Please help me choose - Big day soon

[lach]

Hello kind Price Scope members,

I need your help in picking out a diamond. After many months of searching I have picked two diamonds that I need your best, honest, and experienced opinion on. I''m having trouble with the attach file option, and hope to add images once I figure it out. The price difference is under $100 so it doesn''t effect my decision. The following are the diamonds of choice:

Diamond 1
0.90 H SI1 GIA
59.2 depth 60 table, Very Good Polish, Excellent Symmetry, Excellent Cut, no fluorescence, measures 6.33 x 6.30 x 3.74 mm
Little gray/white inclusion on the side of the table, but its eye clean

Diamond 2
0.93 H SI1 GIA
60.5 depth 57 table with Excellent Polish, Very Good Symmetry, Very Good Cut Grade, no fluorescence, measures 6.32 x 6.28 x 3.81 mm
Nice SI1, borderline VS2, there is a small white inclusion under magnification in the table, but it is not visible to the naked eye

Thank you!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Can you please provide the crown and pavilion angles from the certs?

Will you see these in person or are they from an online vendor?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/16/2010 1:03:13 PM
Author:lach

Hello kind Price Scope members,

I need your help in picking out a diamond. After many months of searching I have picked two diamonds that I need your best, honest, and experienced opinion on. I'm having trouble with the attach file option, and hope to add images once I figure it out. The price difference is under $100 so it doesn't effect my decision. The following are the diamonds of choice:

Diamond 1
0.90 H SI1 GIA
59.2 depth 60 table, Very Good Polish, Excellent Symmetry, Excellent Cut, no fluorescence, measures 6.33 x 6.30 x 3.74 mm
Little gray/white inclusion on the side of the table, but its eye clean



Diamond 2
0.93 H SI1 GIA
60.5 depth 57 table with Excellent Polish, Very Good Symmetry, Very Good Cut Grade, no fluorescence, measures 6.32 x 6.28 x 3.81 mm
Nice SI1, borderline VS2, there is a small white inclusion under magnification in the table, but it is not visible to the naked eye

Thank you!!!

Hi Lach

Can you post the crown and pavilion angles for each diamond please? Or alternatively, the GIA report numbers so we can look them up online.

 

[lach]

Here are the crown and pavilion angles:

Diamond #1 0.90
Crown angle = 32.0
Pavilion angle = 41.4

Diamond #2 0.93
Crown angle = 35.5
Pavilion angle = 40.0

I will be buying these from an online vendor so I will not see them in person.

Thanks again,

Lach

 

[stone-cold11]

Can you request for for idealscope image for both?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:13:09 PM
Author: lach
Here are the crown and pavilion angles:

Diamond #1 0.90
Crown angle = 32.0
Pavilion angle = 41.4

Diamond #2 0.93
Crown angle = 35.5
Pavilion angle = 40.0

I will be buying these from an online vendor so I will not see them in person.

Thanks again,

Lach

The pavilion angle is rather steep with the first diamond, the second is going to be prone to obstruction due to that shallow pavilion angle. Obstruction is an effect where the stone darkens at close scrutiny due to the viewer's head or body blocking the light to the stone.

If you want a well cut diamond then you can do better than these, do you have any others in mind? You could get an Idealscope image for the first one if you wanted to pursue it but I would look around some more first.

If you give us an idea of your budget and other requirements, we might be able to suggest some suitable diamonds for you?

 

[lach]

I got the Ideal Scope images of both, and close up images. I have been trolling the searches to find out how to post. All the images are under 40kb and I have renamed them, always get an error message. Tried posting links and get error messages, so I''m working on it.

If someone has a link to a search on how to post pictures or advice on how to do this I would greatly appreciate it. I put them up on photo bucket but can''t link. I''ll keep working on it.

Thank you

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/16/2010 2:37:41 PM
Author: lach
I got the Ideal Scope images of both, and close up images. I have been trolling the searches to find out how to post. All the images are under 40kb and I have renamed them, always get an error message. Tried posting links and get error messages, so I'm working on it.

If someone has a link to a search on how to post pictures or advice on how to do this I would greatly appreciate it. I put them up on photo bucket but can't link. I'll keep working on it.

Thank you

Try renaming the images to something unique and don't use any unusual characters, also upload them directly here, linking to photo hosting sites is against forum policy.

If that doesn't work, use the report concern button at the bottom of the post box to message admin, they will give you instructions on sending the images to them so they can post them for you.

 

[lach]

Diamond 1 Top View

 

[lach]

Diamond 1 Ideal Scope

 

[lach]

Diamond 2 top view

 

[lach]

Diamond 2 Ideal Scope

 

[stone-cold11]

#1 looks good, no leakage with the larger lower half.

