Observations about ideal cut diamond performance

[Dreamer_D]

Before I bought my ideal cut diamond, I had a lot of questions about what an ideal cut stone looks like and how it compared to other diamonds out there. I never really found the type of descriptive information I wanted, so I thought that I would post some of my observations for others who may have similar questions.

If you have any other questions or comments about my observations, or if you have observations of your own, please post! I think this could be a good resource thread for people looking to buy with little first hand experience with ideal cuts.

My diamond is from Whiteflash: http://www.whiteflash.com/round_ideal_cut/Round-Ideal-Cut-cut-diamond-684411.htm
. Report: AGS
. Shape: Round Ideal Cut
. Carat: 0.810
. Depth %: 60.4
. Table %: 56.2
. Crown Angle: 34.8
. Crown %: 15.2
. Star : 53
. Pavilion Angle: 40.7
. Pavilion %: 42.8
. Lower Girdle %: 77
. Girdle: Thin
. Measurements: 6.06-6.07X3.66
. Polish: Excellent
. Symmetry: Excellent
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible
It scores a 1 on the HCA and falls in both the AGS ideal range and the GIA Excellent. Was cut as an ACA, but was classed as an ES because of the "onlyZ" excellent symmetry and polish.

Pictures here: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/commencing-countdown-engines-on.82068/

And here: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/dreamers-little-beauty.82376/

Here are my observations so far:

I am really enjoying getting to know this stone... it really has a different personality than any other diamond I have ever seen. For example, most diamonds I have seen (which I am sure are not clean or well cut

) look like bright white, static circles in most lighting, and when it is darker they go dark and cannot really be seen at all.

My stone only looks like a white circle in the dark or very low light, and even then it still has a little life. In the dark is positively *glows* which is really amazing to see. Go into any other level of light and the stone starts doing all sorts of scintilating (i.e, flashes of l\bright white and dark), and go into bright light and the main body of the stone gets dark and shoots off rainbow sparks.

There is a lot more contrast between light and dark in this stone than I have ever seen before. Looking at it from about 10 inches, you can see small-scale scintillation off the smaller cuts, and this really draws you in. Looking at it from farther away and it is hard to really focus on it because the patterns in it keep moving all the time.

The diamond really pics up color from my surroundings, and this is something that is surprising! In my yellow living room it takes on a lemon color, in the lavender bathroom it looks lavender, and in the black car it looks steely grey. Over all these base colors there is also lots of bright white flashes. This really shicked my hubby who at first thought that our diamond was *yellow* until he realized that what he was seeing was the reflection of out walls! It is a really beautiful thing to behold, and I have never seen this before in other diamonds.
Anyways, thought I would jott down my observations in case anyone is curious about what an ideal cut stone really looks like! I know I was curious before I bought one!

DD

 

[MikeRato1]

DD - thats an informative post and appreciate it. when i was purchasing mine i was too confused about the performances between different "ideals"

whats strange for me is i ended up purchasing a stone that scored poorly on the hca, even though my jeweler allowed me to keep it up on the comp screen
while we were comparing stones. but i didnt know what to do other than to pick the one that looked best to me




oh and btw... love your ring!

 

[MnM]

I am newbie here and there''s a lot to learn.
What is "Ideal" really still puzzles me.
So if it''s a AGS000 or GIA 3ex, with HCA 0-2, will it guarantee a pretty "Ideal" ideal?

 

[ellabella]

I thought the highest you could get on a DQR in symmetry and polish is Excellent? And the ideal terminology is only used on DQD''s.

 

[pixley]

Thanks DD for this post. I really love both of your stones (DD and MikeR). They both stand out in my mind as two very special RBs on this site. When it comes time for me to order a round, I will definitely come back to your posts.

Cheers,
Pix

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/4/2008 3:29:42 PM
Author: MnM
I am newbie here and there''s a lot to learn.
What is ''Ideal'' really still puzzles me.
So if it''s a AGS000 or GIA 3ex, with HCA 0-2, will it guarantee a pretty ''Ideal'' ideal?

