Hearts and Arrows Images in and... not so good

[darkadam]

Hi guys, today i managed to finally get the Hearts and Arrow images in and its not looking so good.
I notices that the hearts portion was not as good as i expected, nowhere near the hearts and arrow which my jeweler claimed the diamond was, and now he's saying that this is an ideal hearts and arrow. if the hearts were perfect, it would be super ideal and i would be expecting to pay about 30% more from what he's currently quoting me...

What are your advise ? should i stick with the stone ? How are the hearts and arrow images in your opinion, and how will it affect performance ?

Below is the full Specs with relevant images
There are 2 arrows images as i commented that the top left arrow looked crooked in the image so he retook the second one.

Carat : 0.65
Cut : Round Brilliant
Color : E
Clarity : IF
Polish : Excellent
Symmetry : Excellent
Crown Angle : 34.5
Pavilion Angle : 40.8
Table : 56
Depth : 62
HCA score : 1.3

 

[JulieN]

it looks great!

 

[darkadam]

Great to know and sorry for posting about this ! There seems to be clefts on at least 4 of the hearts and the V's don't seem particularly symmetrical. Or am i just being overly fussy about this (the result of overly much research...) ? He sent me the images via whats app so i was able to zoom the image in and hold the phone closer to get a good view (Although the clefts seemed obvious to me which was why i zoomed in to confirm). Any idea what does this imply about the cut and how/if it will affect performance ?

Its just that i've seen better H&A images in non-signature stones and at B&M shops. Although granted the B&M claims to carry only super ideal... (Jann Paul for singaporeans)

 

[SMC]

Great to know and sorry for posting about this ! There seems to be clefts on at least 4 of the hearts and the V's don't seem particularly symmetrical. Or am i just being overly fussy about this (the result of overly much research...) ? He sent me the images via whats app so i was able to zoom the image in and hold the phone closer to get a good view (Although the clefts seemed obvious to me which was why i zoomed in to confirm). Any idea what does this imply about the cut and how/if it will affect performance ?

Its just that i've seen better H&A images in non-signature stones and at B&M shops. Although granted the B&M claims to carry only super ideal... (Jann Paul for singaporeans)

Hmm, if you don't like the image, don't buy the stone. How much is this stone? I imagine that you are paying more for the color and the clarity. Is this GIA graded?

There are some recommended vendors here (Brian Gavin, Whiteflash) that sell super ideal Hearts & Arrows stones. Would you consider something from them?

I don't think H&A necessarily implies superior light performance. You're unlikely to tell the difference between an H&A stone and a AGS000 stone visually. The H&A is just a "mind thing" for people who what the best of the best. Otherwise, the angles and measurements of your stone look great. It will be a nice-looking stone.

 

[bunnycat]

Agreed with the others- angles look good and the ASET looks good. That is telling you much more about it's light performance than a H/A image. H/A is symmetry, not performance. Is is a branded H/A stone, or just a stone that the jeweler got in and says is close enough for H/A??? If you want branded H/A, I'd go to BGD or Whiteflash or GOG.

I know it's a personal choice and people may have already noted and told you that you could get a bigger stone if you dropped some of the E/IF down a bit in to G/VS1-2....but in case they haven't, just mentioning it. Have you considered that option? Contrary to what some jewelry stores try to tell people, color plays no role in performance, and in most cases clarity won't either until you get down to the I range probably.

 

[John P]

Its just that i've seen better H&A images in non-signature stones and at B&M shops.

Images are limited in what they can communicate. A decisive level of 3D cut precision, such as an authority such as HRD or IGI HK (with developed H&A metrics) might pronounce, cannot be assessed via 2D photos. With that said, the images look very nice - above average for most 'quote-H&A-unquote' diamonds I see sold in USA stores.

 

[denverappraiser]

Taking H&A pictures is a very tricky thing and, frankly, those look great.

 

[Enerchi]

I think the images look great! Specs sound good too - GIA graded??

 

[04diamond<3]

Not sure what you're talking about...it's gorgeous!

