Found my eye clean SI2? Also, discuss cut grade apps

[frosty81]

About to pull the trigger on this 1.92ct, SI2, I color. It’s the cleanest looking SI2 I could find that also meets my requirements for color, size and budget of $10,000. It’s a GIA excellent cut but scores pretty average on the HCA with 3.6. In diamond hunting, I think I’ve placed too much emphasis on the HCA score. I’m having less trust in HCA true accuracy. I’ve run GIA very good cuts through HCA and received grades under 2. I think I have more confidence in GIA cut grading. I also believe the AGA Grader to be more accurate where this diamond got a 1B score. It takes more of the diamonds measurements into consideration. What do you guys think about my potential purchase? Is it a good value and what are your opinions on the cut?

Here are the stats
Table- 56
Depth- 62.5
Crown Angle- 35
Crown %- 15.5
Pavilion Angle- 42.1
Pavilion %- 43.5
Culet- very small
Girdle- thin to medium 3.5%

 

[stone-cold11]

Ask for an Idealscope image and you will see which tools to trust.

There is clearly leakage in the loupe image at the 10-11 o'clock area under the table. Also, never judge an eye-cleanliness of a stone from the loupe image, always ask the vendor. The image is taken under specific conditions that can hide some inclusions while exaggerating others.

 

[John P]

Pavilion Angle- 42.1
Pavilion %- 43.5
Culet- very small

Something wonky here. With vs culet and 43.5 PD the pavilion angle should be around 41 degrees.
The culet would have to be nearly 3.5% or "very large" to result in a 42 deree PA.

 

[frosty81]

John you are on top if it! I typoed the pavilion angle it is 41.2 not 42.1. I guess I''m curious to know how depth and table combinations affect performance. Since this is a table 56 and depth 62.5 will it lean towards bright or fire or neither? Or do the crown and pavilion angles tell a more complete story?

 

[frosty81]

Stone Cold

I have requested an ideal scope image from James Allen.

 

[stone-cold11]

Probably a typo, 41.2 degrees. GIA will not give pavilion angles in 0.1 increments.

 

[miraclesrule]

I get tingly just reading how technically experienced you PS''ers are.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/21/2009 6:59:49 PM
Author: John Pollard

Pavilion Angle- 42.1
Pavilion %- 43.5
Culet- very small

Something wonky here. With vs culet and 43.5 PD the pavilion angle should be around 41 degrees.
The culet would have to be nearly 3.5% or 'very large' to result in a 42 deree PA.

Yep the pavilion angle must be a typo, 41.2 looks more like it. The diamond falls within what we call steep deep range, we will see leakage on the Idealscope image, it is easy to see on the loupe image.

 

[frosty81]

Here is the ideal scope image. There''s some leakage. I find it odd, what leakage there is appears uneven and not symmetrical. As I mentioned earlier for a 2ct(ish) sized diamond this is on the lower end price wise, 10K. You could certainly spend more. Overall do you think it will be considered a pretty sparkly diamond?

 

[frosty81]

After looking at some other ideal scope images posted on pricescope I feel like this one is a little weak. Is it still worth buying?

 

[stone-cold11]

The leakage is where I expect it to be. At 2c, might be more noticeable but also good cut and price are more rare. You will have to make your own balance on what you want.

As the HCA says for that range of score, worth buying if the price is right, this looks like the case to me.

 

[frosty81]

Man I’m having a hard time making a decision. I found another diamond within very close price and placed it on hold. Ideal scope image is on order. First impression it also looks pretty clean for an SI2. It scored a 1 on the HCA but it does have 4.5% girdle so score may not be as accurate. How do you guys think it compares?

Specs
J - VS2
Depth 61.5%
Table 58%
Pavilion angle 40.8
Pavilion % 43
Crown angle 33
Crown % 13.5
Girdle 4.5%
Medium Florescence

 

[frosty81]

Forgot to mention size. It''s 2ct - 8.03, 8.04, 4.94

 

[frosty81]

looks pretty clean for an SI2 - No

MAN I CAN"T TYPE or I''m starting to get diamond shopping daze

It is actually a VS2 not SI2

 

[miraclesrule]

Ha...Diamond Shopping Daze. I think it''s contagious. I''m suffering from the same thing.

