The Private Reserve
Ideal Cut Diamonds
In-Stock & Available:
Diamond Inventory
Ideal Cut
Classifications
AGS Ideal 0 Cut
AGS-000/Triple 0 defined
Eighternity
Diamonds
GIA Excellent / Ideal
Hearts & Arrows Ideals
Just Plain "Ideal"
The Ideal Differences
Fancy Shape Desc.
Asscher Cut Diamonds
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Private Reserve Terms:
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Inventory Introduction
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Diamond Grading
The Expanded 4Cs
1.
Cut = Light Return
2.
Color
3.
Clarity
4.
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Buyer Beware!
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The GIA vs. the AGS
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Distinguishing between ideal cut diamonds:
The most common question we are asked is "What is the visual
difference between the various types of Super Ideal Cut Diamonds listed in our Private Reserve?"
The answer is really quite simple.. Not much. Despite all of the
various monikers used to describe ideal cut diamonds, the visual
performance is dictated by the proportions and the precision of the
craftsmanship. A few
years ago one laboratory determined that the light return of a round
brilliant cut diamond with AGS-4 Good proportions was approximately 70%
while the average light return for an AGS Ideal Cut or GIA graded diamond
with Ideal Cut proportions and a polish and symmetry grade of excellent
was about 96% and the light return of a Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut diamond
at that time was about 98%. Keep in mind that these results were obtained using
laser optics and the difference of 2% is not something that we're going to
pick up with just our eyes. We can't tell the difference between the various
types of ideal cut diamonds without using a
SymmetriScope™ and the visual difference between Super Ideal Cut
Diamonds and those that exhibit what is considered to be a Hearts &
Arrows Ideal Cut Diamond at this point in time is indiscernible. Note
that what is considered to be "Hearts & Arrows" in today's market is not
even close to what was considered to be "Hearts & Arrows" during the
mid-1990's and that those diamonds are no longer in production no matter
what some of our competitors would lead you to believe. From
what we've seen, they're selling diamonds which exhibit some sort of
hearts and arrows patterns, but nothing that would be considered to be
true H&A by original standards.
This is a page from our original site, please
click here to visit our current site!
Most people can separate non-ideal from ideal cut diamonds simply
from a perspective of visual performance, the ideal cut diamonds simply
sparkle more.
However, if we placed a Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut and an AGS Ideal
Cut and a diamond graded by the GIA as having Excellent polish and
symmetry and Ideal Cut Proportions in a pile and asked you to separate them with just your eyes, it would be
nearly impossible for you to do so assuming that they were all of equal
carat weight, color and clarity. Heck, we can't even do it without the
scope unless we spend fifteen minutes studying the diamond facets by facet
through a diamond grading loupe.
The American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gemological Institute of America
(GIA) laboratories are the two most recognized and respected independent
gemological laboratories in the country and most of the world.
Both laboratories provide extremely accurate and impartial analysis of
the characteristics of the diamonds that they grade including the
weight, measurements, clarity, color, level of fluorescence, culet size,
girdle thickness, and plot the type and location of the inclusions or
clarity characteristics present within the diamond.
Both the AGS and the GIA issue individual grades for polish, symmetry and
an overall cut grade. The highest grade available from the AGS
is "AGS Ideal 0" and the highest available from the GIA is
"Excellent". The diamond grading reports issued by both
laboratories provide a plotting diagram of the inclusions contained
within the diamond represented by the lab report and a proportions
diagram which is a scale rendition based upon the proportions of the
diamond. The AGS Laboratory goes one step further than the GIA and
provides a rating for the visual performance of the diamond.
All of the diamonds listed in our Private Reserve
exhibit full spectral hues and incredible brilliance regardless of
whether they are AGS Ideal or GIA Excellent and regardless of whether
they exhibit a pattern of Hearts & Arrows. All of the diamonds
listed in our Private Reserve have Ideal Cut Proportions as determined
by the AGS Laboratory or our own Sarin
DiaMension Computerized Analysis. The proportions of our diamonds result in maximum prismatic
brilliance and only the best of the best find their way into our Private
Reserve
May we help you find the diamond of your dreams?
Send us an email diamonds@niceice.com
and tell us what you are looking for.
Or give us a call at 206.319.8152 or Toll Free 877.844.5443
Copyright © 1996 - 2009 Nice Ice, Inc.
AGS®
is a registered trademark of the American Gem Society (702) 255-6500
GIA® is a registered trademark of the Gemological Institute of America
(760) 603-4000