Is there anyone here that doesn't like H&A diamonds?

[RockHugger]

Just wondering. For me, its just not pleasing to the eye...maybe too perfect I guess?
I mean the images look neat, but I just can't get myself to like them in person.
Anyone else or am I an oddball here, lol.

 

[diagem]

Just wondering. For me, its just not pleasing to the eye...maybe too perfect I guess?
I mean the images look neat, but I just can't get myself to like them in person.
Anyone else or am I an oddball here, lol.

Not a 'like' matter but rather don't care for them.
But do appreciate the skill it takes to cut them

 

[Rockdiamond]

You're in great company Rockhugger......there's a lot of "oddballs" around here

Seriously- I like H&A diamonds- but my preference is round diamonds that don't show that type of patterning.
It's certainly a matter of preference.

 

[yssie]

Just wondering. For me, its just not pleasing to the eye...maybe too perfect I guess?
I mean the images look neat, but I just can't get myself to like them in person.
Anyone else or am I an oddball here, lol.

Is it the arrows in modern RBs that you dislike specifically, or do you prefer your stone not show obvious patterning regardless of shape?

 

[RockHugger]

Really just RBs. I love the patterns in cushions and step cuts.

 

[Envyme]

I noticed soo many people on here with H&A stones that I was beginning to feel left out! I do like the H&A from pics - so cute and girly but in reality I like old world charm that antique old mine cuts have too. The H&A are beautifully cut - as you said almost too perfect maybe. I've never seen one first hand.

 

[kenny]

Yeah, I hate all that fire and light return.

I just sent my ACA and my Solasfera off get recut into dark steep deeps with fisheyes and leakage.

 

[RockHugger]

Kenny, you can have an ideal cut diamond without H&As. I have seen the two together, and prefer the standard cutting. It's personal preference.

 

[RockHugger]

I noticed soo many people on here with H&A stones that I was beginning to feel left out! I do like the H&A from pics - so cute and girly but in reality I like old world charm that antique old mine cuts have too. The H&A are beautifully cut - as you said almost too perfect maybe. I've never seen one first hand.

I'm with you. I would take a OEC or OMC over any designer cut any day of the year! Leakage and all

 

[jstarfireb]

I noticed soo many people on here with H&A stones that I was beginning to feel left out! I do like the H&A from pics - so cute and girly but in reality I like old world charm that antique old mine cuts have too. The H&A are beautifully cut - as you said almost too perfect maybe. I've never seen one first hand.

Ditto - I love H&A diamonds, but I also love old cuts. Modern RBs that aren't H&A can also be very pretty, especially if cut to ideal proportions, but I do favor H&A in modern cuts.

 

[kenny]

RH, I'm just being silly.

 

[marymm]

(peeking - I guess it's safe to come out of the closet) I am a very recent convert to diamonds - for many years I did not care for diamonds at all; but a couple years ago I fell for a chunky cushion cut diamond, and then more recently picked up a pair of small OECs... but I am still not drawn to the H&As. I can see how other people appreciate them and am always happy when people find the diamond of their dreams, whatever the cut. For me, though, H&As and also the colored gem concave cut - for whatever reason these two cuts in particular do nothing for me.

 

[Stephan]

Kenny, you can have an ideal cut diamond without H&As. I have seen the two together, and prefer the standard cutting. It's personal preference.

I wonder what do you call standard cutting.
I hate some H&As and I love the others.
Each H&A is different.
But I must admit a few brands are very constant.

So in a modern RB, what are the proportions you favor?

 

[Stephan]

Here is a special H&A:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1334680.asp

It is very different from some other branded H&As, but is it bad?
I don't think so.
Look at the ASET in the AGS document, the arrows are almost red, not blue.

So in a traditional H&A, the arrows are obstructed and the other facets LGF visible in the table are returning light.
In this case, the arrows are returning light while the LGF are on the verge of leaking.

I'm sure you can find a H&A that will please you!

