NOT PERFECT?

[Sizzle]

I have noted that whenever someone comes on here looking for a diamond, not matter what the budget, it seems the first thing he/she is told is that they need to look for an AGS 0 diamonds... . I wonder why. I mean in an ideal world, of COURSE I''d want the best of the best, but when people have a very limited budget, it''s possible to get a beautiful diamond with a great cut that''s not "ideal". Especially since most people in the world don''t go around comparing their diamonds to really appreciate the ideal cut. I think it''s harder to buy a "good" or "premium" cut after being told "you should find the ideal...".. KWIM? It''s really hard to get my point across online without sounding snotty.

 

[neatfreak]

I disagree...I think it''s all about educating people about why a really well cut diamond matters. If someone comes with a limited budget and certain expectations (i.e., a certain carat size or color) I will recommend a diamond that might not be an ideal cut as long as it''s still likely to be a nicely cut stone. But I do always make sure that they understand the benefits and drawbacks of the particular stone.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 1/4/2009 1:30:29 PM
Author:Sizzle
I have noted that whenever someone comes on here looking for a diamond, not matter what the budget, it seems the first thing he/she is told is that they need to look for an AGS 0 diamonds... . I wonder why. I mean in an ideal world, of COURSE I'd want the best of the best, but when people have a very limited budget, it's possible to get a beautiful diamond with a great cut that's not 'ideal'. Especially since most people in the world don't go around comparing their diamonds to really appreciate the ideal cut. I think it's harder to buy a 'good' or 'premium' cut after being told 'you should find the ideal...'.. KWIM? It's really hard to get my point across online without sounding snotty.

I get your point. I think many are pointed in that direction, because it takes the guesswork out of buying--esp with the dudes shopping for their ladies.

My e-ring stone is not AGSO. Its angles are ideal, but it lacks ideal symmetry--fine by me.

"best"--the term is subjective. Some people push D FL as the best, and anything below G color is not "quality." Not me.

--the beauty of any stone is in the eye of the beholder. There is no "best."

(this topic is often brought up on colored stones--"precision" cuts vs. other cutting methods--a stone need not be "precision" cut to be beautiful.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/4/2009 1:30:29 PM
Author:Sizzle
I have noted that whenever someone comes on here looking for a diamond, not matter what the budget, it seems the first thing he/she is told is that they need to look for an AGS 0 diamonds... . I wonder why. I mean in an ideal world, of COURSE I'd want the best of the best, but when people have a very limited budget, it's possible to get a beautiful diamond with a great cut that's not 'ideal'. Especially since most people in the world don't go around comparing their diamonds to really appreciate the ideal cut. I think it's harder to buy a 'good' or 'premium' cut after being told 'you should find the ideal...'.. KWIM? It's really hard to get my point across online without sounding snotty.

Actually no this isn't always the case, there have been some more recent posters who have tended to offer that advice as standard, however those of us who have been posting a long time are trying hard to give people a good range of options once we find out what they want without automatically stating AGS0 is the only way to go - it certainly isn't the only way to find a well cut diamond, also I prefer not to assume anything even with AGS0 in my consumer capacity. We need to be able to cater for everyone here regardless of what they want to buy, where they want to buy etc in order to make Pricescope a valuable resource for any diamond purchaser. We try hard to cater for what the poster wants and to point them in the right direction to find a diamond which suits them. Not everyone wants a top cut stone, sometimes just a nicely cut diamond will fit the bill as some have other priorities such as rather having a certain size, colour, clarity etc. For those who state they do want the best cut they can get, then they are generally advised to search within AGS0 and GIA Excellent simply because it is easier than wading through a ton of diamonds to find the best cut if looking for a round diamond, it narrows the field. With Princess, AGS are the only lab who offer a cut grade to this shapes at the moment, so if a top cut Princess is wanted then some do tend to concentrate on AGS0 as PC's can't be judged by the proportions. But as I often say there are well cut GIA Princess out there, it just takes more work to find them unless they are in house stock of a trusted vendor who can supply ASET and detailed photographs.

 

[coatimundi_org]

one more thing--when a guy is searching for a rb e-ring stone, it''s simply easiest to point him to GOG or other great vendor, because they have great hand selected stones--just mho.

When people come on looking for oecs, omc, or other fancy shapes--it''s very different.

 

[elle_chris]

I dunno, I think it''s a balance. I myself wouldn''t tell someone to go down in color/clarity below an H,VS2 for an e-ring just so to get a super duper Ideal cut (if they had a specific range they were looking at at least).
I would probably point them to stones that are GIA with excellent proportions and ask for an idealscope image just to make sure they''re still getting an amazing cut, without paying the premium for a branded AGS0.

