Engagement ring - concerned about HCA score (4.0)

[skypie]

I bought this diamond online and ran its proportions through the Holloway Cut Adviser and am concerned about its poor score (Total Visual Performance 4.0 - Good - Only if price is your main criterion), considering it is GIA triple-excellent.

Here is the link to the diamond with photos/videos: http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_rou...tm_source=rarecarat&utm_medium=cpc#?p=8491600

The proportions: 62% depth, 58% table, 35.5° crown angle, 41° pavilion angle

I've also attached pictures of the ring, taken indoors under fluorescent office lighting. To my untrained eye it looks good, but should I be concerned that its proportions indicate poor light performance? I have thought about going for an Ideal Cut instead of an Excellent cut but that would mean a smaller stone to fit into my budget... Thoughts? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

GIA Excellent cut is a very broad range (I think around 80% of stones sent for grading get Ex cut!), so we recommend narrowing down that range by using the HCA or the range of measurements that would fall into ideal cut range. I would return that diamond if you are in your return period. The angles do not work well together and that is the reason for the high HCA score. We can help you find a really well cut stone.

These are measurements to help you stay in ideal cut territory with a GIA excellent cut stone.

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle)

pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)

 

[skypie]

Thanks for your opinion. I would be open to hear suggestions for a better cut stone...

GIA Excellent cut is a very broad range (I think around 80% of stones sent for grading get Ex cut!), so we recommend narrowing down that range by using the HCA or the range of measurements that would fall into ideal cut range. I would return that diamond if you are in your return period. The angles do not work well together and that is the reason for the high HCA score. We can help you find a really well cut stone.

These are measurements to help you stay in ideal cut territory with a GIA excellent cut stone.

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle)

pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)

 

[farrahlyn]

whats your budget?

 

[skypie]

Around $15K, but I'm willing to go a few K above if it nets me something significantly better.

whats your budget?

 

[ac117]

Ask for an IS: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3763694
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3674998
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4026232
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3496379

 

[skypie]

Thanks...what is an IS?

Ask for an IS: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3763694
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3674998
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4026232
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-3496379

 

[ac117]

It's an ideal scope: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

 

[skypie]

Got it, thanks. I noticed some of those seems to have pretty big inclusions...do we know if they are eye clean?

It's an ideal scope: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

 

[ac117]

Got it, thanks. I noticed some of those seems to have pretty big inclusions...do we know if they are eye clean?

You are viewing the video at 20x magnification...zoom the diamond completely out and see if you could still spot the inclusions. It's likely (not impossible) that you won't be able to. You could also ask JA to verify at what angle/distance the stone is eye clean from. You mentioned trading off color for size so I tried to maximize that but I'm sure we could also recommend stones similar in size as the one you have with better clarity if that is a priority to you!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am looking at H VS1-VS2 since your original choice falls in that range.
I only see one at Zoara that I think looks possible, but it has a crown angle slightly out of the desired range, but it could be good and is even larger than your first one. It would help if they could provide an ASET image. But I'd rather have it over the first one.

http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_round_excellent_cut_h_vs2#?p=8402757

I can look more if you are open to buying other places.

 

[skypie]

Thanks. As an amateur perhaps I am overvaluing clarity. As long as its eye clean I shouldn't care. I guess I care most about size and cut. I think I want to stay below 2 carats though, but above 1.5.

You are viewing the video at 20x magnification...zoom the diamond completely out and see if you could still spot the inclusions. It's likely (not impossible) that you won't be able to. You could also ask JA to verify at what angle/distance the stone is eye clean from. You mentioned trading off color for size so I tried to maximize that but I'm sure we could also recommend stones similar in size as the one you have with better clarity if that is a priority to you!

 

[skypie]

Thanks - I would be open to seeing other places too. Do you think the diamond in my OP is bad though based on its proportions?

I am looking at H VS1-VS2 since your original choice falls in that range.
I only see one at Zoara that I think looks possible, but it has a crown angle slightly out of the desired range, but it could be good and is even larger than your first one. It would help if they could provide an ASET image. But I'd rather have it over the first one.

http://www.zoara.com/diamonds/p_round_excellent_cut_h_vs2#?p=8402757

I can look more if you are open to buying other places.

 

[ac117]

Thanks. As an amateur perhaps I am overvaluing clarity. As long as its eye clean I shouldn't care. I guess I care most about size and cut. I think I want to stay below 2 carats though, but above 1.5.

It looks like you could also get a super ideal cut stone in your budget, depending on the specs:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9404
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3838493.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3565128.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885306.htm

 

[skypie]

Thanks! Curious, why is the 4th linked diamond so much cheaper?

It looks like you could also get a super ideal cut stone in your budget, depending on the specs:
https://www.hpdiamonds.com/en-us/diamonddetail/HPD9404
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3838493.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3565128.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3885306.htm

 

[ac117]

Thanks! Curious, why is the 4th linked diamond so much cheaper?

I can't say for certain (you could ask WF but not sure if they could give you a concrete answer either) but it is the smallest of the 4 I recommended. Another possibility is that the diamond rough may have been purchased at a lower cost than the others, resulting in a lower price. It's certainly a nice value and I would most definitely choose it over your original stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I love Whiteflash and have bought from them more than once. But I'd personally stick with H VS2, if possible. This is a little above your price, but I would probably not drop to I color if you like the color of the stone you currently have.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3858601.htm

I do need to add, though, you need to think about whether she would value the more perfectly cut smaller stone or the larger one (1.9) that is not as perfect (but both are better than the original stone).