| Anonymous Reader
Hello Sebastian,
I found your website after researching the ‘ideal proportion’ for a diamond. I also watched a couple of videos you have on youtube, and thanks so much for uploading them and educating an average customer like me.
I’m looking for a round diamond recently and I’m kind of stuck… I was hoping you can point me in the right direction! My budget is around $25-29k. I value Cut > Carat > Color > Clarity.
Ideally I would like to get a diamond that’s closer to 9mm diameter or bigger, an ideal cut, excellent symmetry and polish, I color or above, SI1 is okay as long as it’s eye clean. I also prefer GIA than AGS. Fluorescence is okay, however it’s hard to tell for me whether it’s hazy or not online.
Also I have no luck so far requesting an image of the stone with strong fluorescence under direct sunlight from online vendors.
I have a local jeweler who will help me custom design the setting. So I’m just looking for a diamond that’s the biggest bang for my buck 🙂 I found a couple of options below, any one of these looks promising?
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R303-69Z450249
GIA CERTIFIED 3.03 CARAT J-VVS2 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND SKU- R303-69Z450249
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/R290-180295408
GIA CERTIFIED 2.90 CARAT I-SI1 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND SKU- R290-180295408
https://www.adiamor.com/Diamonds/3.01-ct-J-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond/D42247889
Round Cut Diamond 3.01 Ct
https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.770-i-vs2-round-diamond-gia-p171078#!prettyPhoto[gallery2]/0/?a_aid=69
2.770 I VS2 VIRTUAL INVENTORY ROUND
https://www.yadavjewelry.com/diamond/3585186
Thank you very much!
Your Diamond Teacher |
| Thank you for your inquiry. I am happy to help. I am glad to hear that the information I have provided online has been helpful!
The five diamonds you selected are all an excellent choice. They will all look the same, meaning they are all eye-clean, I/J color and excellent/ ideal cut. The only real differentiation between a few is the carat weight. And you only start to see the difference in carat weight when there is at least .20ct between diamonds, assuming all other proportions are within the preferred range. As for fluorescence, the hazy/ oily effect is not common. And it is more probable with strong fluorescence. You just have to be okay with the diamond potentially glowing blue under strong UV light. Any possible milky/ oily effect can only be seen in person under strong UV light, which is why online vendors cannot demonstrate. The online vendor, James Allen, does provide the service, where their GIA Gemologist can bring the diamond into their office and evaluate the diamond for you and answer all your questions. |
| Anonymous Reader
Thank you so much for your response Sebastian!
Could I please trouble you for one more question? Between Super Ideal Cut and Excellent Cut round diamonds, is it easy to spot them from naked eye (under natural lighting, without magnifying)?
Is the difference more subtle or significant? I’m curious what you think about this! Thank you!
Your Diamond Teacher |
| The diamond grading institutions such as GIA and AGS don’t recognize Super Ideal. The eye will have a lot of trouble picking up on the subtlety between Super Ideal and Excellent Cut. 🙂 |
| Anonymous Reader
Hi Sebastian,
Sorry to bug again. Could you please take a look at this Idealscope?
2.88 CARAT I-VS2 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND SKU-5580984
As you can see, the proportion is not within the super ideal cut dimensions. The depth is 62.8%. Table 56%, Crown angle is 36.5, Pavilion angel is 40.6. However, if the difference between super ideal vs excellent is subtle, I’m not sure if I should pay an extra 10k for that subtlety.
For example like this one:
2.88 CARAT I-VS1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND SKU-5071291
A cs from whiteflash also recommend this one:
2.528 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE Hearts and Arrows Diamond AGS-104098356001
It’s a smaller stone with SI1 clarity. With an average triple excellent cut GIA I can get it for roughly $5k less. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this. Thanks again!
Your Diamond Teacher |
| Not a problem. This is why I am here. The Idealscope for the below diamond, sku 5071291, is not excellent. It is very good.
But, will you notice the difference in person between diamonds where one has an Excellent and the other has a Very Good Idealscope, most likely not. I would not hesitate to buy this diamond.