I''m not sure, since even though I have learned a lot, I am not sure what "guarantees" ideal. Most people start with the specs you have and then in addition want an ideal scope image that looks beeoootiful, and a sarin report of proportion report that lists values in the following ranges:

Table: 54-57%
Depth: 60-62%
Crown angel: 34-35
Pavilion angle: 40.6 - 41

This is for RBs of course. Also, unless you are an expert, some of these requirements are splitting hairs and the stone will look awesome even if it deviates from some of these specs. When you get closer to actually choosing, post your possibles and people here will help you pick.

DD

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/4/2008 3:31:07 PM
Author: ellabella
I thought the highest you could get on a DQR in symmetry and polish is Excellent? And the ideal terminology is only used on DQD''s.

That''s beyond me! You may be right, my comment was just what I recalled from a conversation with my WF rep. She told me my stone had been cut to be an ACA, but for some reason it didn''t make that grade. She also told me that unless I was a gemologist or expert, I would not be able to tell the differnce between my stone and an actual ACA, so take that for what you will.

DD

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/4/2008 3:32:05 PM
Author: pixley
Thanks DD for this post. I really love both of your stones (DD and MikeR). They both stand out in my mind as two very special RBs on this site. When it comes time for me to order a round, I will definitely come back to your posts.

Cheers,
Pix

Thanks pixley, glad you found it intersting.

One other observation about arrows. In my stone, it is impossible not to photograph dark balck arrows face on... they always appear in photos. But with the naked eye, you cannot see black arrows. Instead, you see peeks of intense silver where the arrows are. It is really beautiful. There is actually no black. This is a big difference between stones in real life and in pictures.

DD

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 4/4/2008 3:29:42 PM
Author: MnM
I am newbie here and there''s a lot to learn.
What is ''Ideal'' really still puzzles me.
So if it''s a AGS000 or GIA 3ex, with HCA 0-2, will it guarantee a pretty ''Ideal'' ideal?

with an IS or ASET image showing exellent light return.

The number guidelines posted above are obsolete.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/4/2008 3:51:12 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 4/4/2008 3:29:42 PM
Author: MnM
I am newbie here and there''s a lot to learn.
What is ''Ideal'' really still puzzles me.
So if it''s a AGS000 or GIA 3ex, with HCA 0-2, will it guarantee a pretty ''Ideal'' ideal?

with an IS or ASET image showing exellent light return.

The number guidelines posted above are obsolete.

I had no idea about that! For the average consumer, how can they weed out the dogs without using a number range? I guess they could plug every single stone into the HCA...

DD

 

[MikeRato1]

storm are you saying if you were choosing a stone you wouldnt care about the numbers, only the IS or ASET photos?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 4/4/2008 4:03:38 PM
Author: MikeRato1
storm are you saying if you were choosing a stone you wouldnt care about the numbers, only the IS or ASET photos?

its more complicated than that, the IS or ASET is more important than the numbers but what the numbers need too show is that the crown angle, pavilion angle, and in some combos the lgf% work together for the intended use.
There are some stones for example with excellent looking IS images that aren't the best in a ring but look awesome in a pendant or earrings. The numbers help with this.

I like too think of looking for a diamond as using filters..
For rounds the my first filter is AGS0, GIA EX, then check with the HCA and my knowledge of combos too avoid, then use IS or ASET and other secondary tools(B-scope, Isee2, videos, reg. pictures, and scans too check for tightness if you want too be as insane as I am) if available for the final selection.

