To Much Education? Frustrated and at a Lose! Help!!

[ssc5174]

A few Months ago I new very little about diamonds. I new about the four C''s but that was pretty much it. However, once I decided to get engaged, i immersed myself in the process! I learned everything I could and visited both B&M''s as well as numerous online sites (I really like Union Diamonds site). I''m looking for a round solitaire, close to 2.3 - 2.5 cts, F - H color, Vs2 - Si1 clarity. I have a $33,000 budget.

I''ve started compiling a list of stones including their respective table %, depth %, pavilion / crown angle, and more recently, how the stones score on the HCA. I thought I was really narrowing down the search - especially as I''d found a few stones that score very well on the HCA, were the size/quality I was looking for and were within my budget. However, recently I''ve read from a couple of post on Pricescope that some of the stones I''m looking at don''t have the perfect pavilion /crown angles! Here''s an example of a stone I thought might be "the one":

2.43 / G / Vs2 ($31,343)

GIA Cut Grade: Excellent
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Depth: 60.8%
Table: 55%
Crown: 35
Pavilion: 40.4

HCA Score: .5

Light Return: Excellent
Fire: Excellent
Scintillation: Excellent
Spread: Very Good
I haven''t seen this stone yet. However, given some of the posts about "low 34 crown angles and high 40''s pavilion''s" are great, I''m not sure this stone should even be in consideration. I thought I was doing everything correctly, and now I''m just totally confused. How can this stone not look great if A. it''s an Excellent Cut (per GIA), B. it scores very well on the HCA and C. is a G/Vs2 (i.e. it''s a pretty high quality stone from a color/clarity perspective).

I am literally at a lose! Help!!!

 

[JulieN]

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1108/

 

[whatmeworry]

Interesting..., I thought you could never get a GIA Excellent cut if the pavilion angle was less than 40.6 I was even playing around with GIAs Facetware the other night to prove this to myself. Because frankly I don''t understand where this "40.6 floor" comes from. I''ve seen 40.6 mentioned in other posts as "the edge of the cliff". But I just can''t see any optical cliffs from GIAs modeling of brilliance and fire. I''m glad you''re posting this. Maybe others will prove or debunk the 40.6 pavillion angle limit.

 

[Kim N]

Date: 8/10/2006 1:47:06 PM
Author: JulieN
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/1108/

I second this one! It''s got cherry numbers, and it''s in the sweet spot for color and clarity. You can''t go wrong with it!

Personally, I don''t like the too-high crown angle and too-low pavilion angle of the one you posted, SSC. I prefer HCA scores 1.0 or above.

 

[oldminer]

The 2.43 sounds like a very fine diamond. You have no obligation to shop til you drop or to obsess over finding the perfect diamond any more than doing the same over finding the perfect spouse. It is not possible because nothing of this sort is "perfect". There is subjectivity regarding what is the best range of diamonds just as there is subjectivity about the best choice of a spouse.

You are doing a great job, but decision time is now near. Look at a few of the diamonds and pick one you like. Don''t worry over it. A great looking diamond never embarassed anyone.

 

[JulieN]

whatmeworry, yes, there is a problem.

The stone in question: http://www.uniondiamond.com/diamonds/diamonds.php?item_id=AA234004&search_type_id=2&action_type_id=2&network_id=0cf05810a0f83094f6e9972ef21cdd34

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/gia-excellent-why-doesnt-it-add-up.43760/

what's funny is that the GIA report check will say this stone has an excellent cut grade. maybe they went back and changed all the new cert/old stone EX report/VG Facetware with 40.4 back to excellent to avoid rocking the boat???? everyone loves a conspiracy theory! anyway, don't know if this is one of those old reports that were resubmitted for a new one, so I don't know. most curious.

 

[whatmeworry]

Thanks Julie, wish GIA could get their "ducks in a row".

Nevertheless, this touches on some issues that I''ve seen posted here like
HCA < 1 is needs caution (lack of contrast), pav angle < 40.6 is no good (falling over the cliff) despite complementary steeper crown angle. I just haven''t seen anything scientific that backs this up.

 

[RockDoc]

For a purchase of this size, better to either send to AGS or get a ASET/PGS report for it to be sure.

That will disclose any questions you might have.

Rockdoc

 

[aljdewey]

That GOG stone is gorgeous.

Here''s another possibility with absolutely cream puff #s as well.....

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=861240

 

[Regular Guy]

Given the recent focus on how numbers do help, but only in their special way...

Just wanted to query the excitement here for cream puff numbers....

Date: 8/10/2006 4:39:03 PM
Author: aljdewey

That GOG stone is gorgeous.

Here's another possibility with absolutely cream puff #s as well.....

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=861240

though, frankly, I'm confused with what James Allen does and doesn't have on the premises. Best guess is that under James Allen, no signature series exists, although his "crown and pavilion defined" options, not in house, are available not only both the "search by cut" db, but also the "in-house" db here. But, dirtcheapdiamonds, at his same location, still has signature options...which I haven't studied enough to understand if they really co-exist or not.

 

[ssc5174]

Thanks for all of the great responses. It sounds like there is some question about GIA''s Excellent Cut relative to certain Pavilion angles (i.e. 40.4). With respect to the actual purchase, one of the reasons I like Union Diamond is that I can actually visit their offices and see the stones while still getting the benefit (see= cost/no tax) of working with an online dealer! Unfortuantly, that eliminates the other online vendors. Do you think if I see a stone @ another online vendor and show it to UD, they''ll be able to get that stone or something close? From what I''ve read, online vendors don''t actually keep the stones in stock which makes me think that pretty much anything that is available at, say James Allen would be available at BlueNile, UD or another vendor......thoughts?