Help comparing two cushion cuts?

[swayed]

Hi PSers,

This is continuation of another post asking for help with my ering dilemna... I am in Toronto, and am interested in two stones: The better one is through US Certified Diamonds (highly recommended on PS) and the other is a local vendor. I spoke to Martin of USCD today, and he guarantees that if I don''t like it, he will take it back... he says that Lazare Kaplan diamonds are top of the line, and this stone is a definite winner. Can anyone take a look at the stats below and tell me what you think?

Here''s the info on the 1st diamond, the Lazare Kaplan diamond, it''s certified by GIA.

0.61ct, SI1, Colour E Fluorescence none
5.43x4.73x3.27mm
depth 59.1% table 57%
Girdle M-ST, faceted Culat Medium
Polish Exc Symmetry Exc
Price 1745 US

It looks like the diagram doesn''t show any inclusions, and there are no comments.



The second is certified by EGL:
It''s .6 ct SI1 Colour E Fluorescence None
5.22x4.67x3.33
depth 71.3%
Table width 64%
Crown height 16%
Pavillion depth 49%
Girdle thickness medium,faceted
polish Good to V good
Symmetry Good to V good
culot none
Price: $1400

Thanks very much!

 

[Lorelei]

Swayed, if you have seen the second diamond and it is a definite contender, ask Martin to send you a pic of the first diamond. You can''t judge cushions by numbers unfortunately, so this is the best thing to do. With the second diamond, which branch of EGL has graded this diamond - such as USA, Israel etc? This is important to know.

 

[customcushion]

The first stone is from a brand I''ve heard of (not neccessarily good or bad), and they both seem very reasonable prices for cushions. Have you seen either in person ? The Lazare has a culet - is this a look you like ? are they both ''Eye clean'' ?

Go with whichever one speaks to you more.

 

[swayed]

Unfnullortunately, I will only be able to see the first one through a photo (not available yet) and the other one won't arrive in Toronto until Fri. With Martin, because they require him to pre-pay for the stone, he asks for 50% up front before he ships it and 50% on delivery. However, because of my concerns about buying it without seeing it in person, and because he is so confident that it's gorgeous, he said he will take it back if I'm not satisfied.

I've read a few threads about the different EGL labs, but I was sent both certs as jpgs, meaning I can't make out the fine print on either. Where would it say on the cert? Do they look different from different countries? I'll attach the reports as files, and maybe you can tell me where it was certified?

Also, does anyone know why the ct on the certs are different than what the vendors quoted?
The first one was described as .61, but it looks like the report says .64ct. The second one was described as .6ct, but says .61 ct on the cert.

Thanks!

 

[swayed]

Not sure if this will work, but I think I''ve attached the GIA report for the first one here.

 

[swayed]

Woot! Yay, it worked! Here''s the second. I don''t see a city anywhere on here though:

 

[Lorelei]

I can''t quite read the number on the report, are there 10 digits?

 

[swayed]

It''s really hard to read when I blow it up, but there''s two number sequences.
Under Certifcate No, I think it''s a 10 digit number, maybe: I2B353F626

Then above Clarity Representation, it *looks* like a 3 digit code followed by 8 numbers?
Possibly: IMO (or ZKO?) 9061-J666 / IQNet

Also, in answer to the culet question, I''m not sure. Does anyone have an example of a cushion cut with one and one without? I''m not sure I know what the visible difference is.

Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/5/2008 10:08:54 AM
Author: swayed
It's really hard to read when I blow it up, but there's two number sequences.
Under Certifcate No, I think it's a 10 digit number, maybe: I2B353F626

Then above Clarity Representation, it *looks* like a 3 digit code followed by 8 numbers?
Possibly: IMO (or ZKO?) 9061-J666 / IQNet

Also, in answer to the culet question, I'm not sure. Does anyone have an example of a cushion cut with one and one without? I'm not sure I know what the visible difference is.

Thanks!

I think as it is a 10 digit number, it could be EGL Israel, so if you are interested in that diamond, make the sale final on it checking out with an independant appraisal.

Here is an example of an open culet in a cushion, the look at the centre of the diamond, the pic isn't too clear.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/importance-of-cutlet-on-a-cushion.80982/

 

[customcushion]

I''d bet the Lazare Cushion Brilliant (stone 1) is a gorgeous stone.

I don''t know why you''d pay for it before though . . . if it''s so gorgeous he''ll be glad to have it in his inventory if you don''t love it for some reason

I notice the GIA cert on the Lazare is from 2003 . . . seems like a long time for cushion of this size and price to be on the market !

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/5/2008 2:09:42 AM
Author:swayed


0.61ct, SI1, Colour E Fluorescence none
5.43x4.73x3.27mm
depth 59.1% table 57%
Girdle M-ST, faceted Culat Medium
Polish Exc Symmetry Exc
Price 1745 US

It looks like the diagram doesn't show any inclusions, and there are no comments.

I forgot to mention, you can't judge a diamond by the plotting diagram of the report as to whether it is eyeclean or not. You might want to inquire as to what the grade setting inclusion is, as it is an SI1 there is a reason for that and personally I would want more info if the diagram is blank as to which inclusions have caused it to be SI clarity.

 

[wse]

i vote for the first one

 

[neatfreak]

There really isn''t enough info to make a good judgement...BUT that being said, with PURE speculation, I would think the first one has a very good chance of being a great stone. It has the characteristics of many of the beautiful cushions we see from places like Mark at ERD and GOG who really know how to pick stones. The numbers are actually pretty similar to my cushion.

BUT that doesn''t mean it''ll be a winner for sure...but I''d say it has a decent probability of being really nice.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 7/5/2008 11:35:10 AM
Author: customcushion

I notice the GIA cert on the Lazare is from 2003 . . . seems like a long time for cushion of this size and price to be on the market !

Doesn''t mean anything...could very likely have been traded in. Just because it was certed awhile ago doesn''t necessarily imply something bad.

 

[swayed]

Thanks for all the advice! I''m definitely going to go with the first stone, and tell the second vendor I''m not interested.

Also, I did confirm with Martin that if the stone matches the cert, but there is something reasonably not to like about it (dull, lifeless, etc), I will not need to pay for it. I''m feeling pretty good about it, thanks for your comments!