Oh dear. Lousy HCA...

[Nat50]

I know that my fiancé has gotten a ring. He's so happy and sent me the stats on the stone. It comes up as a 4.6 on the HCA. I know this wasn't a small expense, so I'm at a loss as to what to do. I haven't seen the ring yet, but don't want to crush his excitement. Any chance it won't be a dud?


Table: 61%
Depth: 60.5%
Crown Height: 11.9%
Crown Angle: 30.5'
Pavilion Depth: 44.3%
Pavilion Angle: 41.7'
Girdle: thin to sl. thick faceted
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: good

 

[Dancing Fire]

I know that my fiancé has gotten a ring. He's so happy and sent me the stats on the stone. It comes up as a 4.6 on the HCA. I know this wasn't a small expense, so I'm at a loss as to what to do. I haven't seen the ring yet, but don't want to crush his excitement. Any chance it won't be a dud?


Table: 61%
Depth: 60.5%
Crown Height: 11.9%
Crown Angle: 30.5'
Pavilion Depth: 44.3%
Pavilion Angle: 41.7'
Girdle: thin to sl. thick faceted
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: good

A big table with a flat top is not good news...

 

[kenny]

Simple problem.
Simple solution.

You know more than he does about selecting a diamond.
Just tell him everything.
Of course he'll say, "Oh thanks. We'll return it and get something well cut."
If he gets his boxers in a twist then he's a guy who is more sensitive about his pride than doing the right thing.

Worry about crushing his excitement is misplaced.
Like zillions of guys he bought a dud.
The industry tries its best to exploit us by pushing the heaviest stones they can cut from each rough diamond, NOT the most beautiful and well-cut ... that's not his fault.

I don't get it.
Why is this even a problem that warrants worrying about and posting about?
Do you and he believe that women are supposed to be ignorant and quiet, and men always smart in control, or something?
If so I think you two have more to talk about than a diamond.

 

[Rockdiamond]

hi Nat,
Your's is a totally understandable question to ask.
Here's how I'd advise a friend if asked.
Seeing as how he's already purchased the diamond the first thing is that he's going to give it to you and hopefully you'll look at it and go WOW!
I get 3.4 when I plug it into the HCA.
And if you think about it, the HCA grade actually makes a good statement
Total Visual Performance 3.4 - Very Good - Worth buying if the price is right

There's a very good chance you'll find it to be a very attractive diamond.
There's quite a few diamonds that score above 2 on HCA that don't show obvious visual defects
I'll readily agree that if it's below 2 there's going to be no obvious visual defects
But that does not mean you will love the lower scoring stone- or that you won;t love the higher scoring one.
There's times a person may prefer a given stone scoring 3 over a different stone scoring 1

Beyond all this- is how he purchased it.
If he overpaid, that's a different question.
If you love it and he overpaid a little, no biggie.

More importantly- if there's no opportunity to return or exchange and you know that, it might give you a different perspective.
First, see if you love the diamond- you might.
If you don't.... well, I agree with you, that's a delicate issue.
But don't put the cart before the horse, and don't let the HCA score prejudice your first look

 

[Karl_K]

I know that my fiancé has gotten a ring. He's so happy and sent me the stats on the stone. It comes up as a 4.6 on the HCA. I know this wasn't a small expense, so I'm at a loss as to what to do. I haven't seen the ring yet, but don't want to crush his excitement. Any chance it won't be a dud?


Table: 61%
Depth: 60.5%
Crown Height: 11.9%
Crown Angle: 30.5'
Pavilion Depth: 44.3%
Pavilion Angle: 41.7'
Girdle: thin to sl. thick faceted
Polish: excellent
Symmetry: good

A big table with a flat top is not good news...

Color entrapment with the deep pavilion is a problem also

 

[arkieb1]

Show him the HCA, let him read up on diamonds and explain to him that the better cut the diamond the more fire and sparkle and visual appeal it will have. Perhaps if it is not too late what you might be able to talk him into doing is exchanging it for a different stone provided it came from a vendor that has decent cut stones or to get a refund and he either shops with a better understanding of what he is looking for or with your help.

