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Please Help! I'm not sure if I should buy this diamond

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Orangefig1

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 5, 2011
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Hello,

I’m new to this forum, I just started looking at posts recently, and decided it was time for me to make my own thread because I am so unsure about an upcoming diamond purchase.

My boyfriend and I have been looking at diamonds for a couple months now. I will be picking out the diamond and the setting with him, I don’t want any kind of surprise. We’ve been looking at stones at several local jewelers. I know that I want a round brilliant, 1.25 ct, F color, VS2 stone with an Ideal cut. We are only considering GIA stones with triple EX grading. Our budget is about 15,000 for the whole ring.

So here is my question:
On Thursday we saw a stone with the exact specs above. It’s the first stone that has exactly met my specifications, the others that we have seen have been SI1s, but I’ve always been able to see inclusions and that really bothered me. When the salesperson unwrapped the stone I was so impressed. It was so sparkly and bright and didn’t show any color. I’m aware of the HCA cut adviser, and when I look at stones online, I always type in the angles and table/depth % to see if they will perform well. Well I fell in love with this stone before looking at the GIA report. See, I wanted to make sure that I couldn’t see any inclusions before I looked at the diamond plot because I was afraid if I looked at the plot first I would convince myself I saw something. Anyway, I loved the diamond, and my boyfriend loved it too. Then we looked at the GIA report. It is graded triple excellent, but the dimensions just don’t seem right. I can’t remember exactly, but I believe the table was 60% and the depth was 61%. Something like that, I was surprised that the table was so large, usually tables are 56% - 58% for excellent diamonds, right? I could have put the dimensions in the HCA thing right away, but I was so afraid that it wouldn’t come out as excellent and then I would be disappointed. I don’t know what to do now. We are going to see the diamond again on Thursday (the 10th) and I’m sure we will have to make a decision about buying or sending it back that day. The diamond is priced at $13,150. Is it possible this isn’t such a great diamond even though it looks great (in the store) and has GIA triple ex grading?

Please help!
 
Quote: "I could have put the dimensions in the HCA thing right away, but I was so afraid that it wouldn’t come out as excellent and then I would be disappointed. I don’t know what to do now."

HELLO!!!
Knock Knock Knock, anyone home?
Put those four numbers from the GIA report into the HCA.
What are you waiting for?

GIA triple Ex is not enough.
GIA's top cut rating of Excellent unfortunately includes some angle combinations that are not so excellently cut.
Shocking and sad, but true.

If it scores over 2.0 on the HCA reject it.
If it scores under 2.0 get Idealscope pics, since the HCA does not tell all.

https://www.pricescope.com/tools/ideal-scope

Compare them to this reference chart or post them here for feedback.

is.png
 
Well I don't have a copy now. I won't get to see the cert again until Thursday. I just called the jeweler and asked for the dimensions. She didn't want to give them to me because she felt that I was letting all of this stuff ruin my happiness and the joy i felt for the diamond when I first saw it. She said that my face lit up and I was so happy.

Does anyone have a diamond that looks amazing in person but might not score perfectly on the HCA? This whole process has made me not want to even get anything at all. So depressing.
 
Orangefig1|1320526062|3054734 said:
Well I don't have a copy now. I won't get to see the cert again until Thursday. I just called the jeweler and asked for the dimensions. She didn't want to give them to me because she felt that I was letting all of this stuff ruin my happiness and the joy i felt for the diamond when I first saw it. She said that my face lit up and I was so happy.

Does anyone have a diamond that looks amazing in person but might not score perfectly on the HCA? This whole process has made me not want to even get anything at all. So depressing.


So if you feel joy that means it is the best cut?
Hmm.
Please don't turn off half your brain.
Is this for you or for the saleswoman?
She's manipulating you by using your emotions.

"Looking amazing in person" is meaningless.
What if the person doing the looking has no experience, has never seen anything better, or has but does not have a photographic memory, or the clever sneaky lighting in the store could make a lump of coal look spectacular?

If she had nothing to hide she'd give you the dimensions.
Please do not be manipulated by a salesperson on one of the most important purchases you'll make.
Think for yourself, learn, and take your time.

When you get the report Thursday plug those four numbers into the HCA.
Reject it if it scores over 2.0.
Get Idealscope pics if it scores under 2.0.

Your salesperson wants you to follow your heart and turn off your brain so she can get the sale.
I'm not saying it's not a well-cut diamond.
Just take these two simple steps to prove it HCA and IS.
 
I agree with Kenny, except I would not wait until Thursday. Call the jeweler up and ask for the GIA certificate number and the exact size of the diamond. Then you can look it up online and get the dimensions to plug into the HCA. If they tell you that they don't want to give you that info for whatever reason, tell them that you don't want to purchase from a place that won't give you that info.

