shape
carat
color
clarity

The PERFECT diamond.

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

oldminer

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Sep 3, 2000
Messages
6,756
A diamond is rightfully deemed perfect only if it is Flawless, and D Color. The key and missing ingredient up until the past couple of years was a standard for Finest cut.

All of the standards, clarity, color and cut are still somewhat subjective and not totally absolute. A diamond deemed properly to be PERFECT to the existing standards is going to be one heck of a great diamond, but it may not be as great, on some absolute, objective scale, as another graded PERFECT. Even at the upper reaches of the quality and rarity categories there is a range of what diamonds fit into it. Diamonds are not made by a cookie cutting device, but each is a work of art by a skilled craftsman and each varies from the next. Some of the finest examples vary more than you''d expect, so we always tell people to choose the right stone for them not only with proper grading documents but also with their own eyes.

No one in this world has a standardized scale of beauty. Most of us can easily agree on the factors that create beauty, but each one of us has a unique viewpoint on the subject. The quest for perfection is highly prized in certain cultures and less prized in others. Americans are notorious for choosing size and price over quality yet the Pricescope community proves there are a good number of people who are willing to concentrate on quality, too.

I often think of the many lurkers and visitors to Pricescope who wrongly think that this site is way too technical or too quality oriented. They must visit, read and leave thinking they don''t have the money or the knowledge to search out a really nice diamond. These folks end up getting a relatively poor stone, for a fair to poor price, from a salesperson who doesn''t give them a chance to do better.

An absolutely PERFECT diamond doesn''t exist, yet there is a PERFECT diamond for YOU just waiting for you to find it. While we encourage fine cut and better qualities for those who can afford them, there is a world of more average qualities, from I to O color and below SI2 clarity which still can make someone very happy. I know this flies in the face of the typically sought after stone on Pricescope, but I see some really passable diamonds in these lesser qualites from time to time and want to be sure that all visitors to Pricescope know they can be assisted here on what they can afford and what they can appreciate, PERFECTLY.
 
Great points. I, in fact, like the warmer colors and some I clarities can be quite acceptable.
36.gif
 
That''s nice to read. I have decided that a GIA EX in I or J and SI 1 or 2 will still look gorgeous on my hand. And it allows a larger stone than otherwise possible.
BB
 
great points Dave, as a very happy L IL owner with a non superideal diamond, I hope we can be helpful to all consumers, not just those looking for a super louper cut, or very high on the colour and clarity scale. My diamond is not a perfect stone, but I love it and get compliments all the time for it's beauty, also I have followed the journeys here of some other happy I1 owners that have found their perfect diamond happened to be an I clarity!
 
What a great post - thanks!
 
Dave, I would add to your post that there is no one "right combo" that makes a perfect diamond. There are so many variables that go into making a diamond perfect for someone and they aren''t necessarily being D IF ex ex ex. I think often people get really caught up in the numbers game, especially when buying online since they cannot see the stones in person beforehand. I always say to people, "how does it look to YOU?" As long as a stone "speaks" to you, it''s perfect for you. IMO.
 
So true. So many people buy "the paper" - D FL [not IF!]. It is kind of like collecting "autographs" in the art world. Things often are bought not for their beauty, but for some other reason.

I would say that if somebody sees a stone that calls out to them, then that is their stone. You do not want to be getting a stone that has the "right" specs but needs to "grow on you".

When I got my first large stone many years ago [the 6.39 carat step cut estate piece posted on SMTR] I had been looking for at least 2 years for the right stone [I had been looking at 5 ish carat RB''s! Nothing floated my boat.]. I then saw this stone in a store window and it was calling my name. I knew I had to have it so I got it. It is that connection that is important IMHO [BTW, the stone is a VS1 L/M color and it has spectacular presence]. Don''t rely on the paper.
 
Thank you for the reminder, Dave. My diamond is a well-cut 60/60 style round brilliant, which seems to be out of fashion here. This stone was selected for me by my jeweler who also happened to know the cutter and his work. It is a very beautiful diamond, and frankly, I like it more than many of the "ideal" cut stones that I have seen in person. It''s mine, I love how it looks, and so it''s perfect for me.

You can learn a lot about diamonds here on Pricescope, and be so much better prepared when shopping. But the quest for perfection is a fool''s game. You wouldn''t try to buy the perfect painting by the numbers. A painting is a work of art and so is a diamond.
 
Very good points. Who wouldn''t love a perfectly cut D flawless diamond, but it''s just not realistic. We all have to find the diamond that speaks to us. Now, if I could only get the diamond to tell me what setting it would like, I''d be set.
 
Date: 1/8/2008 9:27:57 PM
Author: ChattyCat
...Now, if I could only get the diamond to tell me what setting it would like, I''d be set.
Haha! LOL! So true!!!
9.gif
 
I agree completely!
As a newbie, I can still remember my first few visits here. . . it can be VERY daunting to jump in and ask questions expecting that if you aren't asking only about the elusive "perfect diamond" you may not get good feedback.
It can be discouraging to people new to this, like me.

Obviously, not everyone here thinks we all should be buying H&A type cuts, but because so much emphasis is placed on cut, AND RIGHTLY SO, it could deter people who know they have to "settle" for a cut that's not considered perfect.

I tend to be the kind of person who enjoys researching, learning and figuring it out and Forums like this don't intimidate me at all so I perservered!
9.gif
28.gif


DH was pressuring me to make a decision quickly and he was out of town almost the whole time
14.gif

So I read here A LOT for one straight week and quickly figured out for myself that although the specs were relatively important, they were NOT a deal killer if I loved the stone.
In my humble opinion, I think a lot of people put a little too much emphasis on the certs/specs. . . as if we'd carry them around to prove the fantasticness of our stone!
41.gif

If I relied on specs/certs more than I did, I wouldn't have nearly the stone I was able to get.
 