2.88 CARAT I-VS1 TRUE HEARTS IDEAL DIAMOND SKU-5071291
The below diamond, sku 5580984, is a great diamond. It does, however, have strong fluorescence. As I said, previously, it is not common for fluorescence to make a diamond oily/hazy, however, it is a possibility with strong fluorescence. And you have to be okay with it possibly glowing blue under strong UV light.
2.88 CARAT I-VS2 EXCELLENT CUT ROUND DIAMOND SKU-5580984
The below diamond from White Flash is another great choice. The Idealscope is excellent. It does not have fluorescence. But, yes, it is smaller, than the other two diamonds. So, you have to decide of what matters more or less.
2.528 ct I SI1 A CUT ABOVE Hearts and Arrows Diamond AGS-104098356001 Are you leaning more towards one over another? |
| Anonymous Reader
Hi Sebastian,
It’s me again. How all is well 🙂 Thanks for the in-depth review on your previous email.
I was about to buy the 2.88ct, but sadly to report that the diamond was sold. Literately one day late! It was still available when I emailed you. Lesson learned, I have to act fast… I’m back to search again.
A local jeweler recommends me these 2 stones that I can see in person locally. Could you please take a look if you don’t mind? Please see attached.
2.81 Carat J-VS2 Excellent Cut Round Diamond
3.04 Carat J-SI1 Excellent Cut Round Diamond
He quoted me the 2.81ct for $24.5k with a halo setting. Not sure how much is the 3ct, I haven’t asked – I’m a little worried about the twinning wisp, however the picture looks okay and eye clean. He didn’t provide a video so I’m not positive. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Your Diamond Teacher |
| Nice to hear from you again. Sorry about the diamond, but there are plenty of others out there! The two diamonds your local jeweler recommended look good! When will you have the chance to see them in person?
You don’t need to worry about the twinning wisps. You won’t see them and they won’t negatively impact the diamond. |
| Anonymous Reader
Hi Sebastian,
I hope this email finds your well 🙂 After a few months of back and forth, we recently purchased a diamond ring from a local jeweler. Here’re the specs:
Carat Weight: 2.83, I color, Eye Clean SI1. Table: 58%, Crown Angle: 34.0, Pavillion Angle: 41.6, Depth: 62.7%. GIA 7296442307.
This 2.83 diamond’s proportion doesn’t seem ideal on paper. The pavilion angle is indeed on the deeper side. However it looks very clean in person, I couldn’t find any inclusions with a scope and no black crystals either. We took it outside and the diamond looked even brighter and whiter. We also saw other options and this was the best among them.
I was very happy with our purchase until “out of a curiosity”, I put these numbers into the HCA tool. How bad a GIA XXX score can be, right? The score came out over 5. I didn’t even remember the exact number as I was too sad to stare at the webpage… So now all the anxiety and worries kicked in.
There’re so many resources online that advocate “super ideal cut”. It worries me when my stone was not in that specs. I don’t think I can return it at this point, and I even thought about recutting the diamond in the future to a pavilion angle of 41 degrees instead of 41.6 degrees. Maybe I’m being unreasonably picky?
Bottom line, I just would like my diamond to have a lot of sparkles. It was a big purchase for us, and I hate to mess it up… The stone is currently being set, attached a picture that I have of this stone.
I’d be really appreciated if I can have your thoughts on this. Thank you so much for your time! 🙂
Your Diamond Teacher |
| The bottom line is, our eyes trump any tool. If your eyes love the way the diamond looks in person than that is all that matters, as long as the price was fair and the diamond meets your desired criteria on paper.
The HCA tool is very limiting and rules our perfectly beautiful diamonds. And GIA doesn’t even acknowledge the HCA scoring tool. Please enjoy the diamond you have. 🙂 |
| Anonymous Reader
Thank you so much Sebastian, I appreciate your honest option.
Your Diamond Teacher |
| My pleasure. I am glad I can help! |