Is this diamond good?

[anniet86]

I'm trying to pick a diamond for our 10 year anniversary. Due to cultural reason, I would prefer to have a smaller carat to stay with D, FL and excellent cut.

I'm considering this one but not sure if the H&A and Aset pictures look good? The price for this one is $20,450. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[OoohShiny]

Welcome to the forum.

Those cultural reasons cost a lot!

Just to confirm, would even E VVS be out of the question?


Plug the numbers or GIA report reference number into the HCA tool in the Tools tab and let us know what the result is.

 

[Luce]

Wow, that looks like a beautiful diamond!

 

[Athena10X]

Im no expert, but I found the following ACA diamond on Whiteflash with amazing ASET scope and H&A image. I’ll let PS expert community chime in.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3916963.htm

P.S. Dreaming of winning the lottery one day so I , too, could get myself a 1+ ct D, IF/FL. One lucky lady .

 

[Athena10X]

This one is slightly under 1 ct.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3964579.htm

 

[anniet86]

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, due to cultural reasons, we will need to stick to D and FL.

So I plugged in the numbers into the HCA tool and got HCA score of 1.2. For the price, is this one a good deal?

 

[diamondsareagirls]

Seeing that you would be paying more for the ACA at 1 carat and this one scores so well on the HCA, I think it's a great deal!

 

[Athena10X]

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, due to cultural reasons, we will need to stick to D and FL.

So I plugged in the numbers into the HCA tool and got HCA score of 1.2. For the price, is this one a good deal?

Here’s a snapshot of my diamond’s HCA score (really close to yours). It is a AGS 000 super-ideal. It is a sparkler, even in subdued lighting! I can only imagine what the D would look like. Pretty good idea that it’ll be amazing! Although mine is only a .636, G, VS2, I’d be happy to take some photos under different lighting.

 

[Athena10X]

Also, something to keep in mind is your vendor’s upgrade policy if you plan to get your SO a bigger stone in the future. I’m not sure if you want to share where you sourced your stone (totally understand if you want to ensure nobody else snatches it from under you). I believe Whiteflash has a generous upgrade policy.

 

[gm89uk]

Taking your other halfs requirements into consideration, would she prefer 1.3 D, FL for 20k or a 1.8 D CT with lower eye clean clarity?

FL is only FL at X10, at x20 there will still be imperfections.

Diamond ASET and H&A look great, it is not super ideal but an excellent performer

 

[flyingpig]

[$20,450. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Buy it. Now.

 

[scarsmum]

Are you aware that a FL diamond very likely becomes IF after wearing and/or setting? Just checking, not judging!

 

[scarsmum]

Adding, your original diamond on this thread seems awesome.

 

[gm89uk]

If D FL is definitely what you need it's rare to come across such well cut stones

 

[anniet86]

Thank you Athena10X I heard great thing about AGS super ideal cut. However, due to our budget and with the specs we want, it would be quite a stretch on our budget.

Here’s a snapshot of my diamond’s HCA score (really close to yours). It is a AGS 000 super-ideal. It is a sparkler, even in subdued lighting! I can only imagine what the D would look like. Pretty good idea that it’ll be amazing! Although mine is only a .636, G, VS2, I’d be happy to take some photos under different lighting.

 

[anniet86]

Thank you. Due to cultural reason in our country, unfortunately we would need to stick with the specs. Sorry if this question is too basic, but what is the different between AGS super ideal and GIA excellent cut?

Taking your other halfs requirements into consideration, would she prefer 1.3 D, FL for 20k or a 1.8 D CT with lower eye clean clarity?

FL is only FL at X10, at x20 there will still be imperfections.

Diamond ASET and H&A look great, it is not super ideal but an excellent performer

 

[anniet86]

We are definitely not aware of that. That's very interesting to know. So the diamond will likely change its clarity over time? IF becomes VVS1, etc.?

Are you aware that a FL diamond very likely becomes IF after wearing and/or setting? Just checking, not judging!

 

[Athena10X]

Thank you. Due to cultural reason in our country, unfortunately we would need to stick with the specs. Sorry if this question is too basic, but what is the different between AGS super ideal and GIA excellent cut?

