Help interpreting IS Images

[chaser]

Hey Guys,

If you've seen my other thread then you know I've been looking for an ering stone.

I've got some IS images from some JA stones and wanted input on them. I made a new thread with a more specific topic, but let me know if I've made a forum faux pas. They are both closer to 60/60 diamonds than Tolks so I'm not totally sure how I should be interpreting the IS images. I did notice that they seem much more saturated than the Tolk IS images lacking the white spots that I normally see in H&A IS images.

I have the stones on hold until Monday so any input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again PSers!

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.81-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-294416


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/1.80-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-ideal-cut-sku-309068

 

[luvdajules]

Hi OP, for me it's too close of a call, either stone looks good. Maybe contact JA and have the gemologist compare them in hand with you on the call to make a determination. Maybe they could also make a choice based on inclusion type/placement, since the 2 stones seem to be so similar. Is there a price difference?

 

[chaser]

Hi Luvdajules,

There is a slight difference in price. The more expensive one being the recommendation (of course). The gemologists also said

294416 has excellent fire, brilliance, and scintillation, which balances beautifully throughout the diamond. It has a higher/whiter "H" color and is perfectly eye clean. Additionally, it's beautifully cut and comes highly recommended for your purchase. It's the gemologist's favorite of the two and I have complete confidence you be pleased when you see it in person.

Diamond 309068 has nice light performance also, but a skilled eye will see that it doesn't balance quite as nicely as diamond 294416. The areas that aren't as bright are located under the table. It possesses a true "H" color and faces eye clean too. It's not a bad option, but ranks second when compared to diamond 294416.

Sorry if folks think I was asking help on choosing one vs the other. I was more interested in how these images differed from the H&A ones I've seen and how that difference would show up in person. These were the only stones in the list I had before that didn't have IS images and I was interested in how I should be interpreting them since 60/60 stones aren't as popular here as Tolk cut stones.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I can tell the first stone is whiter. I think I'd go with their recommendation.

 

[chaser]

Thanks Diamondseeker,

Is there anything on the IS that hints that a Tolk cut might perform better than these?

Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

luvdajules|1403991128|3702960"] Maybe contact JA and have the gemologist compare them in hand with you on the call to make a determination

That's what I would do, the first especially looks as if it has had some brillianteering/painting which can alter the look of the stone as regards scintillation and some other performance components, ask the gemologist to check it out and how it compares to its peers. GIA aren't as strict as they used to be I hear with downgrading painted stones to a VG cut grade and it isn't mentioned on the report but I believe in this case, it's prudent to check. An ASET image would be helpful but JA only offer those for fancies.

 

[chaser]

Appreciate the input Lorelei! I will have the gemologists check in on that. For my personal learning what tipped you off that painting might have occurred? Is that a possible explanation for why the IS image has so little white?

Thanks!

 

[KenD]

Hi Luvdajules,

There is a slight difference in price. The more expensive one being the recommendation (of course).

I don't agree with your "of course" comment. I had a JA gemologist, with the last several months, recommend a diamond that was 20 per cent less expensive than the alternative.

In your case, the diamond that was recommended was 2.1 per cent more expensive on a $/carat basis.

I don't think your comment was deserved.

 

[Lorelei]

Appreciate the input Lorelei! I will have the gemologists check in on that. For my personal learning what tipped you off that painting might have occurred? Is that a possible explanation for why the IS image has so little white?

Thanks!

This thread might be a good taster for you to get some basic info, the topic can get quite in depth and sometimes any specifics with painted or digging of certain diamonds is beyond the realms of what we can reasonably and responsibly answer here without the necessary expertise and being able to see the stone and how it performs, but it's fairly straightforward to tell from images if any brillianteering has been done. I prefer ASET for these diamonds as I can get a better idea from the colour coding rather than IS as you will see in this thread, it should give you a basic intro. You are on track that the IS image is evenly red that tipped me off that brillianteering had been done, whether it has a positive or negative effect on the diamond, only an expert with the stone in hand can tell. Generally, sometimes the crispness of scintillation can be reduced with brillianteering, rather than the sharp on/off pop of the facets like paparazzi flashbulbs ( as an analogy), this effect changes to a more watery, ripply look as Karl describes it. Some like that effect and others not so much, it depends, but as above an expert with the stone in hand is the best person to advise. Brillianteering isn't necessarily a bad thing, there have been branded stones available in the past such as WF's New Line ( no longer available) and separate brand EightStar which are also no longer available that were cut this way purposely to achieve that look. Sometimes this technique can be used to enhance desirable visual properties in a diamond so again, not all bad. Also, in some cases brillianteering can be done to save weight in the finished stone in order to hit a certain carat mark which might not be so good, but your expert with the stone in hand will be able to give you a much better idea how much brillianteering is present and whether it has a positive or negative effect on the stone's performance. A Sarin scan would also be useful in these cases so we can see all the proportions in detail, I don't think JA offer them but your expert there will be able to advise.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/evidence-of-brillianteering-echoes-of-eightstar.199950/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/evidence-of-brillianteering-echoes-of-eightstar.199950/[/URL]

 

[chaser]

Hi KenD,

Don't take any offense to my comment there as I fully believe that the pricier stone was slightly better than the other stone. It was no knock on JA as a vendor or any of the advice they gave. I generally will assume that pricier stones are usually the better performers and it wasn't meant to be derogatory at all.

Thanks for the link and the info Lorelei. I will take a read through