Opinions on this oval (ASET)

[Anon-E-Mouse]

Hello everyone,

I'm a long-time lurker and have learned a lot from you guys, so thank you all very, very much. I'm about to pull the trigger on an oval diamond and would appreciate some input. Item in question:

1.54 H VS1 GIA STK/TK None VG/VG
Ratio is 1.42:1

Honest opinions welcomed!

Here's the ASET image. I have not seen this IRL but is is from a well-regarded vendor on PS.

 

[Gypsy]

No bowtie. And the performance seems even across the stone. The ASET is different than those I am used to seeing though. So that's the extent of what I can say. There are many on here who are better with ASETs than I am. What does the vendor say about the stone?

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

Vendor found 19 ovals in my size/price range, picked the best three. His comments: "hands-down winner", "just a sparkling stone".

 

[Gypsy]

Then I say go for it. Truly.

 

[jstarfireb]

Looks nice to me, but I'm not an oval expert. The photography is different from what I typically have seen, but if the orangey-red is supposed to be red-red, then it looks very good. I'd go with the vendor's recommendation.

 

[iota15]

Wow. Nice... really nice.

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

True, the image is different from what I'm used to seeing as well but refraction is refraction. They did admit having some technical difficulties with the equipment and were even arguing amongst themselves whether ASET was valid with ovals. I think I caused a stir. . .

But I have not yet seen any oval ASETs that look like this.

 

[yssie]

Where is the obstruction - any head obstruction - and why is there white when the image was taken with a black background? And even if we are to expect that facets getting light from exactly 45d will look yellow/orange, those orange facets scattered as pictured cannot possibly all be angled thus..

I don't like it. Would definitely ask for a retake.


Edited to fix angle - oops!

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

Yssie, you're getting way too technical for me so please help me out.

I don't know how you'd get head obstruction if the stone is enclosed in the device and blasted with unobstructed light. Also, I don't understand what you mean about the facet angles. I have limited understanding about all this being just a consumer. Can you enlighten me on this?

 

[whatmeworry]

Do you have a picture of the oval. Curious to see what it looks like compared to the ASET.

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

The only picture I have is a small, poor quality one because they were trying to match up some half-moon side stones to show me. For what it's worth, here it is.

 

[yssie]

to clarify - my issues are with the aset image, not the stone itself - I don't think the aset represents the stone, whatever it may actually be like.

Yssie, you're getting way too technical for me so please help me out.

I don't know how you'd get head obstruction if the stone is enclosed in the device and blasted with unobstructed light. Also, I don't understand what you mean about the facet angles. I have limited understanding about all this being just a consumer. Can you enlighten me on this?

My first issue - the scope was positioned with the stone over a black background, so there should be no white in the picture whatsoever (or what those pinky/whitish areas are, they look just slightly pink on my monitor). Second issue - I haven't seen a stone in the world with no obstruction whatsoever (blue, shows where light that enters the stone from directly above at 90deg to the plane of the girdle), but it is not unusual for blue (obstruction) and black (leakage) to merge when a black background is used and photography isn't quite right (or post-photography manipulations are too heavy-handed). There was a discussion just a few days ago about how an ASET scope, which has only the colours red, green, and blue, could show colours like yellow - the answer is that if a facet is angled precisely to the bound between red and green light, the colours will combine into yellow (here's the thread on that), but I don't see how all those facets in that pattern can be angled as such.

this link will explain more about how the ASET scope is supposed to work. The light reflects off the blue, and thus the facets of the stone that are receptive to 'direct, head-on' light will look blue from the reflected light, to answer your question above.


Edited to fix urls

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

Yssie, thank you so much for elaborating. And yes, I was surprised as well by the absence of blue.

 

[whatmeworry]

I guess I would go with your vendor's judgement. Looks like an interesting project with the half moons.

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

For comparison, here is a recent item on my short list.

1.54 H SI1 GIA F VG/VG
Ratio: 1.62:1

 

[iota15]

Hmm.. Yessie. Maybe my monitor is different from your monitor. I don't see any white in that image. However, I see some purple - which I found interesting.

If all the red/orange and purple represent light return from overhead sources, I would say this is a very nice oval indeed - better than any I've come across. I have a good idea who took this image too - and I'd be more keen to trust their eyes, even if there is some saturation enhancements going on (like in the GOG image in the yellow aset thread). Asking for another Aset image, as Yssie suggested, is probably a good idea as well.

Also, it's not unheard of to see no blue in fancy images. I come across it quite often, and I wouldn't let that alone deter you (if it is).

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

I don't see any white in that image. However, I see some purple - which I found interesting.

