Your opinions on 2 diamonds

[Hercules]

Hi everyone,

I''m new to this forum and just wanted to get some feedback on the quality of the following two diamonds. Both are in the ballpark price range and size I am looking for. Judging from the lab reports and other grades on the web site, they seem like good diamonds but I''m still uncertain and feel like I may be overlooking something.

1.16ct G VS1 Round H&A
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3944/

1.26ct G VS2 Round H&A
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3932/

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome.

You have done a great job, both are superb diamonds! It depends on your priorities and size preferences as to which you pick, but you can''t go wrong either way.

 

[Ellen]

I agree with Lorelei, you picked two great diamonds. I''d go for the bigger one.

 

[Hercules]

Lorelei, Ellen, thank you both for responding so quickly.

One thing that was tripping me up was the HCA rating. I noticed other similarly priced diamonds from other vendors having a lower HCA number than these two (these two are 1.5 and 1.7, respectively). However, the OGI and Gemex reports for these showed ideal/very high ratings for brightness, fire, scintillation, etc. Am I correct to assume that if these reports are available, their values take precedence over the HCA rating?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/16/2008 9:32:39 AM
Author: Hercules
Lorelei, Ellen, thank you both for responding so quickly.

One thing that was tripping me up was the HCA rating. I noticed other similarly priced diamonds from other vendors having a lower HCA number than these two (these two are 1.5 and 1.7, respectively). However, the OGI and Gemex reports for these showed ideal/very high ratings for brightness, fire, scintillation, etc. Am I correct to assume that if these reports are available, their values take precedence over the HCA rating?

Yes, the HCA is an elimination tool which in the first instance, helps you eliminate most poor performers, with anything scoring 2 or under considered to be cherry. Once you get under 2 you need other methods to evaluate a diamond, also once you score below 2, the lowest score isn't considered better than the higher one. Basically diamonds scoring 2 or under mean pass and worth further consideration.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/16/2008 9:36:16 AM
Author: Lorelei

Yes, the HCA is an elimination tool which in the first instance, helps you eliminate most poor performers, with anything scoring 2 or under considered to be cherry. Once you get under 2 you need other methods to evaluate a diamond, also once you score below 2, the lowest score isn't considered better than the higher one. Basically diamonds scoring 2 or under mean pass and worth further consideration.

I would elaborate on that. Anything with a score under 2, falling within the overlap of AGS/GIA is cherry.

You can get a great score, but have the x out in no mans land.

What many are not understanding lately, is that the HCA is for when you don't have much info on a diamond, just the numbers. Then, as Lorelei said, it's for letting you know if a stone is worthy of more investigation.

When you have the kind of info GOG gives, the HCA is a moot point. It doesn't matter what it says, the Helium/Sarin reports, IS/ASET pics are what one should be paying attention to.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/16/2008 9:44:54 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/16/2008 9:36:16 AM
Author: Lorelei

Yes, the HCA is an elimination tool which in the first instance, helps you eliminate most poor performers, with anything scoring 2 or under considered to be cherry. Once you get under 2 you need other methods to evaluate a diamond, also once you score below 2, the lowest score isn''t considered better than the higher one. Basically diamonds scoring 2 or under mean pass and worth further consideration.

I would elaborate on that. Anything with a score under 2, falling within the overlap of AGS/GIA is cherry.

You can get a great score, but have the x out in no mans land.

What many are not understanding lately, is that the HCA is for when you don''t have much info on a diamond, just the numbers. Then, as Lorelei said, it''s for letting you know if a stone is worthy of more investigation.

When you have the kind of info GOG gives, the HCA is a moot point. It doesn''t matter what it says, the Helium/Sarin reports, IS/ASET pics are what one should be paying attention to.

Fank you!

Yes, the HCA can''t actually see the diamond, what it does is to give an idea of how well a stone''s proportions are likely to work together. Then you use other methods to choose.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 1/16/2008 9:56:28 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 1/16/2008 9:44:54 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 1/16/2008 9:36:16 AM
Author: Lorelei

Yes, the HCA is an elimination tool which in the first instance, helps you eliminate most poor performers, with anything scoring 2 or under considered to be cherry. Once you get under 2 you need other methods to evaluate a diamond, also once you score below 2, the lowest score isn''t considered better than the higher one. Basically diamonds scoring 2 or under mean pass and worth further consideration.

I would elaborate on that. Anything with a score under 2, falling within the overlap of AGS/GIA is cherry.

You can get a great score, but have the x out in no mans land.

What many are not understanding lately, is that the HCA is for when you don''t have much info on a diamond, just the numbers. Then, as Lorelei said, it''s for letting you know if a stone is worthy of more investigation.

When you have the kind of info GOG gives, the HCA is a moot point. It doesn''t matter what it says, the Helium/Sarin reports, IS/ASET pics are what one should be paying attention to.

Fank you!

Yes, the HCA can''t actually see the diamond, what it does is to give an idea of how well a stone''s proportions are likely to work together. Then you use other methods to choose.

Welcome.