Opinion on Diamonds needed - HELP

[find45di2]

I am helping a friend shop for a diamond and he found 3 stones he really likes. I've seen these diamonds and they are definitely top notch to the eye. They do not rate great on the Holloway Cut Advisor, but i've seen the stones and they truly are superb. He is very comfortable with the guy he is buying from and would like to consider one of these diamonds.


Keep in mind that they are Eye clean from the top, and near eye clean from the bottom to the point where you can hardly even see anything with a 10X loupe.

However, these diamonds proportions aren't all favorites of people around here. Are the angles and depths good enough to consider?

All shine amazingly beautiful.

What are your thoughts on these 2?

Diamond #1
GIA Certified
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight: 1.50
Measurements: 7.30 - 7.32 x 4.59 mm
Color Grade: H
Clarity Grade: VS1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: Faint

Depth: 62.8 %
Table: 56 %
Crown Angle: 35.5°
Crown Height: 16 %
Pavilion Angle: 41.2°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5 %
Star length: 50 %
Lower Half: 75 %

Girdle: Medium, Faceted
In the $11,000 to $11,500 range


Diamond #2
Round Brilliant
Carat Weight: 1.52
Measurements: 7.37 - 7.41 x 4.56 mm
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Faint

Depth: 61.7 %
Table: 58 %
Crown Angle: 35°
Crown Height: 15 %
Pavilion Angle: 41.2°
Pavilion Depth: 43.5 %
Star length: 55 %
Lower Half: 80 %

Girdle: Thin to Medium, Faceted
In the $11,000 to $11,500 range


Any feedback appreciated

 

[somethingshiny]

According to HCA, the first scored 4.4 with "good only if price is main concern", the second scored 3.7 "very good, worth buying if price is right". So, neither of them are great. Sorry.

 

[find45di2]

Date: 9/18/2007 10:41:48 PM
Author: somethingshiny
According to HCA, the first scored 4.4 with 'good only if price is main concern', the second scored 3.7 'very good, worth buying if price is right'. So, neither of them are great. Sorry.

I already realize that they do not rank very well on the Holloway Cut Advisor, but I have also seen stones to my eye that have ranked great on the Holloway Cut Advisor that were far less brilliant than ones that have ranked badly. So I am looking for some feedback that will keep the Holloway Cut Advisor in mind, but also consider the stone for whatever positive qualities they may have. Or, please point out the negative things other than the Holloway Cut Advisor score, and I realize that they may be a bit deeper that people on the boards like.

Anyone else have any feedback on these stones?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The second one looks a little better to me. I imagine it is the pavilion angle that is hurting it on the HCA. We usually try to stay with 40.6 ro 41.0 on pavilion angle. The depth is better on this one, so it has a better diameter than the first one. As far as how these would appear compared to an ideal cut, I hope an expert will reply.

 

[somethingshiny]

I am not NEARLY as knowledgeable as many of the PSers. But, I think the second one would perform a little better than the first. Also, the higher color is great, too.

 

[find45di2]

Thanks for the details. So the 1.52 seems to be the winner of these 2 stones, even though the overall characteristics could be better on both. Why don''t I throw in one more stone my friend is considering. This 1.62 is also a great looking stone, VERY IMPRESSIVE at least to the eye.

Diamond #3
GIA Diamond Grading Report
1.62ct
Round Brilliant

Measurements: 7.50 - 7.52 x 4.69 mm
Color Grade: I
Clarity Grade: SI1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Faint

Depth: 62.5 %
Table: 55 %
Crown Angle: 35.5°
Crown Height: 16 %
Pavilion Angle: 41°
Pavilion Depth: 43 %
Star length: 45 %
Lower Half: 75 %

Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet: None


Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Faint
Holloway Cut Advisor=3.9

If you had to choose between these 3 stones, which would you choose?

 

[somethingshiny]

Number three would be my choice purely on a size standpoint. However, if that I seems yellowish, I''d be back to 2.

 

[hedarud]

Those stones seem OK at best....Alright, since your friend has 11,500 to spend try this.....

