Need help with selection: Is it possible to tell if diamond has good light reflection without ID/ASET?

[Natalie33]

Hello!

I stumbled upon this forum while browsing for the 4Cs and entered a whole new work. I am looking at engagement rings and the jeweler exclusively sources from a gem vendor that is B&M, so it’s a long process of back and forth to look at stones.

they’ve sent me 3 stones that I thought looked decent in still photos and videos and two of them have the proportional range recommended by a lot of you. The first is outside of it (with table of 59% and I think recommended range was 54%-57%), but all 3 scored below 2 on the HCA tool. I’ve asked for ID/ASET, but I’m not sure I’ll get it.

Was wondering if it’s possible to see from normal photos if these are ideal or close to ideal?

#1
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[Natalie33]

Hello!

I stumbled upon this forum while browsing for the 4Cs and entered a whole new work. I am looking at engagement rings and the jeweler exclusively sources from a gem vendor that is B&M, so it’s a long process of back and forth to look at stones.

they’ve sent me 3 stones that I thought looked decent in still photos and videos and two of them have the proportional range recommended by a lot of you. The first is outside of it (with table of 59% and I think recommended range was 54%-57%), but all 3 scored below 2 on the HCA tool. I’ve asked for ID/ASET, but I’m not sure I’ll get it.

Was wondering if it’s possible to see from normal photos if these are ideal or close to ideal?

#1
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Sorry, some typos. The THIRD stone is outside of the range, not the first.

 

[flyingpig]

All three show decent light return.
I am not a fan of #3. It appears to have uneven pavilion.
#1 and #2 are more promising.
#2>#1>>>>>>>#3

I would like to see the videos.

 

[Natalie33]

All three show decent light return.
I am not a fan of #3. It appears to have uneven pavilion.
#1 and #2 are more promising.
#2>#1>>>>>>>#3

I would like to see the videos.

Thanks for the response! #1 actually has a very good polish as opposed to ideal and faint fluorescent, so I initially ruled it out. #2 is triple ideal on paper.

Video for #1 (kind of hard to see) https://www.dropbox.com/s/c1o9hx1ivgxku7o/Video Aug 12, 12 24 36.mov?dl=0

Several videos for #2 in different lighting:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

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Dropbox

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Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Natalie33]

Thanks for the response! #1 actually has a very good polish as opposed to ideal and faint fluorescent, so I initially ruled it out. #2 is triple ideal on paper.

Video for #1 (kind of hard to see) https://www.dropbox.com/s/c1o9hx1ivgxku7o/Video Aug 12, 12 24 36.mov?dl=0

Several videos for #2 in different lighting:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

It looks like folks are uncomfortable downloading. I didn’t see an option to post a video directly, but if someone knows how, please let me know!

 

[flyingpig]

Thanks for the response! #1 actually has a very good polish as opposed to ideal and faint fluorescent, so I initially ruled it out. #2 is triple ideal on paper.

Video for #1 (kind of hard to see) https://www.dropbox.com/s/c1o9hx1ivgxku7o/Video Aug 12, 12 24 36.mov?dl=0

Several videos for #2 in different lighting:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Love it when a B&M vendor knows what she/he wants to capture.

#2 has no significant leakage IRL.
No significant digging/painting either. It is well cut.

#1 is nice, too, as expected. But hard to assess based on the video.

 

[Natalie33]

Thanks for the assessment. It was hard to get the B&M vendor to provide reasonable photos. #2 has decent ones because the jeweler requested they send the stone (they have an agreement for a one week hold).

Looking the tutorials and samples of a super ideal cut, I don’t feel like any of these are there, but I can’t tell if it’s the lighting/angle of that the photos are take that is making the arrows look not as clean. But, good to know that #1 and #2 are decent at least!

was wondering if you could clarify what you mean by uneven pavilion with #3?

I’ll post the ASET/ID pics in the coming days if they share them

 

[flyingpig]

Looking the tutorials and samples of a super ideal cut, I don’t feel like any of these are there, but I can’t tell if it’s the lighting/angle of that the photos are take that is making the arrows look not as clean.

You answered your own question.
Watch the second video for #2. Those are sharp arrows and good light reflections.

was wondering if you could clarify what you mean by uneven pavilion with #3?

Do you see black triangles between the arrow shafts, particular at 9, 11, and 12 oclock?
Compare that to #1 and #2, which are cleaner looking between the arrows.
#3 is badly tilted in the photo. That's one of the main reasons. But still, #1 and #2 are better in this regard.

 

[lovedogs]

I really like the videos of stone 2! I cant really tell anything from videos of stone 1 but I like the image. I do not like stone 3 as much

 

[Natalie33]

You answered your own question.
Watch the second video for #2. Those are sharp arrows and good light reflections.


Do you see black triangles between the arrow shafts, particular at 9, 11, and 12 oclock?
Compare that to #1 and #2, which are cleaner looking between the arrows.
#3 is badly tilted in the photo. That's one of the main reasons. But still, #1 and #2 are better in this regard.

Ahh I see what you mean with #3 now.
Thanks for pointing that out about #2!

 

[Natalie33]

I really like the videos of stone 2! I cant really tell anything from videos of stone 1 but I like the image. I do not like stone 3 as much

Glad to hear that about #2. May decide to go for this one if I can’t get the ID/ASET photos.

 

[Natalie33]

Hello! wanted to circle back on this on with additional issues for #1, which shows the 8 arrows more clearly. Would appreciate if you guys can take another look at these new videos.

https://www.dropbox.com/12f3e4e3-c8d8-4c77-9182-50eb3bc833e2

https://www.dropbox.com/fa105579-0466-4288-bb92-cc764eb5687f

They don't have any ASET/ID photos unfortunately.

As for #3, more photos and videos:



https://www.dropbox.com/ec93e71e-ac6c-47f5-b8ff-4ce31677a681

I'm leaning towards #1 as I see that the arrows don't look as symmetrical on #3 and you've all commented that #1 looks better.

 

[flyingpig]

Cannot view the videos

 

[Natalie33]

Cannot view the videos

Re-uploading

#1

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

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#3

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[flyingpig]

K. I am trying hard with these videos.
My gut feeling tells me
#2>#1>>>>>#3

no change. But #2 and #1 are really close

 

[Natalie33]

K. I am trying hard with these videos.
My gut feeling tells me
#2>#1>>>>>#3

no change.

Thank you so much for your help! I know it’s not the easiest to see, I have it zoomed in on my phone.

I made a mistake. The #1 above was actually also #2. The bf didn’t ask for extra videos of 2, but noted that 3 isn’t as nice.

 

[flyingpig]

I am kinda confused at this point and don't know which one is which. I understand. When you are considering 3 stones and deal with multiple videos, you mix them up.
Anyhow, get this one.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Natalie33]

I am kinda confused at this point and don't know which one is which. I understand. When you are considering 3 stones and deal with multiple videos, you mix them up.
Anyhow, get this one.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Will do. Thank you so much!