60/60 diamond & HCA 1.6 - Why?

[Rockdiamond]

Above is a 60/60 I was very fond of- to use as an example.
It had the longer LGF's I prefer, at 85%
Crown Angle was 32, Pavilion Angle 41.8

Oh, and table was 60, depth was 60.1 ( ok, no one is perfect.. .heheh)

I have not plugged it into the HCA before writing this ( to my memory) but I will after I post it.
Not that the HCA results will change my opinion of the cut- I loved it.

It was also a GIA Triple EX

ETA- I see you asked what to avoid.
I honestly believe that if you stick to GIA EX cut grades, you will be looking at a stone worthy of consideration, if you lke the way it looks- especially after getting a bit of experience, and looking at a lot of stones.
I have also seen many VG cut grades that were well worthy of consideration.
But of course, find a dealer you are comfortable with to assist in this type of decision.
If you find a VG cut grade stone you love, it could save you a couple of greenbacks.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Scores a Whopping 5.5

 

[CaprineSun]

Thanks so much RD!
I love that stone! Looks like it appealed to you in real life and based on numbers is supposed to be a dud. Well, I will take your advice and find a trusted dealer for this. It may be harder to find than I thought.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Scores a Whopping 5.5

congrats RD ...a new HCA record...

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thanks so much RD!
I love that stone! Looks like it appealed to you in real life and based on numbers is supposed to be a dud. Well, I will take your advice and find a trusted dealer for this. It may be harder to find than I thought.

You're welcome Twinkle!

I don;t think many people, outside PS would have a problem with the numbers of the diamond I posted though....
DF- I don't know that it's a record- surely there have been higher HCA scores before.....

 

[motherof3inct]

RockDiamond - I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your defense of the 60/60 diamond. My diamond is 59/59.7%. After purchasing the diamond, I went on pricescope to validate my diamond purchase (yes, I'm one of those silly consumers). I agonized over my purchase after learning that a 60/60 is less desireable. I read so many negative articles and forum threads. After 2 months of doubting my purchase and driving my husband crazy, I came to the realization that just because a diamond does not have an "ideal" cut, doesn't mean that it can't be beautiful. I love my diamond because it has great white return, subtle fire in light and sparkles like crazy in dim light. I also don't mind the larger spread and lower cost So thank you RockDiamond for making a very indecisive diamond lover feel better about her purchase.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Awwww- now you're making me feel so nice- and a mother of 3- you deserve a medal!!


I love the quotes around the word "ideal"- it's very important to remember that in this context this word is a commercial term- as opposed to scientific.
IOW, there's nothing better about an "Ideal" cut than there is about a GIA Triple EX 60/60 ( or 59/59.7)

But most of all ,I do thank you for sharing your experience.
i have been the subject of quite a bit of ......funny stuff, simply because I like these diamonds.
I suffer through the insults precisely because of situations like yours- people who have awesome looking diamonds, yet are led to believe they're somehow defective ( even worse....leaky- YIKES) based on prejudicial information.

 

[bright&shiny]

I am personally very glad to see this post as I've just begun a search for shallow cut stones for stud earrings - and I've included 60/60's in my criteria for the search. Because I'm willing to consider higher color stones, I thought this might be the best way to keep the color down a bit - and have a bigger spread. Of course, there's the refractive light benefits for those inevitably dirty earrings

I think it will be the perfect application - we'll see what turns up in the global inventory! Thanks for reviving this -I'd missed it in my research.

 

[John P]

Do you (or anyone else who can help) by any chance know the stats needed for a 60/60 that is well cut to your personal liking? (as I am thinking it's likely similar to what I'm drawn to as well). What should I look for? What should I avoid?

The most smashing 60/60 I ever saw was 60T, 40.8PA, 33.5CA, 60.1D (50S 80LH). But I'd warn that I may not be in the same taste-camp as you, Twinkle. I'm a huge fan of abundant colored flashes in the mix of performance qualities. Crown angles shallower than 33ish tend to mute that aspect notably, but paired with a complimentary pavilion such diamonds can still "sizzle" with white brightness.

 

[CaprineSun]

I am personally very glad to see this post as I've just begun a search for shallow cut stones for stud earrings - and I've included 60/60's in my criteria for the search. Because I'm willing to consider higher color stones, I thought this might be the best way to keep the color down a bit - and have a bigger spread. Of course, there's the refractive light benefits for those inevitably dirty earrings

I think it will be the perfect application - we'll see what turns up in the global inventory! Thanks for reviving this -I'd missed it in my research.

You're welcome! Glad it could help someone else too.

 

[CaprineSun]

Do you (or anyone else who can help) by any chance know the stats needed for a 60/60 that is well cut to your personal liking? (as I am thinking it's likely similar to what I'm drawn to as well). What should I look for? What should I avoid?

The most smashing 60/60 I ever saw was 60T, 40.8PA, 33.5CA, 60.1D (50S 80LH). But I'd warn that I may not be in the same taste-camp as you, Twinkle. I'm a huge fan of abundant colored flashes in the mix of performance qualities. Crown angles shallower than 33ish tend to mute that aspect notably, but paired with a complimentary pavilion such diamonds can still "sizzle" with white brightness.

Oh thank you John!! Your post is the one that prompted me to look into 60/60's further. Thanks again! I will look into these stats. I think I may love stones as the ones you described.

 

[John P]

Do you (or anyone else who can help) by any chance know the stats needed for a 60/60 that is well cut to your personal liking? (as I am thinking it's likely similar to what I'm drawn to as well). What should I look for? What should I avoid?

The most smashing 60/60 I ever saw was 60T, 40.8PA, 33.5CA, 60.1D (50S 80LH). But I'd warn that I may not be in the same taste-camp as you, Twinkle. I'm a huge fan of abundant colored flashes in the mix of performance qualities. Crown angles shallower than 33ish tend to mute that aspect notably, but paired with a complimentary pavilion such diamonds can still "sizzle" with white brightness.

Oh thank you John!! Your post is the one that prompted me to look into 60/60's further. Thanks again! I will look into these stats. I think I may love stones as the ones you described.

You're welcome. Happy to offer input - it's a bit harder to find that combination but they do exist.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I am personally very glad to see this post as I've just begun a search for shallow cut stones for stud earrings - and I've included 60/60's in my criteria for the search. Because I'm willing to consider higher color stones, I thought this might be the best way to keep the color down a bit - and have a bigger spread. Of course, there's the refractive light benefits for those inevitably dirty earrings

I think it will be the perfect application - we'll see what turns up in the global inventory! Thanks for reviving this -I'd missed it in my research.

These are great points.
I can totally get why John loves the type of stone he described.
I'm sure I'd love it.
But maybe part of what draws me to the slightly shallower crown angle of the stone I suggested has to do with the points B&S raised.
That being: Two stones of equal mm size, yet one can look larger- that being the slightly shallower crown angled stone.
You do give up some of the larger reflections when looking in the diamond- those that John mentioned- the ones that do contain more colorful flashes.
So - one ( steeper crown) has more contrast, the other ( shallower crown) may be visibly "brighter- and this may indeed make some near colorless stones look whiter.
It's possible. Surely not in every case, but this is a good way of comparing the strong point/ weak point of each style.

 

[0-0-0]

Here's a nice 60/60 with images. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8272/