 

[Gypsy]

Copy and paste the below to him, okay?

The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king.
No other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut. An ideal H will out white a poorly cut F. And GIA Ex is not enough. And you must stick to GIA and AGS only. EGL is a bad option: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/egl-certification-are-any-of-them-ok.142863/[/URL]
So how to we ensure that we have the right angles and cutting to get the light performance we want?
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/diamond-cut
Well one method is to start with a GIA Ex, and then apply the HCA to it. YOU DO NOT USE HCA for AGS0 stones.
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/holloway-cut-advisor
The HCA is a rejection tool. Not a selection tool. It uses 4 data points to make a rudimentary call on how the diamond may perform.
If the diamond passes then you know that you are in the right zone in terms of angles for light performance. Under 2 is a pass. Under 2.5-2.1 is a maybe. 2.6 and over is a no. No score 2 and under is better than any other. Also try to stick to stones with crown angles between 34-36 and depth under 62.4.
Is that enough? Not really.
So what you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.
That's what an idealscope image does. https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/firescope-idealscope
It shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return. That is why you won't see us recommending Blue Nile, as they do not provide idealscope images for their diamonds. BGD, James Allen, GOG, HPD, ERD and WF do.

The Idealscope is the 'selection tool'. Not the HCA.
So yes, with a GIA stone you need the idealscope images. Or you can buy an idealscope yourself and take it in to the jeweler you are working with to check the stones yourself. Or if you have a good return policy (full refund minimum 7 days) then you can buy the idealscope, buy the stone, and do it at home.


Now if you want to skip all that... stick to AGS0 stones and then all you have to do is pick color and clarity and you know you have a great performing diamond. Because AGS has already done the checking for you. That's why they trade at a premium.

 

[Nat50]

Simple problem.
Simple solution.

You know more than he does about selecting a diamond.
Just tell him everything.
Of course he'll say, "Oh thanks. We'll return it and get something well cut."
If he gets his boxers in a twist then he's a guy who is more sensitive about his pride than doing the right thing.

Worry about crushing his excitement is misplaced.
Like zillions of guys he bought a dud.
The industry tries its best to exploit us by pushing the heaviest stones they can cut from each rough diamond, NOT the most beautiful and well-cut ... that's not his fault.

I don't get it.
Why is this even a problem that warrants worrying about and posting about?
Do you and he believe that women are supposed to be ignorant and quiet, and men always smart in control, or something?
If so I think you two have more to talk about than a diamond.

Why is this even something you bothered to answer if you're going to be so negative? I'm just trying to determine how/if it's something to address. I'll be happy to marry him with a gum ball machine ring.

 

[AprilBaby]

Take Kenny with a grain of salt. And then add it to some popcorn , enjoy, and move on.

He has a point but it's not always expressed in a way everyone appreciates!

 

[GQsOwn]

I wouldn't listen to anyone's advice on this matter until you have first considered what type of guy he is. You know him better than anyone else (on here for sure). You have to consider whether he is the type of person who will take it personal and may consider you as being unappreciative of his gesture or what he perceives to be a good diamond. Or is he the type who wouldn't mind being told that there is a problem (potential) with the diamond and that you want to give him some information that will make the process come out to a stone he can be proud of and one you are happy with. Insert Gypsy advice above on how to pick a stone, if he is the latter type.

I understand your concern, no one wants to be perceived as unappreciative but I think a purchase of this magnitude and something, perceivably, you will be wearing forever (not excluding upgrades) you want to be happy with it as well. People are different, some people only care about the tangible data but that is not all there is to it.

I think your approach will matter and with that I wish you the best.

 

[blingbuyer]

I would totally recommend sending what gypsy wrote to him. I was that guy too and almost bought a dud as well until i learned what to be looking for. He can still buy in whatever price range he wants, but send him that info so hes informed. It makes a huge difference.