GIA report on it is # 16105929 HCA works out to 1.3


It is under 11,500 with PS discount..... http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-422521.htm




Report Type: GIA Diamond Dossier®

Date of Issue: August 31, 2007

Laser Inscription Registry: GIA 16105929

Round Brilliant

Measurements: 7.37 - 7.41 x 4.54 mm

Carat Weight: 1.51

Color Grade: G

Clarity Grade: VS2

Cut Grade: Excellent

Proportions:

Depth: 61.4 %

Table: 56 %

Crown Angle: 34°

Crown Height: 14.5 %

Pavilion Angle: 41°

Pavilion Depth: 43.5 %

Star length: 50 %

Lower Half: 80 %

Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted

Culet: None

Finish:

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Excellent

Fluorescence: None

Clarity Characteristics: Crystal, Feather

 

[find45di2]

Diamond #3 is a really nice I color stone. It has been lined up with many others and I would say it is a Strong I, or somewhere in the H range even though it was graded as an I. My friend does NOT want anything with a yellowish look, and against other stones he is content with its color.

So if Diamond #3''s I color is acceptable and not an issue, which of the 3 would you choose and why?

 

[somethingshiny]

OF the three you posted, I''d go with #3. I think 2 and 3 would probably perform similarly as far as being sparkly. I like a nice spread and # 3 certainly fits the bill. But, before purchasing an I stone, you should take into consideration what band will eventually be with it. If she wants a colorless eternity band, for example, an I might go milky. You''ve seen the stones in person, which do you like best? Also, have you looked at them under different lighting conditions?

 

[somethingshiny]

The stone HEDARUD linked could be good, but doesn''t seem to be in stock. You could always call WF or GOG and tell them what you''re looking for and see what they come up with.

HEDARUD~ how nice of you to find a stone!

 

[find45di2]

Thanks for the feedback, and the sample stone.

I have seen all 3 of these diamonds, as well as a bunch of others and they truly look like they are superb stones. The guy who is selling the stones is a personal seller who is trustworthy, and sold me an amazing stone that ranked well on the Holloway and was just an amazing stone overall.

I''ve shopped locally all over the place and everyone shows sub-par stones compared to this guy''s stones. Even in the Diamond district I''ve seen a lot of average stones to the eye. These 3 stones I listed are amazing stones and have minimal, if any inclusions. I have a hard time finding them if at all based on how they are positioned and all.

My friend really likes the look of these three, and to tell you the truth, if it weren''t for the Holloway Cut Advisor score I probably wouldn''t questions these stones much at all.

I''ve seen them in house lighting, jeweler''s lighting, kitchen lighting, office lighting, sunlight, and in darkness, they look great in all of them.


PS - The Diamond #3 is in the $9500 range which is a good amount cheaper than the others, but it does not show to the eye other than possibly a hair bit more color due to the I

Thoughts?

 

[somethingshiny]

If you''ve purchased an "HCA approved" stone,I think you should trust your gut. You know what a superb stone looks like, and if these still rank with you, I think they would be great. My only concern, like I said, would be for how it looks next to other diamonds she might be wearing. $9500 is a heck of a deal!

 

[hedarud]

Just so you know, the I si1 stone at 9500 is not particaulrly a great deal, especially considering 9500 should get you a GIA 1.6ct I si1 with Ex Ex EX , just looking out for you the way many have looked out for me

 

[find45di2]

So if the 1.62 can be had in EX/EX/EX for $9500, what is a decent price for this 1.62/Diamond #3??? How much is Diamond #3 worth as an H color? Since it is darn close to it.

It is eye clean from the top, and just about perfectly eye clean from the bottom with no black imperfections or anything. I personally think this diamond looks amazing to the eye, and definitely is something I would consider if that darn Holloway Cut Advisor didn''t say it was average.

Anyone else have feedback on any of the stones, or Diamond #3 in particular? Thanks!

 

[find45di2]

Setting type
I spoke with my friend about the possible setting he is thinking about and he said I want to set it on a setting that is going to have about 10, 10 pointers.

Think diamond #3 will look ok near 10, 10 point diamonds???

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 9/19/2007 12:54:17 AM
Author: hedarud
Just so you know, the I si1 stone at 9500 is not particaulrly a great deal, especially considering 9500 should get you a GIA 1.6ct I si1 with Ex Ex EX , just looking out for you the way many have looked out for me

This is correct. I made a mistake when I was using the pricescope tool. I used a higher clarity.


Thanks for the catch!!