shape
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Help Critique diamond, clueless new guy

JoexJoe

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
2
Hi guys,

I am taking a look at this diamond for a halo setting. The setting is $1100 18k white gold halo and the diamond is $4000. I understand the 4 C's however I do not understand the rest of this report or what too look out for. I have seen this diamond in person and the center is clear, there is a tiny inclusion on the outside that can be covered up and even if it doesnt it isnt visible unless using 10x

DIAMOND CHARACTERISTICS
Cut (Shape and Style) ROUND BRILLIANT
Carat Weight 1.13 CT
Clarity Grade SI1
Color Grade I

PROPORTIONS
Measurements 6.63 x 6.57 x 4.17 mm
Table 55%
Depth 63.2%
Crown Height 16.1%
Crown Angle 36°
Pavilion Depth 43.2%
Pavilion Angle 40.9°
Girdle SL. THICK FACETED
Culet NONE

OBSERVATIONS
Finish
Polish GOOD
Symmetry GOOD
Fluorescence FAINT


My 2 questions are is this diamond ok after looking at the stats and price? My second question would be If i upped my diamond budget to 4500 or 5000 where would I go from here. Try to get an H color or higher? etc. I have gone shopping with my girlfriend and she picked out the setting and we agreed on a diamond size of 1-1.3. I think the reasoning is being a halo she doesnt want it too clunky.
 

tyty333

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
27,198
You can run it through the HCA tool. Look for stones to score 2 or under. Try to get an idealscope if possible. Post pictures and
any other images that they give you.

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca
 

Snowdrop13

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
2,960
The price is low for a diamond of this size so you should ask why- you don't say who did the certificate but the stone is not well cut. It is too deep, for a start. For your budget you'd be looking at (very roughly) around 0.85-0.9 ct H/I VS2/Si1 in an optimally cut stone. The cut is the most important parameter which will determine the amount of sparkle you will get!
 

flyingpig

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
2,975
Pavilion Angle 40.9°
which lab is the grade report from? It cannot be GIA, as it rounds the pav angle to the nearest 0.2.
Just remember to buy GIA or AGS stones only.
 

JoexJoe

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
2
Thank you guys for the link and advice. The HCA said around 4.3 which is too high. Also how do you tell it is too deep? How would I know if a new one has the correct depth.

It looks like this is not the diamond for me. The certificate is EGL. GIA or AGS is the only acceptable lab? I will stick with them.

If I up my diamond budget to 5500 +/- 500 would I be able to get a GIA/AGS somewhere around 1.1ct H/I SI1 with a better cut?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
This will help you. Your budget is way too low for what you want. That diamond is VERY deep and is facing up at the same size (DIMENSIONS) as an 90 point stone. And that's where you should be looking-- at 85 point stones and higher if you want H/I color and in your budget. A well cut H is going to cost a minimum of 6-6.5k. You need to adjust your expectations. As the setting is a halo an 85 point stone will LOOK like a 1 carat stone anyway. Don't fret about the weight. And

Round Diamonds 101:

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. With round diamonds even a GIA triple Excellent is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only (HPD in Europe is good as well). EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones generally, though you can. In general, AGS0 trumps HCA though as one examines the actual stone and the other does not.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other.
Is that enough? Not really.

So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD,BE, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.

Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium. Some AGS0's are better than others though, so pay attention to any ASET or IS provided.

In general with rounds, you will want a table 60% or less. A depth between 59 and 62.4. Crown angle 33.5-35. Pavilion Angle: 40.6-40.9 (there is a little give on this). And the crown and pavilion angles must be complimentary which is what the HCA checks for you.
 

flyingpig

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
2,975
JoexJoe|1466561020|4046515 said:
Thank you guys for the link and advice. The HCA said around 4.3 which is too high. Also how do you tell it is too deep? How would I know if a new one has the correct depth.

It looks like this is not the diamond for me. The certificate is EGL. GIA or AGS is the only acceptable lab? I will stick with them.

If I up my diamond budget to 5500 +/- 500 would I be able to get a GIA/AGS somewhere around 1.1ct H/I SI1 with a better cut?


I consider ~$5k to be fair for 1.0c I VS2/SI1.

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8404642-1.03-carat-Round-diamond-I-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8404642&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.00-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1817298
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.12-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1071366

if you want a stone with the guaranteed best cut,
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3619314.htm

Edit.. oops.. I thought you were still considering I SI1/VS2.
H VS2/SI1 at 5500 is still do-able. Gypsy posted a few stones below..
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
40,225
Get a picture and an Idealscope of this one: http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8376790-1.00-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8376790&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

This one has potential: http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8368659-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-F-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8368659&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8428405-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VVS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8428405&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8378949-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8378949&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

I don't know if its eyeclean: http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8292739-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8292739&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

Needs idealscope: http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8392783-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8392783&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8316056-1.02-carat-Round-diamond-G-color-VS1-Clarity.aspx?sku=8316056&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com Need picture and idealscope.

I REALLY like this one (need picture and idealscope): http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8406833-1.02-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VVS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8406833&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

Also nice: http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8371069-1.04-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-VS2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8371069&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,547
These are measurements to help you stay in ideal cut territory with a GIA excellent cut stone. Look at stones that have Excellent for cut, polish, and symmetry.

table: 54-58

depth: 60-62.3

crown angle: 34-35.0 (up to 35.5 crown angle can sometimes work with a 40.6 pav angle)

pavilion angle: 40.6-40.9 (sometimes 41.0 if the crown angle is close to 34)
 
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