Thouhts on a stone

[ro]

Hello! Thanks to anyone who may respond, i''ve been going nuts over finding the right stone for the last month or so. This forum has provided an invaluable resource. I am currently working with a friend of the family diamond dealer in the DD in manhattan. He works out of a very small office and mostly wholesale.

i''ve found the following diamond:
2.03c
G
SI2
VG, VG, VG
HCA of 2.1; VG, EX, VG, VG
the measurements are:
Table: 59%
Depth: 60.8%
Crown: 36.0
Pav: 40.6
thin to medium, faceted girdle
Cutlet: None

The offer is 17K, and he''s told me he''ll give me a bit more of a break.

The stone is eye clean, and looks good. But i''m a bit worried about the HCA score. Will there be a noticible difference at <2 or <1 ? My fiance to-be is above all concerned with the fire and sparkle (who isn''t!) and so above all i really want to make sure that comes accross. How does the price seem? Seems pretty comprable to BN, but don''t have much more of a reference point.

Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/29/2008 10:09:12 AM
Author:ro
Hello! Thanks to anyone who may respond, i've been going nuts over finding the right stone for the last month or so. This forum has provided an invaluable resource. I am currently working with a friend of the family diamond dealer in the DD in manhattan. He works out of a very small office and mostly wholesale.

i've found the following diamond:
2.03c
G
SI2
VG, VG, VG
HCA of 2.1; VG, EX, VG, VG
the measurements are:
Table: 59%
Depth: 60.8%
Crown: 36.0
Pav: 40.6
thin to medium, faceted girdle
Cutlet: None

The offer is 17K, and he's told me he'll give me a bit more of a break.

The stone is eye clean, and looks good. But i'm a bit worried about the HCA score. Will there be a noticible difference at <2 or <1 ? My fiance to-be is above all concerned with the fire and sparkle (who isn't!) and so above all i really want to make sure that comes accross. How does the price seem? Seems pretty comprable to BN, but don't have much more of a reference point.

Thanks!

Hi ro!

This might be a nice diamond, it depends on what you want, if you are looking for a top make superideal then keep looking, but this appears to be a good make cutwise. The table is a bit larger than we often see here, some like that look so it is a matter of preference. As to the HCA score, as you can see the diamond I would see if you can check it out away from the store lights to make sure it appeals to you in the lighting conditions the ring will be worn in.

I would say, look around and see if you can check out some AGS0 cut grade or some Hearts on Fire, so you can compare this diamond with some of known cut quality.

Also do you have the diameter measurement please?

As you are working with a friend of the family, would you find it easier to purchase from someone who is impartial? Have others bought diamonds from him with good results?

 

[ro]

Thanks so much for your response. It wasn''t really a showroom as much as a closet! So the lighting was really just flouresent lighting that you would see in an office pretty much. I thought it looked great, but wasn''t blown away (i bet it would look good in a store tho). I''ve seen the HOF, etc, but only in stores. I did see this compared to an F SI2 Ex/Ex/Ex (1.8 HCA Ex/Ex/VG/VG) right there and i thought it looked the same. Indistinguishable really.

The diameter is: 8.09 - 8.19 x 4.95

I agree, i think the table is a big larger than i would like. I went back asking for basically the same stone, but with a 57% table or so and he came back with:
ROUND GIA //G SI 2 //2.07 CT DIAMOND

63.2 % DEPTH 57% TABLE

VG CUT GRADE / VG POLISH / VG SYMMETRY

which i think is to deep and a worse stone most likely (trying to get the GIA report).

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/29/2008 11:53:37 AM
Author: ro
Thanks so much for your response. It wasn't really a showroom as much as a closet! So the lighting was really just flouresent lighting that you would see in an office pretty much. I thought it looked great, but wasn't blown away (i bet it would look good in a store tho). I've seen the HOF, etc, but only in stores. I did see this compared to an F SI2 Ex/Ex/Ex (1.8 HCA Ex/Ex/VG/VG) right there and i thought it looked the same. Indistinguishable really.

The diameter is: 8.09 - 8.19 x 4.95

I agree, i think the table is a big larger than i would like. I went back asking for basically the same stone, but with a 57% table or so and he came back with:


ROUND GIA //G SI 2 //2.07 CT DIAMOND



63.2 % DEPTH 57% TABLE



VG CUT GRADE / VG POLISH / VG SYMMETRY

which i think is to deep and a worse stone most likely (trying to get the GIA report).

You have obviously been doing your homework! Yes, 63.2% would be too deep for me. Ask him if he can find you some AGS0 cut grade or GIA Excellent, that might make it a bit easier.

If you aren't blown away, I would say to keep looking. You have a great budget and can get a gorgeous diamond with it! Would you rather stick with this chap or have you considered buying elsewhere?

And you are most welcome!

 

[ro]

I was thinking of going the EX route, but even then i think you can end up with odd stones with odd proportions. So i think there''s good value in getting a VG cut, but just doing your homework on the stone. Maybe i''m wrong on that one. I do want to continue working with this dealer since he may squeeze me a little, but he won''t screw me over totally. I can''t expect much more from anyone else i suppose. Plus he will get the stone set and the ring made, much easier than getting a stone and going somewhere else to get it made.

Is it absolute that an Ideal cut will perform better than a VG one?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/29/2008 12:25:16 PM
Author: ro
I was thinking of going the EX route, but even then i think you can end up with odd stones with odd proportions. So i think there's good value in getting a VG cut, but just doing your homework on the stone. Maybe i'm wrong on that one. I do want to continue working with this dealer since he may squeeze me a little, but he won't screw me over totally. I can't expect much more from anyone else i suppose. Plus he will get the stone set and the ring made, much easier than getting a stone and going somewhere else to get it made.

Is it absolute that an Ideal cut will perform better than a VG one?

GIA Excellent can allow for some less desirable combos, as can VG - best to do your homework on the stone and use the HCA to help you weed out the lesser performers, so this can be a good approach. As to labels such as Ideal Cut, unless it is concerning an AGS0 Ideal, these terms can often be used very broadly and are no guarantee of a well cut stone, so evaluate each on it's own proportions.