Which diamond should I choose?

[Ninadc]

Hi all,

Needing to choose my engagement ring/diamond. I would love and appreciate the help. I only know basics 4 c's. Attached are GIA cert of my options. I don't have nor know much about HCA and idealscope, aset or hearts and diamonds, and I'm hoping I would get plenty of advice, guidance and help here...Thank you so much

It would be great to advice me which gia cert would be most promising with the best cut for optimum sparkle, brilliance, fire, scintillation without seeing the diamond.

 

[Pandabear90]

Get some actual images of the actual diamonds, but it looks as if the first one is your best bet, from the information provided...but thats only based on information given which is really limited.

You need to get images/ idealscope, request it from them, if its not on the website already...of the actual diamonds to see the inclusions.

 

[ecf8503]

Run the numbers through the HCA https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Look for numbers under 2, then ask for an idealscope to evaluate light performance. I'd eliminate #2 and #3.

#1 HCA = 2.3 - worth buying if the price is right VG/VG/VG/VG

#2 HCA = 3.9 - worth buying if the price is right VG/G/G/VG

#3 HCA = 3.1 - worth buying if the price is right VG/VG/VG/VG

You do know that color and clarity are independent of light performance, right? It's physics - the facets all have to be lined up just right for light to be reflected to your eye properly, and that is independent of stone color and clarity (most of the time). That said, if you LIKE icy white D color, great. But an ideal cut stone of any other color will face up larger and whiter than a non-ideal stone of the same color and weight.

The whole idea is light performance - you want it to have excellent white light and colored light return, as well as great sparkle. You get that by looking for ideal CUTS not high color.

Look up to at the Knowledge tab, and start reading.

 

[Johannes89]

hey,
based on the numbers the first one seems indeed to be the best one ... then again i think its save to say that a D colour is definately overkill, since u wont see a difference to lets say an F.
I personally would never buy anything higher then a G or an H but thats just my opinion.
I think its save to say tho that a D wont look any different then an F but costs significantly more.

 

[Ninadc]

Thank you all so much. They are all around $4300-$44000 USD. I went to a jeweller here in Sydney and i tried on a D colour SI1 and it was sparkling like crazy, but that's in the shop, but looked so pretty so thought I'd look for something similar. If the price is too high for what they are I'm happy to go to an E or F as long as they sparkle.

From the looks of these they all should be ideal cut and of course triple Ex but it's hard to tell without seeing them and being an inexperienced diamond shopper

I'm learning slowly tho! Thanks to the people here at pricescope

 

[ecf8503]

GIA's "excellent" cut range is far too broad - many not so great stones get through. That's why it's important to look at the numbers carefully, and weed out those "squeaked-by" candidates using the HCA. The next step is getting an idealscope image if you can - that will tell you the most.

Jewelers lights are deceptive - they are designed to make frozen spit sparkle. If you find a stone you like, make sure you look at it in all lighting conditions - away from the jewelers lights - by the window, under the table, etc.

Light performance has nothing to do with body color - the D you said sparkled so much may very well have been well cut, but it wasn't the D color that was the cause. You can safely go down to a G-H color, get a bigger better stone for less money, and no one will be able to tell - not even you.

Diamonds are graded for color face down in a controlled environment. You look at a diamond face up. An ideal cut stone will mask body color, and down to the G-H range it is difficult to see color. It starts to become more noticeable in the IJK range. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's all about what you like. It's like white paint - some are cool toned (D color), some are neutral (G-ish), some are warmer (K-ish). But that doesn't make it bad - in fact some of us prefer stones with a little warmth.

You need to look at more stones. But honestly I think a G SI1 ideal cut is a sweet spot.

 

[Gypsy]

I'd pass on all of them.

 

[Ninadc]

I'd pass on all of them.

Hi Gypsy,

I used the guide you posted in my other post. See below. I sent this to the jeweller and that's what they came back with.

Table diameter between 53 – 58%
Crown angle between 34.3 – 34.8 degrees
Pavilion angle between 40.6 – 40.9 degrees
Girdle: thin, medium or slightly thick (or combination thereof)
Culet: GIA none or AGS pointed
Polish: GIA Excellent or AGS Ideal Symmetry:
GIA Excellent or AGS Ideal

Unfortunately I cannot get my money back but they're happy to look for another diamond.

I'm definitely colour sensitive so will stick with colourless diamonds. Doesn't have to be a D just need to be a really good cut.

I'm hoping I could get advise here because I can't afford to get another dud diamond

 

[Gypsy]

Ok. Look at those stats. Now look at the pavilion angles of the stones. The jeweler did NOT follow those guidelines. And you did not check the lab reports against it as well.

 

[Ninadc]

Ok. Look at those stats. Now look at the pavilion angles of the stones. The jeweler did NOT follow those guidelines. And you did not check the lab reports against it as well.

Thanks Gypsy. Now I know what I'm looking at. I thought HCA very good was good enough. I went to James Allen and picked true hearts diamonds and blue Nile signature cuts. They were all in the HCA Excellent grade.

Going back to the jeweller and not getting any of these.