 

[MissGotRocks]

When I first started reading about the ideal cut h&a stones, I thought it would be ugly to see those 'arrows' looking black all the time. The more I read, the more interested I became even though I still thought I wouldn't like them.

Then I saw one. Then I owned one. I realized that only in the absolute right light do you see the arrows and the hearts of course are hidden on the underside of the stone. What I appreciated more than anything was the symmetry that these stones possessed. The sparkles are consistent in a way that I could not have imagined. I've had the other so so cut stones and while they had a beauty all their own, I never saw the razzle dazzle that I do with these ideal cuts.

As far as older cut diamonds, they are truly gorgeous with their big flashes of fire. There is a pattern going on there too - just different - but they are equally as lovely. It is the precision with which these stones are cut that just completely blows me away and I've come to realize over the years that I truly am a symmetrical person - things need to be equal and balanced for them to appear correct in my eyes. No wonder then that these stones ended up having such appeal for me!

 

[RockHugger]

I know you are Kenny .

I call a 'standard cut' anything that isn't a designer cut. There are so many new cuts for a rb now, it's hard to name them all and keep up.

In all honestly, I prefer a slightly shallower then ideal cut ( for my own personal use). Not so shallow where you geta fish eye though. Prolly in the good cut range. I don't know why, but I am always drawn more to those more then ideals. Again, I'm an oddball and extremely picky about what I like.

 

[Stephan]

I love shallow diamonds too!
My last purchase is 59.8% depth with a 58% table (OK, it is not very shallow).
Do you love long star facets?
I just love them!

 

[Stephan]

I think shallow diamonds have more things happening inside the table, where H&As have blinding crowns...
But again, there are so many different H&As...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I think it depends upon what the diamonds are being used for. My earrings are H&A and I love that they match each other. I cannot imagine having one earring be slightly different than another...

 

[RockHugger]

My new er diamond (alt because I need a smaller ring for everyday) is 65% depth, and 65% table. No fish eye ( don't know HOW when it's so shallow, but no complaints) and is extremely brilliant.

 

[stone-cold11]

My new er diamond (alt because I need a smaller ring for everyday) is 65% depth, and 65% table. No fish eye ( don't know HOW when it's so shallow, but no complaints) and is extremely brilliant.

65% depth is no way shallow, more like too deep.

 

[stci]

I don't like H&A diamond. I save all my love for OEC and OMC.

 

[RockHugger]

Yeah....I'm still working on the diamond. It is shallow, but the measurements are all goofy. Diamond is .7ct but is 6mm. Can't figure out why measurements are not showing that...

 

[Amys Bling]

I think H&A stones are mezmorizing in their images. I do not own an offical H&A stone, but my stone- excellent cut- when held int he right lighting at the right angle I can find some arrows-

 

[IceExplorer]

Kenny, you can have an ideal cut diamond without H&As. I have seen the two together, and prefer the standard cutting. It's personal preference.

This is coming from a relative 'newbie'
I say so because I believe I have a much better "eye" than (most) people in the mid-west and/or my circle.
Diamond caliber and beauty is so very subjective to a geographical proximity. They send TOP NOTCH diamonds to NYC and LA. Not Detroit.


I bought an H&A for BGD.
Considering the the premium for that cut which was MUCH cheaper than trying to buy a 'well' cut stone.

We really get crap in this area...no joke.
I bought it because:
A) I'm not in the business
B) I'm not in the business... (intentional duplicate)
C) Do I get on a plane to look at diamonds?!?
D) Trust someone who knows the "business"
E) Pay a RETARDED PREMIUM from a B&M...for 'THEIR opinion of beautiful'?

It's been almost a year since I bought the diamond. My fiance's ring out performs EVERY diamond I've seen since. And every person who's seen her diamond. I'm bias, that is a given, but EVERYONE ELSE can't be. Can they?

