Finally got around to getting my certificate, where does this leave my diamond?

[nala]

Backstory: in Jan of 2015, I traded up my then diamond for my current one. I posted a thread on it but idk how to link it. Lol. Anyhow, at the time, my jeweler had said that he would gladly get me a certificate if I wanted to wait to have it certified. Well, I jumped on the chance at trading up Bc I fell in love. Anyhow, I went in to see him today for a prong check. We got around to talking about my certificate and how I should go about getting it from him. He looked puzzled Bc he found the GIA inscription on my stone. He doesn't remember what he told me at the time, since it's been almost 2 years! We looked up my certificate and It turns out it is an I color SI 2 clarity. Keep in mind, I always thought I was wearing a K si 2. That was the good surprise. But punched in the numbers and the HCA score is terrible! It is a 5.6! It is an excellent cut, and I comped it with similar stones and HCA scores and I paid a very fair price. With my jeweler, I traded up for full value and didn't have to double up. So I'm so confused right now. I'm looking at my diamond with a new perspective and don't know what to think.

 

[LuvTheGlitter]

Are you happy with it? If you are, put it out of your mind and continue to love your stone.

 

[nala]

Are you happy with it? If you are, put it out of your mind and continue to love your stone.

That's the thing. I don't know that I've ever been 100 percent satisfied with my ering Bc I don't have an unlimited budget. I knew at the time that I upgraded, that I was improving in cut. I didn't realize I had improved in color! Crazy. I used to have an EGL K. And the irony is, I always felt this stone was not as white as my previous. But as far as cut and size and clarity, I was happier. Now I'm just feeling very clueless. Like I've been clueless for 2 years.

 

[nala]

I guess I want to know what I’m missing in terms of ideal cut. Here is my Certificate.

 

[SimoneDi]

@nala the HCA tool doesn’t look favorably on steeper pavilion angles. That is the only thing that raises a flag, otherwise all other numbers are great. It is very possible that diamond performs much better in person than what HCA indicates. The best thing to do if you want to learn more about your diamonds performance is to purchase an ASET and see what the tool indicates. You can get it from here: https://datlas.com/ideal-scope-store/aset-scope/ if you get it, post he pics here and PSers will help you read it.

 

[nala]

@nala the HCA tool doesn’t look favorably on steeper pavilion angles. That is the only thing that raises a flag, otherwise all other numbers are great. It is very possible that diamond performs much better in person than what HCA indicates. The best thing to do if you want to learn more about your diamonds performance is to purchase an ASET and see what the tool indicates. You can get it from here: https://datlas.com/ideal-scope-store/aset-scope/ if you get it, post he pics here and PSers will help you read it.

Thank you for your input. Do you think since it's only off by the pavilion, it would be a candidate for a recut?

 

[valeria101]

.

ASET ?

 

[nala]

.

ASET ?

I don't have one. My jeweler is from my prepricescope days.

 

[ericad]

It sounds to me like you have loved your diamond for 2 years, and it's the diamond you're wearing, not the GIA report. If it was beautiful to your eyes before, it's still the same beautiful diamond! Now you have the report, which is 2 color grades better than you thought, and you know you got a killer deal for it based on the comps - sounds like a great result! HCA isn't the be all end all, and it's certainly not a measurement of beauty, which is far too subjective to ever be able to quantify using algorithms. Enjoy your beautiful upgraded diamond and don't worry about what one tool says about your flavor of cut - it's a triple X - that alone means it's better cut than most RB's out there.

 

[valeria101]

I don't have one (ASET). My jeweler is from my prepricescope days.

I have asked because the angles are within half a degree from HCA 2, and the numbers on GIA reports are not that percise (no complaint).

[Thread on symmetry & this detail of measurement error / approximation - www ]


No idea if recutting makes any practical sense, but, it would be fun to ask.

Btw, nice upgrade ! (K to I)

 

[SimoneDi]

Thank you for your input. Do you think since it's only off by the pavilion, it would be a candidate for a recut?

