Importance of HCA score

[gwapenut]

Any views on diamonds with triple excellent GIA scores, hearts and arrows, but scoring >3 on the HCA tool. On technical info, the triple excellent appears to be comfortable, as playing with the angles on the GIA facetware calculator shows them to be in the middle range, needing a large divergence before dropping to "very good".

I know HCA does not take all factors into consideration ... so wondered about "A score below 2 (Excellent) means you have eliminated known poor performers (more than 95% of all diamonds)."

 

[rubybeth]

I think most folks here will tell you that the HCA is a rejection tool, not a selection tool. Can you post the stone's info.? The true experts can chime in on more specifics.

 

[gwapenut]

Reading further down the HCA page it goes on to say:
... best set in open backed rings ... Deeper diamonds that have perfect or hearts and arrows grade symmetry, with scores around 2, will often perform far better than diamonds of lesser symmetry.

So perhaps the H&A means the score >3 is not so crucial ..., and the ring is also an "open" design.

Specs are (triple ex):
Depth: 61.7%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 41.2°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star Length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None