#2 looks like it will have obstruction issue, the table is darkening, probably not good for a ring stone.

 

[Lorelei]

Diamond 1 has very thin lower girdle facets which could help to minimize leakage in this case, so looking at the IS image it could be an option.

Diamond 2 is showing obstruction from the IS image. As I explained above, this is visible darkening when the stone is viewed closely due to the shallow pavilion angle, you can do better than this diamond. Look for diamonds with a pavilion angle between 40.6 - 41 degrees as a general guide.

Also what are the grade making inclusions for the first diamond such as clouds, feathers and so on and do you know if this diamond is eyeclean to your standards?

 

[lach]

Thanks for the feedback, I wish I found this forum earlier. This help is invaluable and extremely appreciated, really stressfull this diamond picking thing, and I only want the best for my girl.

The diamond I''m looking for is as follows:

Carat – 0.9 to 1.1
Cut – VG to EX GIA Cut (EX Cut much preferred)
Color – G to H
Clarity – VS2 to SI1
Measurements – 6.20-6.20 to 6.40-6.40
Depth – 58.5% to 62.5% (VG to EX)
Table – 52.5 % to 59.5% (VG to EX)
Symmetry – 1.00 to 1.01 (EX)
Fluorescence – Faint to None
Price Range - $3000 to $3700 (will go higher for that perfect diamond)
Crown Angle - 32.5 to 36 (please correct me if I''m wrong)
Pavilion Angle - 40.15 to 40.60 (please correct me if I''m wrong)

I have spent months searching, and always find more info that makes this decision very difficult. Size and Brilliance are my number 1''s, and I don''t want to go below an H color. For clarity it has to be not visible to the eye, I have seen many SI1 diamonds where the inclusions can be seen with the naked eye, especially if they''re on the table.

Your help here is so appreciated. If someone can help me find a diamond I would be forever grateful.

Thanks again - Lach

 

[Lorelei]

Here is a cheat sheet some of us use as a guide to help find a well cut round diamond, bear in mind it is a guide only and other proportion configurations outside these ranges can also produce an attractive diamond.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

From expert John Pollard.

With that said, here''s a "Cliff''s Notes" for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA "EX" in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

 

[Lorelei]

Ask James Allen if this one is eyeclean and request an Idealscope image if interested,

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1226473.asp

This one also has potential, again check it is eyeclean and ask whether the grade making clouds are negatively affecting performance,

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1186295.asp

With this one, again check ' eyecleanliness' and the cloud inclusions as above,

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1274192.asp

Check to see if eyeclean and an Idealscope image for this one,

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1276697.asp

You would need to request the grading report for this one,

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279148.asp

 

[lach]

Lorelei thanks for the diamond picks. I have sent these to James Allen and I''m waiting for a response. Is it just me or is the Inclusion on Diamond 1 easily visible? Will I be able to notice this with the naked eye? My jeweler has guaranteed that it is eye clean. Secondly my jeweler has also told me both diamonds have very brilliant and have lots of fire, with it being difficult to discern the difference between the two. My question here is how noticeable is the brilliance from one stone to another to an untrained eye?

Thanks for your input - Lach

 

[lach]

Most Recent Pick - Please tell me what you think

0.91 H Si1 GIA

6.24 x 6.26 x 3.85 mm, Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry, 35 Crown Angle, 40.8 pavilion angle, thin to medium faceted girdle, no fluorescence, depth 61.6, table 56

Please let me know what you think of Diamond 3.

Thanks - Lach

 

[lach]

Magnified Diamond Image of Diamond 3

 

[yssie]

very nice IS, check to make sure A) eyeclean to your specifications B) if H&A post hearts image

 

[Dreamer_D]

I like this last one the best by far.

 

[lach]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I think I will definetely go with this Diamond. I have copied the GIA cert showing the inclusions. The big long one on the crown looks like a feather. I''m concerned with this because feathers are like fractures, and there seems to be potentailly 3 of them (don''t know how to read these correctly). This is my last concern, what do you guys think?

Thanks - Lach

 

[yssie]

Can''t tell anything about visibility or durability from the inclusion plot - call the vendor and have them check it out.

 

[Dreamer_D]

This issue has come up many times on PS and the concensus amongst the experts in the field is that it is very rare for feathers to pose any problem at all to the durability of a diamond. This is one of those issues that is a boogey man in the diamond world -- like florescence and optical performance -- where the fear about it is much greater than the reality of its impact.

To be complete and safe ask your vendor about it. You can also have the diamond appraised and can ask them about it.

Some people do not like feathers full stop. You will need to make up your own mind.