Help - I could use your advice

[fran]

I am a novice and becoming totally confused in my search. Price is an issue and, like everyone, I''d like to get the most I can for my money.

There are a couple of diamonds from Blue Nile - please tell me if these are good buys and which, if any, you''d choose.

1.05 round - G/SI - said to be totally eye clean
depth - 61.4%
table - 57%
34.0
41.0
1.4 HCA
very good symmetry and polish
thin to medium girdle
no fluorescence
6.49 x 6.58 x 4.01 mm
$5,147.

1.07 round - H/SI - eye clean
depth- 60.4%
table - 59%
34,5
41.0
2.2 HCA
very good symmetry and polish
thin to slightly thick girdle
6.61 X 6.65 x 4.00 mm
no fluorescence
$5,173.


The second one listed has a better spread, I suppose it would look bigger. And the difference in color grade would be negligible to the lay person. What does the disparity in HCA score mean in terms of visual effect?

Any comments appreciated.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome to PS

I prefer the first diamond out of the two and it could be a winner, but I would be inclined to read the tutorials and go from there to learn about cut. This is so important as it is what makes a diamond beautiful. It is a matter of preference with a well cut diamond, but I would choose a smaller table than 57 or 59, but these diamonds might look nice, it depends on whether you want a true top cut ideal or a nice make. Are these GIA certed? Some advise to search for AGS 0 or GIA Excellents to narrow down options and this can be a good way to go. Are these GIA certed? Also the HCA gives you a guide to the lesser performers but isn't definitive regarding a diamond's beauty.

BN are a drop shipper, unless these are in house diamonds, are they sure they are eyeclean? I would compare some more before you pull the trigger, read the tutorials which I will post for you in a moment and check out some other vendors to see what they have and how they compare. Also to the best of my knowledge, BN don't have any cut quality info on their diamonds which is helpful if it is available. Also I doubt the size difference between the two would be noticeable, maybe if you compared side by side but overall not a huge difference, if any. Also a true Ideal cut will have EX EX or ID ID polish and symmetry, which it is said can look the same as good and above to the untrained eye in some circumstances, but might be of importance nevertheless. Buyers who want a true Ideal look for the above P and S grades. The colour depends on the individual eyes, but if these are both GIA certed then the difference would be very slight, if any.

You are doing well with your search, but research a little more if you would like then make your choice from there.

Here you go, Tutorial

 

[fran]

Thanks for your reply and for the tutorial, Lorelei.

Both stones are certified. The first is GIA, the second AGSL. Blue Nile obviously didn''t have either stone - they said they asked their "jewelers" to examine both stones and determine if they were eye clean.