Another Cushion Question - Bow Tie Related

[lookingforcushions]

Hi everyone,

I think I've found a diamond that I love (bright and fiery, except for what seems to be a bow tie that appears every so often (clearly in direct sunlight) that travels across the length of the stone. I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts that might help me decide if this is a big issue (a dark bow tie) and I could find something better OR if it's something a person who's looking for a brilliant stone could learn to live with.

I've been told that cushions all have bow ties to some extent and that all diamonds darken in some spots in direct sunlight, and if that's the case that this is normal, I think I could learn to live with this one if it falls into the minimal/minor issue category. It's been a bit difficult finding images of diamonds with minimal/medium bow tie shadows online, and I'm not sure how big of a deal this bow tie is. I'm very torn as it's been tough finding a cushion that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Any thoughts/help would be very greatly appreciated.

Here are some images (along with comments -- sorry about the fuzzy pictures) and the stats:

Color: F
Clarity: VS1
Depth: 63.4%
Table: 62.0%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thick
Culet: None
LxW Ratio 1.06
8 Main Cushion Brilliant

 

[Cehrabehra]

Does it bother YOU? Because if it does then you need to keep looking. It's a personal choice. I am not that familiar with the type of cushion you have, I have seen a few but never noticed bow ties at all. But... I wasn't really looking for them. Most people don't like them but there are people who tolerate them and some who even like them. The 8 arrows in an ideal round are doing the same thing... just not in as big of a chunk.

 

[yssie]

okay... OT for a sec - cehra, according to the board you are CCL? Before I replied and there was only the one, I thought he was posting again

ETA: okay, now I am CCL as well. System glitch apparently.

Back to scheduled programming.

 

[lookingforcushions]

Does it bother YOU? Because if it does then you need to keep looking. It's a personal choice. I am not that familiar with the type of cushion you have, I have seen a few but never noticed bow ties at all. But... I wasn't really looking for them. Most people don't like them but there are people who tolerate them and some who even like them. The 8 arrows in an ideal round are doing the same thing... just not in as big of a chunk.

Thanks, Cehrabehra. I feel like it's something I would have never noticed in the store at all and only once you take it home do you really get a feel for it in different lighting conditions. I'll have to give it some thought. The good thing is James Allen has such a great return policy. At least I'll have some time to consider. I'm not sure if I'm the type of person to tolerate it.

 

[Cehrabehra]

okay... OT for a sec - cehra, according to the board you are CCL? Before I replied and there was only the one, I thought he was posting again

ETA: okay, now I am CCL as well. System glitch apparently.

Back to scheduled programming.

BAHAHA weird weird weird!!!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Does it bother YOU? Because if it does then you need to keep looking. It's a personal choice. I am not that familiar with the type of cushion you have, I have seen a few but never noticed bow ties at all. But... I wasn't really looking for them. Most people don't like them but there are people who tolerate them and some who even like them. The 8 arrows in an ideal round are doing the same thing... just not in as big of a chunk.

Thanks, Cehrabehra. I feel like it's something I would have never noticed in the store at all and only once you take it home do you really get a feel for it in different lighting conditions. I'll have to give it some thought. The good thing is James Allen has such a great return policy. At least I'll have some time to consider. I'm not sure if I'm the type of person to tolerate it.

What else does the "bow tie" do? Some of my favorite pictures of rounds are when the arrows are not black but pink or silver or something that still contrasts with the background but is colorful. Bowties do that too... does the ring show bands of red and blue and various other colors from the environs or does it always/often look black? Do you have dark hair? I've heard blondes like them more, I'm blonde lol

 

[lookingforcushions]

I wish it did something else other than look dark lol. I don't think I'd mind it as much. When I tilt the diamond to the side far enough, it does disappear. Does this mean that it's not as 'bad' of a bow tie?

 

[Cehrabehra]

I wish it did something else other than look dark lol. I don't think I'd mind it as much. When I tilt the diamond to the side far enough, it does disappear. Does this mean that it's not as 'bad' of a bow tie?

No... if you're going to have a band of facets that reflect light differently than those surrounding them, you need to love what it DOES and not just that it doesn't do it all the time. As weird as I am, the "bow tie" facets on my stone are my favorites because of what they DO. If you look at that phenomenon and it displeases you and the only redeeming factor you can think of is that if you tilt it away from you far enough it goes away.... it's time to move on to another stone.

 

[lookingforcushions]

Thanks again. <sigh> I guess I've just been looking for a while and it's hard to let go of a diamond that is soo close to what I want. But I know me too and I can be particular. I'm really not in a rush and hopefully something will come along that's what I'm looking for.