Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARAT?

[hawaii2012]

Hello guys,

Always have difficulties to choose from more than one option. Here comes the headache again! I found these two diamonds which work for me in price since I can nnot afford anything better in color or clarity. They are the same price!

The first one: 1.51carat, F, VS2, HCA1.2(first three are "excellent" with the last one "very good")

Proportions
Depth: 60.6%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star Length: 55%
Lower Half: 85%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None

The second one: 1.61carat, G, VS2, HCA1.8(first two are "excellent","Scintillation" and "Spread or diameter for weight" are "very good")

Proportions
Depth: 62.5%
Table: 55%
Crown Angle: 36.0°
Crown Height: 16.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.6°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Medium to slightly thick, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None

Since they are the same price, which one is more worthy to buy? The first one has better color and HCA score, while the second one is noticeably bigger. Is the 0.1carat difference worth better color and lower HCA score? Does 0.6 HCA score difference make much sense in the vision performance? I am totally at a loss now!

There is no way for me get the IS/ASET image from the vendor....Bluenile.....PLEASE DO HELP ME to make the wiser choice. Thanks so much!

 

[LibbyLA]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

What are the actual dimensions? The heavier one is deeper so it may not be visibly much, if any, larger (physically) than the lighter one. (Think of two women, one who weighs 120 and one who weighs 130. They don't necessarily have the same measurements and may not wear the same size clothes, but they may. Knowing the weight without knowing height, bust, waist, and hip measurements isn't very helpful unless you are paying by the pound .)

 

[TC1987]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARAT?

Yes. All count, lol.

F and G will be close in color: White. I is where most people can start seeing tint; sometimes H from the side or unmounted. I can see a little tint in F and G from the side in that carat range, but that was an acquired skill. F/G/H is white enough for me, personally. J is too tinted for many people, but some people want "warm" and not bright white, and they like J/K.

Regarding the HCA: Almost no diamond except a shallow one gets an excellent rating on Spread. Most get Very Good, so that can almost be disregarded unless you are intentionally trying to buy a very spready stones that has good light performance. Rating under 2 ,and E/E/E/VG is usually a good pick for a diamond with great light performance. (But diamonds still have to be seen, sometimes.)

I'd probably avoid the second stone, because the crown angle is steeper than 35 degrees. And the HCA dinged it on scintillation. But more information might be needed.

Some of this discussion on crown/pavilion angles might help you, here:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/40-9-pa-goes-better-w-34-8-34-9-crown-or-34-0-crown.182675/#post-3323083#p3323083']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/40-9-pa-goes-better-w-34-8-34-9-crown-or-34-0-crown.182675/#post-3323083#p3323083[/URL]

 

[hawaii2012]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Thanks for the quick reply! The actual dimensions of these two are:

First one: 7.41-7.45X4.50mm

second one: 7.47-7.49X4.68mm

I am always wondering if HCA really counts much. Does HCA1.2 really mean better cutting or better visual performance than HCA 1.8 since both of them are within the range of "excellent".

 

[TC1987]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

That 2nd one gets 1.8 and FIC, firey ideal cut. Some people prefer them. But there are comments on this board that say sometimes those FICs have a "darker" look. "FIC" might put this in a different light. There are some discussions on here about those. Some people seek them.

The first one is 1.2 TIC.

I need to run, but I just wanted to point out "FIC."

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

This is when you really need to see the pictures of the stones. The numbers look better on the first one, but I am not loving the 85% lower half facets on that one.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

You might like the first one better in certain lighting and the second one better in a different lighting.

 

[hawaii2012]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Actually I have little idea abou "TIC". It means "T ideal cutting" but what does T stand for?

A sad news: the first one is taken by someone! This just happened between last night and this afternoon. Can't believe I have lost it. The sales representative recommended another one for me: 1.50carat, G, VS2, HCA1.0(this part looks so good! But there is another side of the story.)

actual dimensions : 7.41-7.43x4.54mm
Proportions
Depth: 61.2%
Table: 55%
Crown Angle: 33.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star Length: 55%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None

The biggest problem is "symmetry" is only "VG" instead of "EX". It seems that symmetry is even more important than polish and would definately affect negatively the fire or light return of the stone. Doea that mean the amazing HCA score 1.0 just make no sense as for the visual performance? It's price is 1.4k lower than the first one. Is this one worthy considering? I really have no idea!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

i like stone #2. i am one of the few people who wouldn't mind a little deeper cut stone with a small table and a high crown...

 

[TC1987]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

TIC = Tolkowsky Ideal Cut

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gia-excellent-vs-very-good-symmetry.9060/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gia-excellent-vs-very-good-symmetry.9060/[/URL] says the VG vs. Ex symmetry is not a big deal. How low can you go? Probably as low as you want to, as long as you like the look of that diamond. People here usually ask for an ASET image and an Idealscope image, and maybe Sarin or Helium scan results to help

I'm not a huge help on this question. With the FIC, I was hoping that somebody else who knows what makes a great FIC vs. an just an average one would chime in. The lower facets, I wondered about. I prefer fatter arrows to splintery ones.

Maybe these two (3?) diamonds are traditional cut and symmetry, and are not hearts and arrows.

 

[hawaii2012]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Thanks TC1987! You are really so helpful. It seems that there is much diagreement on symmetry. Some people believe it counts slightly while others assert that symmetry is the most important factors in cutting. I am just thinking that if the stone is not perfect in symmetry, would the numbers for Depth, Table, Crown Angle or Pavilion Angle be accurate? I mean if the number for oneside's crown angle is not the same as the other side, would HCA score make any sense? Please do not laugh at me if these questions are layman. I am just a newbie in this field.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

That is exactly why you need Ideal Scope pictures and we don't recommend buying blind.

 

[hawaii2012]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Bluenile does not offer IS image picture at all. Maybe I should change a vendor......

 

[Niel]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Bluenile does not offer IS image picture at all. Maybe I should change a vendor......

I would want an IS. Have you looked at James allen, Whiteflash, or Brian GAvin diamonds yet? I know everyone here would be more than willing to help in the search if they knew your budget and desired specs

 

[04diamond<3]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Bluenile does not offer IS image picture at all. Maybe I should change a vendor......

Well you could always see it in person first. They have either a 30 or a 60 day money back policy...

 

[hawaii2012]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

Bluenile does not offer IS image picture at all. Maybe I should change a vendor......

I would want an IS. Have you looked at James allen, Whiteflash, or Brian GAvin diamonds yet? I know everyone here would be more than willing to help in the search if they knew your budget and desired specs

I haven't tried the other vendors yet 'cause I heard that only Bluenile could grant the customer cashback My budget and specs are like this: within 16k, F or G (F is much more preferable), VS2 or VS1, 1.50 carat--1.7carat, excellent cut, HCA TIC<2. It seems that other vendors besides bluenile charge a little bit more for the same kind of stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Help! Which one to choose? What counts? HCA? COLOR? CARA

I just wouldn't pay that much for a diamond without the images even if I had to pay a little more.