Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please help

[fanofhardrock]

I have received the attached idealscope image for an AGS 0 stone that I am looking at.

I believe that it is excellent, but would welcome any thoughts that you may be able to share with me. I have compared it to reference images as I was a little concerned it has a ring of death, but I really don't think so.

This is an SI1 stone - can you tell this from the idealscope? Should I be concerned if it has been viewed as eye-clean? It is 2.05ct, so does the size impact the likelihood that the wearer can see the inclusions?

I have one further question - does AGS 0 trump GIA ex/ex/ex?

thanks so much!

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

Bump! Please help!

 

[helpMeFindARock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

The image looks great for light output. It looks like there are some crystals in the middle of the table though.
2ct SI1s that are eye clean are rare to me, but I'm VERY picky about inclusions. Do you have photos of the diamond other than the ideal scope. Have you seen the diamond?

AGS 000 is awesome. GIA xxx is awesome. I like AGS 000 slightly more than GIA xxx, but some GIA xxx will be better than some AGS 000. Kind of like which is better this VS2 or that VS2? Every VS2 is a little different.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

Looks fine.

 

[TitanCi]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

I have one further question - does AGS 0 trump GIA ex/ex/ex?

NOT all the time, PROBABLY most of the time, but not always as it has been demonstrated here a few times.


IS looks good.

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

I have one further question - does AGS 0 trump GIA ex/ex/ex?

NOT all the time, PROBABLY most of the time, but not always as it has been demonstrated here a few times.


IS looks good.

Thanks TitanCi! Appreciate the help. Is AGS very lax on color? Are they a whole grade off or just a half?

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

Looks fine.

Thanks Julie! Appreciate the feedback. Do you think there is leakage?

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

The image looks great for light output. It looks like there are some crystals in the middle of the table though.
2ct SI1s that are eye clean are rare to me, but I'm VERY picky about inclusions. Do you have photos of the diamond other than the ideal scope. Have you seen the diamond?

AGS 000 is awesome. GIA xxx is awesome. I like AGS 000 slightly more than GIA xxx, but some GIA xxx will be better than some AGS 000. Kind of like which is better this VS2 or that VS2? Every VS2 is a little different.

Thanks so much for the detailed help. You are quite right - there are crystals in the middle of the table. I will obtain a photo and will post it. I hope that you will be willing to look and give feedback on it. I have not seen the diamond in person.

Does the fact you can see the crystals in the idealscope make it a right off?

You make a very good point on GIA ex/ex/ex versus AGS 000. I have only two options in price bracket an I VS2 GIA ex/ex/ex (Strong blue fluor) and an I SI1 AGS 000. But given that I have more information on the AGS 000, should I pursue this? I would be buying the GIA diamond blind!

 

[TitanCi]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

I have one further question - does AGS 0 trump GIA ex/ex/ex?

NOT all the time, PROBABLY most of the time, but not always as it has been demonstrated here a few times.


IS looks good.

Thanks TitanCi! Appreciate the help. Is AGS very lax on color? Are they a whole grade off or just a half?

I don't have too much experience with AGS stones, only seen a few myself. I HEAR (key word, underlined, emphasized the word)... HEAR... they are slightly softer than GIA in color, but have seen them to be stricter than GIA in terms of clarity. Again, that is RUMORED about the color, perhaps someone that is more versed in AGS stones will chime in about their color grading, BUT I DOUBT they are really that much off. It wouldn't make sense for them to be soft in terms of something like color when they are a powerhouse in diamond cut grading/grading.

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

Those crystals are magnified on the IS photo and your computer screen. No idea what the size of your diamond is, but if you look at an average of 6 - 7mm, you'll see how tiny that is. THose crystals will probably not be noticeable IRL and you've said its a VS2 - probably eye clean.

AGS couldbe "better" for cut/light performance and GIA could be "better" for colour - but a grading of 000 or XXX from either is pretty much a safe bet the diamond should be a pretty good diamond! You have the extra reassurance of a great IS on your stone!! Enjoy - you've got a great diamond there

 

[JulieN]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

There is a little bit of leakage, I think the diamond is a little tilted. In any case, nothing to worry about.

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

I have one further question - does AGS 0 trump GIA ex/ex/ex?

NOT all the time, PROBABLY most of the time, but not always as it has been demonstrated here a few times.


IS looks good.

Thanks TitanCi! Appreciate the help. Is AGS very lax on color? Are they a whole grade off or just a half?

