Seeking input on the quality of a stone...

[Small_Blind]

Hi...

Soliciting opinions on the quality of a stone with attributes from a private seller's AGS appraisal:

• Shape: Square Modified Brilliant
  Dimensions: 7.16 x 7.15 x. 5.13mm
  Culet: Pointed
  Depth percentage: 71.7%
  Table percentage: 77.2%
  Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick
  Clarity: I1
  Color: H
  Symmetry: Good
  Polish: Excellent
  Enhancements: None
  Estimated weight: 2.214 carat

Any opinions on the quality of the stone and, most importantly the value...?

Thank you for your time.

 

[John P]

Square Modified Brilliant is the generic name for a Princess Cut.

Is this an official AGSL Grading Report, or an AGS-trained appraiser's evaluation?

If it's from the lab or a CGA/ICGA Appraiser I imagine the H I1 grades are in-line with strict/proper grading parameters. In that case H color is widely accepted. It will not be icy-white, but in a diamond of this size it should not present with any distracting tint. The implications of the I1 clarity grade will depend on the size, position, nature and relief of the inclusions present.

More important to the diamond's appearance and performance are the cut particulars. With a fancy shape like this it's impossible to make any meaningful conclusions from the data provided - but if this is an AGSL grading report it may indicate a cut-grade beyond polish and symmetry (although not all AGSL reports do). Can you provide any more information?

 

[Small_Blind]

Square Modified Brilliant is the generic name for a Princess Cut.

Is this an official AGSL Grading Report, or an AGS-trained appraiser's evaluation?

If it's from the lab or a CGA/ICGA Appraiser I imagine the H I1 grades are in-line with strict/proper grading parameters. In that case H color is widely accepted. It will not be icy-white, but in a diamond of this size it should not present with any distracting tint. The implications of the I1 clarity grade will depend on the size, position, nature and relief of the inclusions present.

More important to the diamond's appearance and performance are the cut particulars. With a fancy shape like this it's impossible to make any meaningful conclusions from the data provided - but if this is an AGSL grading report it may indicate a cut-grade beyond polish and symmetry (although not all AGSL reports do). Can you provide any more information?

Hi John, and thank you...

Please allow me to say that I know very little about diamonds. That said, the seller provided me a jpeg of the appraisal report, and across the top it says ""American Gem Society Laboratories". There is also the phrase "Diamond Quality Report" and an AGS number just beneath that title. I would publish the actual jpeg; however, it's the seller's personal info so I'm not sure it would be proper to do so.

The only other visible info is the following -

• "Fluorescence - Negligible"
  "Clouds - Not Shown"
  Color Grade AGS 2.0 (H)
  Clarity Grade AGS 7 (I1)
  To the right is a diagram listing grading percentages provided in my first post with additional details. Would that info be needed for your additional evaluation?

Thanks again very much.

 

[John P]

Hi John, and thank you...

Please allow me to say that I know very little about diamonds. That said, the seller provided me a jpeg of the appraisal report, and across the top it says ""American Gem Society Laboratories". There is also the phrase "Diamond Quality Report" and an AGS number just beneath that title. I would publish the actual jpeg; however, it's the seller's personal info so I'm not sure it would be proper to do so.

The only other visible info is the following -

• "Fluorescence - Negligible"
  "Clouds - Not Shown"
  Color Grade AGS 2.0 (H)
  Clarity Grade AGS 7 (I1)
  To the right is a diagram listing grading percentages provided in my first post with additional details. Would that info be needed for your additional evaluation?

Thanks again very much.

You're welcome, and no problem about knowing little - that's what the site is for.

The report sounds like an official AGSL DQR. Unfortunately the DQR doesn't grade this shape for cut.

Favorable:
* AGS H color will be reliable
* It's a nice square shape
* Good girdle thickness range

Questions:
* When it was sent to AGS why didn't the sender request a DQD-Report which includes a cut-grade?
* What are the grade-setting inclusions? Surely it's not an I1 based only on clouds - if so that's not promising.

There is no way to predict the performance based on numbers alone. We would need an ASET image of the diamond (which would be supplied on the AGS document if it had been submitted under the DQD/Platinum report).

