Excellent vs Very Good

[Ellejae1]

Hello!
I am getting close to choosing a diamond vendor to help me source a GIA MRB. My specs are 2.5-2.6, G-H, SI1 eye clean. I would love a XXX or a Hearts and Arrows stone but was wondering if I sacrificed polish and symmetry for Very Good, would I notice a difference in performance and would it noticeably take the cost down? Just trying to see if I can cut costs somewhere and do not want to go lower than an H.
Budget is $30.0 with a tiny bit of wiggle room.
Thanks!

 

[msop04]

What about this?

$31,611 PS wire http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3045743.htm?source=pricescope

It may be difficult to find 2.5+ in an H or better for $30K...

 

[Ellejae1]

What about this?

$31,611 PS wire http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3045743.htm?source=pricescope

It may be difficult to find 2.5+ in an H or better for $30K...

Thanks for your reply. That diamond is one to consider! So what do you think if I went down to Very Good for polish and symmetry? Would the stone look similar to a XXX and would it help bring the cost down at all?

 

[RockyRacoon]

Here are a couple of viable options in your price range:

2.354ct, I, SI1
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.354-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-104069786001

2.60ct, H, SI2 (confirm with Jon that this is eye-clean)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10117/

 

[30yearsofdiamonds]

To answer your question on VG polish and symmetry vs. excellents. First off I want you to know that I spent 25 years grading in the NY GIA, so here goes.

As with any grade there is a range that fits into VG's. VG polish can range from a few white polish lines to one full facet of what is called transparent polish lines, to several facets with some transparent and or white lines. Truth is without knowledge of diamond grading and a loupe or a microscope you will not see the difference from VG to EX.

The same can be said of symmetry; there can be one extra facet=VG; there can be a slightly misshapen facet=VG; there can be slight misalignment(too complicated to explain); and many other minor symmetry faults. The bottom line is without grading knowledge and experience the difference cannot be explained nor seen.

Cut grade is a different story.

 

[ohlala]

To answer your question on VG polish and symmetry vs. excellents. First off I want you to know that I spent 25 years grading in the NY GIA, so here goes.

As with any grade there is a range that fits into VG's. VG polish can range from a few white polish lines to one full facet of what is called transparent polish lines, to several facets with some transparent and or white lines. Truth is without knowledge of diamond grading and a loupe or a microscope you will not see the difference from VG to EX.

The same can be said of symmetry; there can be one extra facet=VG; there can be a slightly misshapen facet=VG; there can be slight misalignment(too complicated to explain); and many other minor symmetry faults. The bottom line is without grading knowledge and experience the difference cannot be explained nor seen.

Cut grade is a different story.

hi! thanks for ur explaination!

so from your experience, cut should be excellent but polish and sym can be very good and normal/untrained eye can not tell the difference?

I am asking because I am looking at a 7ct diamond and it is very expensive...but it is XXX. I think the premium above the rap sheet is because of it's 3X. so if I can sacrifice the 3X to just cut excellent and the other two is VG, maybe the premium above rap sheet is not so high.

thank you very much!!

 

[Ellejae1]

To answer your question on VG polish and symmetry vs. excellents. First off I want you to know that I spent 25 years grading in the NY GIA, so here goes.

As with any grade there is a range that fits into VG's. VG polish can range from a few white polish lines to one full facet of what is called transparent polish lines, to several facets with some transparent and or white lines. Truth is without knowledge of diamond grading and a loupe or a microscope you will not see the difference from VG to EX.

The same can be said of symmetry; there can be one extra facet=VG; there can be a slightly misshapen facet=VG; there can be slight misalignment(too complicated to explain); and many other minor symmetry faults. The bottom line is without grading knowledge and experience the difference cannot be explained nor seen.

Cut grade is a different story.

hi! thanks for ur explaination!

so from your experience, cut should be excellent but polish and sym can be very good and normal/untrained eye can not tell the difference?

