Requesting thoughts and opionion on this RB pair, GIA vs HCA cut

[Vstar]

Hello, I need advice to see if this pair of round diamonds are good choices for earings for my wife. It is from ERD, so I can''t really see them before purchase except for pictures and an ideal scope. They are GIA certified in January 08, with Excellent cuts on both, but the HCA reading are not so great at 4.7 and 4.8. Should this disuade me from the purchase? How strongly is the emphasis on the HCA scale? Both are totalled $5600 together. Please help with your advice! I am sorry but I am new to this forum and don''t know how to post very well.

Here are the details of the diamonds:

1)
Carat: 0.82
Color: G
Clarity: SI
Cut: Ex
Polish: VG
Symm: EX
Depth: 62
Table: 57
Crown: 35.0
Pav: 41.4
6mm diameter, depth 3.73, matching diameter and depth to other diamond
HCA: 4.8
ideal scope picture: looks ideal

2)
Carat: 0.81
Color: G
Clarity: SI
Cut: EX
Polish: EX
Symm: EX
Depth: 62
Table: 57
Crown: 34.5
Pav: 41.4
6mm diameter, 3.72 depth, matching diameter and depth to other
HCA: 4.7
ideal scope picture: looks ideal, similar to other?
It was eye clean on both diamonds from ERD

 

[Vstar]

Here is the IS of diamond 1:

 

[Vstar]

Here is diamond 2, ideal scope: It looks very similar to the other.
Please help since I need to get a pair of diamond earings for my wife''s Birthday in a few days! Thanks!

 

[Ellen]

Hi Vstar,

They are getting dinged because of the pavilion angle mainly. It is a bit deep, and they are not what you''d call a super ideal cut. However, for earrings they would probably be fine, unless you were wanting the absolute cream of the crop.

 

[Vstar]

Hello!

Do you think the price is fair for these? Is the HCA calculation valid for earing lighting? Does the HCA have to be good in order for the IS image to look good?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 4/3/2008 6:38:58 PM
Author: Vstar

Hello!

Do you think the price is fair for these? Is the HCA calculation valid for earing lighting? Does the HCA have to be good in order for the IS image to look good?

Yes, that is a fair price.

The HCA takes a few numbers to tell you if a stone has potential, then you get more info. But what isn't always known is that it, and the developer prefer shallower numbers (deeper pavilions always pull the score down). In this case, you have the IS pics, which trump the HCA. And they do not look bad. Could you do better? Sure, to a degree. Are these going to look horrible? No.

 

[Vstar]

I noticed that many people on here seem to put the HCA measurements a high priority. I did not know about it until I found this website. I thought the GIA rating of excellent was suffice. Does it mean that the GIA cut rating is not accurate or defined as the HCA rating?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 4/3/2008 7:14:22 PM
Author: Vstar
I noticed that many people on here seem to put the HCA measurements a high priority. I did not know about it until I found this website. I thought the GIA rating of excellent was suffice. Does it mean that the GIA cut rating is not accurate or defined as the HCA rating?

To some, it is. To those who want the best of the best, their EX range can be large, and the stones they strive for (the best) are but a small part.

Again, the HCA does not take kindly to deeper pavilion numbers (especially if the crown angle is much higher than 34). That does not mean a stone with numbers like yours will be bad, but it's letting you know it's not the best, you could do a bit better. But also, a good IS pic most often trumps whatever the HCA says. And again, your IS pics are not bad.

If you just want decently cut stones, you have them. These are far from ugly. If you want the best of the best, shoot for numbers that have the x fall in the overlap area of GIA/AGS.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It took me months to find a pair that was perfectly matched and exactly what I wanted. I am sure these are better than most diamonds sold for studs. They just don''t fall in the ideal cut category which is what we are used to seeing on here. The vendors on here really can''t comment because you have mentioned the name of the vendor you are buying from. You could always start another post and ask...are these stones nice enough for earrings even though the HCA score is high? And don''t mention where they are coming from. Maybe get Garry''s attention by putting his name in the title of the post. He is the HCA inventor. At least he could tell you if they would have any disadvantage in earrings.

 

[Vstar]

Thank you very much for your help and suggestions ellen and dmseeker. I will just do that!

 

[Ellen]

You''re welcome, and good luck!