Need Help with these stones

[Equator]

Hi !

I'm in the quest for a round diamond 70 points and over. I saw this today, and wonder if you could show me the red flags:
Weight: 0.74 points (GIA JVS1 with medium blue fluor)
Measurement: 5.73-5.76 X 3.59 MM
Cut, Polish, Symmetry: VG, G, VG
Table/Depth: 57%, 62.5%
PA/CA: 40.8, 35
Star Length: 55
Lower Hlaf 80%
Girdle: Medium slightly thick faceted
Culet: None

OR
Weight : 0.76 (GIA HVS2)
Measurement: 5.87-5.91 x 3.63mm
Cut, Polish, Symmetry: EX,EX, VG
Table/Depth: 55%, 61.6%
PA/CA: 41.2, 34.5
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 85%
Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted (3.0%)
Cutlet: None
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None

The second diamond costs considerably more (about 500USD). Is that extra 500 worth it ? Or would the first stone be OK (I noticed the CA to be over what is recommended) ? What are the down side of the first stone ? Thank you......

 

[purplesilk]

The first one looks promising by numbers:

Selected: 62.5% depth, 57% table, 35° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.7 - Excellent within TIC range


the second one seems to be worse than the first one:
Selected: 61.6% depth, 55% table, 34.5° crown angle, 41.2° pavilion angle

Light Return Very Good
Fire Good
Scintillation Good
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 3.2 - Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right

Take a look at this:
www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Hope it may help you.

 

[Amys Bling]

first stone sounds better by numbers on the HCA- the HCA assesses cut quality. the better the cut (the lower the HCA number- less than 2.0 is ideal).

What exactly is your budget if you don't mind sharing....we can help find you more stones- many vendors like whiteflash, GOG, James allen provide pictures and ASET images so you can actually see the stone you are deciding between, and are able to assess cut quality and light return from the ASET.

 

[marcy]

I was just shopping that size myself. How fun. I love mine.

I agree with Purplesilk, the numbers on the first one look good. Have you looked at a J in person to see if you like that color range?

 

[Equator]

Yep. I'm fine with a GIA J. Especially since this one has a bit of fluoro. So should I go ahead with this buy ??? There is another one that is a carater. It's way more, but I'm willing to spend the extra if it is a good one.

It's a GIA KVS1 with these specs:
6.45 - 6.53 x 3.95 mm
Carat Weight: 1.01 carat
Depth/Table : 60.8% ; 57%
CA/PA: 34.0˚ ; 40.8˚
Star Length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick, faceted
Cut, Polish & Sym: Ex VG VG
Fluorescence: Medium Blue

What do you all think ?

 

[purplesilk]

Selected: 60.8% depth, 57% table, 34° crown angle, 40.8° pavilion angle
Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.0 - Excellent within TIC range

The stone itself is a great great performer (better than the previous two you posted), but I guess you must be sure you/fiance are/is not color sensitive...although the flourescence can help it to appear whiter.

 

[Amys Bling]

Yep. I'm fine with a GIA J. Especially since this one has a bit of fluoro. So should I go ahead with this buy ??? There is another one that is a carater. It's way more, but I'm willing to spend the extra if it is a good one.

It's a GIA KVS1 with these specs:
6.45 - 6.53 x 3.95 mm
Carat Weight: 1.01 carat
Depth/Table : 60.8% ; 57%
CA/PA: 34.0˚ ; 40.8˚
Star Length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Thin to slightly thick, faceted
Cut, Polish & Sym: Ex VG VG
Fluorescence: Medium Blue

What do you all think ?

Keep in mind- anything below 2.0 on the HCA is an excellent/ideal cut. a 1.0 vs. 1.3 vs. 1.6- doesn't matter. The lower the number doesn't mean better cut once you are below 2.0. They are all excellent. Sometimes people get confused and think that a .9 is better than a 1.3. This tool is a rejection tool- helps you to weed out the stones over 2.0 on the HCA (if you are looking for ideal/excellent cut stone).

You need to go with what you are comfortable in terms of color- clarity- carat- and cost.

In regards to this stone- the medium bue flouro should make this K face up whiter and mask the color some.
Again- what are your preferences? Take that into consideration when choosing between this stone and your other candidate.

 

[Siamese Kitty]

Welcome Equator-

Are these stones from a B&M? Would you be able to get an idealscope? The second stone (H) has 85% lgf which may offset the 41.2 PA a bit. Granted, it may not be a traditional H & A AGS Ideal, but I think it would still possibly have good potential. I'm not an expert, though.

I personally would not buy a K for a surprise engagement ring. I think a J is already pushing it without knowing her tolerance for warmth. Some women love warmth and seek it out, others will look at their ring and see nothing else but the fact their diamond isn't super "white". On a budget, G, H, and even I, are safer bets. (in my opinion)

 

[yssie]

any of the three would be fine.

the HCA is a blunt weeding tool, and like other blunt tools it doesn't cater to every possibility for 'nice' proportions, and doesn't consider lgf.


85lgf will be a stone w/ very 'skinny' arrows, bright and lots of twinkle/scintillation but less bold flash than a shorter lgf would facilitate. such long lgfs will also be only slightly steeper than the pavilion mains, which is why a slightly steeper listed pavilion angle isn't cause for concern.

agree with SK to make sure she wants (or is okay with) the visible tint in a K - even in these sizes I'm afraid it will look more tinted than higher coloured stones to the vast majority of observers.

 

[Equator]

Thanks for the responses, Yssie, SiameseKitty, AmysBling and purplesilk. I'm sorry I didn't make it clear. It's not an engagement ring. It would be my little eye-candy. Yssie, I hate skinny arrows, and I'm glad you mentioned what those numbers meant.

I had a 70 points EGL KVS2 in the past. I liked it even though it's EGL. I got to see the stone before I bought it, so I guess it didn't really matter. It was a soft white to me. Set in platinum with H colour baguettes, they would sometimes show colour, while at other times the great cut masked it somewhat.

I was hoping, off course, that I could get the bigger stone on the assumption that a GIA K would be whiter than my EGL K. I assume this stone (online) has a better cut with EX,VG,VG. Which is why I am tornnnn....... Price wise, the first stone would be the cheapest, while the carater is an additional 900USD. A price that I think I'm willing to pay to get the full carat size, although I'd have to sacrifice on colour a bit.

Should I just go ahead with the carater, and if I don't like it, I can always return it ??