I agree with @ericad that it sounds like you have been loving your stone for 2 years and have been happy with it which to me is much more important than what GIA can tell us. We can’t really tell if the stone is a candidate for a recut because a professional needs to examine it and determine that. I have recut 2 diamonds in the past and I am onto my third, so in my experience many diamonds can be candidates. However, I would first purchase an aset and evaluate the images and further decide how you want to proceed. Also, I am assuming that the stone is still upgradable with your jeweler, so if you are to recut it, you would probably lose that benefit. Honestly, to me, it sounds like you have a beautiful large diamond, try not to let an HCA score prevent you from enjoying it

 

[nala]

It sounds to me like you have loved your diamond for 2 years, and it's the diamond you're wearing, not the GIA report. If it was beautiful to your eyes before, it's still the same beautiful diamond! Now you have the report, which is 2 color grades better than you thought, and you know you got a killer deal for it based on the comps - sounds like a great result! HCA isn't the be all end all, and it's certainly not a measurement of beauty, which is far too subjective to ever be able to quantify using algorithms. Enjoy your beautiful upgraded diamond and don't worry about what one tool says about your flavor of cut - it's a triple X - that alone means it's better cut than most RB's out there.

Thank you. Your advice means a lot to me.

 

[nala]

I agree with @ericad that it sounds like you have been loving your stone for 2 years and have been happy with it which to me is much more important than what GIA can tell us. We can’t really tell if the stone is a candidate for a recut because a professional needs to examine it and determine that. I have recut 2 diamonds in the past and I am onto my third, so in my experience many diamonds can be candidates. However, I would first purchase an aset and evaluate the images and further decide how you want to proceed. Also, I am assuming that the stone is still upgradable with your jeweler, so if you are to recut it, you would probably lose that benefit. Honestly, to me, it sounds like you have a beautiful large diamond, try not to let an HCA score prevent you from enjoying it

Thank you. I think I’m just in shock right now. A true pser, I’m exploring all my options. Upgrading with my jeweler is definitely an option but I’m sure a recut would be more economical.

 

[kenny]

If I had a round diamond scoring 5.6 on the HCA I'd get it recut instead of replacing it ... especially since yours is on the deep side so it won't lose much face-up diameter comapred to a too-shallow cut.
And at 2.2 ct it may remain over 2 ct after the recut.

Even if it fell below 2 ct I'd still recut it since I want my diamond to have the best light performance.
To me light performance is king, much more important than carat weight or value.
Yes the vast majority of buyers are ignorant of cut while they cherish carat weight.
I don't care about the majority.
I like, and will pay for, a diamond because of the material's unique ability to do amazing things with light ... but it can only do that if all the ducks (facets) are properly lined up in a row, as they say.
A Ferrari can only do what a Ferrari can do if there is air in the tires and gas in the tank.

What a shame GIA has such a loose, sloppy, forgiving cut grade.
I'm sure the cutters and vendors LOVE GIA for this.

You joined PS in 2011, so how could you buy a round in 2015 with an HCA of 5.6 ... let alone not even knowing the HCA score?
It's often posted here on RT that GIA's cut grade of Excellent is too wide so watch out for the deeps and check it on HCA and Idealscope before buying.

... anyway, Recut? Yes!

 

[unsettled]

Knowledge is sometimes so dangerous. it sounds like you have loved your stone for 2 years. So my reasonable side says to tell you to keep on loving it and forget what GIA says. Having said that, I ran the numbers on my stone, and it got a very poor HCA score as well. I have loved my diamond for 15 years, but it's hard to un-know that information. And knowing that there's something better out there......I don't know. If we could afford it, I would pursue another stone. It also makes me really want to see what I have been missing because I have always thought my diamond was a pretty high performer compared to others that I see in real life.

Anyway....all that to say I sympathize.

 

[kenny]

... It also makes me really want to see what I have been missing because I have always thought my diamond was a pretty high performer compared to others that I see in real life.

Good point, and most diamonds out there do have horrid light performance. Horrid.

If you don't know there is anything better, ignorance is bliss.

But while you can wear earplugs , you cannot unring the bell of diamond-cut knowledge.