Sorry I can't deduce more from the information you have provided.
I'm interested to hear the answers to the questions.

 

[Small_Blind]

You're welcome, and no problem about knowing little - that's what the site is for. The report sounds like an official AGSL DQR. Unfortunately the DQR doesn't grade this shape for cut.

Favorable:
* AGS H color will be reliable
* It's a nice square shape
* Good girdle thickness range

Questions:
* When it was sent to AGS why didn't the sender request a DQD-Report which includes a cut-grade?
* What are the grade-setting inclusions? Surely it's not an I1 based only on clouds - if so that's not promising.

There is no way to predict the performance based on numbers alone. We would need an ASET image of the diamond (which would be supplied on the AGS document if it had been submitted under the DQD/Platinum report). Sorry I can't deduce more from the information you have provided. I'm interested to hear the answers to the questions.

John: I am very grateful for you hanging in there with me. Much appreciated. I asked the seller the questions you posed, and I did not receive a direct reply with those answers; so, I am assuming the seller does not know. That said, the seller did supply a larger/clearer copy of the appraisal, and the only additional info on the report was a diagram of the diamond itself (and I am assuming grading percentages and an inclusion diagram). See attached. Let me know if this helps and/or if I should go back and try to obtain direct answers to your questions (either from seller or if the jeweler can be contacted where the stone was purchased).

Thank you again.
Robert

 

[Christina...]

It looks as though the clarity grade was based on the clouds alone...at least from what I can clearly seen on my screen. As John has already said, that isn't promising. Clouds are essentially a bunch of tiny pin points grouped together, in many cases it will not be visible to the naked eye and will not affect the stones light performance. In this case though I'm betting that the clouds are very dense and will impact it's performance. When the clouds are very dense light can't travel through the stone and refract back to the viewers eye. It will appear as a large 'dead' or 'cloudy' spot on the surface of the stone.

 

[John P]

John: I am very grateful for you hanging in there with me. Much appreciated. I asked the seller the questions you posed, and I did not receive a direct reply with those answers; so, I am assuming the seller does not know. That said, the seller did supply a larger/clearer copy of the appraisal, and the only additional info on the report was a diagram of the diamond itself (and I am assuming grading percentages and an inclusion diagram). See attached. Let me know if this helps and/or if I should go back and try to obtain direct answers to your questions (either from seller or if the jeweler can be contacted where the stone was purchased).

Thank you again.
Robert

You're welcome - I am happy to help, Robert.

I don't want to seem over-critical, but it's my opinion that your seller should either be able to answer the questions I posed directly, or provide a rational explanation for not-answering. So yes, I would suggest that you inquire again.

As Christina implied; if that inclusion plot is made-up entirely of clouds, and those clouds reduced the diamond to I1 it's going to create dead spots. There is usually an indication on the grading report (DQR) of all inclusions in order of severity, but this isn't included in the graphic above.

As it relates to the additional proportions information; a 5.2% crown height is quite low, even in this shape which typically has a low crown. Without question, that will reduce the amount of fire/dispersion observed.

 

[Small_Blind]

It looks as though...

You're welcome - I am happy to help...

Thank you both very much. You've given me great insight and information for consideration, and I will also attempt to obtain answers to the outstanding questions before having the diamond looked at in person. I will keep you posted on my progress.

 

[Small_Blind]

You're welcome - I am happy to help, Robert.

Hi John: I wanted to give you an update--I purchased the ring today and had an new appraisal completed. I couldn't be happier--it was a very special day. Attached is a photo of the ring.

The seller purchased the ring last year (Jan 2012) and a little over a year later, I purchased it from her for 65% of her retail price. The appraiser estimated an insured value of $1,100 over the purchase price, when new. He also advised that, when trying to find a comparable stone through his online application, he was only able to locate 4 or 5 stones like it in the international market(s).

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts on the ring--it was very kind of you to answer my questions and hang in there with me while I performed my due diligence. I am extraordinarily happy, and I hope my girlfriend is too.

Best,
Robert