Do I need to know all of the details before we buy?

[macchio123]

Hi Everyone,

I''ve been reading a lot of informaiton on PS and am so pleased that this forum exists. I feel, however, overwhelmed with the amount of information and considerations that there is for choosing an ering diamond.

We are going to our local jeweler tomorrow for a second visit. Would we be safe in picking a good diamond by using the following criteria?
1. Cut = EX
2. Polish = EX
3. Symmetry = EX
4. Clarity = SI1 or better
5. Color = G
6. Flouresence = None
7. Cert = GIA

I get overwhelmed with the details of the HCA, H&A, crown & pavillion angles, girdle, light leaking, etc. Do we need to have ALL information specified OR will specifying 1-7 more or less guarantee us a good quality diamond (i.e., getting our money''s worth on a good diamond).

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[yssie]

well, you won't get a disaster by specifying GIA ex, but I would stick to AGS0s if I didn't want to go through the hassle of running through inventories myself - or call a trusted vendor, AGS's ID cut grade is tighter.


Even if you dislike visible fluor you may want to allow faint-med, won't be visible unless very unusual stone and you're boxing out a lot of stones (the entire AGS line, actually, as their lowest grade is neg

)


VG pol/sym won't be an issue either.

 

[HVVS]

GIA excellent cut can be steep/deep that mostly gets dinged here for having a smaller face-up size for the carat weight. AGS has tighter specs for excellent cut.

We have this Pricescope "cheat sheet," quoted by Loreli, Todd Gray, and others:

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!

 

[yssie]

HVVS I''m going to intrude and add a note:



maccio, please don''t take that cheat sheet as gospel. There are beautiful stones with numbers that fall outside these very strict parametres, so don''t be afraid to be WOWed by one, there are plenty of them!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/23/2010 2:41:38 PM
Author: yssie
well, you won''t get a disaster by specifying GIA ex, but I would stick to AGS0s if I didn''t want to go through the hassle of running through inventories myself - or call a trusted vendor, AGS''s ID cut grade is tighter.


Even if you dislike visible fluor you may want to allow faint-med, won''t be visible unless very unusual stone and you''re boxing out a lot of stones (the entire AGS line, actually, as their lowest grade is neg

)


VG pol/sym won''t be an issue either.

Yssie offers good advice, also with the GIA Excellents you can run those through the HCA and concentrate on the ones which score below 2, this should eliminate the '' steep deep'' angled stones that can show leakage sometimes that the GIA Excellent cut grade can include.

 

[denverappraiser]

No, you don’t. That’s a fairly safe list of choices but one of the advantages of shopping with a local trusted jeweler is that they can help steer you towards the right stone. Get their assistance. If you don’t understand what they tell you, come back and ask the guru’s here. If they tell you something and you don’t believe them, shop somewhere else.

A good way to start is to say: “Hi, I’m looking for a diamond. $7000 would be a good price. Round please”. Any jeweler who can’t run with that doesn’t deserve to call themselves a jeweler. Answer their questions, listen carefully when they answer yours, take notes, look at what they show you and then go home and think it over.

(note: leave your credit card at home for this trip. Diamonds aren’t perishable and there’s no reason to feel undue time pressure to buy).

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[macchio123]

Thanks Yssie! What you''re advising makes complete sense.

 

[macchio123]

HVVS thanks. It''s good to be aware of some guidelines.

 

[macchio123]

Would I run the numbers through HCA after getting the GIA report from the jeweler? Or does a jeweler run the numbers through HCA at his office? I guess I''m trying to understand if this is our "behind the scenes research" or is this something we do together with the jeweler so that we all know what we''re looking at and looking for.

 

[macchio123]

Thanks Denverappraiser. Sound advise. I appreciate it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/23/2010 11:29:11 PM
Author: macchio123
Would I run the numbers through HCA after getting the GIA report from the jeweler? Or does a jeweler run the numbers through HCA at his office? I guess I''m trying to understand if this is our ''behind the scenes research'' or is this something we do together with the jeweler so that we all know what we''re looking at and looking for.

You can do it either way if your jeweller is agreeable. But remember the HCA is a rejection tool and use your eyes to make the final judgement.

 

[axiochris]

from my experiences at b&m stores,they do not care or have heard of the hca calculator. what ive done is bookmark the hca calcultor pricescope page on my cellphone internet browser and input the data right there.

they are always curious with what im doing. hahaha

 

[Dreamer_D]

Great advice so far, I agree with it all. Depending on your jeweler they may or may not support the idea of you using the HCA or caring about the numbers and angles at all. It is up to you how you handle the situation. If they are scornful or dismissive of your desire to use these tools or find a diamond with certain specs, then you can still do it on your own if you choose.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/24/2010 2:28:19 PM
Author: axiochris
from my experiences at b&m stores,they do not care or have heard of the hca calculator. what ive done is bookmark the hca calcultor pricescope page on my cellphone internet browser and input the data right there.

they are always curious with what im doing. hahaha

hehehehe!!!

 

[HVVS]

I deliberately kept my reply succinct because the OP asked for a summary. Ask a techie for a short list, and you get a short list. LOL!

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 4/24/2010 2:28:19 PM
Author: axiochris
from my experiences at b&m stores,they do not care or have heard of the hca calculator. what ive done is bookmark the hca calcultor pricescope page on my cellphone internet browser and input the data right there.


they are always curious with what im doing. hahaha

What do they have to say when you tell them?

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[axiochris]

i dont tell them. it would be hard to explain something i dont completely understand.

I just tell them that i dont like the angles on the diamond and to show me another one. I found it easier not to get into a technical discussions with them.

I will sometimes show my cell phone screen to my fiancee and she shakes her head in disapproval. It drives the salespeople nuts. LOL