Should these issues bother me?

[PuurfectStone]

My fiance and I went into a reputable store in my area and found a gorgeous loose stone 1.5 G SI1, GIA cert, ex Cut, EX polish and Sym, no flur. Now my fiance's vision is better than 20/20 so he gets nitpicky about SIs. And this stone has a small cloud near the girdle which the jeweler said he could easily hid under a prong.

With that said, my fiance noticed the inclusions without a loupe but said it didn't bother him since it would be hidden and of course in my eyes it was eye clean (though my vision is slightly worse than 20/20). Would that bother any one that your fiance could see it, even thought he said he wouldn't bother him?

Also, it scored a 4 on the HCA, but the jeweler, whose familiar with HCA said he wouldn't go by it because it's a flawed system. I mean it is a gorgeous stone, lots of sparkle, for a good price, so i don't know if i should worry about these issues. Plus, we would send it to an appraiser before we make any commitments. Am I just being crazy??

Thanks in advance for any input.

I'll attach the specs when I get them in a couple of days!

 

[mrssalvo]

if you've seen the stone and love it and the price is right than I'd go with that. you will be wearing the diamond, not a piece of paper or score. those are all just wonderful tools/guides that are very helpful in picking out winner stones as well as using them when buying online. you've got the benefit of using your own eyes. it wouldn't bother me if my hubby could see an inclusion if he said it didn't bother him.

ETA: just wanted to add the HCA isn't flawed and just received a patent. you might want to post the stones specs and compare to online vendors pricing to make sure you really are paying a fair price though.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ooops! I''d surely list those measurements on here as your jeweler isn''t exactly unbiased!

Clarity is very personal and no one can answer that but you. I was always bothered by an inclusion in my original diamond, so I went with VS1 on my new diamond. If it doesn''t bother you, then you''ll save a lot of money!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

If the inclusion can easily be hidden under a prong, I would be okay with that if my goal was to go as big as possible.

The bigger issue for me would be the score of 4 on the HCA. I''d shop around more. I''d want my 1.5 to dazzle!

 

[neatfreak]

No offense, but how many diamonds have you seen in person? Have you looked at stones like Hearts on Fire and compared directly to the one you''ve found? Because HCA is NOT a flawed system at all, and I would personally not purchase a stone that scored a 4 when there are so many others to be found. Just because this diamond looked great to YOU doesn''t mean much if you haven''t compared with some great super ideal stones that would score lower on HCA.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/13/2007 3:17:28 PM
Author: neatfreak
No offense, but how many diamonds have you seen in person? Have you looked at stones like Hearts on Fire and compared directly to the one you''ve found? Because HCA is NOT a flawed system at all, and I would personally not purchase a stone that scored a 4 when there are so many others to be found. Just because this diamond looked great to YOU doesn''t mean much if you haven''t compared with some great super ideal stones that would score lower on HCA.

Yep, also, have you looked at the diamond outside of the jewerly store lighting? Lighting in a jewelry store can give a false impression of the sparkle of a stone.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 8/13/2007 3:23:24 PM
Author: MC

Date: 8/13/2007 3:17:28 PM

Author: neatfreak

No offense, but how many diamonds have you seen in person? Have you looked at stones like Hearts on Fire and compared directly to the one you''ve found? Because HCA is NOT a flawed system at all, and I would personally not purchase a stone that scored a 4 when there are so many others to be found. Just because this diamond looked great to YOU doesn''t mean much if you haven''t compared with some great super ideal stones that would score lower on HCA.

Yep, also, have you looked at the diamond outside of the jewerly store lighting? Lighting in a jewelry store can give a false impression of the sparkle of a stone.

Excellent addition MC! Make sure to take it outside, in low light, in bright light, etc. And if you can, like I said, compare directly to a stone like Hearts on Fire (which carry a major premium but will give you an idea of what a sub 2 on HCA will look like).

 

[jayreneepea]

I''m not at all bothered by inclusions, especially ones I can''t see or are hidden -- how about you?? I''m not wearing it so it doesn''t really matter what I think, but if I was.. it wouldn''t.

I am bothered by the HCA score of 4 though and wouldn''t wear it.

 

[PuurfectStone]

Thanks for everyone''s input. When we go back and look at the stone, I''ll ask to look at H&A diamonds. I had a problem with the 4 score as well, but he said that the HCA contridicts itself because the cut of the diamond given by GIA is excellent yet it scores a 4.

We saw the diamond next to a window in sunlight and compared it with a F VS2 and they looked the same. The F VS2 scored like a 1.5 in HCA, but they looked the same to me. That was why I was confused with the HCA. But i''ll get all the measurements and post them in a couple of days!

Thanks again for everyones advice!

 

[shel]

Date: 8/13/2007 5:54:55 PM
Author: PuurfectStone
Thanks for everyone''s input. When we go back and look at the stone, I''ll ask to look at H&A diamonds. I had a problem with the 4 score as well, but he said that the HCA contridicts itself because the cut of the diamond given by GIA is excellent yet it scores a 4.


We saw the diamond next to a window in sunlight and compared it with a F VS2 and they looked the same. The F VS2 scored like a 1.5 in HCA, but they looked the same to me. That was why I was confused with the HCA. But i''ll get all the measurements and post them in a couple of days!


Thanks again for everyones advice!

It''s not contradictory. In this case, an HCA of 4 probably represents a cut on the fringes of GIA Excellent, since "excellent" encompasses a wider range of cuts than an AGS0. But it does make you wonder: should we be so dogmatic about getting an HCA<2 if the eye can''t tell a difference between that and an HCA of 4? Or do you have to view the two stones in even less optimal lighting before an HCA<2 comes out the winner?

 

[BigDiamonds]

Second (and third, and fourth) to everything said here, especially about the 4 on the HCA.

BUT...we buy diamonds by the numbers because that''s how you shop online. But if you have seen the stone with your own eyes and think it''s beautiful and sparkly, then that''s the most important part! If you really can''t tell the difference between the 4 and the 1.5, then why pay more??? Just be sure to do your research on price to make sure you''re getting a fair deal.