Emerald cut diamond - keep it or keep looking?

[SeattleiteGirl]

Hi there! I just received a three-stone emerald cut lab grown diamond ring with tapered baguettes and I’d love to get some outside opinions on the center diamond.

It’s a 3.03ct E VS2 and while I’ve owned an emerald cut diamond before, it was substantially smaller. I’ve taken a few videos of it in different lighting and wondering if others can weigh in on whether it’s a keeper or not. I absolutely love the color, size, and clarity on it and it’s so sparkly in some lighting. However, I think I see some windowing just above and below the keel (in the still pictures and some of the videos I think you can see the color of my skin coming through the diamond in those spots) and I’m not sure if it’s normal for larger emerald cuts to be dark in the middle when in direct sunlight. Is it “dancing the light” enough?

Thanks to lots of searching and price matching, I was able to purchase the diamond at just under $400/carat so it was a “good deal”. So what do you think, keep it or keep looking? Thanks for your help!

Loupe365 video: https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG564386671

IGI cert:

Videos of the ring in different lighting:
Indirect light:

https://imgur.com/a/Sk1zhQd

Direct sun:

https://imgur.com/a/aU38HM7

Sun backlit:

https://imgur.com/a/lu7H4JZ

Indoors by window:

https://imgur.com/a/uItfLl5

Indoors:

https://imgur.com/a/1bQ1fuA

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

Hoping to get feedback from any and all PSers, but would also love to hear from @Karl_K , @tyty333 , @DejaWiz , and @Rockdiamond since you are all very knowledgeable around what to expect from a good emerald cut!

 

[lovedogs]

The windowing would personally bother me (but that's just my own opinion). It's overall a lovely ring and the stone looks nice, but I would just be driven insane by the window

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

The windowing would personally bother me (but that's just my own opinion). It's overall a lovely ring and the stone looks nice, but I would just be driven insane by the window

Thank you for sharing! The black triangle-type shapes showing near the keel is the windowing right?

 

[lovedogs]

Thank you for sharing! The black triangle-type shapes showing near the keel is the windowing right?

IMHO no. At least that's not what I was talking about. I meant the rectangle in the middle that is see through at many angles (at least from the videos). Terrible screenshot of your video, but I tried to circle what I meant.

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

IMHO no. At least that's not what I was talking about. I meant the rectangle in the middle that is see through at many angles (at least from the videos). Terrible screenshot of your video, but I tried to circle what I meant.

Ooh got it. Yes, I’ve noted that area too. Wasn’t sure if it was a normal emerald cut thing!

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

Exploring other diamond options in the likely case that this one gets returned. Do any of these options show any promise in your expert opinion, @Karl_K ?

https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG578352999

https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG579367940

https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG572349008

https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG579383011

 

[Karl_K]

Not at my pc but 3 is the only one at a glance worth looking into further.
Questions are is it eyeclean and are there crystal issues.
@DejaWiz @Kim N
Then more pics and see if you can get an ASET image for it.

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

Not at my pc but 3 is the only one at a glance worth looking into further.
Questions are is it eyeclean and are there crystal issues.
@DejaWiz @Kim N
Then more pics and see if you can get an ASET image for it.

Thank you for taking a quick glance. If you have time to answer one last question, I’m curious what was not promising about the first diamond since it has a similar crown height to the one you liked?

 

[DejaWiz]

I'm thinking two and three are the best of these four picks.
Would love to see videos of them in various lighting as well as ASETs if possible.

 

[Karl_K]

Not at my pc but 3 is the only one at a glance worth looking into further.
Questions are is it eyeclean and are there crystal issues.
@DejaWiz @Kim N
Then more pics and see if you can get an ASET image for it.

Now that I am at my computer #3 is also a no.
It is highly likely to have fuzzy areas.

 

[Karl_K]

Thank you for taking a quick glance. If you have time to answer one last question, I’m curious what was not promising about the first diamond since it has a similar crown height to the one you liked?

Overall to much reaction to obstruction(dark zones) and if you compare it to 3 when its moving, 3 is much more lively.
Click on the stone in the video area and move the mouse side to side to rotate it manually.

 

[Karl_K]

Face up the second one has a long wide bar of leakage just to the right on the culet.
It does dance very well in motion but face up that bar is going to show.

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

@Karl_K @DejaWiz so none of the original 4 are worth bringing in person to see?
I didn’t think these other 2 looked good, but maybe you two will see something I don’t?
5. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG573391474
6. https://loupe360.com/diamond/LG581346462

 

[momofive]

You can reach out to Yuketiel at ID Jewelry in NYC and tell him your a member of PriceScope. He can likely source some good options for you. He as access to an ASET scope/camera and can take photos and videos for you. (Unless you live near NYC and can go see him). It's not easy to find them by yourself and there seems to be a limited amount of good ones out there at the moment.
I find step cuts particularly difficult to weed out. Karl is the step cut guru on here. I'm not an expert.

 

[lovedogs]

I don't like any of the 6 choices, sorry! What is your budget, preferred size/color/clarity?

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

I don't like any of the 6 choices, sorry! What is your budget, preferred size/color/clarity?

Totally feel you on that. My budget is very limited at $1100 for the stone. I’m looking at 2.9ct and above, G+ VS2+.

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

You can reach out to Yuketiel at ID Jewelry in NYC and tell him your a member of PriceScope. He can likely source some good options for you. He as access to an ASET scope/camera and can take photos and videos for you. (Unless you live near NYC and can go see him). It's not easy to find them by yourself and there seems to be a limited amount of good ones out there at the moment.
I find step cuts particularly difficult to weed out. Karl is the step cut guru on here. I'm not an expert.

I love ID Jewelry! Purchased a beautiful yellow diamond from them awhile ago. Unfortunately, D.Nea (where these 6 stones were sourced by) can’t seem to be beat on price and I’m on a strict budget.

 

[momofive]

I get it, and maybe it’s worth sticking with D.Nea until you hit on ”the one”, but it might also be worth taking the time and saving up some more. I guess it all depends on your tolerance and what you’re willing to accept for your money. It’s all relative! Good luck!

 

[lovedogs]

IMHO you should either lower your carat requirements, or save until you have more options. I think the budget and size combo makes finding a great stone unlikely

 

[SeattleiteGirl]

So appreciate everyone’s help on this thread! I took the wise advice on here and reached out to IDJ. I ended up lowering my carat requirements and increasing my budget a little and Alina found me a beautiful stone! It’s a 2.79ct H VS1 that faces up exactly the same size as the 3.03 I sent back but the difference in light performance is night and day!!

 

[momofive]

Can’t wait to see the stone when it comes in.