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Please help me with diamond selection

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twinkles

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
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14
Hi,

I am new to diamond buying and would really appreciate some advice please. I am considering the 3 diamonds below but I can’t decide which is the best. I originally had my heart set on a D or E colour VS1 but I think these VS2’s are better cut than some of the VS1’s I have come across.

I have listed the diamonds in order of price with Diamond 1 being the most expensive. There is approx $400 difference between each.


Diamond 1: I think this one is the better cut but is it worth spending more on it over the other 2? I don’t mind spending a bit more but only if it is worth it.

Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.12 - 6.15 x 3.72 mm

Carat Weight: 0.85 carat
Color Grade: E
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent

Proportions:
Depth: 60.6%
Table: 58%
Crown Angle: 34.0°
Crown Height: 14.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 55%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None

Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

Clarity Characteristics:
Feather, Cloud


Diamond 2: Is the the crown angle too shallow at 33.5%? Also is a girdle that fits into more than 2 categories acceptable ie. thin-slightly thick?

Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.11 - 6.15 x 3.68 mm

Carat Weight: 0.84 carat
Color Grade: D
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent

Proportions:
Depth: 60.0%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 33.5°
Crown Height: 14.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 55%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick, Faceted (3.0%)
Culet: None

Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

Clarity Characteristics:
Crystal


Diamond 3: Is a 60% table too large for this diamond?

Round Brilliant
Measurements: 5.96 - 6.00 x 3.61 mm

Carat Weight: 0.79 carat
Color Grade: E
Clarity Grade: VS2
Cut Grade: Excellent

Proportions:
Depth: 60.4%
Table: 60%
Crown Angle: 35.0°
Crown Height: 13.5%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 55%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None

Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

Clarity Characteristics:
Crystal, Cloud
Additional Inscription: H&A
 
Sorry, I forgot to mention that all 3 are certified by GIA.
 
The first stone is probably safest.
Can you get photo''s and ideal-scope or ASET images?
Have you seen them?
the GIA H&A''s comment does not mean GIA think it is H&A''s - just that someone else engraved that on the girdle - often they are not what most would call H&A''s
 
The first stone is probably safest.
Can you get photo''s and ideal-scope or ASET images?
Have you seen them?
the GIA H&A''s comment does not mean GIA think it is H&A''s - just that someone else engraved that on the girdle - often they are not what most would call H&A''s

Hi Garry,

Thanks very much for the prompt reply and I value your input.

I have seen diamond 3 in person but was unsure about the 60% table so did not make the puchase. I was unable to view this with an Ideal-scope, only a H&A''s viewer. The other 2 diamonds I have not seen and therefore I am only going by the dimensions. I am not sure if I will be able to get an ideal-scope or ASET image but I will enquire about this.

You mention that the first stone is probably safest. Do you have the same concerns that I do over diamond 2 and 3? Does diamond 1 in your opinion rate as an ideal cut or is the 58% table not ideal?

Many thanks.
 
I have attached what I am lead to believe is an actual image of diamond 1.

85 E VS2.jpg
 
Hard to tell because the camera is obscuring a huge amount of light, but it appears the stone is slightly painted which is quite ok on those proportions.

Send the vendor this link on how to take ideal-scope photo''s with $55 worth of equipment - it is a 4second tutorial.
A mobile phone camera will work better than that current setup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SfK5Nt3oXw
 
Thanks for your input Gary. I contacted the vendor but they were unable to provide an ideal scope image unfortunately.
 
On another note, does anyone know of a jeweller in Melbourne who would make a ring using a diamond I was to provide?
 
The first has the most traditionally balanced proportions. The final stone is a 60/60 type diamond which has a different appearance than a more balanced cut like 1, some like it better. It tends to favoure white light return over colored, whereas the more traditional cut is more balanced.
 
Thanks for the quick response Dreamer.

Any comments on this one too?