Good Luck! You''re in good hands with PS''ers.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/22/2009 7:32:16 PM
Author: frosty81
Here is the ideal scope image. There''s some leakage. I find it odd, what leakage there is appears uneven and not symmetrical. As I mentioned earlier for a 2ct(ish) sized diamond this is on the lower end price wise, 10K. You could certainly spend more. Overall do you think it will be considered a pretty sparkly diamond?

Yes, the leakage corresponds to what can be seen on the photo. It isn''t bad however - you can do better certainly - but the leakage is not extensive.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/22/2009 10:15:07 PM
Author: frosty81
Man I’m having a hard time making a decision. I found another diamond within very close price and placed it on hold. Ideal scope image is on order. First impression it also looks pretty clean for an SI2. It scored a 1 on the HCA but it does have 4.5% girdle so score may not be as accurate. How do you guys think it compares?

Specs
J - VS2
Depth 61.5%
Table 58%
Pavilion angle 40.8
Pavilion % 43
Crown angle 33
Crown % 13.5
Girdle 4.5%
Medium Florescence

This one has definite potential, ask for an IS image for this diamond. It is probably geared more towards brilliance than fire looking at the proportions but it could be a definite candidate. See if you can get an IS image for this one.

 

[frosty81]

I received the ideal scope image on the second diamond. It appears much better than the first one. I see darker reds, no table leakage and it also looks more symmetrical. It does have some leakage around the perimeter. I think this is due to the thicker girdle at 4.5%. Will leakage in this area make the diamond appear to have a smaller spread? I also see the inclusion which lies almost in the middle of the table. I hope it doesn’t stick out too badly when viewing without magnification. What are your thoughts on this diamonds cut?

 

[frosty81]

As a reference of the ideal scope images close to each other. Here is the I - SI1 from the beginning of the post.

 

[stone-cold11]

IS looks good to me. Much better than the first pick.

No worry about the leakage at the perimeter, almost all stone will have that.

Regarding the inclusions, check with JA if it is eye-clean. No way to tell from IS/loupe images due to the difference in viewing/lighting conditions.

 

[cicero]

I hope you will find the perfect one for you man. From what i''ve seen so far it seems to be a good deal. I''m looking for a stone of 2.5 ct of the same specification than yours. Did you buy your diamond online? Which is the best place to buy it ?

Thank you

 

[frosty81]

Cicero

My Experience-
I''ve looked at every possible online vendor. I wound up with James Allen (they have images of actual diamond) because I could weed out ones that had easily visble inclusions. I had been wasting time with some other vedors (Abazias not to mention names) . I would find what I thought was the perfect stone. They would have the diamond sent to their location for review and place a $70 hold on my credit card only to tell me the diamond had "this or that" wrong with it. I needed a more efficient and economical way to shop. I think White Flash, Good old Gold and some others do a great job of provding useful info that you need to know about a diamond. I think a slight premium is paid for the better cut diamonds on these websites but this is true on almost all websites. James Allen allows you to sift through their diamonds and find that combo of what you''re looking for. They also do a great job providing an ideal scope image and having diamond reviewed by gemologist. Their services have worked great for me, not that the others are not just a helpful and knowledgable, James Allen has just worked best for me and my situation. I''m not going to say one vendor is better than another or any particular vendor sucked, this is the path that worked for me. I didn''t really consider James Allen untill I stumbled upon truthaboutdiamonds.com
Hope this helps

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/26/2009 7:29:32 PM
Author: frosty81
I received the ideal scope image on the second diamond. It appears much better than the first one. I see darker reds, no table leakage and it also looks more symmetrical. It does have some leakage around the perimeter. I think this is due to the thicker girdle at 4.5%. Will leakage in this area make the diamond appear to have a smaller spread? I also see the inclusion which lies almost in the middle of the table. I hope it doesn’t stick out too badly when viewing without magnification. What are your thoughts on this diamonds cut?

This image looks good. The leakage around the edges is controlled intentional leakage which helps enhance contrast and scintillation, nothing to worry about.