Specs for diamond - pls help

[misstsips]

Hi everybody!!

I will be visting a diamond wholesaler here in Australia next week on Tuesday and am hoping to look at the sparkliest rock I can. Unfortunately for me I am not diamond spec savvy like most of you here (how I wish I was though). I will be looking at round brilliant as well as the hearts and arrows selections.
I am asking for some of you to post dimensions, and other measurements such as table dimensions and all the things important for a fabulous sparkly stone.
Sparkly is my biggest priority as fire in a diamond really has to be the most amazing thing.
Thankyou all in advance

p.s what does the PS community think of a solitaire setting for a RHR?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/25/2008 6:09:56 AM
Author:misstsips
Hi everybody!!

I will be visting a diamond wholesaler here in Australia next week on Tuesday and am hoping to look at the sparkliest rock I can. Unfortunately for me I am not diamond spec savvy like most of you here (how I wish I was though). I will be looking at round brilliant as well as the hearts and arrows selections.
I am asking for some of you to post dimensions, and other measurements such as table dimensions and all the things important for a fabulous sparkly stone.
Sparkly is my biggest priority as fire in a diamond really has to be the most amazing thing.
Thankyou all in advance

p.s what does the PS community think of a solitaire setting for a RHR? I don't see why not if that is what you want, maybe a bezel setting might look good?

Here you go, some numbers you can use as a guide to find a well cut round diamond.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above
note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

With that said, here's a "Cliff's Notes" for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA "EX" in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

Also you could order a beginner Idealscope as you will be viewing diamonds in person.
http://www.ideal-scope.com/cart_zoom_item.asp?Id=2&ShowAdd=Y

And lastly, you can run the proportions of any diamond you are interested through the Holloway Cut Advisor to eliminate the lesser performers.

 

[Ellen]

Lorelei gave you some great info. I'll just add that when comparing stones, look for the one that sparkles most, is the brightest, and has lots of fire. Be sure to look in as many different lighting situations as possible, including an area away from light. You don't want total darkness, but definitely shielded from any light source. A well cut diamond will still look very nice with just a hint of sparkle still in such a setting. (it shouldn't go "flat")

As for having a solitaire as a RHR, there are no rules. If that's what pleases you, go for it!

 

[stone-cold11]

wholesaler by definition do not sell directly to consumers...

Anyway, I believe there are a few aussies on PS that can give you suggestions on which shops will have good diamonds but I only heard of 2,

Precious Metal by Garry Holloway and Jogia Diamonds.

 

[misstsips]

Thanks for those specs Lorelei for a round diamond.

Can the same specs be used for a round hearts & arrows diamond as well, or do they differ completely?

Many thanks!!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 11/25/2008 5:15:19 PM
Author: misstsips
Thanks for those specs Lorelei for a round diamond.


Can the same specs be used for a round hearts & arrows diamond as well, or do they differ completely?


Many thanks!!

Yes, they are the same. But not all diamonds that fall within those specs are going to be H&A.

 

[:)]

Date: 11/25/2008 6:17:50 AM
Author: Lorelei

Here you go, some numbers you can use as a guide to find a well cut round diamond.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above
note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

With that said, here's a 'Cliff's Notes' for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA 'EX' in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

Also you could order a beginner Idealscope as you will be viewing diamonds in person.
http://www.ideal-scope.com/cart_zoom_item.asp?Id=2&ShowAdd=Y

And lastly, you can run the proportions of any diamond you are interested through the Holloway Cut Advisor to eliminate the lesser performers.

I KNEW KNEW KNEW I would find your helpful post here Ms. L!

Take a gander at the tutorials also just to learn about diamonds overall. pay attention to girdle thickness (touched on above) - if you see a 'very thin' make sure to find out where that part is b/c it can put it at risk for chipping.
Pay attention to the dimensions also to make sure you get something basically round and not out of round!

Make sure to look at the diamonds in multiple different lighting situations too - jewelry lights tend to make anything sparkle!

 

[:)]

Ellen, Stone, and Neat have all given good advice too!
THe only way to tell H&A is by using an H&A viewer the specs given are the same to shoot for.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/25/2008 9:09:44 PM
Author:

Date: 11/25/2008 6:17:50 AM
Author: Lorelei


Here you go, some numbers you can use as a guide to find a well cut round diamond.

depth - 60 - 62% - although my personal preference is to allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!

As the above implies, configurations depend on each other. A little give here can still work with a little take there.

With that said, here''s a ''Cliff''s Notes'' for staying near Tolkowsky/ideal angles with GIA reports (their numbers are rounded): A crown angle of 34.0, 34.5 or 35.0 is usually safe with a 40.8 pavilion angle. If pavilion angle = 40.6 lean toward a 34.5-35.0 crown. If pavilion angle = 41 lean toward a 34.0-34.5 crown.

GIA ''EX'' in cut is great at its heart, but it ranges a bit wider than some people prefer, particularly in deep combinations (pavilion > 41 with crown > 35).

Also you could order a beginner Idealscope as you will be viewing diamonds in person.
http://www.ideal-scope.com/cart_zoom_item.asp?Id=2&ShowAdd=Y

And lastly, you can run the proportions of any diamond you are interested through the Holloway Cut Advisor to eliminate the lesser performers.

I KNEW KNEW KNEW I would find your helpful post here Ms. L!

Take a gander at the tutorials also just to learn about diamonds overall. pay attention to girdle thickness (touched on above) - if you see a ''very thin'' make sure to find out where that part is b/c it can put it at risk for chipping.
Pay attention to the dimensions also to make sure you get something basically round and not out of round!

Make sure to look at the diamonds in multiple different lighting situations too - jewelry lights tend to make anything sparkle!