Please help with this potential purchase (1.7 carat HVS2)

[HeelJWB]

GIA graded
Shape: Round Brilliant
Measurements: 7.60-7.65 x 4.75 mm
Carat Weight: 1.70 carat
Color: H
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Very Good

Finish
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Flourescence: None

Table 57%
Crown Angle 35
Pavillion Angle 41
Culet None
Total Depth 62.3%
Very Thin Girdle
Slightly Thick (faceted) pavillion

Cost $13,000

I have been reading these forums for awhile, and am getting close to a decision based on all the great info I have learned here. What do you think of this stone... value, cost, overall impression?

Thanks for your input, advice, considerations, in advance!!

 

[stone-cold11]

Stone slightly steep in the pavilion angle, might have some leakage, an Idealscope image will tell.. Does the vendor supply Idealscope image?

Price is slightly on the high side compared to online, is that from an online vendor or brick store?

 

[HeelJWB]

What is an "ideal" pavillion angle... is it based against a crown angle?

Brick store.

i am reluctant to buy a stone on-line. Do you pay no sales tax when u buy on-line?

What do you think about buying a stone sight unseen?

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 7/10/2009 6:17:47 PM
Author: HeelJWB
What is an 'ideal' pavillion angle... is it based against a crown angle?

Brick store.

i am reluctant to buy a stone on-line. Do you pay no sales tax when u buy on-line?

What do you think about buying a stone sight unseen?

Have you seen the stone personally? The angle range is in the VG range, other facets dimensions and optical symm might result in a better stone than what is shown in these rough numbers. And as we are mostly advising for buying sight unseen, we tend to be very conservative in the numbers.

Yap, ideal pavilion angle is dependent on crown angle. Inverse relationship. A 33.5 crown angle will complement a 41 degree pavilion angle while a 35 degree crown angle should have something in the 40.6-40.8 pavilion angle range.

Use the cut adviser, get the score below 2 and in the overlap area between the AGS Ideal and GIA Ex cut range and you should be relatively safe. Just get back to us if you find a stone that looks interesting.

https://www.pricescope.com/cutadviser.asp

Buying sight unseen with the trusted vendors here that provides ASET/IS images, truthful account of whether the stone is eye-clean, is safe and risk free.

How to interpret IS/ASET images? Read the following link.http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

Is your vendor able to provide ASET/IS images? Does he have an IS/ASET scope? If not, you can buy one relatively cheaply, basic IS scope at $25 + shipping.

Tax, depending on where you are, if the online store is not based in the same state as you, no sales tax although by law you have to report the purchase to the state and pay up after the tax.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/10/2009 6:17:47 PM
Author: HeelJWB
What is an 'ideal' pavillion angle... is it based against a crown angle?

Brick store.

i am reluctant to buy a stone on-line. Do you pay no sales tax when u buy on-line?

What do you think about buying a stone sight unseen?

This is what we call a steep deep, both crown and pavilion angles are too steep and deep to work well together, steep deep is the term the veteran PSers use with these types of diamonds.

Here are some numbers you can use as a guide to find a well cut round diamond. You could print this out and take it with you.

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!

From expert John Pollard.

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

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).

You can also use the HCA to help you if you wish, best to initially stick to diamonds which score between 1 and 2 initially until you are more sure of what you are looking at, especially if you prefer to buy from a brick and mortar store where images are unlikely to be available. Sales tax is also due by law even if you purchase from out of state.

Crown and pavilion angles are dependant on each other to a certain extent, however as a balance you really don't want to be swinging too far in either direction, as an example with a shallow crown and a pavilion angle that starts going much over 41 degrees as leakage and other issues due to a steep pavilion angle regardless of the shallowness of the crown can start to occur. Really best to keep pavilion angle between 40.6 - 41 degrees with a suitable crown, HCA will tell you what those are or go with the numbers above.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/10/2009 6:17:47 PM
Author: HeelJWB
What is an 'ideal' pavillion angle... is it based against a crown angle?

Brick store.

i am reluctant to buy a stone on-line. Do you pay no sales tax when u buy on-line?

What do you think about buying a stone sight unseen?

I think it's a great way to go, if you use a trusted vendor. I tried shopping locally, but it was pretty much a fiasco. I was leary like you of buying online, but after someone here suggested I contact a certain vendor, I read all the reviews I could find on them (which were all good btw), and finally took the leap of faith and purchased my upgrade from them. They couldn't have been nicer, and I got an absolutely stunning diamond, paying a lot less than I would have in a retail store. Since then I bought my studs online and a couple other pieces. It really is ok.

Here's a beautiful stone, and it's even got a video with it, so you can see for yourself how it performs. This vendor happens to be the one I bought my upgrade from, but there are also others very reputable too.

http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/4833/ (bankwire is your discount)


I agree with the reviews on this stone you posted, and I'm not liking the very thin girdle either. That could be a potential problem with chipping.