GIA Round Diamond Question

[llAPll]

I''ve been shopping for a ering for a while now and came across this retail store (also online vendor in the States) called Classic Creations. Their website, www.classiccreations.ca has a list of GIA certified loose diamonds.

I went with my friend and the sales found me a GIA certified diamond and I was wondering if it could be faked or the GIA certificate does not belong to the particular diamond (I haven''t seen it in person yet).

Here are the specs of the diamond:

1.14 carat, G colour, Triple Excellent, Hearts & Arrows, Round... he is asking for $8200 CAD only (that''s around $7500-$7800 USD)

Here are my concerns:

1. Sounds like a really good deal, too good to be true?
2. Has anyone ever bought or dealt with Classic Creations and have any comments about them?
3. Do GIA certificates show H&A? On the GIA certificate scan he sent me, in the Comments area, it says "Additional Inscription: H&A". I asked the guy about it and he said that the manufacturer probably has a AGS certificate for that diamond as well and it is H&A. But since GIA is independent from AGS, why would the AGS certificate say H&A? Isn''t H&A a AGS thing (AGS000)?
4. If a diamond is H&A, does it automatically make it Triple Excellent or vice versa? Will it be within the perfect dimensions of a wide table (I heard for 1 carat, it should be greater than 6.5mm), and the angles that make it a good stone and/or score high on the HCA tool?

Thanks in advance for the responses! Lots of great info in this website!

 

[Dreamer_D]

If the diamond is VS2 or SI1 clarity than the price is about right, so I don''t think it is a "too good to be true" thing at all.

H&A is separate from any labs. It means that the diamond has perfect symmetry, and when photographed using special cameras, will display not only a perfect arrow pattern face up, but a perfect hearts pattern from the bottom. Here is an example of a similar diamond that is a true H&A. Click on the link marked "hearts" next to the diamond photo to see what it should look like. http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-2231154.htm#

Diamonds are often laser inscribed with various things. Perhaps this diamond has H&A inscribed on the girdle. Has nothing to do with AGS at all. The note on the GIA cert simply states that the diamond has the letters "H&A" inscribed on the girdle. If the jeweler is giving you a line about AGS being involved then it is BS and that means, in my book, do not buy from him.

You pay a premium for an H&A diamond, like the one I linked. Without arrows and hearts images, it cannot and should not be sold as an H&A. Without being an H&A the price would be significantly less, as much as $1000.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/24/2010 11:38:34 PM
Author:llAPll
4. If a diamond is H&A, does it automatically make it Triple Excellent or vice versa? Will it be within the perfect dimensions of a wide table (I heard for 1 carat, it should be greater than 6.5mm), and the angles that make it a good stone and/or score high on the HCA tool?

The table should not be 6.5mm, the diameter of the diamond should be a little more than 6.5 if it is well cut. H&A is a separate issue from cut quality (sort of, more complicated). H&A is about symmetry of the cut. To know how it scores on the HCA, input the crown and pavilion angles and the depth and table %s. This info should be on the cert.

 

[yssie]

...everything she said.



Good luck with your choice

 

[Lorelei]

Hi IIAPII

Not much to add as Dreamer has you covered, I would just mention that although many branded h&a diamonds are in fact AGS0, because a diamond has this cut grade does not guarantee a stone IS H&A. Can you get images of the hearts and arrows for this diamond please? These are essential in order to evaluate the optical symmetry, cutting precision and the quality of the h&a patterning.