HCA Score of 5.5, is it worth it?

[sterling]

I just visited an acquaintance, who works at a dealer, showed me a diamond that has a really good light and fire.

It is a GIA certified, three Excellents, and one point point and one cloud. It is a VVS2, F color, 1.51 carat for $18,500.

However I just ran a HCA test, and it scored only a 5.5 - "Good - Only if price is your only criterion."

So this seems to be scenario where it looks great up close, but did not really pass the HCA test. Could someone provide their thoughts? Thanks!

Depth: 62.2%
Table: 57%
Crown: 36
Pavilion 41

 

[04diamond<3]

can they give you an ideal scope image? That's really the best way to tell what the stone performs like. You can't judge it based on how it looks under spot lighting.

 

[John P]

I just visited an acquaintance, who works at a dealer, showed me a diamond that has a really good light and fire.

It is a GIA certified, three Excellents, and one point point and one cloud. It is a VVS2, F color, 1.51 carat for $18,500.

However I just ran a HCA test, and it scored only a 5.5 - "Good - Only if price is your only criterion."

So this seems to be scenario where it looks great up close, but did not really pass the HCA test. Could someone provide their thoughts? Thanks!

Depth: 62.2%
Table: 57%
Crown: 36
Pavilion 41

This diamond falls in the controversial deep area of GIA's EX range. It's possible that the measurements on the report are rounded. But the best case would be 62.2D 57T 35.8CA 40.9PA averages. That's still HCA 4.1.

04diamond<3 made very practical suggestions:

1. Get it away from spotlighting. If you can, compare it to a same-sized GIA EX of any common color-clarity with table between 54-60 and angles closer to 40.8/34.5. Hold them side by side under a counter where there is no direct light arriving to them. You will likely see the edges of the 41/36 "disappear." This is because diamonds in this deep category don't usually have edge-to-edge brightness. Also look for some under-table darkness in such low-light conditions. There are a number of specifics we don't know, which may help its actual performance, but an actual comparison will be most meaningful.

2. Ideal-Scope image. If this could be provided it will allow PS forum contributors to draw far more conclusions about the diamond's actual brightness/contrast/leakage. However many showroom jewelers have no idea what this is, so that request might just get you a confused look.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My thoughts are that I would never buy that stone unless I could see the idealscope image for it. All GIA ex stones are going to probably look okay or fine to the average buyer, but knowing that you are paying that much, wouldn't you want a truly excellent cut stone?