Good value

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/9/2009 1:44:11 PM
Author: hpnas
These are all from BN, where do I get an Idealscope image?

Unfortunately BN do not offer Idealscope images.

 

[hpnas]

Ok believe I have it down to a final 3 but would appreciate some guidance with the final selection

A)

GIA certified
1.7 carats
Excellent Cut
Excellent Polish
Excellent Symmetry
F color
VS2 clarity
7.67 x 7.72 x 4.70 mm
61.1% Depth
57% Table
34% Crown Angle
40.8% Pavilion Angle
HCA Score: 1.0 (Excellent)

B)

GIA certified
1.7 carats
Excellent Cut
Excellent Polish
Excellent Symmetry
G color
VS1 clarity
7.61 x 7.64 x 4.77 mm
62.5% Depth
55% Table
35% Crown Angle
40.8% Pavilion Angle
HCA Score: 1.6 (Excellent)

C)

GIA certified
1.7 carats
Excellent Cut
Excellent Polish
Excellent Symmetry
G color
VS1 clarity
7.62 x 7.66 x 4.71 mm
61.6% Depth
56% Table
34.5% Crown Angle
40.8% Pavilion Angle
HCA Score: 1.3 (Excellent)

 

[stone-cold11]

Girdle variation and star and lower half numbers? All from BN? So no IS image?

 

[diamondsman]

Hi
I like (A) reason being it looks a bit bigger than the others , I also like the 34% crown angel
I like the color F, vs1 or vs2 are more or less the same.

overall this stone is better

how much do they want for all three stones is there a big differnce????

 

[hpnas]

All from BN so no images:

Star & Lower Half:

A) 45% / 75%

B) 50% / 75%

C) 50% / 75%

 

[stone-cold11]

Not much difference then. B is my least favorite from the numbers. C being my preference, right smack in center of the tolkowsky cut range.

 

[Lorelei]

C and A look the best from the info we have.

 

[hpnas]

Price difference at a max is only $400 with A being the most expensive and B being the least expensive

 

[hpnas]

Cool thanks. So it basically boils down to VS1 vs. VS2 or F vs. G.

Do people typically notice more of a difference b/w the VS1 or VS2 or between the F vs. G color or is it a minimal difference for both?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/11/2009 1:19:40 PM
Author: hpnas
Cool thanks. So it basically boils down to VS1 vs. VS2 or F vs. G.

Do people typically notice more of a difference b/w the VS1 or VS2 or between the F vs. G color or is it a minimal difference for both?

Minimal difference for both, eyeclean is eyeclean and both VS grades should be totally eyeclean. One colour grade difference will not be noticable to the vast majority of people.

 

[stone-cold11]

Ditto. Color will be even more difficult to tell apart once it is mounted.

 

[hpnas]

So then it''s basically a toss up and considered equally as good diamonds?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/11/2009 2:09:16 PM
Author: hpnas
So then it''s basically a toss up and considered equally as good diamonds?

Both * should* be good diamonds as far as can be told without images, it depends on your preferences which one you choose.

 

[stone-cold11]

Ya, that is as much as we can say based on limited data available.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/11/2009 2:14:55 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
Ya, that is as much as we can say based on limited data available.

In a nutshell.

 

[diamondsman]

HI
I agree with Lorelei ,there is not much of a difference between f-g colors and vs1 -vs2 clarities should not be that noticiable especially with the naked eye.
also if it was My choice for $400.00 extra I would go with FVS2 since its still the better color and a very good quality and the difference is not that much for the amount you are spending.

 

[hpnas]

Ok I promise this is the final piece of advice needed. Rather than go direct to BN, I decided to see some stones from a recommended dealer. He showed me two that really interested me. The stones are as follows

1)
1.75 carats
7.73 - 7.79 x 4.78 mm
F
SI 1 (Perfectly eye-clean and could actually be in the VS categories; didn''t see anything major under a 10x)
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Table %: 59%
Depth %: 61.6%
Crown Angle: 33.5
Pavilion Angle: 41.8
Light Return: Fair
Fire: Fair
Scintillation: Fair
Spread: Very Good
HCA Score: 6 (Fair)

2)
1.81 carats
7.83 - 7.87 x 4.81 mm
G
SI 1 (Also perfectly eye-clean)
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Table %: 56%
Depth %: 61.3%
Crown Angle: 35
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Very Good
HCA Score: 0.8 (Excellent)

So here is the kicker. The 1.75 scored a 6 on the HCA score which is not so good at all but when I saw the diamond it was so sparkly and also had hearts and arrows (viewed under an idealoscope) that it''s hard to believe the HCA scored it a 6.0

The 1.81 also was pretty brilliant looking but to my basic eye the 1.75 looked like it had a bit more brilliance.

