Half carat low budget head spinning!

[MisterB]

First and foremost...Thank you all for the information you provide, it has been extremely helpful! I have been researching for about 6 months and have learned more about diamonds than I ever thought possible. So much info I now have no idea what to buy.

My budget is $2,000 to $2,500 with setting (Part time student, full time worker saving for a house in Southern CA ). I am working with IDJ and feel like I am in good hands. Here is what they found;

GIA XXX
.56 CT
F
SI2 (eye clean)
Flour None
HnA
HCA 1.8
5.32 - 5.34 x 3.27 mm
Canadian
Basic 6 prong solitaire
$2000 shipped!

I value cut above all, then color because my lady is very color sensitive unfortunately for me She does not care about the size fortunately for me! Eye clean is a must.

Will we really be able to see the beauty of this diamond with our bare eyes?
Would it be beneficial to step down to an excellent GIA/Ideal AGS below 2 HCA and it not be XXX 000 HnA in order to got up in size?
Will a .60-.65 really face up larger than this .56?
There is about .30mm size difference at most, is this noticeable?

Any advice is appreciated and anticipated! Thank you all!

 

[Gypsy]

I think the stone you have chosen is gorgeous. That said, .2 is the visual difference threshold when side by side.

I think the stone you have picked is gorgeous.

 

[knarffy]

I would not go down in cut grade for size! Better to be blinded by a small rock than underwhelmed by a big one

 

[Gypsy]

A smaller diamond with ideal light return will look larger (edge to edge brilliance and light return) than a slightly larger (.3) diamond with compromised light return.

 

[MisterB]

A smaller diamond with ideal light return will look larger (edge to edge brilliance and light return) than a slightly larger (.3) diamond with compromised light return.

I did not realize that... good to know!

I guess if I want to get a larger stone that is noticeable to the eye, and keep the quality the same, I will blow the budget for sure!

I am just unsure if the XXX is noticeable to the eye and not just on paper. We have not been able to see this quality in person. I live in San Diego and she lives in Orange County. I am amazed at how many B and M stores do not stock these. The best we saw was a GIA very good cut 1 CT and the sales guy at the MALL store had to get it out of the safe. He proceed to tell us that this particular VERY GOOD cut stone was better than an EXCELLENT cut. He wanted almost $8K for it ! I called him out on the cut quality and said thanks but nope!

Most of the other stores we have been to try to sell us EGL or very low quality GIA

 

[TC1987]

Wink of HighPerformanceDiamonds was having a sale on his "value select" line. You might look there to see what he has. He's been in the diamond business for 20 or more years. He has said numerous times that he can put a AGS 000 or one of the best GIA excellents next to a lesser-cut diamond, and the buyers gravitate toward the best-cut stone every time. I think that's also true. Unless the size difference was large, like getting a .8 very good vs. a .5-.6 excellent cut, I don't think I'd go for a lesser cut. Not all of my diamonds are today's super-ideal cut. But cut isn't something I'm willing to compromise much on.

My priorities are, highest to lowest:
cut
color
size
clarity (And I am okay all the way down to SI2 or I1 that isn't totally eye-clean, just so the inclusions are discrete and not glaring imperfections. Some people are increasingly bothered by a visible inclusion and wind up trading that stone for one that's eye clean. I went the other way. My e-ring when I was married was a VVS1. The stones I've bought myself since range VVS2 down to I1, and I found that I care less about having it totally eye clean. The superideal SI2 h&a diamond I bought would literally have cost twice as much if it was a VS1 instead. Diamonds don't stay perfectly clean when worn. They always have specks or lint on them. So, I no longer worry about tiny specks in them, haha.)

 

[kenny]

Heads spin at EVERY budget.
Everyone wants more diamond than they can afford.

Get the best cut at color and clarity that fit your comfort zone.
Carat size is the left over spec.

There, no more head spinning.

 

[Gypsy]

I think the stone you have picked is an excellent choice, as long as it is eyeclean to your specifications.

I have bought, happily from IDJ so I think you are in good hands!

 

[MisterB]

Heads spin at EVERY budget.
Everyone wants more diamond than they can afford.

Get the best cut at color and clarity that fit your comfort zone.
Carat size is the left over spec.

There, no more head spinning.

HAHA Nice! I agree!

I think the stone you have picked is an excellent choice, as long as it is eyeclean to your specifications.

I have bought, happily from IDJ so I think you are in good hands!

Seems to be a great stone on paper. Waiting to get the images to know for sure!

Another over-obsessive-anal-concern of mine is on the HCA when specs depth 61.4 table 56 crown 34.5 pavilion 41 cutlet 0 are entered I get:

Light Return Excellent
Fire Very Good
Scintillation Very Good
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good

Is it crazy of me to think I should find a stone with Excellent on all the parameters?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Gypsy]

Yes.

The HCA is the wrong thing to obsess about. If you are concerned then you should get an idealscope image and IDJ provides those.


Here this will help you:
(edited to take out diamond specific information from previous post)

The HCA is imagining a "chalk outline" of averaged (sometimes rounded) Table, Crown and Pavilion data, and providing you with good information that is intended to be helpful, but not ultimate.

HCA usage warnings here: https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor

In Context

Just imagine that you're trying to get to know someone's looks and personality...

An HCA score is merely like having a chalk outline of the person.
Grading report numbers are like having the person's height, weight and clothing measurements.
An ASET or Ideal-Scope (for RB) image is like having a still photo of the person.
An AGS Platinum "0" in performance is like a panel of judges confirming that the person's personality and looks are solid.
A 3D scan in sophisticated cut-calculation software is like having a video interview with the person.

Eventually, it's a lot of great information. All told it's enough for an experienced cut-specialist to make very detailed performance predictions. But in the end, a live date (dinner & a movie?) will be how you finally judge total personality and looks as you, individually, perceive them.

Post is quoted from this thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ags-0-cut-hca-1-2.198820/#post-3619475#p3619475']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ags-0-cut-hca-1-2.198820/#post-3619475#p3619475[/URL]

 

[MisterB]

That puts it into perspective!

Thank you

 

[MisterB]

Looks like the little .56er was not eye clean and the search continues...