 

[MissGotRocks]

I think you're somehow misinformed - looks like a beautiful stone!

 

[Dancing Fire]

a very nice stone..

 

[heididdl]

Its a perfect stone what more could you want buy and enjoy

 

[diamondloveaffair]

being nit picky, the heart images does have some issues in them based on the pictures. But bear in mind that it isn't easy to capture an image with point and shoot cameras or iPhones through a scope.

There could be several issues. The diamond could be well cut. It is just that the camera was tilted or the diamond isn't sitting on a perfectly flat surface.

OR, it could be that the diamond is cut to 100% perfect craftsmanship.

Either way, the ASET image is considered the cream of the crop standards in ideal cut diamonds.

 

[darkadam]

Hm... based on all the positive comments, I just its me being overly sensitive with trying to get a perfect stone !
Thanks to all for your patience, comments and advise so far ! I'll being getting this diamond !

 

[MissGotRocks]

Excellent - enjoy!

 

[Bailey_Lou]

I think that your Aset looks great but I do see the cleft that you're describing in the hearts. The original Japanese (Hearts and arrows) first had to be cut to ideal proportions then they were additionally cut for optical and physical symmetry, which is why they're called "superideals". However, you can have an excellent cut diamond that displays the hearts and arrows because an ideally cut diamond will naturally display some hearts and arrows - just not the super symmetry that a "true" hearts and arrows will display. I disagree with another poster that posted that it's in the "mind". I actually was drawn to the symmetry of hearts and arrows when comparing them (eyecheck) with other ideal/excellent cut diamonds. Some people just love the symmetry.

Here's a checklist for H&A from a previous post by John Quixote on Pricescope:
original thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/hearts-arrows-cut-branded-non-branded-standards.21569/

Checklist:

1. Lab grade of Ideal (GIA Ex) in symmetry (meet point symmetry)
2. Lab grade of Ideal (GIA Ex) in polish with great luster

3. Uniformity and symmetry in both hearts and arrows patterns.
4. Pattern is well centered.
5. No broken, split or significantly different sized hearts.
6. Hearts slightly separate from arrowheads above.
7. No misshaped arrowheads, broken shafts or misalignment of shaft to head.
8. Arrow points all meet the girdle.
9. No distortion caused by facet yaw.
10. No unevenness caused by extreme variance.

All that said, I think that the Aset for your diamond looks wonderful and you should look at it in person if possible. If it looks good to you then I wouldn't worry about the H&A because it doesn't have to be perfectly symmetrical to be a beautiful diamond. I just wouldn't want to be overcharged for a H&A diamond when it isn't a "true" hearts and arrow diamond.

 

[John P]

Here's a checklist for H&A from a previous post by John Quixote on Pricescope:
original thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/hearts-arrows-cut-branded-non-branded-standards.21569/

I can't help but like that John Quixote fellow

All that said, I think that the Aset for your diamond looks wonderful and you should look at it in person if possible. If it looks good to you then I wouldn't worry about the H&A because it doesn't have to be perfectly symmetrical to be a beautiful diamond. I just wouldn't want to be overcharged for a H&A diamond when it isn't a "true" hearts and arrow diamond.

This is a salient point: Based on the images it's surely in the realm of "H&A" representation, but whether or not it's at the topmost level of "true" H&A is only answerable with the diamond in-hand. Be sure the premium fits the level of craftsmanship.

 

[Draco]

This is a salient point: Based on the images it's surely in the realm of "H&A" representation, but whether or not it's at the topmost level of "true" H&A is only answerable with the diamond in-hand. Be sure the premium fits the level of craftsmanship.

I'd be more interested in making sure that the stone in hand is discernibly different with your eyes than those top most levels of "true" H&A. Craftsmanship aside I suspect probably not. John Quixote changed his name to John Pollard when he joined the trade, I believe he works for Infinity diamonds, one brand that offers top level H&A.

 

[raj_shah]

any idea if i want to take herts & arrows image on the go which(while travelling if i want to check the H&A in some jewellery shop and also take images) which machine will be favourable?
are there any tools available?