Price Comparison - Two 1.50c Stones

[aemast]

Hello all. I''ve been a lurker for a few months. This posting board has been full of useful information. A great resource. I have recommended it to some of my friends.

I think I''ve found the diamond(s) I want to purchase. I would appreciate any comments/feedback about these two stones:

Diamond #1:
GIA Cert
Shape: Round
Measurements: 7.39 - 7.55 x 4.36
Weight: 1.50
Depth / Table: 58.4% / 64%
Girdle: Medium, Faceted
Culet: None
Pol / Sym: VG / G
Clarity: VS1
Color: I
Flr: None
Price: $10,000
(No crown/pavilion info)

Diamond #2:
GIA Cert
Shape: Round
Measurements: 7.37 - 7.42 x 4.41
Weight: 1.50
Depth / Table: 59.6% / 59%
Girdle: Thin to Thick, Faceted
Culet: None
Pol / Sym: VG / EX
Clarity: VS1
Color: H
Flr: None
Price: $9,800
(No crown/pavilion info)

Specific comments about the table/depth & girdle would be appreciated to confirm my understanding.

Thanks for your time and comments.

 

[valeria101]

64% table on first leaves virtually ni=o chance for the stone to produce decent light return. The second, could be good or not so good - depending on the MISSING information - as your survery of PS might have indicated by now.

The price of these is very much in line with what I would expect from known ideal cut stones. (EXAMPLE).

So the second stone could be a good deal - if it's cut turns out close to the right crown and pavilion angles. The first is not such great news.

Does this make sense?

 

[valeria101]

Specifically, the best any crown and pavilion angle combination could achieve for a round with 64% table would be a ... 'fish eye' (dead area under table).
However, the combination of angles for this is still very tight, so the chances that the atone looks much worse than this prediction are quite high.

 

[valeria101]

The second stone remains of unknown optical performance - all the range of predictions is possible for the given numbers. So... you are paying close to the price of an ideal cut for a 60% chance or so to obtain anything near the optics of an ideal cut.

 

[aemast]

The first stone I listed (1.5c, $10k) I have already purchased at a B&M (BBB at the local mall). I bargained it from original price of $11.1k. I have it on 30 day trial, but I'm thinking of returning it because I can get equivalent quality for cheaper at an online store.

The second stone I found last night on BN after searching their site.

I like the cut better of the second diamond, and I also feel that I'm getting a bit overcharged for the first stone.

I'll probably end up getting the stone from BN once I am able to convince myself that it's acceptable to make a purchase like this from an online store.

I appreciate your feedback.

 

[hoorray]

Unless it is a typo, the first stone is pretty seriously out of round. Combine that with it's depth, and I think you can do much better. Buying online is plenty safe if you are smart. Make sure you have an independent appraisal, and enough time to evaluate it and still get a full refund. I personally would get the appraisal BEFORE paying for it (most online vendors will do that), to take all the risk out of it. Good luck!

 

[aemast]

I have re-verified the specs for Diamond #1 from the GIA cert. The are correct as written.

Interesting comment about it being out-of-round. How can you tell that it has this condition?

 

[valeria101]

"Out of round"... well, the ratio of the two numbers used for diamter say this.

I am curious about your choice a bit. The second stone still has serious chance to 'bark' (there is allot of room for the cut proportions to get it in the no-go zone on the chart).

This is pure theory, since neither of us has the stone in hand and info is schetchy. Would it be too much to ask - why not a H&A ? Maybe not the one I found... but, in general - the price is in line with a stone already fully labeled for it's 'look'. Just curious, and hoping the Q is not completely out of place.

 

[aemast]

You're right about neither of us having the 2nd stone in hand to see its brilliance or lack thereof. The first stone, which I have in hand, just doesn't seem to have the brilliance I'd expect from an I/VS1. But, maybe my eyes have been jaded from all the comparison shopping I've done.

With this type of amount of money, probably the best thing to do is to have the stone appraised by an independent jeweler. Judging from all the previous posts, it seems the crown & pavilion info can provide more assurance of a good cut.

 

[hoorray]

The fire and brilliance you are looking for isn't determined by the color and clarity. It is determined by the cut, and the first stone is too deep, so will leak light instead of return it as fire and brilliancy. You might want to read through the cut tutorial here to get a better feel for how it works.

Also, the experts say that "out-of-round" will typically show up if there is a vairance of .1mm or more in the diameter dimensions. The first stone has .16 variance. I would assume that that is one of the reasons symmetry is only G, not VG or EX.

An appraisal will help IF you find someone who has the equipment to give you the extra measurements you are looking for and is cut focused. You might also buy an Idealscope to check out the light leackage, but the bottom line is you eyes are seeing it. You don't think it has the sparkle that it should have.

I would say return it -- your eyes aren't lying. You can do much better for the same $$.