Last minute call for help: feathers close to edge (VS2)

[birdcn]

We bought a ring last weekend which my wife loved it very much, until she checked online and she finally figured out what "feather" means to a diamond. It is a 1.01 carat, round brilliant, F, VS2, excellent cut, polish and symmetry are both very good, Depth 60% and Table 60%, Girdle is Median/Faceted, culet none. However, the stone have 2-3 feathers close to the edge, and she found out that they could be threats to the life of the diamond. She also suspect a cut-through feature. I attached the GIA report Diagram.

We asked the store to help locate the feathers but the salesperson couldn''t find them under 10x scope. We have the deadline on Wednesday to exchange it to another one (1.01 Carat, G Color, VS1, Cut Very good, Polish Very good, symmetry very good, Depth 61.70%, table 59%, Girdle slightly Thick to Thick, Faceted). They are about the same price.

I compared them together, and apparently the F/VS2 one is better. But we are so worried about the feathers.

Any opinions and suggestions are deeply appreciated.

 

[neatfreak]

I am not an expert but because it is a VS2 and the feathers don''t appear to touch the edge I think you are fine. If it were a lower grade and/or the feathers touched the edge it is a bigger risk.

I say just get it insured and don''t worry about it!

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/31/2008 11:28:56 PM
Author:birdcn
We bought a ring last weekend which my wife loved it very much, until she checked online and she finally figured out what 'feather' means to a diamond. It is a 1.01 carat, round brilliant, F, VS2, excellent cut, polish and symmetry are both very good, Depth 60% and Table 60%, Girdle is Median/Faceted, culet none. However, the stone have 2-3 feathers close to the edge, and she found out that they could be threats to the life of the diamond. She also suspect a cut-through feature. I attached the GIA report Diagram.

We asked the store to help locate the feathers but the salesperson couldn't find them under 10x scope. We have the deadline on Wednesday to exchange it to another one (1.01 Carat, G Color, VS1, Cut Very good, Polish Very good, symmetry very good, Depth 61.70%, table 59%, Girdle slightly Thick to Thick, Faceted). They are about the same price.

I compared them together, and apparently the F/VS2 one is better. But we are so worried about the feathers.

Any opinions and suggestions are deeply appreciated.

The feathers only break the surface of the pavilion (bottom side). If they completely "cut through" they would be plotted on the crown / table (top side) as well.
I would not worry about the durability issue. The only feathers I've ever seen "extended" through wear are those right on the girdle edge to begin with. Also, from what I've observed, GIA tends to grade "harsh" on feathers, and from the VS2 grade, and the fact they were hard to find with 10x, my guess would be these particular feathers are probably shallow, not deep internally reaching.
- just my 2 cents.

 

[birdcn]

Thank you all for your inputs and your expertise.

One thing that I missed in my post is that the stone is in a white gold setting so the salesperson suspected that the features are under the crown so he couldn''t see them. My wife also concerns there is a cut-through feather in the stone. In the face view diagram, there is a red dot in the 4-clock position, which matches the bigger red dot in the 8-clock position of the bottom view diagram. She think this is the cut-through feature. Do you think that''s the case?

Thanks again.

 

[swingirl]

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 4/1/2008 10:37:33 AM
Author: birdcn
Thank you all for your inputs and your expertise.

One thing that I missed in my post is that the stone is in a white gold setting so the salesperson suspected that the features are under the crown so he couldn't see them. My wife also concerns there is a cut-through feather in the stone. In the face view diagram, there is a red dot in the 4-clock position, which matches the bigger red dot in the 8-clock position of the bottom view diagram. She think this is the cut-through feature. Do you think that's the case?

Thanks again.

As an educated guess, I would say no I don't think the feather "cuts through". GIA also takes durability into consideration when assigning grades and I have seen stones downgraded in clarity for an inlcusion that is found to be a durability issue. I feel that you should have no problem with a stone in the VS range. Personally, as scary as feathers can sound, they don't bother me.

Is the jeweler willing to unmount the stone for your viewing? Or maybe just slightly loosen it and rotate the stone so the area in question if visible for examination...

If you are at all uncomfortable with the idea, I would suggest keep looking for another stone (if they will extend the deadline for you of course). Seems like kind of a short exhange window if she just bought the ring. Most places that I have dealt with have a 90 day exchange policy (or longer).