Hearts and Arrows question

[hap]

Hi,

I was wondering which of these two diamonds will likely perform better - with every other factor being equal:

1) A non Hearts and Arrows Diamond

2) A diamond cut to Hearts and Arrows but not cut well enough to be a true Hearts and Arrows

Also, what are the complications and implications of trying to cut a diamond to Hearts and Arrows but not doing so well enough for it to be graded as a true Hearts and Arrows - if we throw in the assumption that it is still graded excellent for symmetry by GIA?

Looking forward to your replies!

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Date: 12/10/2007 7:54:36 AM
Author:hap
Hi,


I was wondering which of these two diamonds will likely perform better - with every other factor being equal:


1) A non Hearts and Arrows Diamond

a diamond can be ''ideal'' cut without being a H&A - and have excellent light return, or be cut very well, but the seller not sell it as a H&A


2) A diamond cut to Hearts and Arrows but not cut well enough to be a true Hearts and Arrows

to use WF''s ACA and ES lines as an example - those ES stones which look like they have only just failed to meet Brian''s standards - still have excellent performance and light return

Also, what are the complications and implications of trying to cut a diamond to Hearts and Arrows but not doing so well enough for it to be graded as a true Hearts and Arrows - if we throw in the assumption that it is still graded excellent for symmetry by GIA?

H&A symmetry and lab graded symmetry are differant. H&A symmetry comes down to optics - to create *each* heart - 5 facets must line up . the lab grade refers to the physical symmetry - where two facets meet.. say where the lower girdle facets meet at the point of the pavilion main - the lab would grade how ''pointy'' that junction is, a poor symmetry grade would be for one where one lower girdle facet meet the pavilion main at a different point to the adjacent lower girdle.

for example if one of those 5 facets is out slightly - like the cutter has polished one facet slightly too much, the optical symmetry will be out as it will not form a full heart, but he may still gain a good lab grade for symmetry



Looking forward to your replies!

to me H&A is a mark of perfection and attention to detail... but equally there are excellently cut stones that dont exhibit the symetrical patterns.

 

[He Scores]

Hearts and Arrow symetry is meticulous brillianteering.

You can have meticulous brillianteering and errors in the blocking.

Blocking (the correct main angles AND straightness) is where the light return and brilliance comes from in a diamond.

I've seen H&A stones that scored less than 700 on my BrayScore grading scale and some that scored over 900.

Meticulous cutting is just that. It may or may not have an effect on the way the stone looks.

Excellent blocking without Meticulous brillianteering will be a fine looking stone.

The highest score to date was a stone that wasn't cut to H&A specifications.


Bill Bray
Diamond Cutter

 

[hap]

Thanks! Very informative.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Date: 12/10/2007 8:22:12 PM
Author: He Scores


Hearts and Arrow symetry is meticulous brillianteering.

You can have meticulous brillianteering and errors in the blocking.

Blocking (the correct main angles AND straightness) is where the light return and brilliance comes from in a diamond.

I''ve seen H&A stones that scored less than 700 on my BrayScore grading scale and some that scored over 900.

Meticulous cutting is just that. It may or may not have an effect on the way the stone looks.

Excellent blocking without Meticulous brillianteering will be a fine looking stone.

The highest score to date was a stone that wasn''t cut to H&A specifications.


Bill Bray
Diamond Cutter

I do wonder what you base this on, Bill.

The arrows are the same as the black obscuration in an ideal-scope. They are reflections of the main angle, and are not affected by the brillianteering, except in size. So, excellent blocking produces most of the arrows-effect.

Other of your observations above are also contradicting themselves.

All in all, your post is clearly not an example of meticulous posting.

Live long,