H&A Questions!!

[J10B]

I am considering purchasing a diamond from a dealer on the pricescope list. The dealer says its a H&A and he will send it to an appraiser of my choosing. Now with all the fakes going around how do I make sure that I don''t get a fraud H&A. There are tons of AGS Ideal 0 out there and I want an H&A. Any Suggestions? Are there any dealers on this site I should be aware of? This guy sounds pretty good. Also I am looking to buy in the next 3 days or so.

 

[shurikt]

Choose an appraiser that will also check the characteristics of the diamond for you, and not just provide a valuation. Some can take photos through an H&A viewer or firescope to show you the patterns, and will give you their professional opinion on the quality of the H&A.

 

[aljdewey]

There are several independent appraisers here......among the most noted are Richard Sherwood and Dave Atlas......who can give an exhaustive evaluation of your diamond and peace of mind that it is indeed an H&A.

 

[J10B]

How does one tell if the stone is an H&A? will it be inscribed or do you need an Idealscope, proportion scope etc?

 

[aljdewey]

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On 8/13/2003 12:59:49 PM J10B wrote:

How does one tell if the stone is an H&A? will it be inscribed or do you need an Idealscope, proportion scope etc?

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Forgive me for repeating myself......but you tell if it's an H&A by getting an independent appraisal!

Inscription, by the way, means nothing.....anything can be inscribed on the stone at any time. I could purchase a stone today, have it inscribed with this (H&A), and then send it to get another cert....the comments on the cert would show that it's inscribed H&A. Doesn't mean it is.

H&A isn't a certification or a stamping, per se (at least not to my knowledge.....feel free to correct me here). It's a description of a particular kind of symmetry where a stone exhibits hearts and arrows patterns. As an amateur, it would be hard for me to determine that a stone is truly an H&A because I don't appreciate all the nuances.

That's why I've suggested you check it out first with an independent appraiser. He can examine the stone to make sure the arrows are proportioned correctly, all hearts are equal size, it is centered, etc. All the details that the experienced eye will see.

 

[hoorray]

Your appraiser should have a Hearts & Arrow viewer that they can use to confirm how crisp and even the H&A images are. (They also may have other methods.) My appraiser showed them to me through the viewer since I was there while he did the appraisal.

 

[Rhino]

Forgive my skepticism but I've seen so many stones advertised as H&A's that just plain weren't. Many that I have called in for personal analysis. I would not believe it unless I see photographic evidence.

No shoes, no shirt, no dice.
(anyone remember fast times at ridgemont high?)

Rhino

 

[aljdewey]

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On 8/14/2003 12:47

0 AM Rhino wrote:
No shoes, no shirt, no dice.
(anyone remember fast times at ridgemont high?)

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No WAY, Mr. Hand! That was a NARLY film!