23 replies to this topic

[mike899]

Looking for some advice/feedback on the diamond ring picutred below. Including how to get a better picture of it. I had read that using a white lit background will have the diamond be pictured better.

The center stone is:
1.5 RB
H
SI1
GIA certified

The ring; obviously a halo setting, white gold 18k, with .5 is diamonds

7

[denverappraiser]

<sup>Set your camera on the 'macro' setting. That's usually the little flower on the knob.
More light. Diffused light is best.
Crop.

What advice would you like to know? That's a very popular style. It looks lovely.</sup>

[mike899]

mainly looking for advice on the performance of the actual diamond. I personally think the light return on it is above average but I am not an expert.

[mike899]

i can't take a new pic right now, i haven't given it to my girlfriend yet and shes home at the moment.

[denverappraiser]

mike899, on 01 April 2012 - 05:03 AM, said:

mainly looking for advice on the performance of the actual diamond. I personally think the light return on it is above average but I am not an expert.

You didn't give us any information to even take a wild guess on the light behavior. I couldn't tell you much without seeing the stone anyway but recent GIA reports do include a cut grade and a fair amount more information than what you provided. This isn't actually any sort of 'performance' grade either but it' sometimes helpful and can be reassuring. Although I would love to see a better picture (that one isn't all that bad by the way), it isn't really going to help for answering this particular question.

Do you already own this piece and are looking to know more about it or are you considering buying it and looking for shopping information?

Edited by denverappraiser, 01 April 2012 - 07:51 AM.

[mike899]

denverappraiser, on 01 April 2012 - 05:17 AM, said:

mike899, on 01 April 2012 - 05:03 AM, said:

mainly looking for advice on the performance of the actual diamond. I personally think the light return on it is above average but I am not an expert.

You didn't give us any information to even take a wild guess on the light behavior. I couldn't tell you much without seeing the stone anyway but recent GIA reports do include a cut grade and a fair amount more information than what you provided. This isn't actually any sort of 'performance' grade either but it' sometimes helpful and can be reassuring. Although I would love to see a better picture (that one isn't all that bad by the way), it isn't really going to help for answering this particular question.

Do you already own this piece and are looking to know more about it or are you considering buying it and looking for shopping information?

I already own the ring, although it can be returned. I have not proposed yet. Was just doing some research on my purchase and making sure i didn't go wrong. I have had it appraised in NYC and was told I got a great price for it.

I can get the GIA #'s and post them when she's not home. The ring is slightly deeper and didn't score great on the HCA but I feel it doesn't appear dark

[denverappraiser]

Igore the HCA, expecially if you've seen it and already love it. that tool was never intended for this purpose and it's enormously inappropriate.

Did your appraiser talk to you about your performance and light behavior questions? Did you ask?

[mike899]

denverappraiser, on 01 April 2012 - 08:40 AM, said:

Igore the HCA, expecially if you've seen it and already love it. that tool was never intended for this purpose and it's enormously inappropriate.

Did your appraiser talk to you about your performance and light behavior questions? Did you ask?

Yea i asked Him. He said while the cut is not Gia excellent, its very good, he did not see any issue wiyth darkness or poor light return. I was just worried when i saw the poor hca score

[mike899]

one other thing i could use advice on is a bruise.
after looking at my diamond under the magnifying class for a while, the appraiser realized the diamond had a bruise on on the gutlet. he said he was extremely small and not noticeable by the naked eye.

your opinion does that greatly effect the value of the stone?

[denverappraiser]

On a brand new stone? Is it noted on the plotting diagram of the GIA report? If not, send it back. That's a grading issue and it means the stone no longer matches the lab docs you have. It may longer even be an SI1. It's not damage that you as the end user could do without tools so it has to have been done by the setter or while it was being shown around. That is to say, pre-existing damage before you bought it (and thus before your insurance policy started). Repairing it loses weight, which on a 1.50 can be a huge deal, as I'm sure you know. This is a can-o-worms that shouldn't be your problem as a brand new buyer.

Um, not to sound critical of my fellow apprasiers, but didn't he/she tell you this?

[mike899]

I asked if I was visible or effected the performance of the diamond and he said no.

It was no on the gia plot so he plotted it in the appraisal as a bruise.

I asked if I should return it and he basically depends on how much of a perfectionist you are, he compared to buying a new pair of shoes with a scuff.

He was not as critical of it as you, I wasn't planning on returning it but now ugh I don't know. I wanted to givie it to her Sunday.

So stressful...

[mike899]

Sorry for my typing I am on a phone

[denverappraiser]

He's seen it, I haven't. He's your chosen expert and I"m just some guy on the Internet. I'll defer to him. Personally I would say a closer analogy from your description is buying a new sports car and finding a dent in the door before you even drive it off the lot.

Edited by denverappraiser, 01 April 2012 - 03:23 PM.

[mike899]

Yea, I don't know what to do know.

[mike899]

Now

[mike899]

I think I'll call the jewelry store, let them know and see what they say.

[mike899]

I took my shot at some more pics. I messed around with the lighting and cropped some of them. Keep in mind this is all done with a cell phone camera, so i'm doing my best.

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[mike899]

If you are still watching this thread, being that i think you are an appraiser.

When they look at the ring under a microscope for appraising, what power is it? I bought a 10x loop today to look at the culet before i made a fuss with my jewler.. and i have been staring at it for 15 mins from many angles and i don't see a "bruise" from all angles it looks like it comes to a direct point.

i got a good price on the ring, i don't see it with a 10x loop let alone the naked eye. i think i am leaning towards not saying anything. maybe i will mention it to him when i go back for wedding bands and try to save some cash on that.

Thanks again for the help

[denverappraiser]

Yes, I'm still watching. Yes, I'm an appraiser.

Grading is supposed to be done at 10x. I've no clue what your appraiser used. My microscope goes up to 60x if I want.
It's certainly up to you to decide if it's a problem or even if it's even there. My sole source of information is you. You reported damage on a brand new stone that is noted on an appraisal and not referenced on the lab report. I'm assuming this claim is correct and, if so, it's an important issue. Again, I haven't seen the stone and the one person who has other than the jeweler who sold it called it 'bruised'. Obviously if that's not the case then you have a completely different issue with this appraiser. If he's correct but it's not important to you, that's fine. In the end, yours is the opinion that counts.

You never gave a price but I'll take your word for it that your happy with how much you paid. It sounds like you're happy with what you got as well. Congratulations. That sounds like success.

Edited by denverappraiser, 02 April 2012 - 02:48 PM.

[mike899]

Sorry, I have no problem giving the price. I paid 10k for the ring, diamond and setting. The ring is 18k gold with .5 in diamonds completing the halo and the diamond we have discussed.

Well i got the 10x loop and was expecting to see a lil chunck missing on the bottom or a lil scratch and for the life of me, i don't see a thing. It comes to a direct point from every angle i look at it and don't see a scratch.

As long as doesn't effect the look of the ring I am fine with it, if i can't see it under 10x, i don't think its effecting the look of the diamond.

you've been a great help.