You can be in the business and not like them. As a consumer, trying to set the bar for, the most beautiful woman, go to your local jewelry store and let me know how make out...
They sparkle
They Shine
They have fire
They have scintillation
They dance
They perform

In a year...I haven't seen anything compare.

If you have a showroom, you might get conditioned.

The unfortunate reality is...find an Ideal cut diamond without having it shipped in.
After you do it a couple of times...the H&A is hard not to like.

 

[yssie]

Kenny, you can have an ideal cut diamond without H&As. I have seen the two together, and prefer the standard cutting. It's personal preference.

This is coming from a relative 'newbie'
I say so because I believe I have a much better "eye" than (most) people in the mid-west and/or my circle.
Diamond caliber and beauty is so very subjective to a geographical proximity. They send TOP NOTCH diamonds to NYC and LA. Not Detroit.


I bought an H&A for BGD.
Considering the the premium for that cut which was MUCH cheaper than trying to buy a 'well' cut stone.

We really get crap in this area...no joke.
I bought it because:
A) I'm not in the business
B) I'm not in the business... (intentional duplicate)
C) Do I get on a plane to look at diamonds?!?
D) Trust someone who knows the "business"
E) Pay a RETARDED PREMIUM from a B&M...for 'THEIR opinion of beautiful'?

It's been almost a year since I bought the diamond. My fiance's ring out performs EVERY diamond I've seen since.

You can be in the business and not like them. As a consumer, trying to set the bar for, the most beautiful woman, go to your local jewelry store and let me know how make out...
They sparkle
They Shine
They have fire
They have scintillation
They dance
They perform

In a year...I haven't seen anything compare.

If you have a showroom, you might get conditioned.

The unfortunate reality is...find an Ideal cut diamond without having it shipped in.
After you do it a couple of times...the H&A is hard not to like.

And that, IE, is IMO the true real-world advantage of H&A brands: convenience, the guarantee of a beautiful stone, and the guarantees and warranties the vendor will provide.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Just wondering. For me, its just not pleasing to the eye...maybe too perfect I guess?
I mean the images look neat, but I just can't get myself to like them in person.
Anyone else or am I an oddball here, lol.

It doesn't surprise me when people don't like them - they're bowties, essentially, and we all know how unpopular those can be. They produce the same effect, so I imagine it can be displeasing just as much.

 

[clgwli]

I am not a fan of most modern round brilliants. I do not like the patterning of the arrows at all nor the teeny circle in the center. I've seen a branded H&A, a Tolk 60/60 ideal and an AGS0 side by side in a store. I compared them to a 'standard cut' and I preferred it. Putting those 4 next to my vintage round though (from the 30s) I would take my vintage over the others any day.

My radiant was chosen due to the lack of obvious pattern from a distance. However I also love step cuts like a traditional emerald or asscher. So it seems I like very broad and bold flashes or crushed ice. I don't like 'ideal' princess or round patterns at all.

So there are those of us out there that really prefer one type over another. I appreciate all stones but there are ones I prefer for myself and H&A patterning is not one that I do.

 

[daysie]

If I am perfectly honest, the perfect arrows (esp in the pictures) scare me It's like they're too perfect, and I am too imperfect to own and wear such a stone. Hence I much prefer a standard excellent cut than a H&A.

Very glad you brought up this thread though. Interesting to hear people's opinions on this.

 

[Anonymous6]

For me, H&A represent something rare... the "perfect" diamond

I enjoy being able to say "this is a hearts and arrow diamond" when showing others.

The main question at hand for me would be "is it worth the price difference?" And that's where it may differ from person to person.

However, I ask of you.... if the prices were the same or if H&A were less expensive... would that change any opinions? A lot of people think the H&A sell is just a gimmick, so I believe that may play a role in people's unliking of them.

I enjoy knowing I have a H&A diamond, a diamond that will have the absolute best sparkle and brilliance, a diamond with the perfect cut and measurements/dimensions, a diamond that is more rare, etc...

A lot of what I like about them is more of a "mind clarity" thing than an aesthetic appeal I guess.