Ideal vs. Excellent

[MadsnHarley]

First time diamond buyer. I''ve found 2 diamonds and need some direction. The diamonds are:

#1. Carat: .96
Cut: Ideal
Color: H
Clarity: SI 1
Polish/Symmetry: VG/VG

#2 Carat: 1.01
Cut: Excellent
Color: F
Clarity: I 1
Polish/Symmetry: Ex/Ex

Both diamonds graded by GIA. # 1 scores excellent-excellent-excellent-excellent on the cut advisor whereas # 2 scores Fair-Fair-Fair-Very Good. I''ve been told neither diamond shows any inclusions to the naked eye. Diamond # 2 is about 18% less expensive than diamond # 1. Any input would be very much appreciated.

 

[neatfreak]

#1, GIA doesn't use "ideal" so you want to find out who is calling the first stone ideal. Second, what are the scores from the cut advisor? The numerical score?

And I would be very hesitant to believe that there are no visible inclusions in an I1...you might be able to hide them, but a truly eyeclean I1 would be pretty rare...

 

[MadsnHarley]

The score for # 1 is: 0.8 - excellent within TIC range. And as for the # 2. I was advised you could see the the inclusions, but they were located or hidden so they would not be noticed once the diamond was mounted.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/13/2008 11:47:14 AM
Author: MadsnHarley
The score for # 1 is: 0.8 - excellent within TIC range. And as for the # 2. I was advised you could see the the inclusions, but they were located or hidden so they would not be noticed once the diamond was mounted.

If the score for #2 was really poor I would pick #1 no questions. Cut is what gives a diamond sparkle, so I would go for the best cut I could. Any score under 2 is good.

 

[MadsnHarley]

You are correct, I looked at both certificates and both are graded as excellent cuts. However, where # 1 scored 0.8 - Excellent the # 2 diamond scored a 5.6 - Good.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/13/2008 11:54:43 AM
Author: MadsnHarley
You are correct, I looked at both certificates and both are graded as excellent cuts. However, where # 1 scored 0.8 - Excellent the # 2 diamond scored a 5.6 - Good.

Then you want #1 no question.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/13/2008 11:55:17 AM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 12/13/2008 11:54:43 AM
Author: MadsnHarley
You are correct, I looked at both certificates and both are graded as excellent cuts. However, where # 1 scored 0.8 - Excellent the # 2 diamond scored a 5.6 - Good.

Then you want #1 no question.

Ditto, that is the one to choose. Have you seen these diamonds in person?

 

[MadsnHarley]

No I haven''t seen them in person. It''s tough when I am in Indiana and the gentleman I have been speaking with is in New York. However, he did send pictures of # 1 and it appeared to be a really pretty diamond.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/13/2008 12:25:07 PM
Author: MadsnHarley
No I haven''t seen them in person. It''s tough when I am in Indiana and the gentleman I have been speaking with is in New York. However, he did send pictures of # 1 and it appeared to be a really pretty diamond.

Is the seller an online vendor?

 

[MadsnHarley]

Yes. I located the diamond using Price Scope.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/13/2008 1:29:07 PM
Author: MadsnHarley
Yes. I located the diamond using Price Scope.

Ok John, what I would do now is to ask the vendor to send you an Idealscope image of the diamond to confirm the numbers, this would be the next step.

 

[AprilBaby]

Hands down #1!

 

[John P]

Date: 12/13/2008 1:42:01 PM
Author: Lorelei

Ok John, what I would do now is to ask the vendor to send you an Idealscope image of the diamond to confirm the numbers, this would be the next step.

Always good advice, but especially good when polish & symmetry are less than ideal or excellent. While the naked eye won't detect VG polish/sym it's good to look into the cut details - to see if the same factors that prevented ID/EX finish influenced cut consistency. The grading report lists only rounded averages. Ideal-scope and ASET will show consistency/precision (which may be perfectly fine).

 

[MadsnHarley]

Along with actual pictures of the diamond, the jeweler sent images of the diamond. I had no idea what the image was or how to read it. I am assuming one of these was an idealscope image??

 

[stone-cold11]

Probably, it will be the pic with alot of red and pink.

Here is a link to a reference chart on how to interpret an IS image.

http://www.ideal-scope.com/using_reference_chart.asp

 

[John P]

Date: 12/13/2008 4:29:08 PM
Author: MadsnHarley
Along with actual pictures of the diamond, the jeweler sent images of the diamond. I had no idea what the image was or how to read it. I am assuming one of these was an idealscope image??

No way for us to tell without seeing it. Perhaps he has an AGS ASET or Ideal-Scope? There''s a chance of him having a FireScope or Symmetri-Scope which are similar to IS and ASET. Or they could be from a H&A viewer which serves a different purpose entirely. Can you post them?

 

[MadsnHarley]

I can post them, but not until Monday. They are on my work email and I did not want to take the chance of fowarding to my home email address and my girlfriend seeing them.

 

[John P]

Good call.

Johns are smart.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 12/13/2008 7:42:20 PM
Author: John Pollard
Good call.

Johns are smart.

Oooohhhh! A little late night Punnishment...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/13/2008 11:30:00 PM
Author: Wink

Date: 12/13/2008 7:42:20 PM
Author: John Pollard
Good call.

Johns are smart.

Oooohhhh! A little late night Punnishment...

ROFL!!!!