Is this what leakage looks like?

[TitanCi]

^Well, to be honest, it's not that bad. I'm sure there'll be some leakage in red reflector images, but in the real world setting, both eyes open, it's difficult to tell if there is much at all. I know there is partial leakage for sure.

For example, these were taken today, window open, on bright pink paper. No direct sunlight coming thru the window, so I'd say that's pretty diffuse lighting.

From titled angles the leakage is seen, but as you can see from these pictures, it's really only slight... not too bad I'd say.


^in this photo I *believe* it's showing at 4-6


Here, I'd say it's showing at 3.

 

[Rhino]

^Well, to be honest, it's not that bad. I'm sure there'll be some leakage in red reflector images, but in the real world setting, both eyes open, it's difficult to tell if there is much at all. I know there is partial leakage for sure.

For example, these were taken today, window open, on bright pink paper. No direct sunlight coming thru the window, so I'd say that's pretty diffuse lighting.

From titled angles the leakage is seen, but as you can see from these pictures, it's really only slight... not too bad I'd say.


^in this photo I *believe* it's showing at 4-6


Here, I'd say it's showing at 3.

Nice pix. Doesn't look bad.

 

[Karl_K]

^Well, to be honest, it's not that bad. I'm sure there'll be some leakage in red reflector images, but in the real world setting, both eyes open, it's difficult to tell if there is much at all. I know there is partial leakage for sure.

For example, these were taken today, window open, on bright pink paper. No direct sunlight coming thru the window, so I'd say that's pretty diffuse lighting.

From titled angles the leakage is seen, but as you can see from these pictures, it's really only slight... not too bad I'd say.


^in this photo I *believe* it's showing at 4-6


Here, I'd say it's showing at 3.

Bingo, that is what I was looking for.
There is some minor partial leakage but it will not be visible with 2 eyes.
You have correctly identified it also.
I used to keep a red Mylar glued to a business card in my wallet for this test.
I actually ended up giving it to a jeweler and never bothered to replace it.

 

[TitanCi]

is it because of the crown and pavilion angle combo/diamond's cut properties that i'm not able to take a pic like Rhino's/WF's website (i.e. trying to show those 'arrows'), or is it just because I suck at taking pics? Mind you, this is the camera from my phone.

Also, since GIA rounds up, What are the chances of the real pavilion angle being 41.1 and rounded up to 41.2 and the crown being something like 34.7 or 34.8 being rounded up to 35? Sorry if that's a silly question...

 

[Karl_K]

is it because of the crown and pavilion angle combo/diamond's cut properties that i'm not able to take a pic like Rhino's/WF's website (i.e. trying to show those 'arrows'), or is it just because I suck at taking pics? Mind you, this is the camera from my phone.

Also, since GIA rounds up, What are the chances of the real pavilion angle being 41.1 and rounded up to 41.2 and the crown being something like 34.7 or 34.8 being rounded up to 35? Sorry if that's a silly question...

re arrows: it just a matter of positioning the camera and lighting to darken all the arrows.

re numbers: very possible.
I would guess some are over 41.2 and some under but that is a guess and not fact..
GIA numbers are rounded then averaged then grossly rounded.
AGS numbers are averaged.
Then you have scanner accuracy and error on top of that.
Which is why numbers drool.

 

[Rhino]

is it because of the crown and pavilion angle combo/diamond's cut properties that i'm not able to take a pic like Rhino's/WF's website (i.e. trying to show those 'arrows'), or is it just because I suck at taking pics? Mind you, this is the camera from my phone.

Also, since GIA rounds up, What are the chances of the real pavilion angle being 41.1 and rounded up to 41.2 and the crown being something like 34.7 or 34.8 being rounded up to 35? Sorry if that's a silly question...

