Ideal cut quarter carats based on symmetry and polish

[shepb]

Hello,
I went into a local store to ask about quarter carat diamonds to make a five stone ring. I told the sales woman that I want ideal cut diamonds for my ring. She brought some diamonds for me to see and said that the symmetry and polish were both excellent, as if those were the qualities that determined ideal cut diamonds. Of course they sparkled and were pretty, but after reading the wonderful information on this forum I thought that more was involved in determining cut. The sales woman also said they don''t certify small quarter carat diamonds so getting paperwork that verifies the cut was probably unlikely from her. I do like the idea of buying locally from a family owned business, but what do you think of cut based on symmetry and polish? Thanks.

 

[stone-cold11]

cut performance is not just based on polish and symm.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Light performance is about the angles not symmetry and polish. You can buy .25ct diamonds with certs from some companies -- I think JA and BN carry them. Other PS vendors tend only to cert diamonds over .30ct.

 

[Rockdiamond]

To add to the excellent answers already given:
A seller who is calling .25's "EX" for Polish and symmetry is really overstating a case.
The difference between EX, and G on polish is virtually impossible to see on a 2ct diamond, forget about .25's.
Even symmetry is not a simple matter to grade on larger stones. Again, a seller trying to convince buyers they have EX symmetry on their 1/4ct stones is "selling" too much IMO.

There are extremely well cut 1/4ct stones available from many sources. One thing you mentioned I do agree with is that colorless 1/4ct stones are virtually never sent to GIA.

 

[Chase035]

Curious why not. I have a colorless (D) .23 carat stone that is GIA certified. In my search I found many from various vendors.

 

[Chase035]

Curious why not. I have a colorless (D) .23 carat stone that is GIA certified. In my search I found many from various vendors that were GIA certified.

 

[yssie]

Date: 3/4/2010 6:41:21 PM
Author: Chase035
Curious why not. I have a colorless (D) .23 carat stone that is GIA certified. In my search I found many from various vendors.

because stones in these sizes will generally only sell for so much, certed or no - many consider them melee still - so sending them to the big labs and paying for the cert will not yield a profit margin sizable enough to be worth the effort, and may even yield net loss..may be worth it to a vendor if he thinks it's a D or IF, but def. not for the G-J vs-si ranges I should think

 

[shepb]

Thanks for all your input. I appreciate your knowledge.

 

[Dancing Fire]

if i were you i would call BGD and talk to Brian about his signature 1/4 ct H&A melees.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/4/2010 5:06:34 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
To add to the excellent answers already given:
A seller who is calling .25''s ''EX'' for Polish and symmetry is really overstating a case.
The difference between EX, and G on polish is virtually impossible to see on a 2ct diamond, forget about .25''s.
Even symmetry is not a simple matter to grade on larger stones. Again, a seller trying to convince buyers they have EX symmetry on their 1/4ct stones is ''selling'' too much IMO.

guess i was a "sucker" for paying a premium on a 3+ct GIA EX,EX,EX stone.