 

[nala]

If I had a round diamond scoring 5.6 on the HCA I'd get it recut instead of replacing it ... especially since yours is on the deep side so it won't lose much face-up diameter comapred to a too-shallow cut.
And at 2.2 ct it may remain over 2 ct after the recut.

Even if it fell below 2 ct I'd still recut it since I want my diamond to have the best light performance.
To me light performance is king, much more important than carat weight or value.
Yes the vast majority of buyers are ignorant of cut while they cherish carat weight.
I don't care about the majority.
I like, and will pay for, a diamond because of the material's unique ability to do amazing things with light ... but it can only do that if all the ducks (facets) are properly lined up in a row, as they say.
A Ferrari can only do what a Ferrari can do if there is air in the tires and gas in the tank.

What a shame GIA has such a loose, sloppy, forgiving cut grade.
I'm sure the cutters and vendors LOVE GIA for this.

You joined PS in 2011, so how could you buy a round in 2015 with an HCA of 5.6 ... let alone not even knowing the HCA score?
It's often posted here on RT that GIA's cut grade of Excellent is too wide so watch out for the deeps and check it on HCA and Idealscope before buying.

... anyway

Kenny. I appreciate your expertise but not your tone. I’m here Bc I’m looking at moving forward with this first world issue not t reflect on my past. But if you are suggesting a recut and you seem to be all knowing, then I take it my stone is a good candidate for a recut. Now that is exciting news. Let’s discuss that. In your most knowledgeable opinion, you think it will be a massive difference if I recut?

 

[kenny]

Tone?

Never mind.

 

[bmfang]

I would only re-cut if what was taken off didn’t take it under 2cts of weight. Given that the rest of your stone’s specs (albeit rounded due to GIA) are within the sweet spot of ideal/super-ideal, a re-cut pavilion-side to get it where it should be at for AGS0 light performance would be a strong recommendation. But again, for me that’s only if it didn’t lose too much weight.

I also made a bad “mistake” when purchasing a MRB for an anniversary ring for my wife a few year’a back. It came back with HCA 4.4. I now know better, but my wife still wears that ring on occasions (usually when she doesn’t want to be too blingy). She now sees the difference between a standard GIA XXX and a super-ideal AGS 0 stone. Granted she wears her BG Blue more often these days.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Do you like it Nala? Does it look beautiful to you?

I can't remember the numbers but a while back I bought an IF stone (which is definitely overkill on clarity) that had a HCA score of slightly over 2. Anyway since then I have had a chance to upgrade this stone and aim for a better cut (plus lower the clarity) but I haven't been able to part with it because it is the most sparkly and pleasing stone to my eyes. It would be drying on the tea towel in the kitchen under my crappy power saving light bulbs and it's throwing of all these sparkles. So I keep it because I can't be sure I would like another stone as much and I know that I'd always most likely think this stone looks the best. I have since bought a stone with a much better HCA score and better in terms of stats. It is lovely enough but not as appealing to me as the IF one. I am not dazzled by it as I am by the way the IF looks.

Look at the stone. Do you like it? Do you love it? Does it please you? If it does, keep it and enjoy it. If it doesn't upgrade or recut! You didn't overpay for it so it's great in the sense that you got exactly what you paid for and you weren't ripped off. I would only do something if it's appearance is niggling at your soul, not because of the stats.

 

[Tourmaline]

The reason it looks like it has more color than your K is the pavilion angle. Color entrapment starts at 41.4, and yours is 41.6. I think it's an excellent candidate for a recut. It would improve color and performance. You can talk to them about what you want, and perhaps you wouldn't lose any (or any noticeable) diameter.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Man, ignorance is bliss right, but so is having a viable option for happiness.

So then the good news is that you are starting with an over two carat stone so it certainly won't be like someone starting with a stone half that size you know? I say if a recut is feasible and within your budget and it would make you happy then go for it! On one hand you have enjoyed it all this time BUT once your mind knows then there will be that part that is less than happy and life is too short, do what will make you happy.

