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- Apr 30, 2005
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Date: 2/23/2010 4:14:54 PM
Author: Todd Gray
All I am saying is that I have a sarcastic sense of humor and the manner in which Kenny made his statement struck me as funny, it actually made me laugh out loud... If we had never had a debate regarding cut quality, if you weren''t involved at all, I still would have laughed - it''s really that simple.
Date: 2/23/2010 4:23:27 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Date: 2/23/2010 4:14:54 PM
Author: Todd Gray
All I am saying is that I have a sarcastic sense of humor and the manner in which Kenny made his statement struck me as funny, it actually made me laugh out loud... If we had never had a debate regarding cut quality, if you weren't involved at all, I still would have laughed - it's really that simple.
Sounds like you approve of insulting remarks made in a discussion being used in an attempt to prevent a legitimate difference of opinion is being aired.
Again, your right, but let's be clear about what it is.
Do I smell contradiction?Date: 2/23/2010 2:52:44 PM
Author: Todd Gray
The trial is weighed in the court of public opinion and the general consensus here on PS is that cut precision and cut performance matter... the only time I''ll waiver on this David is with regard to fancy colored diamonds which are cut for intensity of color and not visual performance. I have 25 years experience as a diamond buyer and over time I have fine tuned my selection process based on my experience based on evaluating thousands of diamonds for visual performance.
RDDate: 2/23/2010 1:14:49 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Hugh- whoever told you that was telling you the truth.Date: 2/22/2010 8:47:08 PM
Author: Hughrock
I appreciate you taking the time to do a diamond search.Larger high quality stones seem to be a tough get at the moment.My vendor has said as much based on the cut quality & specs that I asked for.There are currently large diamonds available with the online vendors however most options lack either cut quality, depth,color or other spec that makes for a rare find.Date: 2/22/2010 4:37:26 PM
Author: Todd Gray
Date: 2/22/2010 3:37:10 PM
Author: Hughrock
''It has been mentioned before that online vendors do not carry a large stock of super high priced diamonds, it is expensive to keep such inventory and difficult to move such high priced items online, but even so some online vendors have a full retail store and have access to a much larger inventory if given sufficient notice. ''
It is my hope that your opinion is correct.I have a vendor searching for a idea cut 4ct radiant or asscher with no less then vvs2 clarity,F color ideal depth & table ect ect. I want to buy a ring with a online vendor for the whole sale savings if its possible to get excellent price and quality.
Well if it''s any help, I just ran a broad search on the Rap Net MLS for Asscher and Radiant cut diamonds weighing between 3.70 - 4.99 carats, D to F color, VVS-2 and higher in clarity, with a range of Very Good, Excellent and Ideal, with GIA, AGS, HRD lab grading, with a range of girdle thickness from thin to thick and no culet with a range of fluorescence from none to medium...
And there were no available options... So then I expanded the range of polish and symmetry to include ''good'' and still no results... So it''s not even a matter of ''cut quality'', there just isn''t anything out there in this carat weight and these shapes at the moment.
I did this more to satisfy my own curiosity, even if I''d found anything ''interesting'' I wouldn''t be able to post it on the forum because doing so would violate the forum rules (for good reason).
Had one online rep tell me that there is no standard table or depth numbers for fancy cut stones to indicate quality cut.I happily directed him to the widely accepted authority on cut quality for diamond fancies. After he said ...OH!! ,thanked him for his time and gave the guy my best wishes.
I do think its very possible to find a high quality nice size stone it just takes much longer via online vendors and does require a lot more patience if the client''s goal is to maximize price with product. I think online vendors can be the best route to take when buying less than 3 ct because that size range is easier to find.
There are NO widely accepted standards for fancy cut stones.
There are many different charts people may use, but they only can indicate the preferences of the person who made the chart, as opposed to widely held industry standards.
IN terms of supply:
Such high quality large well cut stones are indeed quite rare- but they do exist.
If you look at the actual realities of the situation it''s easy to see why you won''t find the best cut large stones in higher qualities on the lists referred to by Todd.
These lists generally contain stones sitting in cutter''s hands.
Stores like the ones referred to in the thread''s title stock these large high dollar stones.
Once a store actually buys such a stone, it comes off the lists.
The stones purchased for these high end places are purchased looking at actual stones- as opposed to trying to buy off a list. Sometimes this creates a situation where only the lesser looking stones are left on the lists.
