H&A worth it?

[mrbrown]

I recently purchased a diamond online for an engagement ring. I did some research but I hadn''t heard of different cuts as H&A, solesfara, etc. The details of the diamond I purchased are below. I ran the numbers through the HCA calculator and it came back as 1.5. But just looking at it, it doesn''t seem as ''brilliant'' as I thought it would be. Would I be able to see a visible different if I purchased a different cut such as H&A? I have a 30 day return policy so it would be possible for me to return it. Also after reading through the forums, I''m wondering if it was worth it to get VVS1 clarity versus a better color? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

AGS Cut 0
Light Performance 0
Proportion Factors 0
Finish 0, Polish: Ideal, Symmetry Ideal
Color AGS 1.5 (G)
Clarity AGS 1 (VVS1)
Carat weight 1.353
Depth: 61.7%
Table: 55.7%
Crown: 34.4%
Pavilion: 40.9%
Cutlet%: Pointed

 

[dmus]

If it''s a loose stone, take it to a B&M which has a loupe that shows hearts and arrows patterns to see if your cut is. I bought a AGS triple 0 also and the only difference compared to your specs was my depth was 60.1%. The depth may affect it. However, I''m not an expert either. 61.7% depth seems a tad deep. By the way my stone is a SI1 and the brilliance, fire and scintillation is unbelievable. I regret not putting it under a viewer before I had it mounted to see if it was hearts and arrows. Hope this helps.

 

[Cleo]

Hello & welcome

My diamond is an AGS0 Ideal (F, VS2) - but not an 'official' H&A stone. Having said that, as you can see from my avatar, it does show arrows in some situations.

Your stone scores well on the HCA, and only has a slightly lower score for scintillation (which is still 'Very Good').. but it shouldn't affect the amount of fire (coloured light) you see in your diamond.

Have you tried experimenting with different lighting conditions, to see how your diamond performs?

I find my stone reacts, and appears, very different according to the lighting.

Halogen spolights such as in my bathroom, or in a jewellers really make the diamond appear very firey - as can bright sunlight. Candlelight can be mesmerising on a diamond.

In quite dark situations my diamond can almost glow a pure white light, like a beacon.. even with very little light around.

Fluorescent tube strip lighting, or normal lightbulbs don't have anywhere near as exciting an effect.

Have a play around with different lights and see how you feel about the stone then.

Your diamond is incredibly clean at VVS1 and very white - so I would say it really wasn't worth changing for a different colour grade... unless you are specifically disappointed with the whiteness of the stone (which you haven't mentioned).

x x x

 

[sparxs111]

Looks like a nice stone to me! Gives a 1.5 on the HCA advisor. An AGS triple 0 is definitely a great cut and will so an amazing amount of sparkle...

 

[strmrdr]

What kind of lighting are you judging brightness in?
What is the lgf% off of the cert?
Its the number written in the middle of the arrow looking facet on the bottom section of the image on the cert.

 

[strmrdr]

As too the clarity id go g-h-i/vs-si(eyeclean) and get a bigger diamond.

 

[Ellen]

Ditto strm on what type of lighting have you looked at it in, and yes, go down in clarity for sure. There''s nothing wrong with G, it''s a very nice medium. No visable color, nicer price than colorless.

 

[mrbrown]

Thanks for everyones replies. The LGF? number is 77. I was looking at home under regular light and went outside in the sun. In the sun, for some reason, it looks just white and doesn''t have much color/sparkle.

I guess my basic question was whether these ''super'' ideal cuts like ''A Cut Above H&A'' from WF and ''Blue Nile Signature Cut'' are noticeably different than the standard AGS 0? Would I be able to see the difference in normal light?

 

[Ellen]

Hmmm, a really well cut stone normally goes dark in the sun, yet shoots off lots of fire. The LGF are a nice size.

AGS0 are supposed to be better cut stones, but still, some are better than others.

A really well cut stone should look nice in all lighting really. It will however vary on the lighting as to how much it sparkles/shows fire. It should never go "flat". House lighting often isn''t the most flattering. Spot lighting, high fluorescent lighting like in grocery stores, elevator lighting, and resturants all should really make it dance.

Are you sure it''s really clean?

 

[Ellen]

Sorry, forgot to answer your last question. Yes, compared to some AGS stonres, a super cut is going to out perform.

 

[strmrdr]

hmmmm... not sure what is up...

click here:
http://diamondscope.pricescope.com/

Then select:
In Conservatory
by Garry H (Cut Nut)
11/21/2005

Thats what a well cut diamond should do in sun and shaded sun...

 

[Ellen]

I thought of something Lorelei (a poster here) said to a poster once, it's the greatest description of how a well cut stone should behave. Can't believe I found it. At any rate, thought it might help, it's really hard to tell a person how a diamond should look/behave like.


"A well cut diamond should show it's personality, sing to you, strut it's stuff, make you want to look at it again and again, then once again! Even when a diamond is in ' rest mode' such as in dull light and it is 'sleeping', it should still look attractive, even if not particulary sparkly, you know that the minute more light pops, the diamond will too. A well cut diamond should display a mix of fire, brilliance, dispersion and scintillation, not in every light, as some lightings are more suited to brilliance than fire, but in many. Also some lights make diamonds look very different such as strong sunlight which can make them look dark, this is normal"

 

[jackk]

I just bought a hearts and arrows. http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?find=1&cid=130&item=1107813

I will get it in monday. I think they are pretty cool.