How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASET?

[sjw]

Is there any way to do this? If so, how?
Thanks in advance you guys!

 

[denverappraiser]

Re: How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASE

look at the stone in a variety of different lighting conditions and choose the one you like the best.

 

[Christina...]

Re: How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASE

I think I remember reading that you can put a colored sheet of paper behind the loose diamond to determine if there is leakage. I'll try to locate the thread...

 

[oldminer]

Re: How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASE

You are asking a simple question, but the answer is very complex and somewhat a matter of personal taste.

You can do some preliminary screening of proportions here: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/AGA_NAJA_Cut_Class_Grader That may be a help in deleting many fancy shapes that have cut problems related to their basic outline and simple measurements, but it will not tell you how the stone performs with light. One ought to be able to assume that a diamond cutter tries to make each stone do a great job with light, but it is not necessarily the case. Some diamonds look far better and brighter than others.

An ASET image will help you weed out diamonds which are not worth the time to consider, but it would be a bit over the top to say that an ASET image is the right way to make a final choice though it could be helpful in the decision making process.

Fancy shapes include diamonds of really unusual and uncommon shapes, so it is difficult to generalize that any scope will work as well with every shape. The same for the above parametric cut class tool. Sometimes you have to set a budget and examine many stones to find the one you prefer. Much more personal preference goes into the selection of a non-round diamond. We see variety as a good thing, but it does not make shopping easier.

 

[diamonds-are-friends]

Re: How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASE

view the stones under different lighting conditions. Because of the way some diamonds are cut, some may perform better than others in different lightings.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASE

There are a lot of ways. Most of them involve having the diamond in person.

The best way to do it long distance is to work with a vendor with an experienced and reliable eye, and rely on them to chose two or three diamonds for you then recommend, then send you videos and photos so that you can chose among them. Or alternately, have those two or three sent to me locally and pick the one I wanted to keep.

I have trained my own eyes. And I could pick a nice diamond for myself. But honestly, with the array of great vendors we have here... I rely on Brian Gavin, or Mark at ERD, or Jon at GOG pick me a diamond if I were shopping for a fancy right now.

 

[chrono]

Re: How to determine cut quality in fancy shapes without ASE

View a LOT of diamonds under various lighting but you must know and understand what you are seeing. To untrained eyes, even a mediocre diamond looks fabulous until they see one that is a good performer.