CCL- nothing in your ''paraphrasing'' speaks of 30% premiums. I wonder if the person you''re quoting is happy you are doing so, but that''s not my problem.
If you want to pay 30% more for Cushion Brilliants, be my guest.
It''s bad advice to give folks shopping though........
I try to be a reseasonable person(most of the time) but when ever I''m told to lower my expectation, it has to be shown to me why my goal can not be achieved.I got the impression re: vendor mentioned in my earlier post simply was more interested in selling me a stone from his current stock instead of sourcing a diamond that I wanted. There are some good vendors who have excellent contacts and can do even the difficult.Date: 2/23/2010 2:14:52 PM
Author: kenny
Hughrock, buyer beware.
If there was vendor that sold diamonds that do not fit into the category of good cut (when it comes to high light return) they would fight against the idea of good cut.
They would challenge charts with ranges of specs for good cut.
They would not encourage you to seek ASET or Idealscope pics.
They would cleverly present their challenge in the name of diversity of cut.
They would try to discredit widely-agreed-to cut standards as merely ''one of many opinions''.
They will tell you other kinds of cut represent the majority of diamonds sold or have been sold for decades (Note: cutting for high yield instead of light return is more profitable so no wonder the industry loves it.)
They would encourage you to trust your eyes or your jeweler.
And they would do that here on Pricescope because educating customers about good cut does not help their sales.
Also be aware that photography lighting techniques can make poorly cut diamonds look like they are well cut.
Oh, and do a search here on any vendor you consider working with.
they don''t need to,cuz they use their name brand to sell expensive jewelry.Date: 2/23/2010 2:41:38 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
If the OP wishes to use ASET/IS/HCA/Cut Charts- that is of course, their right.
But in the name of accurate info presented to a much larger audience reading this, a balanced view is more accurate, and educational. These tools are NOT widely accepted in the trade at large.
It''s true that ''the trade at large'' includes some sellers pushing some amazingly bad stones , and info.
However it also includes many other sellers who put emphasis on quality of cut, and beauty.
The thread mentions some very prestigious sellers- do any of those places use the charts?
Kenny,that is a very good idea.Should be very little risk in buying then returning if need be, from a well establish online vendor.I was looking at the table and depth on this puppy and thinking of a radiant cut diamond.Just around the corner I''m thinking.Date: 2/24/2010 1:20:00 AM
Author: kenny
Any vendor can call any cut anything they want to.
There are no standards.
Too bad Bluenile will not provide IS and ASET pics.
That''s why I''d insist on seeing IS and ASET images of any fancy cut diamond I was considering.
You could even buy these two scopes, buy a candidate stone and then return it on time for a full refund.
You will only be out about $100 for shipping, though it may be more for insurance of such an expensive stone.
Considering your budget that''s nothing compared to the benefit.
I did this temporary buying thing when I bought my first important diamond.
If fact I bought more than one and brought them both into a local jeweler to compare it to another well cut branded stone.
(I ran this by them first.)
EbreeDate: 2/24/2010 1:54:47 AM
Author: EBree
Hi Hugh,
I don''t know if it''s been mentioned before (and if it has, I apologize), but Good Gold Gold has a 3.13 ct. August Vintage Cushion for sale. It''s D color and VS2 clarity, and while it has the softer cushion shape, it''s a square cushion and a chunkier cut for bolder flashes. In the top right hand corner, you''ll see a link to a video of the stone''s performance.
I thought I''d mention it if you haven''t already seen it. It''s a really beautiful cut- I''d do backflips for one a quarter of the size.![]()
Link to the diamond: 3.13 ct D, VS2 August Vintage
Video of the August Vintage Cushion
Date: 2/24/2010 1:03:46 AM
Author: Hughrock
Was online over at Bluenile earlier tonight and notice they had a new batch of fancy cut diamonds in stock. A few seem to be extremely well cut stones with both GIA & AGSL lab reports.What confuses me is the ''best'' cut rating(very good) Bluenile has for nearly all of their top diamonds.How can a diamond be considered a very good cut instead of idea(if I''m reading the report correctly,novice that I am) if the specs are for example:
Emerald cut,5carat,cut very good,color F,clarity VS1,Depth 63.7,Table 63.0,symmetry Ex,Polish Ex,Girdle Thin,Cutlet Very small,Fluorence None,measurements 10.21 X 9.50 X 6.06mm,Length/Width Ratio 1.07.
