Need Help Deciding on a Diamond

[gsb]

Hello All,

Let me start by saying what a great forum this is and how excited I am to be a part of this community. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge to be found here and I hope to be able to learn more and contribute in the future.

I''ve been lurking here for a few weeks, gleaning information, while shopping around for a stone. I found a local jeweler who I feel is honest, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. He was able to find me three stones that I just looked at. Of the three, one is what I am looking for and at a fair price.

My concern is that when I plug the numbers into HCA, I get a 3.4 even though it is a GIA excellent cut. I''ve read several other posts about this very discrepancy and want to confirm that this particular stone is too steep/deep. I did physically inspect the stone with a 10x loupe, my ideal-scope, and the jeweler’s H&A scope and it looked very good. He assured me that the stone is not too deep and he will ask GIA for a Sarin report next week to confirm that it is equivalent to an AGS 000 cut stone.

Is there anything else I should ask him? Here are the specs:

GIA
Round Brilliant
6.99 x 7.02 x 4.30 mm
1.27 ct
G
VS2
GIA Cut Grade - Excellent (I know, I know)
Polish - Excellent
Symmetry - Excellent
Fluorescence - None
Comments: Surface Graining is not shown (is this a big deal)
Table: 56%
Depth: 61.4%
Crown: 35.0
Pavilion: 41.2

TIA!

 

[Lynn B]

Once a pav angle gets over 41, a stone's score will take quite a hit on the HCA. The question, then, is will this affect your opinion of the performance of the stone?

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 10/7/2006 6:45:59 PM
Author: Lynn B
Once a pav angle gets over 41, a stone''s score will take quite a hit on the HCA. The question, then, is will this affect your opinion of the performance of the stone?

I agree.

 

[gsb]

Date: 10/7/2006 6:45:59 PM
Author: Lynn B
Once a pav angle gets over 41, a stone''s score will take quite a hit on the HCA. The question, then, is will this affect your opinion of the performance of the stone?

Terrific point. Honestly, I don''t know enough about diamonds at this time to tell the difference between a premium cut (which I believe this stone probably is) and an Ideal cut. I just don''t want to look at the stone at a later date when I''m more educated and see that I did not get what I really wanted - an ideal. That''s why I''m relying more on numbers than my eye at this time. Is this a bad practice? Would this stone qualify as an ideal, premium, fair?

Thanks!

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 10/7/2006 8:20:13 PM
Author: gsb
Terrific point. Honestly, I don''t know enough about diamonds at this time to tell the difference between a premium cut (which I believe this stone probably is) and an Ideal cut. I just don''t want to look at the stone at a later date when I''m more educated and see that I did not get what I really wanted - an ideal. That''s why I''m relying more on numbers than my eye at this time. Is this a bad practice? Would this stone qualify as an ideal, premium, fair?

Thanks!

That stone would be considered by some to be steep/deep. Sometimes that can negatively impact performance. There''s LOTS of information around here on that subject -- if you do a search, you will be up reading all night!

Believe me, I understand the importance and reliance on numbers. Staying within certain parameters is *usually* a safe way to get a nice diamond. But there can be exceptions. Same with some less-than-ideal cut diamonds that simply and surprisingly defy their "numbers" to be truly gorgeous. So, it really is ultimately your own two eyes that you should please.

I would recommend that you look at as many diamonds as you can... observe them in various lighting environments... see what ideal stones *really* look like. But try to keep your expectations realistic. Ideal cut diamonds are beautiful in almost all lighting situations, but they do NOT glow in the dark!

 

[gsb]

You''re right. I should look at more diamonds before deciding if this is what I want. In the meanwhile, is there anything I should look for in the Sarin when I get it? I''m assuming it should be 0''s all the way down...

 

[JulieN]

Date: 10/7/2006 10:13:49 PM
Author: gsb
I''m assuming it should be 0''s all the way down...

no.

 

[gsb]

Date: 10/8/2006 7:14:01 PM
Author: JulieN

Date: 10/7/2006 10:13:49 PM
Author: gsb
I''m assuming it should be 0''s all the way down...

no.

Okay. Then what should I look for?