Princess Cut: What''s up with this?

[El Jefe]

Hey, I am new here...

Been browsing the site because I am in the process of
purchasing an engagement ring. Already have the type of diamond and size picked out. It''s going to be 0.75 ct. and a princess cut.
I plan on purchasing the diamond through a well know store for jewelery. Anyway, they were able to give me a few diamonds to choose from in a price range I was hoping for (had the color and clarity I desired as well). Well, they got the delivery in yesterday for the diamond I was hoping would be the one, I went down to check it out. Well its table percentage was 88% with a crown height of 3%. Luckily from checking out this site and the princess cut chart, I realized this was not a good cut, atleast to me and according to the chart. My question....is a table % that large desired by some? I was kinda pissed when I saw it, because I thought they were trying to rip me off with a bad cut diamond. I never made specifics about table size (until yesterday) so is it my fault?


Anyway, I did give them specifics this time around, so we''ll see how it goes.

 

[valeria101]

I don't think such proportions are particularly favorted by any cut grading system. Not a fine stone by any measure I know (and I hope more comments would follow).

Probably all proportiosn are a matter of taste and choice, but the AGA charts incorporate a number of common sense criteria. The top cut grades avoid excessive depth, substandard symmetry, excessive width or variation in girdle size and large differences between depth and table size. The goal would be to keep stones looking substantial for their weight and avoid durability issues. Sure there are more such criteria... plus allot of experience with the look of stones and the average opinion on their aestetics.

All in all - I would stick with the first three AGA cut grades

If anything important is not specified in all those numbers is what precisely makes stones brilliant. No rule of thumb readily applies here, so one would go for some tell-tale test (Ideal Scope, Brilliance Scope... and probably others I do not know of) on stones before ordering them. And unless the seller lines up a few stones with various parameters and 'looks' infront of you (not just showing one) - this testing and accounting proportions still remains useful.

I guess you could have specified some range of proportions and top results of optical analysis - however, not too many large not-online stores would go by these rules. Suposedly, B&Ms woudl supply stones for choice while internet sellers would thrive to present diamonds in alterantive ways (tests, numbers). As far as I can tell, you have not get nearly the best servcie from either side...

Am I wrong ?

 

[oldminer]

Valeria: You have made the perfect interpretation of the AGA charts above. You are one of the rare few who have gotten a good handle on what this is all about. THANKS.

 

[moremoremore]

that's why i don't look for diamonds at these big mall stores. consumers who are not educated assume (not like you now!

) walk in there and will pay assuming they are being shown quality stones.... The big stores don't have to for that reason...if you can get the same price for a poor cut, why sell a good cut! I even experienced that with my old jeweler.....my OLD jeweler!

 

[valeria101]

Thanks! I hope to tell the tale right, this is all...


But where is El Jefe ?

 

[El Jefe]

Thanks for the feedback

I was worried about this...

"Consumers who are not educated assume (not like you now!   )  walk in there and will pay assuming they are being shown quality stones.... The big stores don't have to for that reason...if you can get the same price for a poor cut, why sell a good cut!"

I was shown the diamond by the store manager. When I pulled out my printed copy of the AGA chart he looked suprised.
Anyway, I gave him a range in terms of Table Size, etc. that I was interested in (all within the first three AGA cut grades). We'll see how it pans out. I am hoping they don't jack the prices on the diamonds too much. So we'll see. I'll keep ya informed.

 

[valeria101]

Get an Iscope next time when you hit the store.

They'll like it even more than the couple of specs