Now tell me how can a diamond with these kind of stats be just a very good cut diamond instead of idea cut? Btw,the lab report on this stone is from AGSL. Could Bluenile''s very good cut rating be equal to the ideal cut rating of other online vendors?
RDDate: 2/24/2010 2:41:29 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Date: 2/24/2010 1:03:46 AM
Author: Hughrock
Was online over at Bluenile earlier tonight and notice they had a new batch of fancy cut diamonds in stock. A few seem to be extremely well cut stones with both GIA & AGSL lab reports.What confuses me is the ''best'' cut rating(very good) Bluenile has for nearly all of their top diamonds.How can a diamond be considered a very good cut instead of idea(if I''m reading the report correctly,novice that I am) if the specs are for example:
Emerald cut,5carat,cut very good,color F,clarity VS1,Depth 63.7,Table 63.0,symmetry Ex,Polish Ex,Girdle Thin,Cutlet Very small,Fluorence None,measurements 10.21 X 9.50 X 6.06mm,Length/Width Ratio 1.07.
Now tell me how can a diamond with these kind of stats be just a very good cut diamond instead of idea cut? Btw,the lab report on this stone is from AGSL. Could Bluenile''s very good cut rating be equal to the ideal cut rating of other online vendors?
Hugh, this thread has brought up so many important points. Thank you for bringing them up!
I will not speak about any seller in particular, rather about selling techniques used in general.
One extremely important point you have raised involves the use use of cut grades, where none exist.
Here''s my perspective, as a seller:
A prospective client calls up:
''I''m looking for an Ideal Cut Emerald Cut.''
I would answer:
''There is no such a thing- GIA or AGSL does not grade the cut of emerald cut diamonds''
Shopper
''But XHJDKFHHF.COM offers ''Ideal'' emerald cuts''
What this does is encourage sellers to start putting cut grades on their own stones- and in many of these cases, there is no basis whatsoever for the cut grade.
To use an analogy: Imagine walking onto a used car lot and asking the seller:
Show me your creampuffs- the lot across the street sells only creampuffs.
If you are dealing with a vendor that can personally assess the cut of a particular diamond, that''s a totally different story.
Answering the highlighted in yellow question: ABSOLUTELY not!!Date: 2/24/2010 4:33:37 PM
Author: Hughrock
RDDate: 2/24/2010 2:41:29 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Date: 2/24/2010 1:03:46 AM
Author: Hughrock
Was online over at Bluenile earlier tonight and notice they had a new batch of fancy cut diamonds in stock. A few seem to be extremely well cut stones with both GIA & AGSL lab reports.What confuses me is the 'best' cut rating(very good) Bluenile has for nearly all of their top diamonds.How can a diamond be considered a very good cut instead of idea(if I'm reading the report correctly,novice that I am) if the specs are for example:
Emerald cut,5carat,cut very good,color F,clarity VS1,Depth 63.7,Table 63.0,symmetry Ex,Polish Ex,Girdle Thin,Cutlet Very small,Fluorence None,measurements 10.21 X 9.50 X 6.06mm,Length/Width Ratio 1.07.
Now tell me how can a diamond with these kind of stats be just a very good cut diamond instead of idea cut? Btw,the lab report on this stone is from AGSL. Could Bluenile's very good cut rating be equal to the ideal cut rating of other online vendors?
Hugh, this thread has brought up so many important points. Thank you for bringing them up!
I will not speak about any seller in particular, rather about selling techniques used in general.
One extremely important point you have raised involves the use use of cut grades, where none exist.
Here's my perspective, as a seller:
A prospective client calls up:
'I'm looking for an Ideal Cut Emerald Cut.'
I would answer:
'There is no such a thing- GIA or AGSL does not grade the cut of emerald cut diamonds'
Shopper
'But XHJDKFHHF.COM offers 'Ideal' emerald cuts'
What this does is encourage sellers to start putting cut grades on their own stones- and in many of these cases, there is no basis whatsoever for the cut grade.
To use an analogy: Imagine walking onto a used car lot and asking the seller:
Show me your creampuffs- the lot across the street sells only creampuffs.
If you are dealing with a vendor that can personally assess the cut of a particular diamond, that's a totally different story.
