Buying Guide: Princess cut diamond halo engagement ring
“I’ve been researching princess cut diamonds for awhile. I started out thinking that GIA Excellent princess cut diamonds were the best, but quickly discovered that the diamond grading reports do not provide the details necessary to make an informed decision. They lack important details like the crown height and pavilion depth, and sometimes don’t indicate the number of chevron facets. Frankly I was kind of at my wits end, but then a co-worker pointed me to your web site. I love the fact that Brian Gavin Signature princess cut diamonds are graded by the AGS Laboratory. The diamond grading reports provide all the detail that I need. The only thing that I can’t find on the web site is a halo setting. Do you offer a princess cut diamond halo engagement ring?”
The Michelle princess cut halo setting:
The Michelle princess cut halo setting by Brian Gavin is likely to be just what you’re looking for. It is available in platinum, 18k white gold, 18k yellow gold, and 18k rose gold. We make each ring to order, so it will be made to fit the dimensions of the exact Brian Gavin Signature princess cut diamond that you select for the center stone. Production time is approximately 14 business days from the receipt of payment. And if for some reason this isn’t exactly what you have in mind, Brian Gavin will be happy to custom design a halo setting for a princess cut diamond to your desired specifications. You can even pick a name for the setting.
AGS Ideal vs GIA Excellent Princess:
I’m glad that you figured out the differences between GIA Excellent and AGS Ideal-0 princess cut diamonds. Most people don’t figure out that GIA diamond grading reports for fancy shape diamonds lack the measurements for crown height and pavilion angle. This is pretty important information to omit from a diamond grading report!
While the GIA does provide plotting diagrams of the facet structure for diamonds weighing more than 1.00 carat, that information is not provided on GIA Dossier format reports issued for diamonds weighing less than 1.00 carats. As you’ve noted, the number of chevron facets polished on to the pavilion half of a princess cut diamond, have a direct impact upon the size and intensity of the sparkle.
Brian Gavin spent a lot of time experimenting with different numbers of chevron facets on princess cut diamonds. We’ve produced princess cut diamonds with two, three, four, and five chevron facets. Ultimately we determined that three chevron facets is the magic number. Three chevron facets produces sparkle that is larger in size, and extremely vibrant.
Of course, there is more to producing a princess cut diamond than just cutting them to ideal proportions, and polishing them with the right number of chevron facets. It is also critical that the facet structure of the diamond be evenly spaced per section, and that the facets be the same relative size and shape. The facets of the diamond must be indexed upon the surface of the diamond just right to ensure that light is reflected evenly throughout the diamond. This is known as “Optical Precision” and it is not something taken into account by the gemological laboratories. But it is something that is clearly apparent in the ASET and Ideal Scope images provided for Brian Gavin Signature princess cut diamonds. Notice the consistency of these ASET scope images.
Notice how the ASET scope images exhibit a lot of red, this is an indication of brightness. The red is evenly distributed throughout the diamonds, and represents the majority of light return indicated. Green, which is the second brightest light being reflected by the diamond is also present, and is also evenly distributed. This is an indication that light is reflecting through the diamonds evenly. And all of the BGD Signature princess cut diamonds represented, offer the same degree of brightness, evenly distributed across the diamonds from edge-to-edge.
