Is it possible to work directly with a diamond cutter?

[b5s4]

I''d like to purchase an ags 0 grade oval diamond. The problem is, ags has not issued an 0 cut grade to an oval before. I know it may seem over the top to insist upon a 0 cut grade but before I give up, I thought I''d ask if any of the cutters who post here would be willing to look at the specifications required for a 0 cut grade oval. Has anyone worked directly with a diamond cutter before? I''m thinking outside the box and thought I''d ask. thanks.

 

[Moh 10]

AGS only grades cut of round brilliants and princesses.
There is no such thing as an oval with an AGS cut grade.

That said there must be a target set of proportions that will produce a good oval.

I'd look for that but, and I believe someone here can direct you to it but it won't come from AGS.

 

[b5s4]

moh 10,
I believe ags has started grading oval diamonds. Here is a link I found on pricescope:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/ags-begins-grading-oval-cut-diamonds.83265/

I have also spoken with a representative at ags and she told me that while they haven''t issued a 0 cut grade for any ovals, they have issued a 1 cut grade.

 

[Moh 10]

Thanks b.

I stand updated.

I"m looking forward to good ovals.
It is sad so many have bowtie.

 

[Gypsy]

To my knowledge there are three diamond cutters on these boards.

1. Paul from Infinity diamonds (www.infinitydiamonds.com)
2. Brian Gavin from Brian Gavin Diamonds (www.briangavindiamonds.com)
3. Bill Bray (don''t know website)
4. Diagem (he posts, but I don''t know his contact information).

I think the only person who can answer your question is likely a cutter, so you might want to drop them a line and ask them if they know of anyone who custom cuts fancy shapes and if they can help you, or if they do this themselves.

That said, going directly to a cutter isn''t the only way to get a beautiful oval. You can work with a vendor and give them your specs and have them search for you. Many of our members have done this.

You can look up "Kaleigh Oval" in the search function you will see hers, as she went this route.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/28/2009 10:03:45 PM
Author: Gypsy
To my knowledge there are three diamond cutters on these boards.

1. Paul from Infinity diamonds (www.infinitydiamonds.com)
2. Brian Gavin from Brian Gavin Diamonds (www.briangavindiamonds.com)
3. Bill Bray (don't know website)
4. Diagem (he posts, but I don't know his contact information).

I think the only person who can answer your question is likely a cutter, so you might want to drop them a line and ask them if they know of anyone who custom cuts fancy shapes and if they can help you, or if they do this themselves.

That said, going directly to a cutter isn't the only way to get a beautiful oval. You can work with a vendor and give them your specs and have them search for you. Many of our members have done this.

You can look up 'Kaleigh Oval' in the search function you will see hers, as she went this route.

Thanks Gyspy. Yes ovals are tough, I went with www.goodoldgold.com to find mine. Jon was great to work with he knows, I am picky picky.. But he found some great ones, I am thrilled with my oval. Best of luck in your search!!

 

[b5s4]

Kaleigh,
Thanks for mentioning gog. I've searched their site but haven't contacted Jon yet. Ultimately I think I will have to go the same route as you and have a vendor find me one.

Gypsy,
Thanks for the list. I've contacted Infinity diamonds and sent an email to Lesley from BGD. I'll try to contact Bill Bray and Diagem.
Does anyone have contact information for Diagem or Bill Bray? I've searched but couldn't find it. Thanks.

 

[strmrdr]

Bill Bray
http://www.brayscore.com/contact.cfm?Contact

DiaGem doesn''t deal directly with consumers.
I don''t think DiaGem would be interested in cutting an AGS0 oval.
Large step cuts are more DiaGem''s specialty.

 

[b5s4]

thanks storm!

 

[John P]

Hi b5,

I may have responded to an email from you earlier, by way of Todd Gray. I hope I was clear about lack of downstream demand translating to few or no cutting houses currently producing ovals targeted for the AGS metric. This doesn't mean it will be impossible to find a diamond at or near their criteria; the AGS cut guides can be consulted to find candidates meeting those parameters even if the manufacturer chose to send them to GIA (or other).

Going back to your original thought; if you find a willing cutter with appropriate rough material the guides could be used as a template for production. There is some give and take normally associated with new R&D but it's possible someone may be producing such parameters already (?)

Date: 7/28/2009 10:03:45 PM
Author: Gypsy
That said, going directly to a cutter isn't the only way to get a beautiful oval. You can work with a vendor and give them your specs and have them search for you. Many of our members have done this.

I echo this as another practical solution.

 

[iota]

Besides Round, Princesses and Ovals, what else does AGS grade? Radiants?

I''ve never heard of AGS rated Ovals until today either.

 

[b5s4]

Hi John,
You did send me an email earlier today. Thanks for that. I do see what you''re saying and that unfortunately this niche market will not be catered to mainstream. I''ll continue looking to see if a cutter is willing to or is already producing such parameters but I''m also open to finding another diamond that has those parameters without the certificate. Someone on here has a saying in their signature along the lines of ''a mind clean stone is harder to find than an eye clean stone'' and the whole ags 0 grade pertains to that.

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 7/28/2009 11:51:07 PM
Author: John Pollard
Hi b5,

I may have responded to an email from you earlier, by way of Todd Gray. I hope I was clear about lack of downstream demand translating to few or no cutting houses currently producing ovals targeted for the AGS metric. This doesn''t mean it will be impossible to find a diamond at or near their criteria; the AGS cut guides can be consulted to find candidates meeting those parameters even if the manufacturer chose to send them to GIA (or other).

Going back to your original thought; if you find a willing cutter with appropriate rough material the guides could be used as a template for production. There is some give and take normally associated with new R&D but it''s possible someone may be producing such parameters already (?)

Date: 7/28/2009 10:03:45 PM

Author: Gypsy

That said, going directly to a cutter isn''t the only way to get a beautiful oval. You can work with a vendor and give them your specs and have them search for you. Many of our members have done this.

I echo this as another practical solution.

A little insight for the sake of those not familiar with the new AGS oval brilliant cut grade system, I''ve been chatting with a representative from AGS on this subject on behalf of B5s4 who expressed an interest in an AGS Ideal 0 oval brilliant and determined that to date an overall cut rating of AGS Ideal 0 has not been awarded to an oval brilliant cut diamond - primarily because the cutters are keeping too much depth in the girdle thickness, there have been many oval brilliant cut diamonds graded with AGS Ideal polish and symmetry, just not proportions / light performance as of this time.


As John Pollard indicated, the cost of Research & Development of achieving AGS Ideal 0 is rather extensive and any cutter will have to carefully weigh the potential rewards of such a venture against the very real costs to determine whether it is something that makes sense for their particular operation. Keep in mind that the rating system for round brilliant ideal cut diamonds has been in use for a little more than a decade and fewer than 1% of the round brilliant cut diamonds produced this year will actually qualify for the AGS Ideal 0 cut rating - and rounds are the most popular shape of diamond!