Yes, I see no white either. Just pale purple. What could that mean?

I have a good idea who took this image

LOL -- guess correctly and lunch is on me!

 

[yssie]

iota I just recalibrated my monitor and now I am also seeing a light purple.. Which is - funny, that - blue + red...

I hope one of our tradespeople will come in to shed light on how exactly this photo was taken.

 

[iota15]

I have a good idea who took this image

LOL -- guess correctly and lunch is on me!

The "purple" - and it's color is fairly strong on my monitor, is probably a mixture of red and blue (which probably accounts for the missing blue).

By the way, it's best not to mention ANY names of vendors in this thread. If we do, the tradespeople won't be able to participate.

(I think I can ID the vendor of your second choice oval too. And I'd take that lunch if it wouldn't hurt you to mention them. )

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Why do we need a retake? they could take it many times with no improvement unless the setup is changed. This vendor's setup is poor and they haven't put in the time to fix, its been months I've been seeing those red halo images.

Which means a lot of inconclusive ASET images which I suspect is just the way they like it, noone can compare what they sell with other vendors like WF and GOG who have invested time and money into a well planned and executed photography ASET setup.

It is a shame the diamond is probably a decent one but we'll never know and will have to just "Trust The Vendor". Maybe they will give the customer a .srn file from a sarin scan and I'll generate an ASET for them.

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

The ASET image is meaningless and should not be interpreted as a proper indication of the stone. Any conclusions drawn are a guess at best to just downright misleading in the worst case, either is possible.

You can decide for yourself if having a well taken ASET image is important to you. If it is get them to take a sarin scan and post the .srn file and I will generate the ASET for you. If not and you still want the confidence of knowing what the ASET looks like, you may have to choose a vendor with higher service and technical standards.

In addition this facet structure for theat oval may not lead to a bowtie at all so their need not be obstruction areas(blue) like in the other example shown.

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

.

 

[Gypsy]

For comparison, here is a recent item on my short list.

1.54 H SI1 GIA F VG/VG
Ratio: 1.62:1

No.

I like the first one much better. And love the pic with the sidestones.

 

[slg47]

For comparison, here is a recent item on my short list.

1.54 H SI1 GIA F VG/VG
Ratio: 1.62:1

No.

I like the first one much better. And love the pic with the sidestones.

yeah, that ASET picture is much clearer. I am not sure what to make of the first one, but it looks nice in the photo, and if you trust the vendor then go with it.

 

[yssie]

well from the strength of CCL's wording if I hadn't already guessed the vendor I reckon I'd have a decent guess now


and.. I agree with slg. If you trust the vendor, you trust the vendor - and frankly an experienced eye is preferable to a static single-angle ASET photograph anyday.

But I would still get the (properly done) ASET, to submit to my insurance company. That you can have an appraiser do once set, after purchase, if that is your preference.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

I doubt any trade would comment on these images anyway I'm just going to tell you its ERD. This should serve as a reminder that they should control the lighting of their setup better, otherwise we all should consider a little more caution when interpreting their images.

ERD remains in my list of recommended vendors for cushions but their is no denying the problems they have producing a proper ASET image with that AGS ASET camera.

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...to-decide.138228/page-2#post-2479240#p2479240
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/where-to-get-an-aset-done.150548/#post-2746765#p2746765

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Why do we need a retake? they could take it many times with no improvement unless the setup is changed. This vendor's setup is poor and they haven't put in the time to fix, its been months I've been seeing those red halo images.

Which means a lot of inconclusive ASET images which I suspect is just the way they like it, noone can compare what they sell with other vendors like WF and GOG who have invested time and money into a well planned and executed photography ASET setup.

It is a shame the diamond is probably a decent one but we'll never know and will have to just "Trust The Vendor". Maybe they will give the customer a .srn file from a sarin scan and I'll generate an ASET for them.

I agree with CCL.
I suggest you show the vendor this 45 second video.
The results are not as good as some of the companies that have invested a lot of time, and although this is an ideal-scope - the hand held ASET we sell for $50 works just the same with a small lens point and click or even a mobile phone camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SfK5Nt3oXw

 

[bright&shiny]

I love it! Although I rely on ASET images for fancies, and would probably ask for a retake on this one, what I noticed about this stone is - in the photo - very little obstruction is visible. If it were me, I'd buy it I haven't worked with this vendor, but have worked with other PS vendors and trust them re: stone performance. Good luck - and I can't wait to see it completed!

 

[Anon-E-Mouse]

I love it! <snip> I can't wait to see it completed!

Neither can I. Working on it.