Finding and comparing top ''performer'' online...

[alu]

Hi guys, fascinating discussion in this thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/true-hearts-is-this-stone-a-true-heart.90360/. I didn''t want to pollute that thread with this discussion since that thread is really about the H&A ''pedigree'' and I''m more interested with true performance.

I would guess that people would fall into one of the three categories:

1- those who want a true H&A cut
2- those who want the best ''performance''
3- those who want both

I suppose some people might fall in category 1 and only really care about the crafstmanship and know that it''s still a well-performing diamond but not the best it could be. [This is based on the knowledge that not all H&A cuts are really the best performing.]

The people in category 2 may be the type of person who knows that a V&A diamond would/could perform as well as an H&A.

And I suspect that most people would be in category 3. There''s a lot of talk about H&A on the web and lots of sites advertise it as the end-all-be-all. And we''ve even seen in the aforementioned thread that some people are even advertising other non H&A diamonds (that probably perform just as well) int that category. So if you could have the pedigree of H&A and know you have the best performing diamond, that would be the best of both worlds for many consumers who are looking for the ultimate mind-clean diamond while buying off the internet.

So my questions are:

- Is it generally agreed that a non H&A diamond such as a V&A diamond with excellent optical symmetry can potentially perform as good as ay H&A stone? Or do people dispute this?

- When buying online, what criteria can a consumer use to determine which of two stones would have the best performance?
.. Would two properly taken idealscope images be enough?
.. ''Hearts'' and ''Arrows'' diagrams?
.. Sarin/OGI numbers showing variance in angles (not a single number)?
.. videos of each diamond being rotated? In different lighting conditions?
.. PGS/GemEx/MegaScope/etc....?

Not being able the see the stones yourself side-by-side what would be the minimum info you would need to choose between two stones where *everything* else is equal (price, certification grading, etc), and how would you use that info?

I know this would be subjective, but I would like to hear what you gurus think.

I for one would prefer a ''Top performing diamond tutorial'' rather than a H&A tutorial to use as a basis. Even though it would have subjective points in it, it could mention what some PS''ers use: how they look at patterning, how they determine which diamond is the most symmetric...

 

[Allison D.]

Great point of discussion, Alu.

- Is it generally agreed that a non H&A diamond such as a V&A diamond with excellent optical symmetry can potentially perform as good as any H&A stone? Yes, it''s absolutely possible. Or do people dispute this? No, I don''t think they do. Most of the core participants on Pricescope have been here for years, and they are consistent in opining that there is more than one definition of what constitutes a great diamond.

- When buying online, what criteria can a consumer use to determine which of two stones would have the best performance? Assuming the definition of ''best performance'' means light return, the most important thing a consumer can do is work with a trusted vendor who can be his eyes. Other tools can be helpful IF the consumer understands the tools'' purposes and limitations. Grading reports can be helpful if you recognize that they may contained averaged data; HCA can be helpful as long as you allow for the fact that it assumes perfect symmetry (which the stones may or may not have) and that it prefers shallower combinations. Idealscope, ASET, Helium/Sarin/etc, and images all reflect data based on the actual diamond(s), so those are helpful too.

Not being able the see the stones yourself side-by-side what would be the minimum info you would need to choose between two stones where *everything* else is equal (price, certification grading, etc), and how would you use that info? Honestly, that answer will differ for every buyer because not every buyer places equal emphasis on the same elements. When I''m the buyer, I personally care about things that are visually discernable. I''m happy buying eyeclean SI2 stones in the H/I/J range and at the most advantageous cost. I might be willing to give up what I perceive to be an infinitessimal edge on light performance that I feel won''t be discernable to my eye if it means I can jump from a J to an H for the same price point.

My example is meant to say this: it''s rarely true that ''everything else'' is equal. Buying a diamond is an intricate dance of balancing several factors (performance, size, color, clarity, etc. etc.) to find the perfect blend for you. Since diamonds aren''t widgets and are all individual, it''s not as simple as reducing it down to ''all else being equal'', I''m afraid.

The best way to use the information at hand is to formulate questions about trade-offs that you can ask your trusted vendor so you know what the impact of each trade-off might/might not be relative to your desired parameters.

I for one would prefer a ''Top performing diamond tutorial'' rather than a H&A tutorial to use as a basis. Even though it would have subjective points in it, it could mention what some PS''ers use: how they look at patterning, how they determine which diamond is the most symmetric... I''d respectfully point out that there is room for more than one tutorial; this shouldn''t have to be a this-instead-of-that or an either/or proposition. There is ample room on Pricescope to have multiple tutorials (H&A tutorial, light performance tutorial, optical symmetry tutorial, etc.). I personally think this does a much better service to consumers as it suggests there is more than "one" right criteria and lets people feel freer about choosing what''s individually right for them. One size seldom fits all.

 

[alu]

I don''t doubt that a safe choice would be to trust the eyes of a trusted vendor (for instance, if it''s an ACA from WF, or anything that GoG might call a h&a even if there is a possibility it isn''t by the strictest of standards... - and I''m sure many other good vendors as well, just using these 2 as examples) But it would be great to hear what people use and what importance they may put to them. There are lots of tools..

I still need to educate myself on them:
-IS/ASET to give an indication of light return
-''hearts'' and ''arrows'' images to show symmetry and patterning
-OGI scan to show variance in angles (whereas cert gives only one averaged number)
-many more...



I for one would prefer a ''Top performing diamond tutorial'' rather than a H&A tutorial to use as a basis. Even though it would have subjective points in it, it could mention what some PS''ers use: how they look at patterning, how they determine which diamond is the most symmetric... I''d respectfully point out that there is room for more than one tutorial; this shouldn''t have to be a this-instead-of-that or an either/or proposition. There is ample room on Pricescope to have multiple tutorials (H&A tutorial, light performance tutorial, optical symmetry tutorial, etc.). I personally think this does a much better service to consumers as it suggests there is more than ''one'' right criteria and lets people feel freer about choosing what''s individually right for them. One size seldom fits all.

[/quote]

Agreed! I should have been careful of the wording. What I meant was that I would find Light Performance and Optical Symmetry tutorials more useful to me. I realize that the there are some comments in the ''other'' thread which dispute whether the H&A tutorial is a good thing or not - that''s not my intention.