No such thing as silly questions. Only one way to know the answer to this question and that would be to send it to a lab that has a good Sarin. The only way to know for sure what the angles are precisely is to do a Sarin, examine its model in a program that generates images based off the Sarin model (ala DiamCalc) and compare it to an actual photograph.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I am going to post this opinion because you seem interested in the technical aspects of cut. I am not posting it to disparage your stone because I am very sure it looks gorgeous in person, and you made an informed and educated choice in your purchase

For me the issue with straying from the tighter parameters is not leakage per se, but rather a difference in overall patterning you can see in the stone between the central and peripheral regions. Notice in the image I posted that the central area circled in red is reflecting large areas of orangish color, likely environmental, and this facet pattern differs noticably from what is being reflected in the area outside the circle. Basically, the central area is acting differently than the outer area. This is something I see in my OECs quite often, but more extreme. My preference in precision RBs is similar light play accross the whole face of the stone -- not for the whole face to look the same and static of course, but for the while face to act the same. It is not something I think most people would notice when wearing and enjoying their diamonds, but for those who seek perfection in their diamonds or are very familiar with diamond cut, that is one more reason why people may seek tighter cut parameters.

 

[TitanCi]

Thanks Rhino and Karl!

Dreamer - when I took that shot I was trying to figure out exactly what was yellow-ish in the room. The only thing I could think of was the color of the curtains which happen to be golden, but those were drawn away from the window. If it is indeed the curtains, then I'm actually amazed at what a diamond can do based on it's environment. The lighting really helped in taking that crisp picture, as I was never able to take a picture like that before. I see what you're pointing out though. Perhaps I should stop oogling over those perfect pictures online...

BUT I do have a chance to exchange this stone if need be. To me, I really enjoy the fact it's an F colored diamond. I've been searching online and only JA has something that is close to what I'd want in a G color (AGS). I've seen H's and I've been able to pick out the yellow hue. Unless the person I'm dealing with can get me a really clear H (oxymoron almost)... then I guess I'd really consider that. My soon to be wants a big rock, this is 1.36... so I'm trying to maximize all I can within my budget!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Thanks Rhino and Karl!

Dreamer - when I took that shot I was trying to figure out exactly what was yellow-ish in the room. The only thing I could think of was the color of the curtains which happen to be golden, but those were drawn away from the window. If it is indeed the curtains, then I'm actually amazed at what a diamond can do based on it's environment. The lighting really helped in taking that crisp picture, as I was never able to take a picture like that before. I see what you're pointing out though. Perhaps I should stop oogling over those perfect pictures online...

BUT I do have a chance to exchange this stone if need be. To me, I really enjoy the fact it's an F colored diamond. I've been searching online and only JA has something that is close to what I'd want in a G color (AGS). I've seen H's and I've been able to pick out the yellow hue. Unless the person I'm dealing with can get me a really clear H (oxymoron almost)... then I guess I'd really consider that. My soon to be wants a big rock, this is 1.36... so I'm trying to maximize all I can within my budget!

The reflection is likely your skin or hair, if you are fair complected.

*shrug* there is no perfection, it seems to me, budgets never stretch to everything you might want. From the sounds of it your gf is not herself a cut nut. I would stick with what you have. F color is pretty awesome and attracts a lot of attention in my experience, because the tone of the light return is to bright and white. That also is worth something.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I am going to post this opinion because you seem interested in the technical aspects of cut. I am not posting it to disparage your stone because I am very sure it looks gorgeous in person, and you made an informed and educated choice in your purchase

For me the issue with straying from the tighter parameters is not leakage per se, but rather a difference in overall patterning you can see in the stone between the central and peripheral regions. Notice in the image I posted that the central area circled in red is reflecting large areas of orangish color, likely environmental, and this facet pattern differs noticably from what is being reflected in the area outside the circle. Basically, the central area is acting differently than the outer area. This is something I see in my OECs quite often, but more extreme. My preference in precision RBs is similar light play accross the whole face of the stone -- not for the whole face to look the same and static of course, but for the while face to act the same. It is not something I think most people would notice when wearing and enjoying their diamonds, but for those who seek perfection in their diamonds or are very familiar with diamond cut, that is one more reason why people may seek tighter cut parameters.

This is a phenomenal way to express the concept without alarmist rhetoric regarding leakage. There is a special look - it does involve more precise cutting- yet the manner in which we make this distinction as sellers- and consumer advocates- should be done based on the positive attributes of "Ideal" cutting, while not making it seem like a GIA EX that may show some leakage in a refelctor is a "bad" diamond.

Stone number 5 in John's article is a great example to use. There's no "problem" regarding the leakage. It helps to eliminates patterning and results in a stone that some consumers may prefer to a stone that we can show has less leakage. Lack of contrast can actually make the stone seem brighter.