You have kinda lost me a bit. Let me ask you.Is it true that a table & depth between 60-65% is considered a better cut for a fancy, than a fancy w/ a table & depth higher than 66% if all other specs being equal? Example 63.7 depth,63.0 % table versus a stone that has a 67.0 depth,66% table.
If so,can you not use these type specs to determine the best possible idea cut stone? You say there is no basis for a vendor's cut grade. But aren't the specs of a stone used to determine a diamond's cut quality and why a vendor/jeweler can justify charging more for one grade over another even if there is not an 'official' cut standard for fancies ?
DaveDate: 2/24/2010 5:12:14 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Answering the highlighted in yellow question: ABSOLUTELY not!!Date: 2/24/2010 4:33:37 PM
Author: Hughrock
RDDate: 2/24/2010 2:41:29 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Date: 2/24/2010 1:03:46 AM
Author: Hughrock
Was online over at Bluenile earlier tonight and notice they had a new batch of fancy cut diamonds in stock. A few seem to be extremely well cut stones with both GIA & AGSL lab reports.What confuses me is the ''best'' cut rating(very good) Bluenile has for nearly all of their top diamonds.How can a diamond be considered a very good cut instead of idea(if I''m reading the report correctly,novice that I am) if the specs are for example:
Emerald cut,5carat,cut very good,color F,clarity VS1,Depth 63.7,Table 63.0,symmetry Ex,Polish Ex,Girdle Thin,Cutlet Very small,Fluorence None,measurements 10.21 X 9.50 X 6.06mm,Length/Width Ratio 1.07.
Now tell me how can a diamond with these kind of stats be just a very good cut diamond instead of idea cut? Btw,the lab report on this stone is from AGSL. Could Bluenile''s very good cut rating be equal to the ideal cut rating of other online vendors?
Hugh, this thread has brought up so many important points. Thank you for bringing them up!
I will not speak about any seller in particular, rather about selling techniques used in general.
One extremely important point you have raised involves the use use of cut grades, where none exist.
Here''s my perspective, as a seller:
A prospective client calls up:
''I''m looking for an Ideal Cut Emerald Cut.''
I would answer:
''There is no such a thing- GIA or AGSL does not grade the cut of emerald cut diamonds''
Shopper
''But XHJDKFHHF.COM offers ''Ideal'' emerald cuts''
What this does is encourage sellers to start putting cut grades on their own stones- and in many of these cases, there is no basis whatsoever for the cut grade.
To use an analogy: Imagine walking onto a used car lot and asking the seller:
Show me your creampuffs- the lot across the street sells only creampuffs.
If you are dealing with a vendor that can personally assess the cut of a particular diamond, that''s a totally different story.
You have kinda lost me a bit. Let me ask you.Is it true that a table & depth between 60-65% is considered a better cut for a fancy, than a fancy w/ a table & depth higher than 66% if all other specs being equal? Example 63.7 depth,63.0 % table versus a stone that has a 67.0 depth,66% table.
If so,can you not use these type specs to determine the best possible idea cut stone? You say there is no basis for a vendor''s cut grade. But aren''t the specs of a stone used to determine a diamond''s cut quality and why a vendor/jeweler can justify charging more for one grade over another even if there is not an ''official'' cut standard for fancies ?
There is no general trade agreement on such issues- mainly because so many other aspects of a fancy cut are what actually make it attractive- along with table and depth.
For example- how large are the corners?
Two emerald cuts with the exact same LxW- and even table and depth- can look completely different due to corner size.
Part of the ''meat'' of this conversation has to do with what is preference, and what is ''Fact''
Calling diamonds ''Ideal'' sounds very factual- but in FACT- many places are using this term with no basis in fact whatsoever.
Answering the blue highlighted part- that is 100% true- you can NOT use measurements of a fancy shape to determine quality of cut....or more importantly, desirability.
Date: 2/24/2010 7:01:26 PM
Author: Hughrock
DaveDate: 2/24/2010 5:12:14 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Answering the highlighted in yellow question: ABSOLUTELY not!!Date: 2/24/2010 4:33:37 PM
Author: Hughrock
RDDate: 2/24/2010 2:41:29 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Date: 2/24/2010 1:03:46 AM
Author: Hughrock
Was online over at Bluenile earlier tonight and notice they had a new batch of fancy cut diamonds in stock. A few seem to be extremely well cut stones with both GIA & AGSL lab reports.What confuses me is the 'best' cut rating(very good) Bluenile has for nearly all of their top diamonds.How can a diamond be considered a very good cut instead of idea(if I'm reading the report correctly,novice that I am) if the specs are for example:
Emerald cut,5carat,cut very good,color F,clarity VS1,Depth 63.7,Table 63.0,symmetry Ex,Polish Ex,Girdle Thin,Cutlet Very small,Fluorence None,measurements 10.21 X 9.50 X 6.06mm,Length/Width Ratio 1.07.
