IS pics--not great images, but maybe you can make sense of them?

[Picabia]

I tried to take these pics of the diamonds I looked at today with my camera phone. The angles were weird since the phone isn''t meant for these kinds of images. The first one looks better, but I had a much better angle on the shot. The second one I bought--so don''t be too harsh! But before I sign off I wanted to make sure there are no glaring problems. Notice the inclusions on the first. The second looks a little shallow right?

 

[Picabia]

Second--this is the one I got. Too shallow?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Yes shallow crown, but slightly deep pavilion and largish table - so great spread - and a litle painted, but if you look from a normal wearing distance it will look great I am sure.
My money says the shallower stone will not show dirt as much,

 

[Picabia]

Thanks Garry,
I''m not all the familiar with the term "painted," but I''ve gathered it''s a finishing/polishing technique used on shallow stones. It also seems to be a bad thing. This is an IGA Excellent, jut graded a couple months ago, so I guess they didn''t think it was too painted. But does this "painting" result in poor performance? I can still keep searching if this is a bad thing...
Thanks!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 5/11/2010 8:47:15 AM
Author: Picabia
Thanks Garry,
I''m not all the familiar with the term ''painted,'' but I''ve gathered it''s a finishing/polishing technique used on shallow stones. It also seems to be a bad thing. This is an IGA Excellent, jut graded a couple months ago, so I guess they didn''t think it was too painted. But does this ''painting'' result in poor performance? I can still keep searching if this is a bad thing...
Thanks!

You have seen the stone and compard it to the other stone that would rate better for most people on the board here - and you prefer the shallower spready stone - you are not alone - I sell a lot of stones like that in earrings and pendants. so be happy

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/11/2010 8:47:15 AM
Author: Picabia
Thanks Garry,
I'm not all the familiar with the term 'painted,' but I've gathered it's a finishing/polishing technique used on shallow stones. It also seems to be a bad thing. This is an IGA Excellent, jut graded a couple months ago, so I guess they didn't think it was too painted. But does this 'painting' result in poor performance? I can still keep searching if this is a bad thing...
Thanks!

The article below goes into great detail concerning painting.

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/45/1/Visible-Effects-of-Painting--Digging-on-Superideal-Diamonds.aspx

The term painting can cause concern as in some cases it is used as a ' swindling strategy' however the techique applied by a skilled craftsman can in fact enhance some desirable visual properties in a diamond. GIA will indeed penalize a stone they feel has excessive painting/ brillianteering so this isn't the case with this diamond according to them. So the answer to your question is - painting can be bad sometimes and not in others, it depends on the stone.

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[Picabia]

"and you prefer the shallower spready stone" this is true when all the factors are included. The cut of the other one was nicer. But those inclusions were terrible. Anyway, thanks for weighing in. I hope this doesn't affect the sparkle too much--it's going in an e-ring and not earrings or a pendant, so I want to be sure it shines!

Again, thank you so much. I'm going to try to get a better IS image and an ASET image if I can. Hopefully this doesn't turn me off on the stone however...

Lorelei: Those are some heated debates! Has me kind of nervous know. I thought I had finished researching diamonds and now I have to learn about painting! I'm still not really clear on what the effects are, and how to tee if the crown of pavilion is painted. Will the stone still shine next to her friends? (isn't that the most important part? )

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

An aSET will not show any more than the Ideal-scope

 

[Dreamer_D]

Picaba It is time to walk away from the computer, set your diamond, and propose.

I know it is daunting and it is a big purchase, but you have done your due dilligence. You could find a more "perfect" stone by the numbers, but you have seen this diamond and like it and compared it to other better cut stones. You mentioned that the inclusions in the comparison diamond were terrible, but if you ignore that, could you actually detect any differences in beauty, shininess, brightness etc? I am gonna bet not.

If you love it, you paid a fair price, and you cannot get "better" without compromising one of your criteria, then STOP the madness and be happy with your purchase!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/11/2010 9:18:47 AM
Author: Picabia
'and you prefer the shallower spready stone' this is true when all the factors are included. The cut of the other one was nicer. But those inclusions were terrible. Anyway, thanks for weighing in. I hope this doesn't affect the sparkle too much--it's going in an e-ring and not earrings or a pendant, so I want to be sure it shines!

