Feedback on Diamond Selection - Help Needed!

[MNavarro]

Good Morning PS Community,

First post on here... Just wanted to get some feedback on a lab diamond that I am in the process of purchasing. I am a fan of this 2.04 - E - VS2 lab diamond (HPHT/Type IIa) and think it checks all the boxes as it is a GCAL 8X with the right proportions and angles I was looking for and has an HCA score of 0.5. It does have two small inclusions but I think it could have been graded closer to a VS1 than a VS2.

https://www.gcalusa.com/certificate-search.html?certificate_id=312220481

I have done a lot of research but this is my first time buying a diamond and wanted to get the opinion of the masses on here who may be able to pick up on something I may have missed. The price I was quoted was $7300 for this diamond and wanted to get your thoughts on if this is a fair price and overall what the thoughts are on the diamond??

The diamond above that I am thinking of going with was my second choice as someone snatched up my 1st choice. I found out it is currently out with another customer and I doubt it'll be coming back. 2.02 - E - VS1 - HPHT (Type IIa) - 0.4 HCA score - lab diamond ($7500) - https://www.gcalusa.com/certificate-search.html?certificate_id=312220472

The other 2 backups are listed below but didn't get price on them:
2.07 - G - VS1 - CVD (Type IIa) lab diamond --- https://www.gcalusa.com/certificate-search.html?certificate_id=311930010
1.76 - E- VS1 - HPHT (Type IIa) lab diamond --- https://www.gcalusa.com/certificate-search.html?certificate_id=312220405

 

[ecf8503]

Report concern and ask that this thread be moved to the Lab Diamond board.

Is this for a ring? HCA below 1 are often not the best choices for rings, but are better for pendants and earrings. Lower is not better, it's just a weed-out tool. Anything under 2 is worth further consideration, but under 1 may be an issue in rings.

 

[mwilliamanderson]

I think those prices are fine based on what I’ve seen.
I prefer the proportions on the two back up diamonds. The first two each have a shallow crown paired with a shallow pavillion. @ecf8503 is correct that stones scoring under 1 aren’t ideal for rings due to the possibility of showing obstruction.

 

[MNavarro]

It is for a ring that is going to be a 18K yellow gold pave with hidden halo. I was not familiar with obstruction prior to your post but the reason I went with this one was because it was the largest HPHT which is my preference over CVD but didn't want to exclude them in my search.

I took a second look at the diamond that I am going with and cannot pick up on any major obstructions although I do pick up on a couple smaller ones at 3 and 6 o'clock. Am I missing any others that would affect the light return?

 

[mwilliamanderson]

It would be worth your time to read this article on diamond proportions (first linked article) before you make such an expensive purchase. You probably have read a lot and know a lot, but there is so much to learn!

You are talking about inclusions which can be seen in a photo. I am talking about what can happen to a diamond with certain proportions when viewed closely (the second article)

Diamond Proportions

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

www.pricescope.com

Diamond Performance Explained

Did you know that "fire" and "scintillation" are not the same thing? "Contrast" and "leakage" also differ from each other.

www.pricescope.com

 

[MNavarro]

I understand and am pretty well read on the diamond cutting portions necessary to achieve the best light return characteristics, and I was just merely pointing out the inclusions.

I get that this diamond is a little shallow and would be better if the pavilion angle was 40.8 to 41 or if the crown angle was closer to 34.8 to 35 assuming the other stayed the same. Ideally it would be 34.5 and 40.8 but not a perfect world and I need to make a decision on a diamond here soon.

I was not familiar with obstructions or their causes due to the diamond being to shallow. In your opinion does this diamond contain too many small obstructions that would make it undesirable?

Also, does the 34-40.6 explain why the scintillation video on the GCAL certification have a nearly perfect circle with no returns compared to these two which are 34.5-40.8 diamonds?

https://www.gcalusa.com/certificate-search.html?certificate_id=312033995

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab

www.gcalusa.com

 

[DejaWiz]

I think the 2.04 E VS2 is a great choice!

GCAL 8X - boom, done!
40.6/34.0/56 proportions with a 15% crown height - nice!
HPHT growth method Type IIa (no boron present) - excellent!

The HCA isn't perfect (even Garry H (Cut Nut) will admit that, as he has numerous times in the past), and this is an example of a diamond that scores under a 1.0 which would be perfectly at home in a ring setting - It's a winner.

 

[mwilliamanderson]

I get that this diamond is a little shallow and would be better if the pavilion angle was 40.8 to 41 or if the crown angle was closer to 34.8 to 35 assuming the other stayed the same. Ideally it would be 34.5 and 40.8 but not a perfect world and I need to make a decision on a diamond here soon.

You're right. Everything I've read here has taught me that the Crown angle and Pavillion angle should have an inverse relationship. I haven't seen enough diamonds in real life to know that 40.6/34 play together nicely all the time.

I've spent most of my years here looking at super ideal diamonds with specs that don't veer far from the Tolk Ideal so that is my preference and what I tend to suggest as a proven formula when looking at diamonds from any vendor.

I'm confident in @DejaWiz's ability to spot a good diamond, however, so don't mind me. Your first choice looks great in the video!

 

[DejaWiz]

I'm confident in @DejaWiz's ability to spot a good diamond, however, so don't mind me. Your first choice looks great in the video!