Seeking opinion on 1.6ct round diamond

[jkemper86]

Hi there,

I'd love to get your opinion on a natural 1.6ct round diamond with the following specs:

Measurements: 7.38 - 7.44 x 4.65 mm
Color: G
Clarity: IF
Depth: 62.7%
Table: 56%
Crown Angle: 35.5%
Crown Height: 16%
Pavilion Angle: 40.6%
Pavilion Depth: 43.0%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 80%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 4.0%
Cutlet: None
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

I used the HCA tool on this website and it scored 1.3.

What are your thoughts on this diamond from a proportions perspective? I'm trying to optimize for the cut, and this will be used for an engagement ring set in solitaire. Is it worth pursuing this one further by requesting ASET/Ideal Scope images?

Also, what is the recommendation on what to optimize for between color and clarity? Would you recommend going for a better color grade and VVS1/VVS2 clarity instead for a better 'bang for buck'? Or any other trade-offs you'd recommend?

 

[DejaWiz]

Hello and welcome to PriceScope, jkemper86!
Definitely broaden your field of search by going VS1 or better if you're after clarity grades that are pretty much guaranteed to present just as clean to the eyes as any FL/IF.
Unless there's cultural or symbolic reasons for FL/IF, then there's not much point in paying the vastly increased pricing for such an extreme clarity grade.
About $16-19k for that one, if I had to garner a guess?

 

[jkemper86]

Thanks, DejaWiz! You’re totally right about price range - it’s about $16k.

I’ll look around for other slightly lower clarity grades as well.

In the meantime, any thoughts on the cut for this particular diamond?

 

[DejaWiz]

Thanks, DejaWiz! You’re totally right about price range - it’s about $16k.

I’ll look around for other slightly lower clarity grades as well.

In the meantime, any thoughts on the cut for this particular diamond?

Hi jkemper86 - it has potential to be a great performing diamond, but the slightly steeper 35.5 crown angle may need to be given a little extra attention when assessing the optical precision. Or maybe not...so many variables. The longer lowers may help with the , but so would smaller stars if they were 45%.

 

[jkemper86]

Yeah, definitely so many variables to consider.

Good to hear that it has potential! In general for diamonds that seem like good candidates based on their specs, would the next step be to request & look at the ASET/Ideal Scope images to really understand the performance?

 

[jkemper86]

@DejaWiz , any thoughts on the images I received for the specs I listed in my original post? Anything that jumps out or seems extremely concerning?

 

[DejaWiz]

@DejaWiz , any thoughts on the images I received for the specs I listed in my original post? Anything that jumps out or seems extremely concerning?

Not a whole lot can be gleaned from H&A Scope images. Does the seller have an ASET or Ideal-Scope?

 

[jkemper86]

@DejaWiz gotcha. I had requested ASET or IdealScope and this is what I got back, but wasn’t sure what this type of image is called so thanks for educating me on that!

I requested it again, let’s see if they come back with something useful this time. Fingers crossed!

Also, following your advice from earlier about broadening search to lower clarity grades, here’s another candidate I’ve found:

Measurements: 7.39 - 7.45 x 4.66 mm
Color: G
Clarity: VVS2
Depth: 62.8%
Table: 58%
Crown Angle: 36.5 degrees
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41 degrees
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.5%
Cutlet: None
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

My initial thought was that the crown angle is steep and also paired with a steep pavilion angle. From my research, this is usually not a good sign, but I’m not sure if any of the other proportions help offset the impact.

What do you think?

 

[DejaWiz]

@DejaWiz gotcha. I had requested ASET or IdealScope and this is what I got back, but wasn’t sure what this type of image is called so thanks for educating me on that!

I requested it again, let’s see if they come back with something useful this time. Fingers crossed!

Also, following your advice from earlier about broadening search to lower clarity grades, here’s another candidate I’ve found:

Measurements: 7.39 - 7.45 x 4.66 mm
Color: G
Clarity: VVS2
Depth: 62.8%
Table: 58%
Crown Angle: 36.5 degrees
Crown Height: 15.5%
Pavilion Angle: 41 degrees
Pavilion Depth: 43.5%
Star Length: 50%
Lower Half: 75%
Girdle: Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.5%
Cutlet: None
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

My initial thought was that the crown angle is steep and also paired with a steep pavilion angle. From my research, this is usually not a good sign, but I’m not sure if any of the other proportions help offset the impact.

What do you think?

Steep-steep PA and CA pairing...not going to provide ideal light return and optical performance.

 

[Stive85]

I would personally bump clarity down into the vs2-vs1 range and ensure you're getting top tier cut.

People on here are great and will help you select a sparkler, but don't be afraid to tell the seller exactly what you expect.

What's your budget?

 

[jkemper86]

Thanks for the input, @Stive85! Definitely trying to optimize for a great cut, so I’ll expand my clarity grade in my search and see what comes up.

My budget is around $15-16k.

 

[Stive85]

Diamond | 1.563 ct G VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4511757

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.563 carat G color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4511757

www.whiteflash.com

Quick search pulls up this one as an example of what you're after cut wise. Now you pay a bit of a premium for ACA from whiteflash, but the vetting is done for you. It's a top tier cut stone that will be as good as it gets performance wise. It's eye clean overall lovely.

You could go a bit cheaper if you allow some of the really skilled people on here dig a little deeper in Blue Nile or James Allen. But overall most on this forum love the a cut above line from whiteflash.

 

[jkemper86]

Diamond | 1.563 ct G VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4511757

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.563 carat G color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4511757

www.whiteflash.com

Quick search pulls up this one as an example of what you're after cut wise. Now you pay a bit of a premium for ACA from whiteflash, but the vetting is done for you. It's a top tier cut stone that will be as good as it gets performance wise. It's eye clean overall lovely.

You could go a bit cheaper if you allow some of the really skilled people on here dig a little deeper in Blue Nile or James Allen. But overall most on this forum love the a cut above line from whiteflash.

Wow, thank you. Initially I was stuck on 1.6ct for sentimental reasons, but seriously considering this one.

What’s your take on the ASET and IdealScope images they’ve provided? Is there anything concerning or need to further vet?

Or is the belief that anything meeting ACA requirements is guaranteed to yield an exceptional sparkle/brilliance?

 

[Stive85]

Wow, thank you. Initially I was stuck on 1.6ct for sentimental reasons, but seriously considering this one.

What’s your take on the ASET and IdealScope images they’ve provided? Is there anything concerning or need to further vet?

Or is the belief that anything meeting ACA requirements is guaranteed to yield an exceptional sparkle/brilliance?

Ya, essentially ACA is vetted for you. You're paying a premium for a stone that is cut about as good as it gets. Whiteflash also has a great upgrade policy too.

The asets and idealscope both confirm the ags000 grading.

 

[crbl999]

Wow, thank you. Initially I was stuck on 1.6ct for sentimental reasons, but seriously considering this one.

What’s your take on the ASET and IdealScope images they’ve provided? Is there anything concerning or need to further vet?

Or is the belief that anything meeting ACA requirements is guaranteed to yield an exceptional sparkle/brilliance?

ASET and IS are perfect. Whiteflash has done the vetting for you and backs it up with images. It's a nice stone!

 

[jkemper86]

Thanks so much for the second look at it, @Stive85 and @crbl999