Shape of Diamond

[SFDavey]

Hi there. First time here for me and I have a question about a princess cut. I am a first time diamond buyer.

I am looking to build an engagement ring for my fiance. I have a dealer that I am going through, recommended to me by two sets of friends.

The dealer showed me a pricess cut diamond lately to put into a ring. The ring is as follows:
0.85 carats
H color
VVS2
princess cut
IGI certified

The stone certainly had very good sparkle to it in both natural and artificial lighting. What I noticed about it''s shape has me a bit confused.

Looking at the stone in profile, there is not a clearly defined "V" from the culet to the girdle. At somewhere along the midpoint of the distance from the culet to the girdle, the angle changes. As near as I could tell at 10x maginification, this change in angle was uniform.

Is this typical of a princess cut?

Is this unusual?

How does this affect the stone?

We did not negotiate on the price of the stone, yet. It was stated that it was in the range of $3,200.

ALL help is greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,
Davey

 

[SFDavey]

As a further description of the shaping of the stone...

There is an angle change, from culet to girdle, that corresponds with the facets along that line.

The facets that 'begins' at the girdle has a different angle than the facets that 'begin' at the culet.

Thanks,
Davey

 

[strmrdr]

Take a look at the pictures in this thread I think they will answer your question:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/tail-of-a-princess%E2%80%99s-girdle.14798/

 

[valeria101]

You might want to see a model of this cut - no idea where to look for a side view of a princess online.

However, the typical model can be played with using the "Virtual Model" and GemAdviser (free software) found HERE].

This is what you might see for a 'normal' princess cut:

 

[moremoremore]

Oh- that is a fine looking specimen Valeria!

It does surprise me, however, to see those less than spectacular bscope results!

 

[SFDavey]

Thanks for the helpful replies!

The pictuere supplied by Valeria101 is EXTREMELY helpful.

I have looked at about 10 loose stones so far. The first three that my guy showed me I felt were "tester" stones to see if I had done ANY homework on diamonds at all before showing up. After I flat-out rejected those three (wisely though lacking experience) he brought out some much nicer ones. None of them really were what I was looking for.

I told him that the MOST impoortant thing to me above all else was how much the stone sparkled. I gave him my ranking as follows: Cut was 1st, clarity 2nd, carats thrid, color 4th.

We parted on very good terms that day and he went looking for me...

He called me up about 1.5 weeks later with the stone I am questioning. The change in pavilion angle really REALLY threw me off. As I said, I am a first time diamond buyer. Once again, that picture from Valeria101 showing the princess cut from other angles was HUGELY helpful.

I guess the next question could have an obvious answer, but I gotta ask anyways...

Is the amount of 'sparkle' I am seeing considered a really good sign of the quality of the rock?

 

[valeria101]

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On 4/26/2004 7:29:28 PM SFDavey wrote:



Is the amount of 'sparkle' I am seeing considered a really good sign of the quality of the rock?

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Yo BET!

This is why alot of very smart people took steps and invented gimmicks such as the Brilliance Scope and Ideal Scope and maybe some more I don't know of....

It is great to see lots of stones. But having a scale for brilliance is also helpful - it takes a shortcut to tell you how far is a stone from the abolute best, without having to compare dozens in person. Hence the pletora of 'Scopes

 

[SFDavey]

Well, I am going to see the stone again this afternoon and give the guy a "yes" or "no" answer on this particular one. If I go "yes", is there a customary amount of money to pay for him to work with the specific stone and start moving it towards the setting?

I was going to negotiate with him, and then give him half of the price up front. The classic "half now, half when I get it" scenario. I am not planning on financing the ring.

Any advice on payment arrangements?

 

[DiamondExpert]

Crown height is also important in how a Princess looks - about 9% min. - and many have very shallow ones.

 

[SFDavey]

I told my guy YES yesterday. He gave me a very good price for the diamond and the setting and I take my fiance to get fitted for the ring and to 'peek' at her rock today!