Again, thank you so much. I'm going to try to get a better IS image and an ASET image if I can. Hopefully this doesn't turn me off on the stone however...

Lorelei: Those are some heated debates! Has me kind of nervous know. I thought I had finished researching diamonds and now I have to learn about painting! I'm still not really clear on what the effects are, and how to tee if the crown of pavilion is painted. Will the stone still shine next to her friends? (isn't that the most important part? )

LOL! They were quite heated, there was a bit of concern over painting at the time and things have calmed down since then. But really you have nothing to worry about, yes your stone should light up beautifully compared to her friend's diamonds!

 

[Picabia]

Sorry for all the questions dreamer, but to be fair, Price Scope did this to me! Before I found this site I didn''t even know there were different certification bodies. Now I''m worried about everything! It is being set, and once the custom setting is done the proposal will be underway.

Thanks for the reassurance Lorelei. This is the most money I''ve spent on a single object (my car was less). And as a grad student who is exacting in every other facet of life, it hasn''t been easy (but I will say, it''s been very fun thanks to everyone here).

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 5/11/2010 12:06:52 PM
Author: Picabia
Sorry for all the questions dreamer, but to be fair, Price Scope did this to me! Before I found this site I didn''t even know there were different certification bodies. Now I''m worried about everything! It is being set, and once the custom setting is done the proposal will be underway.

Thanks for the reassurance Lorelei. This is the most money I''ve spent on a single object (my car was less). And as a grad student who is exacting in every other facet of life, it hasn''t been easy (but I will say, it''s been very fun thanks to everyone here).

You are welcome! Glad we were of help to you and that you enjoyed the process!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/11/2010 12:06:52 PM
Author: Picabia
Sorry for all the questions dreamer, but to be fair, Price Scope did this to me! Before I found this site I didn''t even know there were different certification bodies. Now I''m worried about everything! It is being set, and once the custom setting is done the proposal will be underway.

Thanks for the reassurance Lorelei. This is the most money I''ve spent on a single object (my car was less). And as a grad student who is exacting in every other facet of life, it hasn''t been easy (but I will say, it''s been very fun thanks to everyone here).

AH, don''t apologize. Lots of men have post-purchase worries on PS, information overload is common! I just want you to keep the eye on the prize -- being engaged! I bet your diamond looks awesome.

I said this somewhere else but a friend of mine recently got engaged with a diamond that is so eye catching and bright and sparkly, totally lovely. I had occassion to look at it with my IS and it showed some leakage under the table. Well, the diamond still looked great. So the nuances we discuss here are really fine nuances, it is important to remember. In everyday viewing conditions a lot of the fine differences in cut are equalized by lighting. I think as long as you get above a certai nthreshold for cut quality, and you are above it, the diamond will look great!

 

[slg47]

Date: 5/11/2010 11:24:45 AM
Author: dreamer_d
Picaba It is time to walk away from the computer, set your diamond, and propose.

I know it is daunting and it is a big purchase, but you have done your due dilligence. You could find a more ''perfect'' stone by the numbers, but you have seen this diamond and like it and compared it to other better cut stones. You mentioned that the inclusions in the comparison diamond were terrible, but if you ignore that, could you actually detect any differences in beauty, shininess, brightness etc? I am gonna bet not.


If you love it, you paid a fair price, and you cannot get ''better'' without compromising one of your criteria, then STOP the madness and be happy with your purchase!

yes definitely! Picabia you did a lot of research on PS, bought an IS, took pictures, posted them, etc...and you looked at the diamonds in person and picked the one that you thought was the best (out of two very good choices!)

it''s always easy to second-guess especially after reading PS...there are so many options...but I am confident that what you bought is gorgeous and your girlfriend will love it

 

[Picabia]

Thanks everyone! That helps me calm down a bit. It really is a beautiful stone, and I can''t wait to see it in its setting. Again, everyone here is terrific. Thanks for getting me through this!

 

[slg47]

also Picabia you know you have to post pics after you get the ring, right??