new engagement shopper

[ryan8211]

I''m engagement ring shopping - and I started by walking in (and out) of cartier and tifs - wow on the mark-ups... anyway--I''m in manhattan so I walked over to the diamond district. I''m not very experienced but I know I want an Ideal Cut/Polish/Sym stone. One shop is getting a stone back from GIA and I can look later this week.
what do you think of these measurements (below), and also what are your thoughts on Ideal (which obv has a ton of wiggle room within the proportions) and a H&A Ideal? Thanks!:

Measurements: 8.02 - 8.07 x 5.01 mm
Carat Weight: 2.01 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 62.3%
Table: 56%
Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/28/2009 1:45:00 PM
Author:ryan8211
I'm engagement ring shopping - and I started by walking in (and out) of cartier and tifs - wow on the mark-ups... anyway--I'm in manhattan so I walked over to the diamond district. I'm not very experienced but I know I want an Ideal Cut/Polish/Sym stone. One shop is getting a stone back from GIA and I can look later this week.
what do you think of these measurements (below), and also what are your thoughts on Ideal (which obv has a ton of wiggle room within the proportions) and a H&A Ideal? Thanks!:

Measurements: 8.02 - 8.07 x 5.01 mm
Carat Weight: 2.01 carat
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 62.3%
Table: 56%
Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

Welcome Ryan

It could be a great diamond but the crown and pavilion angle combo really needs an Idealscope or ASET image to judge it, this combo is on the edge where sometimes light leakage can occur, I take it you saw the diamond in person? Do you also have the star and lower girdle facet percentages please? These will be on the grading report.


Usually the term Ideal Cut relates to AGS0 Ideal cut grade, otherwise the term can be used loosely and is no guarantee of a well cut diamond. H&A, some diamonds are sold as such but would not meet the strict standards as decreed by experts of this cutting style, images of both the hearts and arrows are necessary in order to evaluate the cut precision.

This page explains ASET and IS images

http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

Tutorial on hearts and arrows

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/hna.asp

If you want a diamond which is Ideal in all areas then maybe an AGS0 cut grade diamond might be the best choice for you, one which is ideal in performance, proportions and finish. Sometimes these are also h&a, if a h&a diamond is also important to you then maybe a branded h&a cut with an AGS0 cut grade is where to look, Hearts on Fire if shopping in a store if there is a dealer near you, or -

Infinity if buying online www.highperformancediamonds.com

Brain Gavin Signature Ideals www.briangavindiamonds.com

or A Cut Above from Whiteflash www.whiteflash.com

www.goodoldgold.com

 

[stone-cold11]

If you are in NYC, best to give GoodOldGold a visit, they are based in Long Island but require an appointment first.

 

[ryan8211]

thanks for the feedback

one more:

Depth %: 60.8
Table %: 55.5
Crown Angle: 34.6
Crown %: 15.4
Star : 52
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Pavilion %: 42.8
Lower Girdle %: 78
Girdle: Thin Faceted
Measurements: 8.35-8.37X5.08
Light Performance: 0
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[stone-cold11]

Numbers look good to me. Any images?

 

[ryan8211]

he didnt have the stones in the store (the first one was coming back tomorrow from GIA) - said he could bring it tomorrow - gave me the GIA report number so i can look at that online. i had one more report than the two above, but i erased the number from my phone, by accident. i doubt he''ll have an idealscope, but he might.... just a shop in the manhattan diamond district -- i know you can get good deals there, but varying off from a name-brand store (which I know doesnt mean anything) makes you (or me at least) feel like your getting scammed. i know that isnt the case with most but just the feeling i get without much (or any really) experience behind me

 

[stone-cold11]

Everyone has to start somewhere. Numbers looks good, if he doesn''t have an Idealscope, buy one yourself and take it along for the hunt.

If you want to see in real life how well they work, make an appointment with GOG. Exceldiamond is also based in NYC, they also have ASET/IS scope, could be worth a look for you.
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/28/2009 6:36:24 PM
Author: ryan8211
thanks for the feedback

one more:

Depth %: 60.8
Table %: 55.5
Crown Angle: 34.6
Crown %: 15.4
Star : 52
Pavilion Angle: 40.6
Pavilion %: 42.8
Lower Girdle %: 78
Girdle: Thin Faceted
Measurements: 8.35-8.37X5.08
Light Performance: 0
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Culet: None
Fluorescence: Negligible

Yes Ryan, this one has potential.