Your opinion...did I pay too much?

[Lula]

Lula,

Thanks for the link you posted. Could you tell me the names of what each diamond is called in the article (60/60, Bic, HOF,Tic)? For example my eye went straight to No. 6 as the most beautiful to me, as I scrolled down to the numbers it sounded like a PS Diamond : ) Is No. 6 called a specific name? This adds a new dimenson to people's searches. Thanks!

You're welcome, Adrienne. I've attached the chart from the article that lists the "makes" of each of the diamonds in the fifth column, entitled "Make". Make is another term for diamond cut parameters.

"NT," which is what diamond #6 is, stands for "Near Tolk" or Near Tolkowski cut. Tolkowski ideal cut parameters are the cut parameters preferred by most Pricescope members for round brilliant diamonds. These diamonds are referred to as "TIC" or Tolkowsky Ideal Cut diamonds by the Holloway Cut Advisor (HCA).

"S/D" stands for "Steep-Deep," which are very common, and are easily found in mall jewelry stores and other mid-range jewelers. These diamonds have higher crowns and deeper pavilions (when compared to Near Tolk diamonds).

"60/60" refers to diamonds cut with a 60% table and 60% depth.

The HCA labels diamonds with shallow crowns and shallow pavilions as "BIC" diamonds, which stands for Brilliant Ideal Cut (compared to Near Tolk diamonds). The HCA labels diamonds with higher crowns and deeper pavilions as "FIC" diamonds (compared to Near Tolk diamonds), which stands for Firey Ideal Cut.

Each of these categories represents a range of numbers, so slight variations in the numbers can produce a beautiful BIC or TIC or FIC or 60/60,or a not-so-pretty stone. Each of the cut styles has a different personality. That's why I believe it is impossible to buy diamonds by the numbers; diamonds need to be evaluated in person under a variety of all lighting conditions, and its imperative that there is a good return policy in place. The best way to determine what "make" you prefer is to look at a lot of diamonds in person. Compare, compare, compare.

John Pollard, the author of that article, posts on Pricescope; he may have much more to say on this topic. I'm just skimming the surface here

 

[TC1987]

#6 is a hearts and arrows ideal, Tolkowsky Ideal Cut is what the HCA says, if I used the right numbers that I got off the chart. TIC intends to produce a good balance between fire and brilliance, in all lighting conditions. It's probably what the majority of PS diamonds are. HCA score is .8. Few diamonds get Excellent for spread unless they are shallow. Most of the ideals and super-ideals will be Very Good on spread and Ex on the rest. A 60/60 or other shallow make might hit Ex for spread but you might be giving up some fire or something on a spready diamond.

I color
GIA ideal, AGS 0 cut grade
1.15ct
SI1 clarity
table 57%
depth 61.3%
crown angle 34.7
pav angle 40.6
star? (look up what "st" is) = 54
lower halves = 76%
girdle medium to thick
n = no culet
symmetry Ideal
polish Ideal