Good writing Dave..., I
36.gif
U.


Date: 1/8/2008 1:30:10 PM
Author:oldminer
A diamond is rightfully deemed perfect only if it is Flawless, and D Color. The key and missing ingredient up until the past couple of years was a standard for Finest cut.

All of the standards, clarity, color and cut are still somewhat subjective and not totally absolute. A diamond deemed properly to be PERFECT to the existing standards is going to be one heck of a great diamond, but it may not be as great, on some absolute, objective scale, as another graded PERFECT. Even at the upper reaches of the quality and rarity categories there is a range of what diamonds fit into it. Diamonds are not made by a cookie cutting device, but each is a work of art by a skilled craftsman and each varies from the next. Some of the finest examples vary more than you''d expect, so we always tell people to choose the right stone for them not only with proper grading documents but also with their own eyes.

No one in this world has a standardized scale of beauty. Most of us can easily agree on the factors that create beauty, but each one of us has a unique viewpoint on the subject. The quest for perfection is highly prized in certain cultures and less prized in others. Americans are notorious for choosing size and price over quality yet the Pricescope community proves there are a good number of people who are willing to concentrate on quality, too.

I often think of the many lurkers and visitors to Pricescope who wrongly think that this site is way too technical or too quality oriented. They must visit, read and leave thinking they don''t have the money or the knowledge to search out a really nice diamond. These folks end up getting a relatively poor stone, for a fair to poor price, from a salesperson who doesn''t give them a chance to do better.

An absolutely PERFECT diamond doesn''t exist, yet there is a PERFECT diamond for YOU just waiting for you to find it. While we encourage fine cut and better qualities for those who can afford them, there is a world of more average qualities, from I to O color and below SI2 clarity which still can make someone very happy. I know this flies in the face of the typically sought after stone on Pricescope, but I see some really passable diamonds in these lesser qualites from time to time and want to be sure that all visitors to Pricescope know they can be assisted here on what they can afford and what they can appreciate, PERFECTLY.
As you move away from the typical round brilliant..., the standards become more subjective and as you get to the upper reaches of the rarity (Fancy Colored Diamonds as example) the scope of the subjectivity range becomes much wider and wilder than the eyes or mind can even imagine.

I always tell people to first choose a Diamond with their eyes and for a "mind clean" feeling make sure it comes with an acceptable lab report.
Most importantly..., I tell them to get educated before the decision!

I agree with you a 100% by thinking that the average visitor/lurker can be easily intimidated by the amount of technical information floating around on PS on the subject of the higher quality segment.
I truly think this message of yours (David) should be titled and positioned in the FAQ section for lurkers to easily identify.

We must not forget that the great majority of Diamond material is of lower quality..., and so naturally the majority of jewelry out on the market is made up with these types of Diamonds. BUT..., you can also find extremely high end jewelry designers incorporating LOW quality Diamond material in their designs..., as an example see De Grisogono''s use of highly included/opaque melee or Black colored Diamonds mixing with high quality Diamonds or Gemstones!

I does not make these jewelry pieces less perfect for the consumers who purchase these pieces incorporating these Diamonds. That said..., I truly believe a place like PS should be accommodating for consumers wanting to educate themselves on Diamonds no matter which types!

And now for the weekly quiz!!!
31.gif
41.gif


Is this Diamond beautiful or no?




BeautifulImperfect.JPG
 
Great post, Dave. I know when I selected one of my Asschers, my diamond seller would not show me the certs until I looked at the diamonds first. It was an easy selection, my stone left out at me. When I looked at the cert, I was surprised by the table %, and I had to spend the next 15 minutes looking at the diamond, then the cert, then the diamond again. I did finally take the PS advise and went with my eyes (the remainder of the numbers were great, in my opinion), and I have loved the results.

I think the numbers can be a red flag to get you away from some questionable diamonds and narrow your focus to those that require closer consideration. But the final call needs to be made with your own eyes, the ones that will be staring at that sparkler for years to come (or until the next upgrade
31.gif
).
 
DiaGem, I think that diamond you posted is beautiful, is in fact quite fascinating to look at. I can imagine it would make a unique piece of jewellery.
 
Date: 1/9/2008 6:04:56 AM
Author: DiaGem

And now for the weekly quiz!!!
31.gif
41.gif

Is this Diamond beautiful or no?

Looks pretty to me but more from a collector''s stand point and its uniqueness
28.gif
What kind of inclusions are those?
 
Thanks Oldminer!

Very well said and very relevant to many threads right now
35.gif


Thanks!
 
Date: 1/9/2008 3:04:03 PM
Author: kroshka

Date: 1/9/2008 6:04:56 AM
Author: DiaGem

And now for the weekly quiz!!!
31.gif
41.gif

Is this Diamond beautiful or no?

Looks pretty to me but more from a collector''s stand point and its uniqueness
28.gif
What kind of inclusions are those?
A bunch of internal (extra large) feathers (through-out the stone) positioned parallel to each-other and to the natural Diamond plane structure...

Yes..., for sure its unique...
1.gif
 
Date: 1/9/2008 3:36:17 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 1/9/2008 3:04:03 PM
Author: kroshka


Date: 1/9/2008 6:04:56 AM
Author: DiaGem

And now for the weekly quiz!!!
31.gif
41.gif

Is this Diamond beautiful or no?

Looks pretty to me but more from a collector''s stand point and its uniqueness
28.gif
What kind of inclusions are those?
A bunch of internal (extra large) feathers (through-out the stone) positioned parallel to each-other and to the natural Diamond plane structure...

Yes..., for sure its unique...
1.gif
That is a very cool diamond. It would make a nifty piece of jewelry.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Top