I am asking because I am looking at a 7ct diamond and it is very expensive...but it is XXX. I think the premium above the rap sheet is because of it's 3X. so if I can sacrifice the 3X to just cut excellent and the other two is VG, maybe the premium above rap sheet is not so high.

thank you very much!!

Thank you both for commenting.
Ohlala-this is exactly what I am asking. I will still look for Excellent in cut but want to be reassured that if I choose VG for polish and symmetry that I would be just as happy with the stone as I would be with XXX.

 

[30yearsofdiamonds]

You would be very happy with 2 VG's and an excellent cut, problem is finding one at that size, because with today's technology and the price of triple excellent it pays for the diamond manufacturers to cut triple excellents. Part of that is a result of advice tothe public to buy only triple excellents.

 

[Ellejae1]

You would be very happy with 2 VG's and an excellent cut, problem is finding one at that size, because with today's technology and the price of triple excellent it pays for the diamond manufacturers to cut triple excellents. Part of that is a result of advice tothe public to buy only triple excellents.

Thanks for the advice, very interesting info!!!
I'm on the hunt!

 

[Ellejae1]

What about this?

$31,611 PS wire http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3045743.htm?source=pricescope

It may be difficult to find 2.5+ in an H or better for $30K...

Hi msop04-
So I took a closer look at this stone and it really does check all the boxes...except size. I was hoping for a 2.5+. Do you think I will notice the difference from a 2.485 to a 2.5+ stone?
Thanks for your help!

 

[ohlala]

You would be very happy with 2 VG's and an excellent cut, problem is finding one at that size, because with today's technology and the price of triple excellent it pays for the diamond manufacturers to cut triple excellents. Part of that is a result of advice tothe public to buy only triple excellents.

thanks! i was shown a 6ct one which also had 3X...but it was not a F color. it is a D VVS1 so its also expensive. i was looking for more of a US$70k/ct 7ct diamond. so something in the range of US$500k...according to my friend, the rap sheet says a 7~7.5ct F vs1 round brilliant diamond is US$64k/ct so i figured a 1.1% premium? is this not realistic?

i figure if i just get a cut excellent and the rest VG, then maybe it is more realistic? but it does seem like i will just have to wait and see... the other thing is if there is fluorescence, it is much cheaper...

 

[allowingtoo]

30yearsofdiamonds thank you for explaining that. That was the clearest explanation I have ever heard.

 

[diagem]

When looking at the nuances of a VG-VG-Ex you can clearly visualize a difference vs. a properly cut 3D precision cut triple EX or triple 0.
When the triple x Diamonds are cut to simply achieve the grade than I will agree with 30years..., but at the upper echelon of 3D cut precision..., yes, you can definitely see the difference.

 

[Ellejae1]

When looking at the nuances of a VG-VG-Ex you can clearly visualize a difference vs. a properly cut 3D precision cut triple EX or triple 0.
When the triple x Diamonds are cut to simply achieve the grade than I will agree with 30years..., but at the upper echelon of 3D cut precision..., yes, you can definitely see the difference.

Thank you for your reply DiaGem. So when searching for a diamond online how do I decipher between the XXX's cut to achieve the grade and the upper echelon XXX cuts?

 

[diagem]

When looking at the nuances of a VG-VG-Ex you can clearly visualize a difference vs. a properly cut 3D precision cut triple EX or triple 0.
When the triple x Diamonds are cut to simply achieve the grade than I will agree with 30years..., but at the upper echelon of 3D cut precision..., yes, you can definitely see the difference.

Thank you for your reply DiaGem. So when searching for a diamond online how do I decipher between the XXX's cut to achieve the grade and the upper echelon XXX cuts?

That's easy..., that's why you have PS and the knowledged folks who take their time and help you find a winner.
Also, I believe the cutters of such 3D cut precision take extra pride in their works and so they spend their time and energy developing tools and articles to pass on their exactness in their works...