I don't have too much experience with AGS stones, only seen a few myself. I HEAR (key word, underlined, emphasized the word)... HEAR... they are slightly softer than GIA in color, but have seen them to be stricter than GIA in terms of clarity. Again, that is RUMORED about the color, perhaps someone that is more versed in AGS stones will chime in about their color grading, BUT I DOUBT they are really that much off. It wouldn't make sense for them to be soft in terms of something like color when they are a powerhouse in diamond cut grading/grading.

Hi TitanCi -

Thanks for getting back to me. I have heard that this diamond may be a lower color I - should I be worried? As you say, they can't be that far off, but I'm worrying that this could be closer to a J and not sure if this worry has any foundation.

Apparently this is eye-clean despite being SI1, which I can believe. It has some crystals in the center, but these may not be visible if they blend well is what I have been told - does this sound accurate?

I am glad to hear that they are a powerhouse in grading as I am really confined to one of two diamonds and this is one of them!

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

There is a little bit of leakage, I think the diamond is a little tilted. In any case, nothing to worry about.

Thank you, Julie - this is really useful to know. I had not noticed that the diamond is tilted - this is a great help as I could see some leakage, but wasn't sure if it was innocuous or troubling.

I'm glad it meets everyone's high standards here!

 

[fanofhardrock]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

Those crystals are magnified on the IS photo and your computer screen. No idea what the size of your diamond is, but if you look at an average of 6 - 7mm, you'll see how tiny that is. THose crystals will probably not be noticeable IRL and you've said its a VS2 - probably eye clean.

AGS couldbe "better" for cut/light performance and GIA could be "better" for colour - but a grading of 000 or XXX from either is pretty much a safe bet the diamond should be a pretty good diamond! You have the extra reassurance of a great IS on your stone!! Enjoy - you've got a great diamond there

Hi Enerchi -

That is a great point - the IS photo is significantly magnified. I am still trying to get that photo and will post it as soon as I can.

The diamond is 8.15mm - are the crystals troublesome at this diameter?

I do apologize - I may have made something unclear - this diamond in the idealscope is an SI1, not VS2. There is another diamond I am considering which is I VS2.

I'm not sure if I should have a new thread to seek advice on my choice, but essentially I have two diamonds to choose among.

1) 2ct GIA ex/ex/ex I VS2
- 8mm dia
- HCA 2.8, but is quite deep 62.6/62.9%
- Strong blue fluorescence.
- No picture, no idealscope. May receive a low quality photo, but no chance of an IS.
- Have received feedback, but this is from the person who owns the diamond.
- Feedback says it is a very white I, no negative impact of fluorescence. The diamond is bright and performs well.
- Clarity-wise, only has twinning wisps - but apparently some "additional" ones may be black. Black wisps - do these exist? I googled it and found nothing of note at all. So maybe the seller is honest, but still no real information.

2) 2ct AGS 000 I SI1
- 8.15mm dia
- HCA 2.5, still quite deep 61.6%, but the IS seems pretty sound.
- Negligible fluor.
- Color-wise have been told it may be a lower I. Not sure if this is concerning?
- Idealscope is shown above and I think it is better than the HCA of 2.5 indicates.
- Diamond will have extremely good light performance and this seems likely as AGS 000 and great IS.
- Clarity-wise I have seen a picture and looked pretty eyeclean. Been told it is eyeclean, but not sure about the distance this was determined.

Pricing: 2) is about $500 more pricey than 1). (Trying to determine that I have enough money in the piggybank for the setting with the renowned and awesome jeweller I hope I can get to set it, but really am serious about buying and have the cash ring-fenced for this purchase!!)

I was thinking that 2) is a better bet as I have some information such as eyecleanness, and the idealscope.
If I were to buy 1), I would buy it blind pretty much at this stage. You mention that GIA ex/ex/ex is a safe bet, but can you buy it blind?

Something which I am really unsure about is that - VS2 is more valuable than SI1, though the VS2 has high fluor. And really, buying the diamond with the highest value on paper, may not be the prettiest. So what should I follow?

Any thoughts on this decision?

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Is this idealscope showing excellent cut or not? Please

Dont be scared away by the strong fluoro in diamond 1. THey stated it had no ill effect --- but that was the owner, not a lab? Is this a private seller or a vendor on PS or a local B&M?

If you are interested in both, is there an independent appraiser near where you live and you could have it assessed?? Have both assessed and perhaps they could advise you 1 over the other?

Is there the possibility to see these in person and trust your own eyes, as to which appeals to you?