Engagement ring

[cap22]

We are searching for the perfect diamond to build a custom engagement ring. Does $8,000 for this 1.03 carat, S12, F colour and Excellent cut for a round diamond seem accurate? Looking for second thoughts on how eye clean this appears.

 

[headlight]

Very difficult to assess from those photos. Does the stone have a grading report that you can post? Do you have any other images? There is a tool on this site where you can get a genera idea of what would be comparable pricing.

 

[cap22]

Very difficult to assess from those photos. Does the stone have a grading report that you can post? Do you have any other images? There is a tool on this site where you can get a genera idea of what would be comparable pricing.

I looked at the grading report (but didn’t take a picture) it’s certified as a 1.03 carat, s12, f colour, and excellent cut. Here are a few more pictures.

 

[headlight]

Do you have the proportions? Who was the grading lab?

 

[mwilliamanderson]

You can do better on price and clarity. I did a Pricescope search for F color, 1ct stones in VS2-SI1 stones and got several with better prices than your SI2. You used the word perfect in your original question so I would go up in clarity if you can.

Diamond Search Results | Real-time Information on 1,000,000+ Diamonds | PriceScope

PriceScope's Diamond Search is the best place to find the best diamond prices. Search and compare over a million natural, lab and fancy color diamonds.

www.pricescope.com

For example: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-4248581.htm

 

[cap22]

Do you have the proportions? Who was the grading lab?

Grading lab was HRD Antwerp. Attached are the proportions. I should add this is in CDN $ .

 

[DejaWiz]

It's typically advised to stay away from HRD graded diamonds, due to major inconsistencies and accuracy issues compared to AGS, GIA, GCAL, or IGI. Even EGL USA would be a better lab than HRD.

My advice: keep looking.
Your safest options are AGS 000 and GIA 3X that fall within the proportions ranges provided at this link:

Diamond Proportions

The physics of light-behavior within a diamond are reliably consistent, which means proportions measurements can be useful.

www.pricescope.com

Diamond Clarity: Everything You Need To Know

What is the best diamond clarity? Our extensive guide and interactive diamond clarity chart shows you everything you need to know.

www.pricescope.com

 

[seaurchin]

Good advice here all around.

Also, I agree that it doesn't make much sense to pay for high (F) color when the clarity is only SI2. I'd go at least down one grade in color (G) and at least up one grade in clarity (SI1). Personally, I'd prefer H color and VS2 clarity.

 

[tyty333]

I believe HRD is a good lab. This stone is very deep though and I would not recommend it. The crown and pavilion are not
complimentary either. Where are you located?

 

[cap22]

I believe HRD is a good lab. This stone is very deep though and I would not recommend it. The crown and pavilion are not
complimentary either. Where are you located?

This was another diamond that we were considering and is a similar price. However, I prefer the look of one carat.

 

[cap22]

This was another diamond that we were considering and is a similar price. However, I prefer the look of one carat.

The two diamonds side by side (1.03 on top and 0.9 below)

 

[mwilliamanderson]

If you don’t have the time to read the proportions article that DejaWiz linked above, you might find this information useful. The .9 is also too deep.

Member Recommended Proportions*
Table: 55 – 58 %
Crown Angle: 34 – 35 °
Pavilion Angle: 40.6 – 40.9 °
Lower Halves: 75 – 80 %
Depth: 60 – 62.5 %
Girdle: Thin-Medium or Medium-SlightlyThick
–
If using GIA or GCAL report data some numbers are rounded up or down, therefore:
When pavilion angle is 40.8 ° any crown angle above is okay
When pavilion angle is 40.6 ° lean toward crown angle 34.5 – 35.0 °
When pavilion angle is 41.0 ° lean toward crown angle 34.0-34.5 °
When pavilion angle is 40.8 ° and crown angle is 35 ° lower halves need to be 80% *

 

[lovedogs]

HRD is indeed a quality lab, but these stones are cut too deep. Stick to the proportions suggested above

 

[DejaWiz]

I believe HRD is a good lab.

HRD is indeed a quality lab.

Thank you both for confirming...I definitely don't want to give out incorrect information, and I may be thinking of a different grading lab whose name eludes me right now.

 

[cap22]

Thank you both for confirming...I definitely don't want to give out incorrect information, and I may be thinking of a different grading lab whose name eludes me right now.

Thank you everyone for weighing in. I do like the 1.03 diamond a lot. What are the risks/downfalls to a diamond that is cut too deep and doesn’t have preferable proportions?

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you everyone for weighing in. I do like the 1.03 diamond a lot. What are the risks/downfalls to a diamond that is cut too deep and doesn’t have preferable proportions?

Diamonds that are cut too deep wont look like their ct size. A 1.03 should be around 6.5mm, and the one you are looking at is much smaller bc of depth. So essentially you're paying for a stone that doesnt look as big because its weight is in the depth.

The cut issues (not ideal proportions) will mean the diamond is less sparkly and has less "life" or "fire" vs better cut stones

 

[DejaWiz]

If this is a dealer that you are vested in to working with, then see if they can source you a diamond that falls into the recommended proportion ranges and fits your budget.
No sense in buying something sub-par because that's what they happen to have in-house at the time of your visit(s).
They get to put your money in their cash register either way, so make sure you get the best performing diamond that your money can buy.

 

[mwilliamanderson]

Even less well proportioned stones will sparkle and look great in jewelry store lighting. Get them in office lighting or other poor lighting situations and you will wish you had gotten great proportions.

 

[DejaWiz]

Even less well proportioned stones will sparkle and look great in jewelry store lighting. Get them in office lighting or other poor lighting situations and you will wish you had gotten great proportions.

So much this.

The best explanation of this phenomenon comes from Garry H (Cut Nut), himself:

HCA - defining ideal cut diamonds

www.diamond-cut.com.au

Experienced dealers grade unset diamonds with a loupe, backlit to enable a thorough clarity examination. Well-cut diamonds appears dark and dull because the head and loupe block light from the front of the stone, while NGZ diamonds sparkle because light from the dealer’s lamp is able to enter the pavilion. This and the fact that most institutions approve diamonds with NGZ proportions explains why we find we reject more than 90% of the diamonds we see.

Because less light is returned via the crown facets fire is enhanced when these stones are examined (in the manner that most dealers do) held at arms length in tweezers and rocked from side to side. The leakage area displays excellent fire, but once set of course there is no back lighting supply. This leakage not only results in a loss of light return, but also patchy static scintillation. NGZ diamonds should be set in ways that enable light to enter via the pavilion.