I''m lucky enough to own ACAs that are AGS0''s and a GOG H&A as well. But for e-ring stone, I knew exactly what my range was in terms of size, color, clarity. No ACA, or GOG stone fell into my budget with my specs. And I wasn''t going up in size (I know its'' sacrilege here to go smaller)and give up my color/clarity choice, OR down in size to get what I wanted. So, I chose a GIA X with beautiful proportions and I couldn''t be happier with it.

I think it''s up to the individual, but I do think we push here for lower color/clarity to get the most magnificant cut, which sometimes really isn''t what the poster wants.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/4/2009 2:02:15 PM
Author: elle_chris
I dunno, I think it''s a balance. I myself wouldn''t tell someone to go down in color/clarity below an H,VS2 for an e-ring just so to get a super duper Ideal cut (if they had a specific range they were looking at at least).
I would probably point them to stones that are GIA with excellent proportions and ask for an idealscope image just to make sure they''re still getting an amazing cut, without paying the premium for a branded AGS0.

I''m lucky enough to own ACAs that are AGS0''s and a GOG H&A as well. But for e-ring stone, I knew exactly what my range was in terms of size, color, clarity. No ACA, or GOG stone fell into my budget with my specs. And I wasn''t going up in size (I know its'' sacrilege here to go smaller)and give up my color/clarity choice, OR down in size to get what I wanted. So, I chose a GIA X with beautiful proportions and I couldn''t be happier with it.

I think it''s up to the individual, but I do think we push here for lower color/clarity to get the most magnificant cut, which sometimes really isn''t what the poster wants.

I agree, that is something we need to watch for - some want IF or VVS/ D colour etc and it is important for us to respect that, we can bring it up certainly that the colour and clarity can be dropped without visual sacrifice but in the end some may still prefer what to them is the best, nothing wrong with that!

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Date: 1/4/2009 1:30:29 PM
Author:Sizzle
I have noted that whenever someone comes on here looking for a diamond, not matter what the budget, it seems the first thing he/she is told is that they need to look for an AGS 0 diamonds... . I wonder why. I mean in an ideal world, of COURSE I''d want the best of the best, but when people have a very limited budget, it''s possible to get a beautiful diamond with a great cut that''s not ''ideal''. Especially since most people in the world don''t go around comparing their diamonds to really appreciate the ideal cut. I think it''s harder to buy a ''good'' or ''premium'' cut after being told ''you should find the ideal...''.. KWIM? It''s really hard to get my point across online without sounding snotty.

I totally get what you are saying! I was engaged long before I ever knew about PS and we got my ring at the maul. Ya know what? I don''t care. Most people in the real world could really care less about the stats of a diamond so I don''t worry about it. I''m not in the market to change my ring so I''m happy that I have one at all. I will admit to steering friends about to be engaged to PS to educate them but I don''t push the issue because not everybody is a jewelry nut. I don''t think you''re being snotty at all - just realistic.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I think its just a question of giving people full information so they can make a totally informed decision. I agree w/ Lorelei and NF that most of the PS "veterans" wouldn''t deliberately steer someone away from a nicely cut stone within their budget and other requirements because it isn''t ideal, we just want them to know what the options are and what kind of difference it makes which one you choose.

I, personally, wish that I had had that information when choosing my original e-ring. I love my ring very much and get lots of compliments, but had I known then what I know now, I might have pushed to spend just a bit more to get an ACA or AGS0 stone for that extra sparkle, or even just for my own peace of mind. I"m not sure 100% about that, but I wish I''d had the option and the information at the time.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The vast majority of people out there buy average to poor diamonds and are completely happy! I think that is great, seriously. But for those who end up on this site (probably researchers by nature), I feel an obligation to steer them to well cut stones. My e-ring stone is GIA excellent, so I find no need to push AGS0 over GIA. But I do think it is easiest to give people the general parameters of an ideal cut stone, because it would be overwhelming to try to sift through the thousands of internet diamonds without SOME kind of guidelines! It is expensive to order stones just to look at and then send back. Yes, many "very good" cuts are going to be beautiful. But it will be impossible to really evaluate them without doing some other investigation that requires seeing the stone.

There is also the case of someone who buys a stone, overpays for a questionable cut, and asks for our opinions before their return period is over. In that case, I really hate to see someone taken advantage of. If they can get a better cut stone for the same money, I certainly tell them so.

My original diamond was bought before the days that certs were common and expected. It is a beautiful stone and I received compliments on it through the years. But would I buy it now? No, I wouldn''t. It would be even more beautiful if it had a better cut! So I certainly try to help people avoid buying a diamond they might later regret. And I never push people into the lower colors and clarity just to get ideal cut. I steer them to a stone in their price range with usually SI1 or better and preferably H or better, unless they are specifically looking for I and J color.