VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the difference?

[Fayethful]

I am seriously considering two different diamonds for purchase. One is a GIA Excellent cut (Ex/Ex/Ex) that has an HCA score of 1.0 - Ex-Ex-Ex-Ex and is an I colour and an SI2 clarity. I have been assured that it is eye-clean and am waiting for the idealscope images. The other diamond is a GIA Very Good cut (Vg/Ex/Ex) that has an HCA score of 1.0 - Ex-Ex-Ex-Ex and is a J colour with med-blue fluorescence and a VS2 clarity. I am not extremely colour sensitive and am much more concerned with no visible inclusions, but my number one criteria is to have the best cut diamond! So I guess I'm just wondering what the real difference is here in cut because diamond 2 is absolutely eye clean and is almost $1000 cheaper. Should I really pay for the GIA excellent grading if the HCA scores are the same, is there something I am missing here? Any help would be really appreciated as I have diamond 1 on hold at James Allen and am hoping to purchase soon.

Diamond 1
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Very%20Good-Cut-Round-Diamond-1440262.asp

Diamond 2
http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=648652&ref=pricescope

I appreciate any advice for a diamond newbie trying to avoid buyer's remorse and an upgrade in 5 years!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

I know I would personally have buyers remorse if I bought anything but excellent cut. Excellent cut is a very broad range and some of those I might not choose. So I just wouldn't venture into very good, personally. I do not know what is kicking that stone into very good, and you have no idea what that second stone looks like since there are no pictures. Part of the price difference is the drop from I to J, too. I do like clarity above SI2 when possible. Both of those are very reasonably priced for a 2 ct. stone. My 1.5 G VS1 cost more than either of them!

 

[slg47]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

I believe eternity has a good return policy-so you could always order the stone loose and take it to an appraiser before you get it set, just to make sure it checks out.

 

[Fayethful]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

Would this stone be comparable to the one from James Allen in terms of cut? I am nervous about the SI2 clarity on the stone from James Allen, the inclusions look great but I am not sure it won't appear cloudy. I agree with what you are saying about Excellent cut grading, but perhaps this stone would be a comparable match to the other stone? The no pictures on the eternity site is killing me, it's very hard to compare one vs the other when you only know what one looks like.

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=646911&ref=pricescope

 

[ChrisES]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

I have no idea what is pushing that stone down to VG...can you get idealscope or ASET images from Eternity? Or any images it all?

Just today I've seen two GIA VG stones posted on the forum that look wonderful, and in general I don't have a problem going down to VG...but Ex is a *safer* route...we'd need good images to say that this particular VG will be all right.

As for the SI2, if James Allen says it's eye clean I would trust them, but clarity scales with stone size, and at 2 carats I would be a little worried that SI2 might be eye clean to the jeweler but not eye clean to you.

 

[ChrisES]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

Wait....I'm wrong about the angles being OK. I believe that the VG is precluded from being Ex per these tables...
http://www.gia.edu/diamondcut/pdf/booklet_cut_estimation_tables_lowres.pdf

This just goes to show how much "excellent" is a matter of taste. GIA has decided (for whatever reason) that this cannot be excellent. Garry has written HCA according to different preferences.

I would say that you need to get an idealscope image to see if you're OK with the light performance of this stone...remember that HCA is a rejection tool and does not promise that a good scoring stone will look good.

 

[Fayethful]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

This is the image Yoni sent me, he said he is still working on idealscope images. Thoughts?

 

[ChrisES]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

At this point I definitely have to defer to posters with more experience with microscope images than I, but I think something in that stone is wonky. The arrows are not at all consistent on one side vs. the other, and based on my limited experience I think you would be able to tell that in person.

Or is it possible that the image isn't quite head on? I've never seen a photo quite like that.

Edit: The kite facets at bottom right are definitely longer than at top left...given that the stone scored VG/Ex/Ex I sincerely hope this is an example of poor photography.

 

[Mico]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

I'm also interested in the answer to your question. The more I read about the HCA the less I understand its application. I thought it was to help with brilliance, however I also have been sworn to only look at excellent graded stones and to never compromise.

sincerely,
confused

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

The stone looks okay considering it may be slightly tilted. I just think in a J color stone, you want to be certain you have excellent cut so it will face up bright and white. Do you have to hit the 2 ct. mark? Because you could get better color, clarity, and cut if you'd go a little under 2 cts.

 

[Fayethful]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

I definitely don't have to hit the 2 carat mark but I want something in the range of 1.75 - 2 carats that has a good spread and faces up white. I do like the near colourless stones as I find them to look most interesting in different lighting but if I am getting a J colour I definitely want it to be an ideal cut. I really like the diamond from James Allen I'm just very hesitant to get a 2 carat SI2, maybe when I get the idealscope and consult with their staff gemologist it will put some fears to rest, or send me searching again.

 

[Fayethful]

Re: VG Cut vs Excellent Cut - Same HCA...what's the differen

So I received the IdealScope from James Allen today and it looks tremendous! But their staff gemologist noted that there are clouds covering the diamond not shown in the IdealScope and that the inclusion below the table is visible "if you have good vision and look carefully". I was advised that "As much as I would like to tell you to buy this diamond today, since the stone isn't perfectly clear and the inclusion is slightly visible I have to suggest that we work together to locate a different diamond." I really appreciate their honesty but now I am back to square one. I have attached the IdealScope image in case anyone else wants to get their hopes up, lol.

What do you think of this diamond?

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/diamond_detail.php?id=658809&ref=pricescope

It looks great on the certificate, the med-blue fluor is a plus in my mind and it scores a 1.0 on the HCA. Seems like it's worth a closer look, any thoughts?