Cushion diamond - which one to pick?

[Octo2005]

This stone is not crushed ice.

The blue/black are the same thing - it is showing areas of contrast. Think of the arrows that you see in a round diamond. They are just facets that are turned off when the photo is taken or showing reflection from the camera.

This stone is not horrible, but there is a good bit of light leakage under the table. Note the areas of white and faded green in the ASET and blurry grayish in the actual photo. These are areas where light is passing through the stone and not being fully reflected back.

Have you seen a video of the stone? Focus on the table and think of it as a clock face , watch the areas of the clock along the perimeter where the numbers would be (wider ring around the center), do you notice areas not turning on/off, do they look dull or lifeless, do they look dark?

 

[Singstone]

This stone is not crushed ice.

The blue/black are the same thing - it is showing areas of contrast. Think of the arrows that you see in a round diamond. They are just facets that are turned off when the photo is taken or showing reflection from the camera.

This stone is not horrible, but there is a good bit of light leakage under the table. Note the areas of white and faded green in the ASET and blurry grayish in the actual photo. These are areas where light is passing through the stone and not being fully reflected back.

Have you seen a video of the stone? Focus on the table and think of it as a clock face , watch the areas of the clock along the perimeter where the numbers would be (wider ring around the center), do you notice areas not turning on/off, do they look dull or lifeless, do they look dark?

Thanks for your assessment. I see wht you mean. I feel like i’m learning a lot these days!
Here is the video:
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...ut/0.90-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3412727

I just wonder out if all tge options I have seen now if this light leakage is the compromise I have to make if I want this size, a very square shape, color and clarity within my budget...? I saw some slightly better ASET images from the options posted earlier but the stones were more rectangular which i don’t like.
Would you still say it is a decent stone or very dull in real life? In the videos the stones all look so similar to me (except the inclusions).

 

[Octo2005]

Bump

It's to bad that it is an out of the country purchase. If you were in the states, I would say go for it, JA has a great return policy to allow you to play with it in different lighting conditions and see how you feel about it. But, overseas returns can get complicated from what I have heard.

 

[OoohShiny]

I think that one looks very promising - well-defined facets, some good contrast, and the obstruction patterns under the table should not be very prominent in real life when in motion on the finger. It also has good 'life' as it moves (as I understand it!)

Ask JA what their returns process is (and whether they insure a stone during a return) - if they insure it and arrange it all from their end, I think you'd be safe to purchase for home inspection!

 

[Singstone]

THANKs a lot, @Octo2005! Really appreciate your and the other’s help! I’m quite torn, the more I research the harder it gets...
now I came across 2 new options. One on JA and one from my local store.
My local store sent the GIA cert and a video which is too big to upload. so here just a screenshot, which is probably not helping.... Apparently their dealer cannot provide an ASET image for it... is there another way to get one? I googled but to no avail. The GIA cert no is 227771513. The specs are 0.9, F, VS2.


Then I found this JA one, specs are 0.9 ct, H, IF
https://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/l...cut/0.90-carat-h-color-if-clarity-sku-4763668
ASET: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...iamond&utm_content=organic-passiveSimilarPush

Could anyone tell me their opinion on the one from my local dealer if at all possible as well as the new IF stone from James Allen and how it compares to the one I had previously posted the ASET image of? (The 0.9, H, VS2 one)? ASET link here: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...9-Carat-H-Color-VS2-Clarity-Diamond-764753686
Thanks so much in advance!

 

[OoohShiny]

To my eyes, the ASET of the H VS2 shows some green under the table, whereas the H IF seems to have more leakage.

That said, the VS2 does seem to 'tilt-window' at extreme angles (75 degrees?), whereas the IF does not seem to tilt-window at all.

Cushions are hard to buy!

 

[Singstone]

@OoohShiny, what does tilt-window mean?
I felt like there was less of that whitish/olive color on the IF stone which I thought means leakage, and also slightly more red? Oh gosh, I think I just have to bite the bullet and make a decision soon as I'll be forever hunting for "something better" otherwise and go crazy (and bare-fingered)...

 

[OoohShiny]

lol It can feel like there is a multitude of options but, at the same time, nothing clearly sitting at the top of the pile!

Tilt-windowing is referring to the video rather than the ASETscope and IdealScope images - basically, as the stone rotates, it can go see-through rather than reflect light back at the viewer. So it 'windows' at a 'tilt' angle

The vast majority of stones do 'window' at extreme angles (so 75+ degrees from face-on, which is 0 degrees for the purposes of this exercise) and when viewed side-on or from the underneath, but you don't want it at lower angles (say 45 degrees) because the lower angles are the sort of angles you'll be viewing it from on the finger

 

[OoohShiny]

This thread looks to have some good info on tilt-windows
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ng-james-allen-asscher-and-experience.174809/

 

[Singstone]

Thanks a lot, @OoohShiny! So between the H VS2 and the H iF, would you still consider the Vs2 to be the better option then?
Do you happen to know if and where I can obtain an ASET with just an GIA number for the stone my local store sourced? It is not at the store, so I cannot see the ASET myself but need an image from the cutter i guess?

Thank you!

 

[Octo2005]

You can purchase your own ASET thru David Atlas, if you so desire. https://datlas.com/ideal-scope-store/

I purchase one for myself - it arrived quickly and was fun to examine pieces from pre-PD days. It would be very easy to bring with you while shopping at local jewelers.

 

[OoohShiny]

I think either are strong choices and both would look good on the finger - are either perfect? Perhaps not, but then diamonds are all about compromising to get a mix of desirable properties

 

[Singstone]

THANKs a lot, @OoohShiny! Your reassurance makes me feel better about having these decent options! Just waiting for a second local dealer to hopefully send me some choices, otherwise i’ll go with one of these. getting excited!