StarFire Diamonds

[kevinlin]

I can seem to find enough facts about StarFire diamonds on PS (maybe I just kept looking at the wrong sections), so I was hoping to get some comments from the experts here.

Here is a link with what StarFire is:
http://www.excellentdiamondcutters.com/result.asp?starfire=1

Quote:
"Every Starfire™ diamond is inscribed with the Starfire™ logo, as well as an individual identification number on its table. The inscription itself is invisible to the naked eye; the markings are only 1/20 of a micron deep, 1/500 of the thickness of a human hair, and do not affect the internal (clarity) grade of the diamond."

I am concerned about the inscription on the TABLE, and not gridle, since to me it feels like that was done to get rid of some clarity characteristics. What are your experiance with these StarFire diamonds, and what do you think about the inscription?

Thanks.

 

[enbcfsobe]

don''t know about the inscription, but the whole sticking to DEF and VVS seems silly and a waste of $$ unless the clarity/color is culturally important to you. its just not necessary to go to (and pay for) that level to get a really white-looking stone that has no visible inclusions if the cut is really as good as they say it is. they claim they are H&A stones, but I couldn''t find any H&A viewer or other images to back up that claim. No way would I buy online without seeing some evidence that these are as symmetrical as they claim.

 

[chrono]

It looks like a branded H&A stone but yet it doesn't provide any information on its cut.
1. Proof that it is well cut
2. Proof of its H&A
Without any of these, I'd take GOG's unbranded H&A, Infinity branded H&A and WF's branded ACA anytime.

All the clarity and colour is overkill too. It isn't the colour and clarity that makes the diamond sparkle. Also why pay more for what can't be seen? A G and eyeclean VS2/SI1 combo will essentially look like an F/VVS1 to the naked eye, but for a whole lot less $$$ even when both are ideal cut.

I'm not sure I'd like the inscription on the table of the diamond. Yes it'll be small but it might end up looking like a black dot/smudge to the naked eye. Plus, being on the table, it has a higher risk of being rubbed off over time, then the inscription will be gone!

 

[kevinlin]

For what it''s worth; as an exercise, I picked a couple of stones at random, took the GIA #, and pulled up the GIA report. The cuts themselves actually look pretty good to me. The following example has a HCA score of 1.2

Report Check for
GIA Report Number: 14153390

Report Type: GIA Diamond Grading Report
Date of Issue: June 21, 2007
Laser Inscription Registry: 14153390
Round Brilliant
Measurements: 6.53 - 6.56 x 3.99 mm
Carat Weight: 1.04
Color Grade: F
Clarity Grade: VVS1
Cut Grade: Excellent
Proportions:
Depth: 61.0 %
Table: 56 %
Crown Angle: 34.5°
Crown Height: 15.5 %
Pavilion Angle: 40.8°
Pavilion Depth: 42.5 %
Star length: 50 %
Lower Half: 75 %
Girdle: Medium
Culet: Small

Finish:
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: Faint
Additional Inscription: [StarFire symbol] 1021

 

[whatmeworry]

I''ve seen some. They are a branded H&A diamond sold at brick and mortars. Good looking diamonds, crisp hearts and arrow patterns. B&M prices higher than online prices. I highly doubt the table inscription is done to get rid of imperfections. It''s done just to indentify their brand mark and so you can identify your diamond. Isee (?) brand diamonds are also inscribed on the table.

 

[jstarfireb]

Hey, they stole my name!

Pretty much looks like any other branded H&A stone to me. I''d stick with the tried and true ones we all know and love, and go for something like G-H VS2-SI1 rather than these color/clarity combos to save yourself some cash. They actually don''t seem ridiculously overpriced for a branded stone (I''ve heard Hearts on Fire are, for example). Whiteflash''s ACAs in the 1.0 D-F IF-VVS2 range are about 10-12k, and that''s right where that 1.04 F VVS1 Starfire is.

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 7/12/2007 3:55:18 PM
Author:kevinlin
the markings are only 1/20 of a micron deep, 1/500 of the thickness of a human hair.

I am concerned about the inscription on the TABLE, and not gridle, since to me it feels like that was done to get rid of some clarity characteristics.

It''s highly unlikely that such a shallow inscription would be able to affect the clarity in any way. An inclusion that was less than 0.05 um in diameter would not be eye-visible.

 

[junior35]

Date: 7/12/2007 3:55:18 PM
Author:kevinlin
I can seem to find enough facts about StarFire diamonds on PS (maybe I just kept looking at the wrong sections), so I was hoping to get some comments from the experts here.

Here is a link with what StarFire is:
http://www.excellentdiamondcutters.com/result.asp?starfire=1

Quote:
''Every Starfire™ diamond is inscribed with the Starfire™ logo, as well as an individual identification number on its table. The inscription itself is invisible to the naked eye; the markings are only 1/20 of a micron deep, 1/500 of the thickness of a human hair, and do not affect the internal (clarity) grade of the diamond.''

I am concerned about the inscription on the TABLE, and not gridle, since to me it feels like that was done to get rid of some clarity characteristics. What are your experiance with these StarFire diamonds, and what do you think about the inscription?

Thanks.

This type of inscription was first introduced by DeBeers in their failed marketing project called the ''Millenium Diamonds'' .It uses ion beam technology and requires a special instrument in order to read the logo.Having invested so much money in the mentioned project,DeBeers have since re-launched a new program called the ''Forevermark'' and surprisingly ,it has to some extent caught on this time around.