So Pricescope, since you''ve helped me get this far...which one is it going to be? It''s going to be one of these two as I feel a bit more comfortable buying in person as opposed to online

 

[stone-cold11]

Have you look at it under lighting conditions other than the jewelry store lighting? Those strong/spot lighting will tend to favor bad cuts. Prefer #2.

 

[hpnas]

I made sure to look at it away from the spotlights and it still looked pretty good. The 1.81 definitely has the better measurements, right?

 

[stone-cold11]

I find it hard to believe a HCA 6 can have good IS image, as HCA is develop with IS so the correlation should be very good. Also IS does not show optical symm required for a H&A, at best just the arrows, nothing on the hearts image.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/16/2009 1:56:28 PM
Author: hpnas
Ok I promise this is the final piece of advice needed. Rather than go direct to BN, I decided to see some stones from a recommended dealer. He showed me two that really interested me. The stones are as follows

1)
1.75 carats
7.73 - 7.79 x 4.78 mm
F
SI 1 (Perfectly eye-clean and could actually be in the VS categories; didn''t see anything major under a 10x)
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Table %: 59%
Depth %: 61.6%
Crown Angle: 33.5
Pavilion Angle: 41.8
Light Return: Fair
Fire: Fair
Scintillation: Fair
Spread: Very Good
HCA Score: 6 (Fair)

2)
1.81 carats
7.83 - 7.87 x 4.81 mm
G
SI 1 (Also perfectly eye-clean)
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Table %: 56%
Depth %: 61.3%
Crown Angle: 35
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Very Good
HCA Score: 0.8 (Excellent)

So here is the kicker. The 1.75 scored a 6 on the HCA score which is not so good at all but when I saw the diamond it was so sparkly and also had hearts and arrows (viewed under an idealoscope) that it''s hard to believe the HCA scored it a 6.0

The 1.81 also was pretty brilliant looking but to my basic eye the 1.75 looked like it had a bit more brilliance.

So Pricescope, since you''ve helped me get this far...which one is it going to be? It''s going to be one of these two as I feel a bit more comfortable buying in person as opposed to online

No contest, the second diamond is the best by a mile. Possible the badly cut stone could show a semblance of h&a I suppose but they would not be the crisp and precise patterning one sees here.

The first diamond - it is possible it will go dead away from any bright store lighting and also show leakage.

 

[hpnas]

He showed me the hearts when looking at it upside down, pretty sure I saw hearts on the bottom and arrows when looking at it from right side up

 

[hpnas]

Ok thanks, I''m going to go back this weekend and most likely get the 1.81 as it looks to be a very good diamond and reasonably priced.

 

[stone-cold11]

I am thinking now what you are looking at the stone is with the H&A scope and not an Idealscope. H&A scope will not show the cut performance of the stone, only the optical symm.

 

[hpnas]

It seems he was pushing me towards the 1.75 vs. the 1.81, not sure why, maybe he genuinely thinks it is a better stone? Anyways, they are the same price so when I go back and do a last review I should settle on the 1.81

 

[outatouch0]

Date: 11/16/2009 4:42:22 PM
Author: hpnas
It seems he was pushing me towards the 1.75 vs. the 1.81, not sure why, maybe he genuinely thinks it is a better stone? Anyways, they are the same price so when I go back and do a last review I should settle on the 1.81

He has a vested interest in selling his hardest to move inventory first. If they are the same price retail you can bet he paid less for the one he is pushing. Can''t blame him. He is just doing his job.

 

[hpnas]

After a long and tiring search I have found the diamond I have been seeking:

1.74 carats
G color
VS2 clarity
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.67 x7.72 x 4.78 mm
Table %: 56
Depth %: 62.1
Crown Angle: 35
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
HCA Score: 1.6 (Excellent)

I went to view it tonight and it was stunning, thanks to everyone here for all the help and input, it''s been tremendous!

 

[stone-cold11]

Congrats.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/19/2009 7:05:12 PM
Author: hpnas
After a long and tiring search I have found the diamond I have been seeking:

1.74 carats
G color
VS2 clarity
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Measurements: 7.67 x7.72 x 4.78 mm
Table %: 56
Depth %: 62.1
Crown Angle: 35
Pavilion Angle: 40.8
HCA Score: 1.6 (Excellent)

I went to view it tonight and it was stunning, thanks to everyone here for all the help and input, it''s been tremendous!

Looks like a great diamond, well done!!!

 

[hpnas]

Thanks for all your input, much appreciated. Now on to the setting. I got it from Excel so looking at the Tiffany''s sidestone replica that everyone seems to love around here, ahh decisions, decisions