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MRB 3 carat hunt is ON. Help...please?

Couple things:
A diamond can have surface graining on the crown that attracts oil and looks blah and get EX polish. surface graining on the pavilion can be a total non-issue.

While from a its the best standard EX/EX pol/sym is kewl VG/VG pol/sym usually does not interfere with looks at all and debatable if it will effect performance at all. If it does it is very very small. I like EX/EX in a RB but if everything else was right would buy a VG/VG in heartbeat.
 
Karl_K said:
Couple things:
A diamond can have surface graining on the crown that attracts oil and looks blah and get EX polish. surface graining on the pavilion can be a total non-issue.

While from a its the best standard EX/EX pol/sym is kewl VG/VG pol/sym usually does not interfere with looks at all and debatable if it will effect performance at all. If it does it is very very small. I like EX/EX in a RB but if everything else was right would buy a VG/VG in heartbeat.
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How can you tell where the surface graining is located?
 
It's been my experience that GIA occasionally pulls fluor grades out of a hat. If fluor is important to her, as you indicated in the original post, I would recommend having your final selections independently vetted re. fluor strength specifically (trusted vendor, appraiser, etc.) :)
 
The last stone posted (2.80 D SI1) is also present in several vendors' virtual inventories - ex. https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/D-SI1-Affinity-Cut-Round-Diamond/D40557164

Ignoring faceting/patterning, a consideration if the stone is not sufficiently clean face-up in-person - the cluster of inclusions near the girdle just after 3 o'clock in the face-up still in the adiamor link is directly under the upper girdle facet meet and will be more difficult to prong on a stone this large with delicate prongs in a 4/8-prong style setting (a setting with unevenly-spaced prongs - or with a number of prongs that is not a multiple of 4 - will be much easier as at least some prongs will rest on flat facet planes).
 
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Karl_K said:
Couple things:
A diamond can have surface graining on the crown that attracts oil and looks blah and get EX polish. surface graining on the pavilion can be a total non-issue.

While from a its the best standard EX/EX pol/sym is kewl VG/VG pol/sym usually does not interfere with looks at all and debatable if it will effect performance at all. If it does it is very very small. I like EX/EX in a RB but if everything else was right would buy a VG/VG in heartbeat.
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Thank you Karl. That is very helpful.
 
yssie said:
The last stone posted (2.80 D SI1) is also present in several vendors' virtual inventories - ex. https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/D-SI1-Affinity-Cut-Round-Diamond/D40557164

Ignoring faceting/patterning, a consideration if the stone is not sufficiently clean face-up in-person - the cluster of inclusions near the girdle just after 3 o'clock in the face-up still in the adiamor link is directly under the upper girdle facet meet and will be more difficult to prong on a stone this large with delicate prongs in a 4/8-prong style setting (a setting with unevenly-spaced prongs - or with a number of prongs that is not a multiple of 4 - will be much easier as at least some prongs will rest on flat facet planes).
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Thanks yssie. If she ends up requesting this stone, we'll keep that in mind. Maybe its eye clean...
 
I found one that is tempting because of the size and price but the crown angle is a little high. I'm just curious about the impact on the diamond. I know it's medium Fluor and it's something we would just consider on a case by case basis. She is learning more herself and is become more flexible. What do you all think of this one?

IMG_4588.jpg
 
wisps need to be cheeked for scatter, in bright direct lighting check it for a snow globe effect.
That basic combo can run from borderline ags0/1 to ags3.
The lower halves are critical, if the are actually 75 it could drop it ags2-3
Around 77 depending on the rest of the angles around borderline ags0 to ags1.
Overall ags1 is the most likely.
After playing around in diamcalc I would be more comfortable with a 80% lower on the GIA report with this combo.
What it boils down to this one is right on the edge and the small stuff that gia rounds off can make a large difference.

On the plus side I love the crown on it, very lively stone if it is done right.
 
