HCA vs Cut Grade

[diannec18]

Can someone please advise me on the relative importance of cut grade versus HCA score?

Should I only be considering the HCA after determining that the diamond is of excellent cut?

Or should an excellent HCA grade override the cut grade?

For example, I'm viewing a diamond that is GIA very good cut with an HCA of 1.2

Should I eliminate it because it's not graded excellent (and I definitely want excellent), or should I assume, based on the HCA grade, that it really is an excellent cut and GIA did not grade appropriately?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Look at GIA Excellent cut stones only. Then you screen those with the HCA. Scores of 2 and under are worthy of consideration. A 1.0 score is not better than 1.9. It is always best to buy stones with magnified images and an idealscope or ASET image when possible.

The stone is vg for a reason. It might have a very thin girdle or other factor that puts it into the vg range. You can link the GIA report if you'd like. GIA EX is a very broad range, so I would not recommend looking at vg if your desire is a well cut diamond.

 

[diannec18]

Ok thank you! That helps enormously.