What should I look for in Idealscope and ASET images?

[Toro]

Hello all

I am hoping that someone can please help me with what I should be looking for in Idealscope and ASET images?

By way of background, I’m currently looking for an engagement ring and have decided to buy online. I’ve done a fair bit of reading over the past few weeks, and know what style of setting I want, as well as the rough parameters for what diamond I want to put in it.

However, now that I’m searching for diamonds within those parameters, I’m not sure exactly how to tell which are the ‘better’ stones amongst those that fit my criteria. I understand that the Idealscope and ASET images can assist with this, but to my untrained eye, the images all look roughly similar.

With the idealscope images, I believe that I am looking for as much red colour as possible (brighter the better) and the least amount of white as possible. With the ASET images, my basic understanding is that again, the redder the better, and the least amount green. Apart from these basic generalisations, is there anything else that I should look for?

I am only looking at ideal cut diamonds, which might explain why the idealscope and ASET images all look roughly the same?

I have attached some example images from a diamond that I like. To my eye, these images look fairly good (i.e. lots of red/minimal white and green) but am I missing anything?

Thank you in advance for any assistance

 

[Ideal_Polish]

Hi Toro, I'd love to chime in and lend my advice on interpreting diamond light performance images. You'll get a lot of great wisdom from posters here, and if they don't reply soon I'll make sure to reply fully later tonight when I can commit to a proper answer. To be very short, you're right on target. Lots of Red Red Red. This diamond exhibits some concentrated leakage, but not very much. It's certainly ideal light performace, and many vendors on pricescope have images that allow you to split hairs on which diamond you think is better. This one looks very nice, but you may also find one a little better or worse for similar price.

 

[Toro]

Thank you very much for your reply and assistance Ideal_Polish.

If I'm understanding you correctly, I think that I am on the right track in my interpretations that those images look pretty good but perhaps not absolutely perfect. If possible, can you please point out where the concentrated leakage is - I am guessing in the centre part of the diamond between 5 and 6 o'clock, and perhaps also between 8 - 9 o'clock in the idealscope image? From reading some of the threads discussing leakage, it seems that this might not be something that is too concerning in terms of the diamond's real world performance?

I guess part of the trouble is knowing the degree to which a slightly more preferable idealscope/ASET image will make any noticeable visible difference in the real world. I suspect that to my eyes, the diamond in those images would look fantastic and slightly better idealscope/ASET might not make much difference if I were to compare the diamonds side by side in real life. Then again, of course I want to try and buy the nicest possible diamond for the ring as this is one of the most important purchases I will ever make.

As you say, I might be able to find a slightly better diamond for a comparable price. I have found a couple more diamonds that do not have the areas of leakage (if I have identified them correctly) although they are slightly more expensive and slightly outside of my original search parameters- I will consider these further.

 

[Ideal_Polish]

You're welcome, Toro. I was hoping to find a good article with images to explain, but with limited time I didn't find one. I feel that the amount of leakage is negligible to the naked eye. These images really let you be picky though. To be honest, I found your diamond you are interested in and compared it to others within the same site - check out my signature line, I am a little familiar with these ones : ) - I found around 15 diamonds that were similar criteria, but only 6 that exhibited similar light performance. You found a good one.

Back to the education... as you continue your search, ponder this. I once was explained to the difference between ASET and IdealScope in a very real way. Idealscopes are useful in that they are the "Black and White" version of a light performance image, where as an ASET is a "Color" version. Both will show leakage most of the time. Meaning if you see leakage in one image you should also see it in the other. The Idealscope will highlight leakage, but the ASET will tell you how intense the leakage is better than the Idealscope. This is because you have more colors and different brightness between colors. In the ASET you're looking at, I would rank the light performance as such....

Brightest is Orange, next is Red/Darker Orange, then Bright Green, Darker Green.

Blue or Black is obstruction. Meaning the diamond is reflecting what is directly on top of it, in this case it's the camera lens and ASET scope.

If there is any leakage or just less intense light return, it usually shows up within the table, just like your diamond, but it can show up about anywhere.

As I was typing, I remembered two articles they may help, written by someone much smarter than I. I like to reply to questions like this though when I can because I have photographed around 5 thousand diamonds now and very familiar with light performance images. Happy hunting!

http://www.whiteflash.com/about-dia...-evaluation-tool-simple-and-powerful-1126.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/whiteflash-diamond-imaging-961.htm

 

[Toro]

Ideal_Polish, I was initially surprised that you were able to find the diamond just from those two images! Then I changed my settings so I could see your signature and it all made sense. Still, nice detective work!

Thank you for the tips regarding interpretation of ASET images and for the links to those two articles- all were very useful. I had read the articles previously, but they make more sense re-reading them again now after doing a lot more research.

I think I’ve narrowed my selection down to two diamonds, including the one above. The only other stone that I’m considering is the same carat weight, 13% more expensive, one color grade lower (G vs. F), two clarity grades higher (VVS2 vs. VS2). However, this other diamond is A Cut Above, rather than an Expert Selection.

This ACA diamond’s idealscope and ASET images (attached) look better, but I do prefer the better color of the original stone and am not as fussed about the difference in clarity. Should I stick with the less expensive, F-colored diamond or is the ACA stone a better choice? Thank you in advance for any opinions

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'd probably choose the ACA but I think either stone would be great! Just FYI, WhiteFlash has had a computer problem over the last couple of days, and ACA prices were accidentally way too low. They were honoring those prices for 24 hours after the glitch was corrected, and I am not sure if all the corrections have been made yet. So act very quickly if you want a good buy on a WF stone. Like now, today. But I can't say if the prices on the stones you are looking at have already been corrected or not.

 

[Toro]

I'd probably choose the ACA but I think either stone would be great! Just FYI, WhiteFlash has had a computer problem over the last couple of days, and ACA prices were accidentally way too low. They were honoring those prices for 24 hours after the glitch was corrected, and I am not sure if all the corrections have been made yet. So act very quickly if you want a good buy on a WF stone. Like now, today. But I can't say if the prices on the stones you are looking at have already been corrected or not.

Thank you for your opinion on the stones and your advice re: the pricing glitches. I had heard the price glitches mentioned in a couple of other threads but wasn't sure of the details until you explained it. Getting a cheaper than usual price would definitely be a bonus, but I'm not quite ready to put the order in just yet. Hopefully the price doesn't go up (if it is indeed reduced) before I make my decision. Either way, I'll be happy if the diamond I end up buying is a good one.

 

[Ideal_Polish]

That's a tough question, and one that I don't know if i'm allowed to direct you to a particular diamond as a trade person on pricescope. DiamondSeeker has given some great objective advice over the years, but I'm a bargain shopper at heart. I don't think you could go wrong either way.