Measurements: 5.82 - 5.86 x 3.58 mm

Carat Weight: 0.75 carat
Color Grade: E
Clarity Grade: VVS2
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 61.3%
Table: 57%
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.0%
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star length: 50%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted (3.5%)
Culet: None
Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None
Clarity Characteristics:
Pinpoint
Additional Inscription: H&A
 
Thanks, score came up as 1.3 for the 0.75 E VVS2!

Light Return Excellent
Fire Excellent
Scintillation Excellent
Spread or diameter for weight Very Good
Total Visual Performance 1.3 - Excellent
 
If it scores less than two and is either a GIA Ex cut grade or an AGS ideal cut grade, then in my opinion you can be pretty confident you are getting a well cut diamonds. There are additional nuances within ideal cuts, but mose people won''t notice those anyways
2.gif
As long as you have a return policy with the vendor, it may be worth calling it in the view!

By the way, VVS clarity costs a lot and you really cannot tell the difference between VVS and VS2.
 
Twinkles, do you mean Melbourne, Australia?

If so - we wondered the same thing. Of all the jewellers we went to (Tiffany, Canturi, Charles Rose, Jan Logan, Hardy Brothers, Makers Mark, Holloway Diamonds, Paul Bram, Anton), from memory only Holloway Diamonds and Anton Jewellers would set a stone sourced elsewhere.

I am sure that there are other studios and smaller set-ups and jewellers who would, too - but I''m not sure who they are. At the time when we were looking around it was more for ideas about a setting and a shape than for actually having it made, and then we made our choice based on customer service, reputation, insurance issues and the quality of the hand-made work.

(We ended up choosing HD, but sourced the stone ourselves)
 
Thanks Dreamer, I like the idea of the VVS2 as it is more ''mind'' clean! Silly I know!
 
Hi pancake, yes I am in Melbourne Australia!

I am pleased to hear that there are some jewellers that will set a loose stone that I was to source myself. I have read good things about HD. Do you mind if I ask how you went with insurance issues. I have been looking around at different insuarance companies on the internet and all that I have come across don''t insure unset stones.

Also, which HD store did you get you ring made and how was the end result?
 
Twinkles - it's a bit early to say. We only dropped our stone off yesterday (Canterbury store) after receiving it in the morning. We did so as that provided us with security and coverage that we couldn't otherwise achieve ourselves (as there is no insurance provider here that will give you a policy for a loose stone).

I feel a bit embarrassed posting about HD because I know Garry's always around on PS (!) but we are confident that we have chosen the right place for us - their work is beautiful and we have been treated with respect, humour and patience in equal measures :) Equally, we've gone about this process differently from pretty much all of our friends, so it's a matter of what is right for you.
 
Pancake, it sounds like you have put a lot of effort into making your decisions, I am sure the end result will turn out lovely. I wish you well and thanks for your comments.
 
Date: 1/29/2010 11:04:18 PM
Author: pancake
Twinkles - it''s a bit early to say. We only dropped our stone off yesterday (Canterbury store) after receiving it in the morning. We did so as that provided us with security and coverage that we couldn''t otherwise achieve ourselves (as there is no insurance provider here that will give you a policy for a loose stone).

I feel a bit embarrassed posting about HD because I know Garry''s always around on PS (!) but we are confident that we have chosen the right place for us - their work is beautiful and we have been treated with respect, humour and patience in equal measures :) Equally, we''ve gone about this process differently from pretty much all of our friends, so it''s a matter of what is right for you.
Click to expand...
Don''t feel embarassed! You should come back with a review when all is said and done, good or bad it is all helpful to other members.
 
By the way, I have managed to attach an IS image of the 0.75 E VVS2 . . . what do you think?

is_75EVVS2.jpg
 
Date: 1/30/2010 8:08:26 AM
Author: twinkles
By the way, I have managed to attach an IS image of the 0.75 E VVS2 . . . what do you think?
Click to expand...
Hi Twinkles,

The image is a bit dark so hard to tell but from what I can see it looks good.
 
Looks good.
 
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