Now tell me how can a diamond with these kind of stats be just a very good cut diamond instead of idea cut? Btw,the lab report on this stone is from AGSL. Could Bluenile's very good cut rating be equal to the ideal cut rating of other online vendors?
Hugh, this thread has brought up so many important points. Thank you for bringing them up!
I will not speak about any seller in particular, rather about selling techniques used in general.
One extremely important point you have raised involves the use use of cut grades, where none exist.
Here's my perspective, as a seller:
A prospective client calls up:
'I'm looking for an Ideal Cut Emerald Cut.'
I would answer:
'There is no such a thing- GIA or AGSL does not grade the cut of emerald cut diamonds'
Shopper
'But XHJDKFHHF.COM offers 'Ideal' emerald cuts'
What this does is encourage sellers to start putting cut grades on their own stones- and in many of these cases, there is no basis whatsoever for the cut grade.
To use an analogy: Imagine walking onto a used car lot and asking the seller:
Show me your creampuffs- the lot across the street sells only creampuffs.
If you are dealing with a vendor that can personally assess the cut of a particular diamond, that's a totally different story.
You have kinda lost me a bit. Let me ask you.Is it true that a table & depth between 60-65% is considered a better cut for a fancy, than a fancy w/ a table & depth higher than 66% if all other specs being equal? Example 63.7 depth,63.0 % table versus a stone that has a 67.0 depth,66% table.
If so,can you not use these type specs to determine the best possible idea cut stone? You say there is no basis for a vendor's cut grade. But aren't the specs of a stone used to determine a diamond's cut quality and why a vendor/jeweler can justify charging more for one grade over another even if there is not an 'official' cut standard for fancies ?
There is no general trade agreement on such issues- mainly because so many other aspects of a fancy cut are what actually make it attractive- along with table and depth.
For example- how large are the corners?
Two emerald cuts with the exact same LxW- and even table and depth- can look completely different due to corner size.
Part of the 'meat' of this conversation has to do with what is preference, and what is 'Fact'
Calling diamonds 'Ideal' sounds very factual- but in FACT- many places are using this term with no basis in fact whatsoever.
Answering the blue highlighted part- that is 100% true- you can NOT use measurements of a fancy shape to determine quality of cut....or more importantly, desirability.
Thanks for responding. Do you think a vendor would charge more money for a diamond with table & depth in the 60-65% range than if the stone was in the 69-67 depth table range? The vendors who I have spoken with thus far are telling me the lower depth table stone is a rare cut stone.
Why not post a picture of your ring? Lots of HW fans here!Date: 3/26/2010 7:34:54 PM
Author: Pippit
I don''t have a large stone. In fact, it''s rather small. I have the Harry Winston sunflower diamond ring. It sparkles like NOTHING I''ve ever seen before! I''ve had two other engagement rings... and neither of those sparkled like this one. Both of those were of better color (one is E, the other D), but neither of them have the fire this ring has. Walking around the diamond district in NYC I found NO stones in any of the windows or stores I went into that emitted as much color as this one does. I VEHEMENTLY disagree that HW doesn''t cut to bring out the brilliance of their stones. Every stone they showed me was spectacular... no matter what size. Additionally, knowing we were not ''big spenders'', they did not make us feel any less. The staff were very down to earth, super friendly and actually refreshingly warm without being fake, like so many stores we had previously visited.
As my husband just purchased this ring for me, I do not have the GIA certificate yet. They''re mailing it. I do know the center stone is .72 Brilliant, F color, VVS1; and the 8 surrounding round stones are also F color, but I''m not sure of their clarity.
I am absolutely in love with my ring and wouldn''t want another one. It shines more than any diamond I''ve ever seen.... on anyone, in any store, anywhere!
I believe Harry Winston sells quality over quantity, and that''s what I prefer.
I wish you could see this ring in person! It''s perfect... at least... it is for me.![]()