Help - Too many questions

[MrsT]

I am trying to upgrade my diamond and ring setting for a landmark birthday.

I''m new to this forum and I''m having trouble understanding the tutorials on the cut of a diamond. What are the proper proportions for table and depth? Why are my local jewelers always poo pooing my questions on cut? They say they''re excellent but the stones just don''t dance with light? Am I being too picky?

Is it possible to find a crisp, brilliant 1.80cw round stone and not spend a fortune?
Which element of the diamond should I sacrifice on if I don''t have $18K to spend on the stone alone? I really want to upgrade to a larger stone. For me, the most important feature is the cut, then carat, color, clarity.

My thoughts are a bit scattered. I''m beginning to wonder if I''ll ever find a stone I love.

Can anyone help me focus on what''s most important?

I have found a stone but have to admit I didn''t write the GIA specs on the stone. I do remember my jeweler telling me the table/depth was perfect. I did not see any imperfections and I have an excellent eye. I see things people need a loop for.
So, this diamond is Color E, SI1, 1.82cw. I didn''t think it sparkled enough. I''m going back to see it again. What should I look for in the cut that might clue me into why it doesn''t sparkle as much as I like?

My setting is a simple but I think classic. An eternity style band, six 15 pt. stones on either side of center stone, with a matching wedding band. Shared prong. I have questions on this setting too, but I won''t go into it now.

Thanks: Mrs. T

 

[mrssalvo]

welcome mrs t. you''re on the right track that CUT is the most important thing and is what gives a diamond it''s sparkle. most B & M jewelry stores don''t have superideal h&a type stones. you might want to go check out some "hearts on fire" diamonds because they are excellently cut and see if you can notice a difference in sparkle. I personally wouldn''t pay the premium for a HOF diamond but you''d at least be able to see some. stick around here and you''ll learn a lot just by reading the answers to others questions. The tutorial is a bit confusing to me too

. If you are working with a local jewelry try getting all the numbers on the stone and bring it back here. the folks here will be able to tell you if it''s a good stone or not and why.

 

[Ellen]

Mrs. T, it''s a lot to learn, isn''t it? It takes time, and LOTS of reading. There is a wealth of information on this site, and GoodOldGold has an excellent tutorial too.

In my personal experience and opinions, jewelers poo poo your questions because they either don''t know the answer, or don''t want to give you the answer and make their stones look bad, which a lot are, but not all.

The proportions of a diamond all work together, so you have LOTS of combinations that work. Have you used the Holloway Cut Adviser? It''s up at the top under Tools. Play around with it, it will help you start to get the gist of things a bit as far as proportions.

You are definitely on the right track as far as cut, the most important C.

There are many helpful people here, so you are in good hands. Good luck!

 

[Gypsy]

I would go to www.goodoldgold.com the tutorial they have on the 4 C''s is the great. As for numbers... pavillion angles, crown, um... dimensions.. polish ... you know... just get a photocopy of the thing if they''ll give you one. You kinda need it all...lol.

 

[Lorelei]

Mrs T welcome

Firstly don''t be in a rush to purchase. The other ladies have given you some great advice, I agree you are definitely noticing the lack of cut quality. Read the tutorials and learn about the best proportions for a round, you can use the HCA to help you evaluate your choices and get out to the stores and compare diamonds. Colour and clarity aren''t anywhere near as crucial to beauty as a great cut. Also it doesn''t have to be a branded cut to be beautiful, a nice " make" of diamond cut would still look great. A well cut diamond will look gorgeous in most lighting situations and if you have doubts about one in a jewellery store, it won''t look good in everyday lighting. Time you spend learning will be time well spent when you have that fab rock on your finger! I canonly guess that maybe the salespeople you have encountered don''t know much about cut, or they do and are trying to throw you off asking awkward questions. Do your own research and find a professional who is on the same page is your best bet.