Then we get to see another Nala project

 

[nala]

thanks for all of you replies. Will try to answer all in one.
Do I love my diamond?
I used to own a 1.43 that scored a 1.9 on the HCA, G VS2 ( egl) so probably an I color. Lol. Anyhow. That diamond didn’t seem as shiny as this one, so when I got this one, I really loved it by comparison. I remember thinking that the 1.43 was kind of lifeless and always lacking sparkle. I was so dissatisfied by it that I even considered recutting it into an oec and took it to Ari ( singlestone). I guess you get the idea.
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I paid for an ideal cut, because I didn't. I never expected an ideal cut Bc I opted for size. So I got what I paid for. As to the color, my hubby has always reassured me that I have a great stone and has questioned what I see. He has always maintained that he sees no yellow tint. I guess the certificate confirms that he wasn't entirely wrong, in that it is a GIA I. Though I may just be very color sensitive.
I own a few diamonds. One of them is a gorgeous oec. When I put them side by side, I just see 2 different types of sparkle. Both beautiful but different. I love it still.
All this to say that I have loved my diamond but as some pointed out, maybe Bc I didn't know any better since I haven't seen it next to an ideal cut.
I'm looking into a recut but it will be a hard sell with hubby. Trading up will also be a hard sell. Hubby has always loved my stone. I brought this up yesterday and he thinks that I'm silly to value a score more than what he sees and what he sees others see--I get tons of compliments by all kinds of people.

 

[LLJsmom]

Do what makes you satisfied. Like @kenny said, it’s hard to un-know something. Plenty of people outside of PS will say that most of us are “nuts”. Super ideals, precision cut OECs, ASETs, setting after setting and everything else. Accept that you will do what you will do, and if it’s a recut then so be it. Embrace that too. It will be a fun and exciting project.

 

[Bonfire]

@nala you said in your last post “I love it still.” If you choose to go the recut route will you be okay with a possible smaller diameter since size is important to you? Pricescope can be a slippery slope. It’s a wonderful forum for education, but also a place where we see the cream of the cream in diamond specs. It’s hard not to want what others have and that’s where you need to decide where you draw the line. Sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You say you love it still. That should be your answer. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[valeria101]

[QUOTE="nala, post: 4263812, member: 54725" ] to value a score more than what he sees and what he sees others see [/QUOTE]

If you do get to inspect some H&A - hopefully comparable in every respect with your diamond, you would not be the first to find that whatever difference is subtle; it seems right to care & not to care about it ...

 

[poshmommy]

I would leave it alone for now. Log off pricescope for awhile. Look at your friends' diamonds and remember everything you love about yours. Find a different hobby for awhile. If it still matters to you by summer, look at a recut then.

 

[FinleysMom]

thanks for all of you replies. Will try to answer all in one.
Do I love my diamond?
I used to own a 1.43 that scored a 1.9 on the HCA, G VS2 ( egl) so probably an I color. Lol. Anyhow. That diamond didn’t seem as shiny as this one, so when I got this one, I really loved it by comparison. I remember thinking that the 1.43 was kind of lifeless and always lacking sparkle. I was so dissatisfied by it that I even considered recutting it into an oec and took it to Ari ( singlestone). I guess you get the idea.
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I paid for an ideal cut, because I didn't. I never expected an ideal cut Bc I opted for size. So I got what I paid for. As to the color, my hubby has always reassured me that I have a great stone and has questioned what I see. He has always maintained that he sees no yellow tint. I guess the certificate confirms that he wasn't entirely wrong, in that it is a GIA I. Though I may just be very color sensitive.
I own a few diamonds. One of them is a gorgeous oec. When I put them side by side, I just see 2 different types of sparkle. Both beautiful but different. I love it still.
All this to say that I have loved my diamond but as some pointed out, maybe Bc I didn't know any better since I haven't seen it next to an ideal cut.
I'm looking into a recut but it will be a hard sell with hubby. Trading up will also be a hard sell. Hubby has always loved my stone. I brought this up yesterday and he thinks that I'm silly to value a score more than what he sees and what he sees others see--I get tons of compliments by all kinds of people.

I agree with hubby. Keep it...love it.

FM

 

[nala]

I started a new thread with a new option.

 

[nala]

I can downgrade in size but upgrade to cut. 2.05. My hubby says it’s splitting hairs.