How can you tell if a diamond will "face up smaller"

[mani5ha]

I''ve been doing research on the site and noticed that sometimes a stone can face up smaller or bigger than it actually is? what can influence this?

I am on a strict budget and would like the biggest stone I can get, so I was wondering what I need to look out for to make sure my stone looks bigger than it actually is (apart from cut), and I would hate to think if i bought a 0.90 ct stone that it could face up to be smaller, say 0.85! (Not that there is much difference, but still!)

Thanks

Manisha

 

[ct-appr]

You could buy a stone that is a little spread. For example - a 1.00ct stone is normally around 6.5mm in diameter. If you found a stone that weighed 1.00ct but was 6.6mm in diameter it would look like a 1.10ct stone. However, distorting proportions causes problems resulting in dull looking stones. My advice is to buy an ideal or excellent cut stone. If you want to save $$, make your sacrifices in clarity first and then color. In a well proportioned stone the cut will mask clarity and color issues.

Read the sections under the "Knowledge" tab above and you will understand better.

 

[mani5ha]

Thankyou, was just reading that.

I''ve also read that a stone with a slightly larger table has a better spread, can be brighter and return more light
The smaller the depth, thr larger the spread?

Wow there are so many things to think about, I have about 12 stones on my shortlist and really don''t know how I''m going to choose just one! They''re all ideal cut stones!

Manisha

 

[tyty333]

Date: 1/10/2010 8:51:52 AM
Author: mani5ha
Thankyou, was just reading that.

I''ve also read that a stone with a slightly larger table has a better spread, can be brighter and return more light
The smaller the depth, thr larger the spread?

Wow there are so many things to think about, I have about 12 stones on my shortlist and really don''t know how I''m going to choose just one! They''re all ideal cut stones!

Manisha

"Ideal cuts" does not necessarily make them a good stone. The best thing to do is narrow them down to 4 or
5 and post the info associated with them (depth, table, pavilion and crown angles) and let the more knowledgable
PSers help you pick the best performers. Also post any images you have (aset, ideal, pictures).

You can also run the numbers through the HCA. Any stone that score 2 or less is worth further consideration.
A lower number is not necessarily better (just aim for below 2).

 

[mani5ha]

How do I cut them down? They all seem like good stones, i''ve put them all through the HCA and they all are under 2. I''m not sure what to look for to determine which ones will be better.

I would like a bigger stone so i''m focusing on the bigger ones but i''m even more confused now considering they all seem to fit the "excellent cut" range....!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Especially if you are going with GOG, BGD, or WF, they carry a lot of ideal stones. If you check all the numbers and they are ideal I''d go for the biggest spread with the lowest price.