Opinions on this 2.28 carat upgrade

[Midway]

Any thoughts on this GIA stone:

2.28 carats
8.44 x 8.53 x 5.22
Ex - cut grade
Ex - polish
Ex - symmetry
G color
SI1 clarity
58 table
61.5 depth
33.5 crown angle
41.4 pavillion angle

$26,200

This is a potential upgrade for my wife. She currently has a 1.5 carat H, VS1, AGS 000 which scored 1.4 on the HCA. The first time around I was obscessed with finding the best cut possible. I didn''t consider any stones that weren''t AGS 000 or scored < 2 on the HCA. I think I''ve gained a little perspective and am not so numbers obscessed anymore. Also, I trust my vendor and believe he will try to find a beautiful stone for me. But this stone scores a troubling 4 on the HCA. Just wanted to get the thoughts of the good PS folks. Is this one to steer clear from? One of the reasons my vendor is recommending this stone is he feels its a "good" SI1 and that the inclusions are well placed.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[cectra79]

I'm not an ideal rock, but I looked at so many diamonds lately looking for a perfect upgrade. I noticed that the stones that didn't score within 2 looked duller and less exciting than the higher scorring stones.

Good luck!

 

[JulieN]

i wouldn''t buy it.

what made you change your perspective?

 

[Midway]

I saw a lot of GIA Ex stones that looked very beautiful even though I knew their HCA scores were not that great. It caused me to question whether HCA is really the great predictor of beauty that I was led to believe it is. I think 99% of people just see the size and sparkle of a stone. I think cut is important component of sparkle -- but I''m starting to think that AGS and GIA cut scores are better proxy''s for an "ideal" cut than HCA.

Now, to be fair, my wife loves her 1.5 AGS 000 stone, and I think it''s beautiful too. But I feel like I could find an equally beautiful stone that was 3/4 carats larger and would make her even happier.

Maybe I''m going about this wrong and I should I an AGS 000, HCA <2 stone that is around 2 carats, rather than trying closer to 2.25-2.5 carat rock.

 

[Lynn B]

The HCA starts to ding stones then the pav angle gets to be 41 or greater. Change that number only and watch the HCA score come down fast.

That being said, whether or not a stone with a pav angle greater than 41 will look visibly or noticeably "less beautiful" to you than one with a pav angle less than 41 is a question only you can answer.

I am no expert (by ANY means) but I do truly believe that there are gorgeous, beautiful stones out there with pav angles > 40.9. It's important to remember that the pav angle is only one measurement... how the corresponding crown angle (and other measurements) complement it is what's important.

ETA: I, too, upgraded my old AGS-0 1.53 G/VS2 RB to my current AGS-0 2.36 J/SI2 RB... and believe me, the size difference WAS quite intoxicating!

To stay within my budget, I chose to compromise color and clarity rather than *cut*. I chose my diamond very carefully, and have never been sorry. It is beautifully white and completely eyeclean, even upon clooooooooose examination!

 

[Ellen]

Can you get an Idealscope pic for it?