If I’m not mistaken, if you look back at the screen shot of your diamond’s HCA, the green area is what would typically be graded as GIA excellent, and the area within the white outline I believe is the slightly stricter AGS ideal grading (though the tool has it labeled as PGS). With that in mind, hypothetically, your diamond could be an AGS ideal, but I’ll let the PS experts chime in and correct me if needed.

Also, I don’t believe a diamond’s clarity grading changes over time unless the grading institutions change their scoring methodolgy. I think what is implied is that a diamond’s clarity is graded with a 10X loupe. So, even if it may appear flawless with a 10x loupe, it may still exhibit slight surface imperfections at higher magnification, akin to using a microscope. If you are fine with it being flawless at 10X, then it fits your specs. However, if you want it completely flawless at even 100X magnification, I doubt there is a mined diamond out there that would meet such narrow parameters that can be easily sourced. I also think that is why others have recommended lowering the clarity grade to afford you/your SO a bigger stone. In the end, you’re the one who needs to be in love with the diamond, regardless what others, including myself, say.

 

[OoohShiny]

We are definitely not aware of that. That's very interesting to know. So the diamond will likely change its clarity over time? IF becomes VVS1, etc.?

I think it is the case that FL means externally and internally flawless (at 10x magnification) but the actual setting process might mean some surface abrasions take place, perhaps on the girdle, at which point it can no longer be considered externally flawless, 'only' internally flawless.

One of the pros would be best placed to confirm this!

 

[rockysalamander]

The difference between FL and IF is very very very slim and relates only to surface features. Any damage to the surface of a FL diamond (and that is really the only place it can occur) could cause a FL to become IF if re-graded.

FROM GIA, I highlighted in red the difference. Blemishes are surface details. Inclusions are internal.

• Flawless (FL) No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification
• Internally Flawless (IF) No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
• Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) - Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10× magnification

FL to IF are the only diamond grading that can change due to wear and damage. All other clarity grading will describe the surface blemishes and, when significant, use them to assign a grade. In many cases, they will describe them as notes (e.g, surface graining, minor details of polish, Indented natural, pit, extra facets). If you chip anything below IF, you just added a chip.

Just keep in mind that diamonds are graded for flaws under 10x magnification. Why 10x? My grandmother used to say that was because it was better than the most eagle-eyed person without magnification. So, per GIA an FL diamond has "No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification". So, there are blemishes, but no inclusions. But, those very same inclusions that hide at 10x are visible 11x, 12x, 15x, 20x, 100x. Just not 10x magnification. And, there are certainly blemishes at higher magnification. My point is that there nothing perfect about an FL or IF diamond. Its about the level of magnification and skill of the viewer. If FL or IF is culturally important, then I'm not here to change that. But, I think its important to put the world "flawless" into perspective.

 

[anniet86]

Thank you all so much. I felt like I just learn a whole new language about diamond. I didn't know there are so much more behind these 4Cs.
Since FL can possibly change to IF, I asked the vendor if upgrading is still possible if that happens. The answer is no
Just curious, is it easy to cause damages to the surface due to wearing? I work in the office so I don't think I can scratch it due to work. I read on the internet, a lot of times it's due to diamond scratch against each other but I wonder if I accidentally bang it against the wall or sth, would it get scratched? (Clumsiness is my strength lol)

 

[ringo865]

The physical act of setting a diamond into a ring, involving the use of torches and hammers, can sometimes cause a diamond to go from "flawless" to "internally flawless."

 

[OoohShiny]

Since FL can possibly change to IF, I asked the vendor if upgrading is still possible if that happens. The answer is no

That sounds to me like another excellent reason to go for VVS - VS clarity!

Just curious, is it easy to cause damages to the surface due to wearing? I work in the office so I don't think I can scratch it due to work. I read on the internet, a lot of times it's due to diamond scratch against each other but I wonder if I accidentally bang it against the wall or sth, would it get scratched? (Clumsiness is my strength lol)

Diamond is extremely hard but can be scratched or chipped - look at low-set settings to reduce risk of accidental damage and make sure it is fully insured for 'all risks' coverage!