The quickest way from step 1 too step finger is use a vendor that is skilled at selecting high performance diamonds that provides all the information up front.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/4/2008 4:47:32 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 4/4/2008 4:03:38 PM
Author: MikeRato1
storm are you saying if you were choosing a stone you wouldnt care about the numbers, only the IS or ASET photos?

its more complicated than that, the IS or ASET is more important than the numbers but what the numbers need too show is that the crown angle, pavilion angle, and in some combos the lgf% work together for the intended use.
There are some stones for example with excellent looking IS images that aren''t the best in a ring but look awesome in a pendant or earrings. The numbers help with this.

I like too think of looking for a diamond as using filters..
For rounds the my first filter is AGS0, GIA EX, then check with the HCA and my knowledge of combos too avoid, then use IS or ASET and other secondary tools(B-scope, Isee2, videos, reg. pictures, and scans too check for tightness if you want too be as insane as I am) if available for the final selection.

The quickest way from step 1 too step finger is use a vendor that is skilled at selecting high performance diamonds that provides all the information up front.

Great information Storm, thanks... that''s exactly why I went with WF!

DD

 

[MnM]

Date: 4/4/2008 3:37:09 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 4/4/2008 3:29:42 PM

Author: MnM

I am newbie here and there''s a lot to learn.

What is ''Ideal'' really still puzzles me.

So if it''s a AGS000 or GIA 3ex, with HCA 0-2, will it guarantee a pretty ''Ideal'' ideal?

I''m not sure, since even though I have learned a lot, I am not sure what ''guarantees'' ideal. Most people start with the specs you have and then in addition want an ideal scope image that looks beeoootiful, and a sarin report of proportion report that lists values in the following ranges:


Table: 54-57%

Depth: 60-62%

Crown angel: 34-35

Pavilion angle: 40.6 - 41


This is for RBs of course. Also, unless you are an expert, some of these requirements are splitting hairs and the stone will look awesome even if it deviates from some of these specs. When you get closer to actually choosing, post your possibles and people here will help you pick.


DD

DD,
is sarin important? AGS or GIA reports provide these numbers too. It it sufficient?
Thanks!

 

[MikeRato1]

gotcha!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 4/4/2008 4:56:26 PM
Author: MnM


DD,
is sarin important? AGS or GIA reports provide these numbers too. It it sufficient?
Thanks!

most of the time the AGS and GIA numbers are enough.
But the GIA numbers are rounded so if its on the edge better numbers are needed.
That said I like having a full sarin scan or better yet a full helium scan report because im a workmanship nut and want too know how tight it was cut.
Not everyone wants or needs too go too that level however.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/4/2008 4:56:26 PM
Author: MnM

Date: 4/4/2008 3:37:09 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 4/4/2008 3:29:42 PM

Author: MnM

I am newbie here and there''s a lot to learn.

What is ''Ideal'' really still puzzles me.

So if it''s a AGS000 or GIA 3ex, with HCA 0-2, will it guarantee a pretty ''Ideal'' ideal?

I''m not sure, since even though I have learned a lot, I am not sure what ''guarantees'' ideal. Most people start with the specs you have and then in addition want an ideal scope image that looks beeoootiful, and a sarin report of proportion report that lists values in the following ranges:


Table: 54-57%

Depth: 60-62%

Crown angel: 34-35

Pavilion angle: 40.6 - 41


This is for RBs of course. Also, unless you are an expert, some of these requirements are splitting hairs and the stone will look awesome even if it deviates from some of these specs. When you get closer to actually choosing, post your possibles and people here will help you pick.


DD

DD,
is sarin important? AGS or GIA reports provide these numbers too. It it sufficient?
Thanks!

I guess so, but there are some types of reports that don''t give those numbers... just get them from a reliable source. And remeber what Storm just told us, that those ranges are kind of old school... using the HCA for judge your particular combination of values is probably best, and alwayy get an ideal scope of ASET image and actual pictures of the diamond too. The easiest thing to do is use a reputable vendor who can help you out: WF, GOG, JA, ERD... these names come up repeatedly with happy customers around here.


DD

 

[MnM]

Thanks DD and Storm. Very helpful!