How It All Started
To use Perfect Diagram is to journey back through thirty years of gemological history - and a computer revolution. Named by Patti Geolet of Geolat & Associates as a logical combination of Wordperfect® and diagrams that were perfect, the plotting diagrams have become a must-have for astute gemologists. Thank you Patti!
The first diagrams were developed for my personal use while I owned a retail jewelry store in Town and Country Village in San Jose, California - as well as working for Intel Corporation and attending San Jose State University. It was during that time, the mid-1980s, that I also became a gemologist. I remember adding stickers to my appraisals upon which I then plotted inclusions and blemishes.
Plot stickers were only available from a few sources - for example there was the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) and a few firms such as Rubin and Sons that specialized in supplying diamond dealers and cutters. Sets of stickers consisted of a few of the most popular cuts and I would run out of round brilliant cuts almost immediately since they were the most plotted diamond cut. Reordering sets would force me to have gads of extra not-so-popular cuts tucked away somewhere in my desk - like brilliant heart cuts. Another option was to order a rubber stamp for each cut - the number of different cuts was extremely limited.
The round brilliant cut stickers had a small table. Plotting the inclusions and blemishes for a low quality diamond with a large table onto a sticker with a small table was nearly impossible. It not only was difficult to do but also inaccurate.
Once a Programmer - Always a Programmer
Therefore I decided to program a set of diagrams. I developed a small set of diagrams that worked within Word Perfect® - the popular word processor at the time. I had no intention to sell the gallery and limited my efforts to only those diamonds involved in an appraisal as I encountered them. To solve the small table dilemma, I decided to vary the table percentages of the round brilliant cut diagrams.
A Friend in Need
A fellow appraiser and friend of mine, David Coll of Montclair Jewelers called me. He was scanning diagrams into his computer to use for plotting. His complaint was that the diagrams were crude looking and seriously large files. During the 1980s computers did not have the enormous memory and storage capabilities we now take for granted. He wanted to know if I knew how to reduce the file sizes and yet retain the quality. I told him of my personal gallery of diagrams.
I sent him some of my diagrams to try - just to see what he would think. As soon as he used them, he called me and asked if I was selling them. That is when I realized that I could market them. Thank you David!
Climbing the Ladder
Soon afterwards plotting stickers mysteriously disappeared from the market. I had not noticed because I did not need them anymore.
I had sent my friend Cos Altobelli of The Altobelli Jewelers a set to use. When the AGS Laboratory was being formed, Executive Director Peter Yantzer, was asking if anyone could provide diagrams. Cos printed out a diagram and transmitted it to Peter by facsimile (fax). The diagram, instead of being a crisp and accurate diagram as when printed, was jagged and distorted as is customary for such transmissions.
Peter, maybe in desperation, called me and inquired about the diagrams. He was very concerned about whether I could improve the quality of the drawings. Realizing that he was looking at a fax quality plot - I transmitted to him a sample drawing by email. He called me back and asked how many drawings were in the gallery. Peter encouraged me to complete the diagrams which then became a fan of my diagrams. Thank you Peter!
Doing Business
I watched as Word for Windows® overtook Word Perfect in the battle for word processor supremacy. I converted the entire gallery to this new format. Many users of Perfect Diagram have found clever ways to use it in their appraisal reports and some of those ideas have been presented in this website.
In addition, I have an enduring goal to include every diagram possible into the gallery. Thus expect ongoing releases and additions to the gallery.
Thanks to everyone who has supported my effort to develop Perfect Diagram!
Bill Hoefer
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