HCA score: how low is too low?

[TheGoodHusband]

Hello all!

It’s been a while since I’ve been on. A lot has been going on (new house, first baby, etc). It’s quickly approaching my 2nd anniversary. Every year, I plan to purchase my wife one diamond. After 30 years (or possibly 25 if I get impatient) I plan to have it made into a bracelet, each diamond in the order that I bought it. Again, my wife doesn’t know any of this so each Diamond will be in a safe at a trusted friend’s house. Now that you know a little unnecessary backstory, I’ll get to the question:

I found a diamond for this year that I love. 0.33 carat, D, VS1, but it draws an HCA score of 0.9. Is this too low? I understand that a super low HCA isn’t necessarily a good thing. Any help would be so much appreciated! Other stats are: Table 57, Depth 61, Crown Angle 34, Pavilion Depth 40.8.

 

[yssie]

That's a really sweet idea

Those basic proportions are just fine! If you've got a report go ahead and post, and we'll be able to tell you more.

One thought: Would you be open to making her an "add a diamond" station style bracelet? Like this, but with larger stones that you choose year by year, one diamond at a time... That way she wouldn't have to wait two decades and change to enjoy it

Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® bracelet in platinum. | Tiffany & Co. US

www.tiffany.com

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, let's talk about the bracelet idea first, if you don't mind. Does your wife go to a lot of formal events or expect to do so in the future? Because a bracelet with .33 ct stones is not for casual wear for the vast majority of people. People here with large, high value engagement rings have generally gone with 7.8 - 10 ctw diamond bracelets and usually 20-25 point diamonds.

As far as the cut goes (I wouldn't need the HCA except to maybe narrow down stones in the PS search), I'd keep all stones within the ideal cut range and aim for these measurements:

table: 56-57 (or 55.8+)
depth: 60-62
crown angle: 34.2-34.7 (I'd personally do 34.5-34.7)
pav angle: 40.6-40.9 depending on the crown angle

Diameter should be very, very close on all stones. If you are aiming for .33 ct stones, then I'd set a range such as 4.45-4.50mm. I personally wouldn't do D color for a bracelet, as there'd be a greater selection of stones at E-F or F-G. But I understand if you have plans to buy her all D color diamonds. I'd be extremely concerned about leaving diamonds at a friend's house for years. I think you need a better plan for keeping them. Sorry for all the extraneous advice!

 

[TheGoodHusband]

That's a really sweet idea

Those basic proportions are just fine! If you've got a report go ahead and post, and we'll be able to tell you more.

One thought: Would you be open to making her an "add a diamond" station style bracelet? Like this, but with larger stones that you choose year by year, one diamond at a time... That way she wouldn't have to wait two decades and change to enjoy it

Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® bracelet in platinum. | Tiffany & Co. US

www.tiffany.com

That’s a great idea!!! I’ll look into it! She already has a 7ct tennis bracelet that I got her as a wedding present though. But that is still a great idea and I may still do that! The thought was that she could enjoy the 7ct one I got her on our wedding day, and then in 25-30 years, I could surprise her with this much nicer one, and it would have good meaning behind it!

 

[TheGoodHusband]

Well, let's talk about the bracelet idea first, if you don't mind. Does your wife go to a lot of formal events or expect to do so in the future? Because a bracelet with .33 ct stones is not for casual wear for the vast majority of people. People here with large, high value engagement rings have generally gone with 7.8 - 10 ctw diamond bracelets and usually 20-25 point diamonds.

As far as the cut goes (I wouldn't need the HCA except to maybe narrow down stones in the PS search), I'd keep all stones within the ideal cut range and aim for these measurements:

table: 56-57 (or 55.8+)
depth: 60-62
crown angle: 34.2-34.7 (I'd personally do 34.5-34.7)
pav angle: 40.6-40.9 depending on the crown angle

Diameter should be very, very close on all stones. If you are aiming for .33 ct stones, then I'd set a range such as 4.45-4.50mm. I personally wouldn't do D color for a bracelet, as there'd be a greater selection of stones at E-F or F-G. But I understand if you have plans to buy her all D color diamonds. I'd be extremely concerned about leaving diamonds at a friend's house for years. I think you need a better plan for keeping them. Sorry for all the extraneous advice!

I got her a 7ct tennis bracelet on our wedding day and while we don’t go to a ton of formal events, she wears it to work quite a bit! But that’s a very good point that I didn’t think about!

Ok perfect thank you!

The diameter on this one is only 0.02mm different than the one I bought last year so good deal! And as for the D color, I debated so much last year when I purchased the first one. My wife is definitely not the type to complain and be overly picky, but I wanted to have a perfectly uniform piece to give her when it was complete. After weighing the costs of the variance of color/clarity, I settled on the sweet spot of D/VS1. Hindsight’s always 20/20, and she would have for sure been just as happy with all F and eye clean SI1s.... but I already made the leap haha And do not apologize! Thank you so much! I wanted and encouraged all advice!!

 

[TheGoodHusband]

Also, should I be concerned that it has “faint fluorescence” being that it’s a D color?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

No one will get their head super close to a braclet to look at it so its hard to go too shallow and the shallower stones will be and look bigger

 

[OoohShiny]

Also, should I be concerned that it has “faint fluorescence” being that it’s a D color?

Issues with fluor (haze or oiliness) are only seen in Strong and Very Strong, and even then, it is only a percentage of those stones.

Faint should give zero issues, but you will need to consider your approach to the rest of the stones - will you have just the one with fluor, so it stands out in a UV-lit environment, such as an evening event with music etc.? Or will you aim for half the stones to have fluor, so you can have them alternating? Or something else?