Thinking about switching cartridges.

I do suppose with no supporting data that a synthetic diamond is mor likely to display those imperfections you describe than would a natural diamond, but it’s pure guessing. 

Which do you prefer, press fit or a big gob of glue? And which adds more superfluous mass to increase inertia? 

Tomic, I’ve had the 17D3 in my 505 with a CF headshell, possibly in my FR64S, also in CF headshell, and now in Viv Float in CF with shim. It sounds best in the Viv without a doubt. And now I will proceed to my fallout shelter.

Unless you’re getting engaged, what difference does it make whether a diamond stylus is of natural or man made origin? None, IMO.

Not to put too fine a point in it, but doesn’t a stylus get polished by the groove and wouldn’t that process eventually negate or render irrelevant the factory original state of polish? Within the first 50-100 hours I would think.

17mm, to be exact.

I own a Dynavector 17D3.  I think that D series all have one-piece diamond cantilever/styli.  So if and when the stylus wears out, you would have to replace both if you want to preserve originality.  Am I correct in this belief? (Raul?)  If so, does Dynavector have the capability? I rank that cartridge as upper level but not tops.  Very enjoyable, nevertheless.

Under a microscope, it does appear that stylus and cantilever are one piece.