Yesterday, I accompanied my future mother-in-law and her friends to go diamond shopping. My gf wants a surprise, so she knows nothing about this process. The friends know more about diamonds because of past experience and is friends with a store owner, but are by no means experts. In any case, I hit a brick wall during my buying experience.
Based on my criteria (1.5-1.7ct, GIA3x/AGS0, H+ color, VS2+ clarity, Ex cut, Med- fluoro, price<$13K if NY-based or <$14K if non-NY), they had a somewhat limited inventory in-house, but did have the GIA reports of a few diamonds located at their other locations. This was my strategy:
1. Calculate the HCA score - reject those over 2. The store owner heard of HCA from another customer, but doesn't use it in practice.
2. Check dimensions to see if it's within the following:
Table: 53-58
Depth: 60-62.3
Crown Angle: 34-35
Pavilion Angle: 40.6-41.0
3. Use Enchanted Diamond's cut score calculator based on GIA certificate number to see if it's above 90.
By this point, I ended up rejecting all the diamonds. There weren't a lot to choose from - maybe 10. Only two passed step 1. Lots of GIA3X were HCA good or fair, but not excellent. One didn't fit the dimensions and one had a low ED cut score. But what if I made it pass step 3? What's next in-store? I'm guessing (in no particular order):
4. ASET/IdealScope viewing. The store does not have this on hand, so it'll cost me $110 to buy a set. But is the handheld version good enough to get accurate readings? I'm not even so sure I know how to fully read it, despite having read up on it. For example, I thought this diamond (no longer available) had significant light leakage under the table owing to the white areas, but was told that is not the case (due to backlight?):
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R150-CE48P9?a_aid=pd
This store visit was impromptu, so I couldn't get an ASET scope in time. Not sure I trust my own reading anyway.
5. Heart and Arrows viewing. Most stores have a H&A scope. It costs less than $20 off ebay, so that's a minor investment. From what I understand, hearts is the important view. Most of the images I see online are not true H&A, but near H&A - they have some yaw in the Vs. Some non-H&A diamonds exhibit clefts or blend the hearts with the V's. On a limited budget, get a near-H&A.
How are the experienced diamond shoppers and experts doing it? Will you only buy it in-store after you verify with your own IS/ASET scope?
And what about online shops that can't get additional views at all (H&A, ASET, IdealScope), like many on the virtual selection group? Many of the PriceScope listings don't have any pictures at all. Do you outright reject these?
Sorry for the long post. The more I learn, the harder it gets and my criteria keeps changing.
As always, if anyone can make recommendations on diamonds, I'd be happy to take them.
Based on my criteria (1.5-1.7ct, GIA3x/AGS0, H+ color, VS2+ clarity, Ex cut, Med- fluoro, price<$13K if NY-based or <$14K if non-NY), they had a somewhat limited inventory in-house, but did have the GIA reports of a few diamonds located at their other locations. This was my strategy:
1. Calculate the HCA score - reject those over 2. The store owner heard of HCA from another customer, but doesn't use it in practice.
2. Check dimensions to see if it's within the following:
Table: 53-58
Depth: 60-62.3
Crown Angle: 34-35
Pavilion Angle: 40.6-41.0
3. Use Enchanted Diamond's cut score calculator based on GIA certificate number to see if it's above 90.
By this point, I ended up rejecting all the diamonds. There weren't a lot to choose from - maybe 10. Only two passed step 1. Lots of GIA3X were HCA good or fair, but not excellent. One didn't fit the dimensions and one had a low ED cut score. But what if I made it pass step 3? What's next in-store? I'm guessing (in no particular order):
4. ASET/IdealScope viewing. The store does not have this on hand, so it'll cost me $110 to buy a set. But is the handheld version good enough to get accurate readings? I'm not even so sure I know how to fully read it, despite having read up on it. For example, I thought this diamond (no longer available) had significant light leakage under the table owing to the white areas, but was told that is not the case (due to backlight?):
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R150-CE48P9?a_aid=pd
This store visit was impromptu, so I couldn't get an ASET scope in time. Not sure I trust my own reading anyway.
5. Heart and Arrows viewing. Most stores have a H&A scope. It costs less than $20 off ebay, so that's a minor investment. From what I understand, hearts is the important view. Most of the images I see online are not true H&A, but near H&A - they have some yaw in the Vs. Some non-H&A diamonds exhibit clefts or blend the hearts with the V's. On a limited budget, get a near-H&A.
How are the experienced diamond shoppers and experts doing it? Will you only buy it in-store after you verify with your own IS/ASET scope?
And what about online shops that can't get additional views at all (H&A, ASET, IdealScope), like many on the virtual selection group? Many of the PriceScope listings don't have any pictures at all. Do you outright reject these?
Sorry for the long post. The more I learn, the harder it gets and my criteria keeps changing.
