Focus on GIA Cut Grade or Diamond Stats?

[DapperDan]

I am in the third week of a diamond search for an engagement ring. I have looked at several stones at a local, well-known B&M. The owner showed me a stone which appeared to me to be very nice. He showed it to me inside and outside. I was excited. It is a GIA certified excellent cut.

But when I asked him about crown and pavilion angles the owner said, "You are focusing on the wrong thing. The GIA has done all of the work for you. This is their best cut. Don''t worry about the numbers." He then told me to look around hi store and said that everything in there is of the highest quality, that I shouldn''t worry about angles, etc. He told me to trust me eyes.

Should I be sceptical of this guy? Do you think he is trying to screw me?

FYI

crown angle -- 32.5
pavilion angle -- 41.2

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/17/2006 9:06:37 PM
Author:DapperDan

Should I be sceptical of this guy? I see you got the crown & pavilion angles...

Do you think he is trying to screw me? I doubt it.

FYI

crown angle -- 32.5
pavilion angle -- 41.2

Your sales person is doing what they should be doing, which is to focus you on what they think is important. You should have the attitude of trust, but verify, which is what you're doing, and the sales person has complied, giving you the info you requested.

GIA has parameters that are more broad than most here think they should be for making a final, and even preliminary, selection. But it's a start. So, too, is your data gathering. But don't be shy to want to verify more.

Also, though you may have come away with the 2 most important pieces you'll need, more is needed. This thread speaks to it.

Though I think traditionally the stated pavilion is not well regarded, the crown angle I think tends to counter it well. But. having run some numbers based on guesses for table & depth, looks like a big table could throw this out from where you'd want it to be. So...get some numbers for other dimensions...they're all on the cert...and continue to use your eyes in concert with that process, I say.

For options that DO look attractive, put them on hold until you can do further homework.

Getting another system of estimation for good performance beyond GIA is what I'd want to see...based on either or both AGS or HCA. Those matching, plus my eyes, would largely be sufficient.

 

[Regular Guy]

P.S. Is this option the same one as you reported here? If so, you reported a crown angle of 34.5 in the first instance, which gets you a different result. Also note, if there remains a question about which is right, the percents you reported in the earlier one, while not as reliable as angles, do match with the better crown of 32.5. Good news!

 

[DapperDan]

I have the table and depth info and when I plug it into the HCA I get a good result. I just thought the whole attitude of "trust the GIA" and "trust the well respected B&M" was the antithesis of the message of some posts I have seen here on Pricescope.

I am not Tomoko.

Thanks for your response.