pid=LD01446755


and if you can get rated stones this small, how closely should they match the center?

Well..., you mentioned bullets..., no?
If they are rounds..., then yes, cut grades are issued..., sorry for the confusion

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 11/24/2008 6:08:11 PM
Author:dolby77

This site has been very helpful, so thanks to all...though each time I think I understand topics, I find more to get me confused!!!

1. How closely matching should bullets be to the center stone? It looks like I may have to purchase the center stone separately from the ring. I''ve heard one color grade is acceptable. I haven''t read anything about cut and I would figure that to be the most important.

2. Is there a depth% and table% ratio that is a safe rule of thumb to go with when looking at round diamonds? I''ve looked at the AGA grading chart, so I''m just wondering what the easiest way to judge a good combo of each...

3. As a novice, how concerned should I be with the measurement numbers or are they covered by the depth%, table% and symmetry?

4. Opinion: Which would be a better pick? H VS2 or G Si1


Whew! I only want to do this once, so I want to make sure I do it right! Thanks

either one. love these combo

 

[dolby77]

hahaha well now that''s worked out...

...how close should the side stones be in cut to the center stone? I know one color grade is ok...but cut?


thanks!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/25/2008 8:41:49 PM
Author: dolby77
hahaha well now that''s worked out...

...how close should the side stones be in cut to the center stone? I know one color grade is ok...but cut?


thanks!!!

To the best of my knowledge there are no cut grades for bullets etc, so your best bet would be as I said previously to ask the vendor you are working with to source you the best looking bullets he can find.