Facet Alignment == Fire ?

[ScubaDucky]

Does facet alignment equal returned fire?

Visited a Jewelry store this weekend. They''re located in a Mall but seemed a bit different than the usual mall store. They manufacture all of their own jewelry in their studio in NY, and the guy we spoke to was one of the owners, maybe the owner. He said that he used to be a diamond cutter himself and even bragged that he knew Tolkowsky''s grandson. The first point he seemed to dwell on was cut. He even pulled out a trade magazine showing the difference between shallow, deep, and ideal cuts.

So far so good, I thought.

He said that diamonds are an art - not a science, so no matter how great the proportions of the stone are (sarin), it still will not guarantee great performance. It all boils down to "facet alignment". (?!?!)

He said that you can take 2 well cut stones, both with matching AGS000 proportions. One stone, cut by a very good cutter will shine, shine, shine even after it''s dirty and the other will need to be cleaned 10 times a day to shine the same way. It all depends on the cutter.

I expected him to say that stones over the internet were the rejects (which he did). He also said that first rate diamond cutters would never waste their time cutting a 1 carat stone for 6k (Avg G/SI1 H&A on pricescope is 5000/carat for 1-1.5 carats). In fact, only second and third rate diamond cutters would -- which explains why stones on the Internet are priced as such.

He said that for 6k, he himself would buy the stones off the web - and make a profit on them --- if they were really that well cut. But, they''re not.

Is there ANY truth to any of this?

 

[magna2]

Bunch of hogwash. Half truths and innuendoes. Facet alignment does have a role - think H&A patterns. As for not cutting a 1 ct for $6K, well it all depends on the rough and the end result that can be acjieved from the rough. The exact color and clarity of the end diamond can not be predetermined from the rough so to say that first rate cutters won't waste their time is more salespeak.

Some cutters are cutting for specific results and/or brand thus would take more time than cutting the average cut that are available at mall and discount stores. However the retail salesprice is still dependent upon the profit margin set by the retailer. Yes, the wholesale price might be higher for a well cut diamond but, as you have already learned, that you can still buy exceptional cuts for a lot less on-line than through a typical B&M store.

And if the jeweler claims that he can make a profit from reselling a $6K on-line diamond if it was truely well cut, then it should be an indicator to you of the mark-up that the jeweler has put on his diamonds.

Don't let the jeweler scare you off on investigating on-line vendors - if you do extensive research, you'll find that the on-line vendors have much better performing diamonds at much lower cost than this specific jeweler.

 

[strmrdr]

There is just enough truth there that it cant be dismissed out of hand.
It all boils down to "facet alignment” and relationship to one another is exactly right on!
That’s what the hca we talk about here is all about.
The sarin only measures some of the facets so I would even give him a pass on that comment also. The ones it does not measure have to be exactly right also for it to perform as well as it possible can.
This is where the ideal-scope, h&a viewers, Isee2 and Bscope come into play.
While they don’t measure directly all the variables they do measure the results of those variables.

Diamonds are an art but as technology increases they have became more of a science.
We can now measure what makes a great diamond and give the cutter a starting point to shoot for.
Note I said starting point because there is still a lot of art left in it.

There are some sites on the Internet that deal in 3rd rate diamonds or even 4th rate.
There are some cutters/manufacturers that would not let you have one of their best for $6k per ct 8* for one.
So that is someone what of a true statement but does not apply to all of them just a very few.

Overall he has taken the worst case extremes and put them together to convince you to buy from him.
As long as you avoid the extremes you can get a truly awe inspiring diamond over the net and save a ton of money doing so.