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Karl_K said:
wisps need to be cheeked for scatter, in bright direct lighting check it for a snow globe effect.
That basic combo can run from borderline ags0/1 to ags3.
The lower halves are critical, if the are actually 75 it could drop it ags2-3
Around 77 depending on the rest of the angles around borderline ags0 to ags1.
Overall ags1 is the most likely.
After playing around in diamcalc I would be more comfortable with a 80% lower on the GIA report with this combo.
What it boils down to this one is right on the edge and the small stuff that gia rounds off can make a large difference.

On the plus side I love the crown on it, very lively stone if it is done right.
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Thank you again Karl. I am studying your responses carefully.
 
Here is one more I found. Aside from the strong blue, I know this is super spready. The hca gives this a 1.8 but I would guess this is a no. Maybe lots of white light return, which she does love. What are the implications of good CA and PA but such spread? Last one I will ask about for a while. I will need to wait and see what the jeweler can acquire for us to actually see.
IMG_4589.jpg
 
That is actually a great 60/60 combo with a twist, the 61% table drops it to ags1 from 0.
But it doesn't affect the overall performance in my opinion.
For example even with the 61 table it has more crown height than a 33.5 degree crown and a 60% table.
The internal and external graining needs to be checked as does the strong blue.

Now which brings us to the huge 60/60 debate.
Its a different look than the modern ideal cut with the smaller table and higher crown.
Some people like it, some don't, some have no preference.
 
Karl_K said:
That is actually a great 60/60 combo with a twist, the 61% table drops it to ags1 from 0.
But it doesn't affect the overall performance in my opinion.
For example even with the 61 table it has more crown height than a 33.5 degree crown and a 60% table.
The internal and external graining needs to be checked as does the strong blue.

Now which brings us to the huge 60/60 debate.
Its a different look than the modern ideal cut with the smaller table and higher crown.
Some people like it, some don't, some have no preference.
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Thank you @Karl_K . I appreciate your thoughtful responses, and I am intrigued. I am going to throw this one into the ring, just for my own educational purposes if for nothing else. Don't worry. I will definitely tell her about the fluor. Who knows if it will have a negative impact. We'll have to see. The jeweler will have a cow when they see I requested a strong blue. And that internal and external graining. I'm not a fan but maybe it won't be bad. I'll keep you updated on how this goes.
 
LLJsmom said:
Thank you @Karl_K . I appreciate your thoughtful responses, and I am intrigued. I am going to throw this one into the ring, just for my own educational purposes if for nothing else. Don't worry. I will definitely tell her about the fluor. Who knows if it will have a negative impact. We'll have to see. The jeweler will have a cow when they see I requested a strong blue. And that internal and external graining. I'm not a fan but maybe it won't be bad. I'll keep you updated on how this goes.
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It's a no go. Fluor puts it out of the running. Too bad. I really wanted to see this one. I'm trying to convince them to source an AGS 000 stone I found. They don't want to sell AGS. ***sigh*** :rolleyes2: OMG. Get out of the dark ages...
 
@LLJsmom you mentioned before that your friend has to do B&M because she has to do a trade in. Does she have to trade in her previous ring into a particular store?
 
HDer said:
@LLJsmom you mentioned before that your friend has to do B&M because she has to do a trade in. Does she have to trade in her previous ring into a particular store?
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Yes, a particular B&M.
 
LLJsmom said:
It's a no go. Fluor puts it out of the running. Too bad. I really wanted to see this one. I'm trying to convince them to source an AGS 000 stone I found. They don't want to sell AGS. ***sigh*** :roll2: OMG. Get out of the dark ages...
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They won't source an AGS stone. OK. Just so annoyed. Fine. We save some money b/c that AGS stone was the most expensive one somewhat within our parameters. I can't even reply to the SA right now. I am so annoyed. Short-sightedness. This is me being nice.
 
If the tradein policy is with a particular store then it might be tough to convince them to fly in internet stones because they need to figure out how to at least recoup the amount they're "losing" on the trade-in.
 
HDer said:
If the tradein policy is with a particular store then it might be tough to convince them to fly in internet stones because they need to figure out how to at least recoup the amount they're "losing" on the trade-in.
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They say they can access lots of stones that are on the internet. The internet retailers don't own a lot of the stones. They just have access to them. This is an instance where they just don't want to sell AGS, because they are too old school. Period. Where is the headshake emoji? :roll And I know they are not losing anything on this trade in. I'll get over it and move on. I just need a moment...
 
