shape
carat
color
clarity

Am I seeing the setting behind the diamond?

Emrldlvr

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Messages
71
I just received my upgraded emerald cut this past Friday and noticed this bow tie effect in sunlight at certain angles. Is this just the basket setting showing through, or some other effect? Thanks! D8F8A005-CE5E-44F1-B312-DB22EB370E5B.jpeg
 

lovedogs

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
18,033
I don't know all the technical terms in a step cut, but basically you are seeing the facets turn "on and off", as light hits the stone at different angles. So at the angle you are holding it, the dark facets are ones that are "off". I wouldn't call it a bowtie unless it looks like this when looking at it straight on.
 

distracts

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 11, 2011
Messages
6,131
I can see the setting through the stone at that angle but if you aren’t seeing it at other angles, don’t worry about it. When facets aren’t reflecting light it is possible to see through them and no stone is cut so that facets reflect light from every angle.
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
6,534
Yes, emerald cuts have long facets down the sides. So when the light hits them you get BIG flashes but also when the light is off them, you get more dark. With RB you have many more small facets so with the sprinkles of facets making many “on and off” the extinction is A23749FC-F8F1-42CD-B9A3-8E7A7A3BA277.jpeg less noticeable.
 

OoohShiny

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 25, 2014
Messages
8,228
I think all ECs do this to some extent - the central band of facets is formed of parallel facets that are looking at different areas along the same plane/line, so if that plane has no light sources within it (e.g. a cloudless part of the sky that doesn't have the sun in it), it is likely the central band of facets will either be dark or reflect the flat colour of the area it is reflecting.

Plus, well-cut diamonds do look darker in sunlight - the reasons (as far as I can tell from what I've read on here!) being that the sun is an ultra-bright light source, which means the facets that are reflecting back to your eyes are so much brighter than the rest of the stone that the rest of the stone looks dark.


I think?? lol


It is partly this effect that has me hesitating over whether I should get an EC or an asscher when I do finally get some bling for myself!

I think it is just part of the character of ECs :)
 

EC8

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jun 19, 2006
Messages
344
It’s the faceting pattern of your stone (and a common one with many ECs); the facets across the belly are all turning on/off at the same time.
 

Emrldlvr

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Messages
71
It’s the faceting pattern of your stone (and a common one with many ECs); the facets across the belly are all turning on/off at the same time.

And that is something one should try and avoid? It doesn’t particularly bother me as it’s only really noticeable it direct sunlight, but I’m just trying to educate myself more for future upgrade. Thanks!
 
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top