Evaluating cut in person

[teach101]

Hi everybody,

Today I received the stone I posted about in this thread:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/opinion-on-this-james-allen-diamond.240058/

I'm happy to post pics/video if anyone is interested. As far as the 4C's: it is completely eye-clean, I am pleasantly surprised at how colorless it looks (I was a bit worried about getting an I), and the size looks pretty good although there are probably 1.1 ct stones that look slightly bigger from the top.

One thing I realized is that despite learning lots during my diamond research about how to evaluate cut (optimal dimensions, ASET, idealscope, etc) and looking at tons of diamonds online, I know very little about evaluating cut/light performance once the diamond is actually in front of me! It definitely sparkles ... but all diamonds sparkle!

Does anyone have any tips in deciding whether a diamond is "sparkly enough" for lack of better phrasing? In my normal apartment lighting it's bright, but doesn't exactly shimmer. Definitely fireworks when I take it into the sun. And there were color bursts in low-light conditions e.g. in a dark room with a little sunlight coming through the window.

It seems like finding a fabulous cut is a science when looking at geometry and images online but becomes much more of a gut thing once in person. I'm better at science!

 

[HappyNewLife]

I would just take it into every lighting situation possible. My Whiteflash ACA can be a dud in certain lighting, so I know it's not the diamond's fault (as it's AGS0 ideal cut). Try indirect sunlight (in the shade) - I get a fiery light show in the shade outside!

 

[the_mother_thing]

A lot will depend on what kind of lights you have. It's not abnormal for a diamond to 'just look white/bright'. Try using/moving your cell phone's flash over it as a spotlight & see what you think. As it is worn in different light settings, you will see it 'behave' differently (and hopefully pleasingly).

 

[the_mother_thing]

PS - of course we wanna see pics & video!

 

[teach101]

I've uploaded two quick videos of the diamond to youtube.

Here is one in my apartment lighting. You can see some scintillation:

And here is one with the phone flash on as suggested by the_mother_thing

 

[the_mother_thing]

But what do YOU think, @teach101 ? Have you played with it a bit in different lighting scenarios to see differences in performance?

 

[LaylaR]

I'd take it to a local super ideal dealer and compare it head to head to see what you think. Make sure you seem them both away from the jewelers lights, and make sure they are both equally clean.