Jewelry store lighting can be so deceptive. The HCA can help you reject a diamond that won't look as good as it could in lighting outside of a jewelry store.
 
marymm|1320589269|3055159 said:
It sounds like the diamond you like may be (or resemble) a "60/60" stone (60 table/60 depth proportions) - in addition to the HCA tool, this PS article may help you in your analysis of the stone's performance: https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/60-60-proportioned-diamond

yeah, there is nothing wrong with 60/60 stones...you can have a well cut 60/60 type stone or a poorly cut one. what are the other numbers? I would want to know before buying just so you know!! also make sure to examine the diamond in different lighting. a 60/60 stone might appeal to you more...and there is nothing wrong with that.
 
Thank you slg47 and marymm for answering my question without making me feel like an idiot. I will definitely put the specs into the HCA, and see how it comes out. I am leery of the salesperson now, and so is my boyfriend. We may decide to buy a diamond online instead so we don't have to deal with sales people and we can see the diamond in various lighting conditions at home.

How do you get an iealscope photo? I know what an ideal scope is, but I don't have one and I doubt the jeweler does either. Why aren't the HCA score and GIA grade enough to determine if the diamond performs well?

Thanks for your help.
 
Orangefig1|1320629775|3055690 said:
Thank you slg47 and marymm for answering my question without making me feel like an idiot. I will definitely put the specs into the HCA, and see how it comes out. I am leery of the salesperson now, and so is my boyfriend. We may decide to buy a diamond online instead so we don't have to deal with sales people and we can see the diamond in various lighting conditions at home.

How do you get an iealscope photo? I know what an ideal scope is, but I don't have one and I doubt the jeweler does either. Why aren't the HCA score and GIA grade enough to determine if the diamond performs well?

Thanks for your help.

it depends on your level of comfort when buying. remember the numbers on the GIA report are averaged and rounded, and the HCA only inputs four numbers (whereas a round diamond has 57 facets)

most jewelers do not provide idealscope images. you can purchase your own idealscope and learn to use it, work with a vendor who provides this service, or decide you are comfortable enough buying without it...it's up to you.

if you liked this diamond in person I would definitely ask the jeweler for the #s and to look at it in different types of lighting...you want to get a stone that appeals to your eyes.
 
I went back to the store last night and got the GIA number and dimensions. I put it in the HCA and it scored a 3.6, so I rejected it. I do feel good about my decision to reject the stone. I let my emotions get the best of me and I almost rushed into something terrible.

I've decided to work with Brian Gavin Diamonds instead of a brick and mortar store. I'm going to get a Brian Gavin Select diamond instead of a signature because the price difference is significant and I believe with a careful search I can find a select diamond that performs extremely well. Does that sound right?

I've actually found a select diamond, 1.24, VS1, F color that they are bringing in to inspect and take ASET, 10x, and idealscope photos of, so I will post the photos when I get them on Wednesday. The stone scores 1.0 on the HCA and Jamie says it should be a great choice.
 
Orangefig1|1321040903|3059750 said:
I went back to the store last night and got the GIA number and dimensions. I put it in the HCA and it scored a 3.6, so I rejected it. I do feel good about my decision to reject the stone. I let my emotions get the best of me and I almost rushed into something terrible.

I've decided to work with Brian Gavin Diamonds instead of a brick and mortar store. I'm going to get a Brian Gavin Select diamond instead of a signature because the price difference is significant and I believe with a careful search I can find a select diamond that performs extremely well. Does that sound right?

I've actually found a select diamond, 1.24, VS1, F color that they are bringing in to inspect and take ASET, 10x, and idealscope photos of, so I will post the photos when I get them on Wednesday. The stone scores 1.0 on the HCA and Jamie says it should be a great choice.

Sounds great!! I'm sure it will be pretty.
 
It sounds like you made a wise decision. While you obviously want to be wowed by your stone, you also want to make sure that you're getting the best stone you can get for your $$$. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the BG stone....
 
Ok so here is the diamond I am considering from BGD.

It is a 1.24 GIA tripple EX.
They just sent me the idealscope, sarin, 10x, and ASET images; what do you think? I think the images all point to a great diamond, but I'd like some feedback.

Thanks!

Sarin.jpg

10x.jpg

idealscope.jpg

ASET.jpg
 
Orangefig1|1321465842|3063016 said:
Ok so here is the diamond I am considering from BGD.

It is a 1.24 GIA tripple EX.
They just sent me the idealscope, sarin, 10x, and ASET images; what do you think? I think the images all point to a great diamond, but I'd like some feedback.

Thanks!

looks great!
 
Beautiful!
 
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