Idealscope image comparison

[hashpile]

hello. i''m posting for the first time here. i''ve learned a lot over the last few days just lurking around
on this forum.

anyways i need some opinions on which one looks better based purely on the idealscope
images. does the darker red mean that it will have better light performance over the lighter
red?

 

[Lorelei]

Maybe John Q will pop in to clarify, but I think it is more the lighting set up that is making the other diamond's IS image look a darker red. I prefer personally, the IS image to the left, but they are both excellent diamonds.

What may be very useful for you is this info, on how to analyse Idealscope images, from Garry.

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

 

[chrono]

The darkness and lightness between the 2 pictures is due to the camera setup and lighting. You have to judge the reds, blacks and whites WITHIN each individual picture. Both look to be very nice stone and I am partial to the one on the left, but only by a wee bit.

 

[hashpile]

hmm.. i was under the impression from reading up on all this that a lighter red means that there
is a bit of light leakage through the red parts. but i guess its all somewhat subjective...

so if the light/dark red doesn''t matter then i suppose i should go by the amount of dark ''hotspots''?
the image on the left seems to have more of those little ones. does this indicate a higher degree
of scintillation?

 

[elmo]

You raise a subtle but important point I think. The reflector photos have useful information about cut quality but unless the photo is taken under specific standard conditions next to reference stones of known quality, it would not be reasonable to assign a specific grade or to compare against another stone with a photo taken under different conditions. Sort of like trying to compare the color of two stones from different photos taken under different conditions, or to assign a color grade from the photos.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 11/30/2007 8:28:02 AM
Author:hashpile
hello. i''m posting for the first time here. i''ve learned a lot over the last few days just lurking around
on this forum.

anyways i need some opinions on which one looks better based purely on the idealscope
images. does the darker red mean that it will have better light performance over the lighter
red?

Welcome to the forum HP.

Ideal-scope and ASET photos are excellent for giving an overall impression since notable asymmetry or under-table leakage will make itself obvious in the photos (see the graphic below).

Tiny spots within an overall diamond are not going to be significant unless they''re numerous and consistent. A good example of this is ‘contrast leakage'' (the small symmetrical wedges of white that occur around the diamond at crown meet points and along the girdle). There is breakup of light at these points that gives the diamond a rapid, on-off look in its scintillation. When not present there is less breakup of light, so the scint quality is larger and not as rapid. Even these differences are slight and require time, study and perception to notice between diamonds that have equally great light return.

We realize that it''s the nature of many people (ourselves included) to want to dissect magnified images to the nth degree, so we''re in the habit of reminding that these are blown up photos of objects that are about 6-7mm across. A good reality check is to take out a ruler and compare how big that is to the size of the image on the computer screen. What''s important is overall quality.

The short answer is that there is no appreciable difference in the quality of light return in the ideal-scope images above; the difference in hue (main body of red darker versus lighter) results from different setup/backlighting strength in our system as it has evolved over the years.

Below are three distinctly different levels of quality.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

i confirm what the dude in the Father Xmas hat said. There are explanations of some of this stuff in the newsletters at ideal-scope.com

 

[Quash]

Date: 11/30/2007 8:28:02 AM
Author:hashpile
i need some opinions on which one looks better based purely on the idealscope

Performance issues aside, is it my eyes playing tricks on me or is the diamond on the right off centre at the base of the arrows? The bottom of the arrows seems to throw the centre off.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 11/30/2007 6:09:10 PM
Author: Quash

Date: 11/30/2007 8:28:02 AM
Author:hashpile
i need some opinions on which one looks better based purely on the idealscope

Performance issues aside, is it my eyes playing tricks on me or is the diamond on the right off centre at the base of the arrows? The bottom of the arrows seems to throw the centre off.

probably slightly off center to the camera - no big deal

The stones should be a perfect pair

 

[hashpile]

thank you all for answering my questions!
this will really help me make a more informed decision.

 

[Lorelei]

Heehee!! John thats fabulous!!!!

 

[hashpile]

to be honest, all the hours of research, education, and searching have been so thoroughly
enjoyable that the actual purchase in the end is gonna feel like an emotional letdown.
it seems as if the actual process of finding the right diamond, setting, etc is the best part...
or maybe thats just me.