Diamond commercial grades?

stumpjumper

Flourescence shouldn't be a problem when its faint or negligable... as it is something all diamonds have - and it is one way to tell the real from fake diamond. the flourescence is viewable under UV lighting.

As far as polish and symmetry on grading report - yes it is good to have high marks - but they contribute little to the look of the diamond and it's scintillation, fire and brilliance (that is its contrast of white light return and coloured light return.

if you look at the AGS certification is will look something like this one:


as you can see on the picture of the diamond it shows the angles of the crown and pavilion (the top and the bottom of the diamond)

using those 2 angles, and the table and depth % we can use this to give an idea of the cut quality.

And what your looking for is the depth to be something like 59-63% so you dont hide too much diamond in its depth... when compared to the width you see in the ring.

Table - this can be a personal choice... but 56-58% is the commong range which is found.

with you saying 0.48/0.58/0.48 - are these diamonds from Blue Nile?

talksalot81

stumpjumper wrote:

Flourescence shouldn't be a problem when its faint or negligable... as it is something all diamonds have - and it is one way to tell the real from fake diamond. the flourescence is viewable under UV lighting.

As far as polish and symmetry on grading report - yes it is good to have high marks - but they contribute little to the look of the diamond and it's scintillation, fire and brilliance (that is its contrast of white light return and coloured light return.

if you look at the AGS certification is will look something like this one:


as you can see on the picture of the diamond it shows the angles of the crown and pavilion (the top and the bottom of the diamond)

using those 2 angles, and the table and depth % we can use this to give an idea of the cut quality.

And what your looking for is the depth to be something like 59-63% so you dont hide too much diamond in its depth... when compared to the width you see in the ring.

Table - this can be a personal choice... but 56-58% is the commong range which is found.

with you saying 0.48/0.58/0.48 - are these diamonds from Blue Nile?

Yup indeed... quite the specialist you are! Do you think they are a safe enough company to use? Any reservation of any kind?

Thanks!

Adam

stumpjumper

Thats a hard question to answer.

Blue Nile have been around a while, and are one of the biggest online diamond retailers in America, and have recently opened a GB website (tho looking through all the prices are still in dollers - strangely) In the US if you go into a highstreet jewellers and say you've been looking on the net for a diamond.... its highly likely they'll pull out a Blue Nile price list as a comparison to their own prices.

Think of BN like Amazon.

They do have a generous return period (uk is 15 days to return the diamond(s) US is 30 days) and free shipping within in the country of the order.. so free shipping to UK or US depending on weither buying from co.uk or .com

They do have a reputation for being on the higher price side for online diamonds.

And they are no more than a broker... they sell direct from the wholeseller, with only certain lines like the signiature ideals being inhouse - that is, they have the diamonds on the premises - which is why their website lists so many diamonds. and the same diamonds will be available at different venders for different prices.

which means if you call them up to talk about the stones you have selected - they may have to call in those diamonds... or another vender may have sold them and the wholeseller hasnt updated his list.
Something to bear in mind.

Whiteflash is the same with their Expert Selection diamonds - they list stones from the wholesellers, and they also list those that they have in their vault - the difference being the website listing says either 'call for availablity' or 'Ready to ship' (the Whiteflash - A Cut Above range is cut by Whiteflash's own cutting house in Antwerp, and all diamonds are held by whiteflash in their vault.)
Same with Good Old Gold, which is based at their shop in New York, and all diamonds listed, i belive, are those that they have bought for their own stock.

So you ask do i have any reservations.
to put into context - i am no pro, but an enthusiastic diamond nut.
But like to be presented with as much information as i can... and also repeatable tests.
in that i mean - like to have a grading report (the Cert) from someone like GIA and AGS where the crown and pavilion information is given, a picture of the diamond i am buying, not a sample image as well as, at minimum, an ideal scope image - so you can see the light return:


The actual image of the diamond, and the ideal scope image isnt something which Blue Nile provide - so they dont have the information that i'd like before parting with my £3k... but it maybe enough for you.

Also i like what are known as Hearts and Arrows diamonds. These are diamonds that are the standard 57 facet round brilliant diamonds, but have been cut to such precision, and with such skill that you get diamonds that look like those pictures i posted above - those 8 black arrows flaring with bright colours in the light, and when viewed in certain conditions the diamonds exhibit patterns that can be viewed

left - the hearts: right - the arrows:


and in real life: this is the diamond DH bought me -




which is a Whiteflash ACA - 0.308ct F VVS1