I got them to bring it in. I haven't seen it IRL yet but will by the end of the week. Can you let me know your thoughts? I have concerns that a whole arrow is missing. How can it be AGS 000 with that? It will be either this one or the 2.85 G SI1. And is my eyesight so bad that I can't even see the inclusions on the plot?
IMG_4594.jpg
 
@Karl_K @yssie @diamondseeker2006 @bmfang @mrs-b @rockysalamander @flyingpig

Sending out an SOS. Fer realz. A whole arrow missing. And AGS000. I am fer curious to know what you all think. And barely any inclusions but still VS2. Is that weird? I pulled this clearer pics from AGS. I admit I'm not liking the contrast in the center... Thanks everyone that cares to comment!
IMG_4598.PNG IMG_4599.PNG
 
So one arrow has gone from showing contrast to returning light very strongly? What the? That pavilion main must have been cut at an angle to promote light return like that rather than contrast.

The CA is a little too high for my liking, but inclusions are all close to the girdle leaving a very clean table view (that is very nice imho).
 
wide ranging angles on the pavilion mains or a bad scan.
looking at the heart image, wide ranging angles is more likely.
Also likely has minor painting/digging to help it make the grade.
My opinion a gia EX target that just happened to make 0 so they sent it to AGS rather than targeted at ags0 from the start.
With a 40.7 or 40.6 pavilion it would have been a solid ags0.
 
bmfang said:
So one arrow has gone from showing contrast to returning light very strongly? What the? That pavilion main must have been cut at an angle to promote light return like that rather than contrast.

The CA is a little too high for my liking, but inclusions are all close to the girdle leaving a very clean table view (that is very nice imho).
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Thanks @bmfang. Good point about the inclusions. I do prefer this to a bunch of twinning wisps.
 
Karl_K said:
wide ranging angles on the pavilion mains or a bad scan.
looking at the heart image, wide ranging angles is more likely.
Also likely has minor painting/digging to help it make the grade.
My opinion a gia EX target that just happened to make 0 so they sent it to AGS rather than targeted at ags0 from the start.
With a 40.7 or 40.6 pavilion it would have been a solid ags0.
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Thanks @Karl_K . Good points. Lose a little weight but a better performing diamond. I'll have to read about what painting and digging are. Something to think about.
 
Dancing Fire said:
IMO, It is not too smart to buy a stone that hits the exact magic carat weight, b/c more often than not the cutter will try to hide the extra few points somewhere on the stone to hit the magic #, so either I'd chose a stone that is b/t 2.75 - 2.95 or 3.10 - 3.20 ct.
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Thanks @Dancing Fire. I understand your point about the weights. I can see that happening.
 
I think at this point, it will depend on what we see, what our eyes like, if not seeing an arrow is weird, if the twinning wisps have a snow globe effect. Thank you so much everyone.
 
The only one so far that holds promise to me on paper is the 2.75 H VS2. All AGS 0 stones are not great, and that last one does not appeal to me. I'd only consider outstanding cut with AGS stones since they are a little less strict on color grading when it comes to borderline stones. I'd rather have a well cut GIA XXX unless I was going with a superideal cut (or close). With stones this size, I'd much rather go with VS2, and even then, you still have to see the inclusions to be sure.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
The only one so far that holds promise to me on paper is the 2.75 H VS2. All AGS 0 stones are not great, and that last one does not appeal to me. I'd only consider outstanding cut with AGS stones since they are a little less strict on color grading when it comes to borderline stones. I'd rather have a well cut GIA XXX unless I was going with a superideal cut (or close). With stones this size, I'd much rather go with VS2, and even then, you still have to see the inclusions to be sure.
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The 2.75 has black inclusions so that is out. So sad. And you don't like the AGS? Well, I guess I'll have to see IRL how weird it is, or not. I'm crossing my fingers about the G, SI1. What if the AGS looks really beautiful? Should we not go with it because of the report? That funky arrow throws me off but who knows IRL. And maybe the G could be ok...
 
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