opinions please on this cushion diagram

[yellowsparkles]

Please take a look at this diagram.

Can anyone shed some light on the inclusions found in this diamond? In your opinion is this SI1 or SI2. I have heard both. Would the circle be very visible?

Your response/opinion is greatly appreciated.

 

[SSam]

There is no way to tell from a diagram as the drawing is a representation of the inclusions, they''re not drawn to scale. Do you have a photograph?

 

[niceice]

The plotting diagram is pretty faint, but from what I can see, it appears that there is a cloud (a group of pinpoint size diamond crystals) located in the center of the table facet and another cloud located within the crown facets in the region of four o''clock. There also appears to be a small diamond crystal located in the one o''clock region of the lower plotting diagram. More inclusions may be present, the image is really faint and part of the plotting diagram is cut off...

SI-1 or SI-2 or anything else? Nobody can really tell you that off of the paper plotting diagram, one really needs to view the diamond in-person to determine the extent of the inclusions and how visible they are to make that call. Is the diamond lab graded? I recommend submitting it to a Graduate Gemologist for an accurate consultation, refer to the list of appraisers available via the Resources drop down menu in the upper right corner of this page.

 

[yellowsparkles]

Thanks for the replies.
I will submit a picture as soon as I can scan it.
The diagram has a circle in red (center) = I assume that is a cloud, correct?
The mark in the 4 o''clock position is in red and I thought that would be a feather???
The other mark is on the top diagram in green- I guess and external mark on the edges of the facet?

I have an HRD cert stating SI1, and an independant appraiser saying SI1. But, when I was looking at Tiffany''s the salesman thought SI2 because it is on the table. Just a sales tactic??

quick background: This is a ring that I bought, but am now having second thoughts. When I first got the ring, I could see a circle in the center and that slightly bothered me. I went on vacation and now the ring looks totally cloudy and dull (when looking from the top). Could I have done something to the ring? I swam in the pool with it on, but I saw many other ladies with MUCH bigger rings on in the pool.

Thanks.

 

[fatafelice]

Date: 7/13/2006 12:21:02 PM
Author: yellowsparkles

quick background: This is a ring that I bought, but am now having second thoughts. When I first got the ring, I could see a circle in the center and that slightly bothered me. I went on vacation and now the ring looks totally cloudy and dull (when looking from the top). Could I have done something to the ring? I swam in the pool with it on, but I saw many other ladies with MUCH bigger rings on in the pool.

Try giving it a good cleaning.

I have a cushion as well and I have noticed that if I don''t clean it frequently (read: everyday) it looks cloudy AND the SI2 inclusions are more visible.

I would also looove to hear/see more about this ring and this stone! Please share!

 

[yellowsparkles]

Thanks for the responses again.
I am attaching a picture that is from the designer of the ring. It is a scanned picture of the email he sent me (I don''t have the original email anymore). Lets see if it comes out ok.
Fetafelice,
Thanks for your advice. How do you clean your ring? I thought my ring would be pretty clean after swimming in the resorts pools (chlorine and all). I am just bummed that my ring looks so dingy now. It is like the whole table is cloudy and you can''t see the brilliant cut anymore.

I accepted the flaws at first because I read that in colored diamonds, color color color is the most important factor. Anyway. Please keep any comments comming. Honesty is greatly appreciated.... if this ring is a "dud" then I definately want to trade up.

Cheers!

 

[fatafelice]

Well, it is hard to see much in that picture, but it looks like a lovely cut!

If you do a search, you''ll find a ton of suggestions on cleaning. A dip in the pool might not remove greasy fingerprints or suntan lotion, and it might leave hard water or other mineral deposits, I would think. To be honest, I''m not sure I would wear my ring in the pool.

To clean, I just soak my ring in hot water with a little dish soap and then lightly scrub it all over and under with a really soft toothbrush to make sure there is no soap residue or other dirt left on it. Then (b/c I''m weird), I dry it off with a hair dryer to make sure there are no water spots.

But if you are truly worried about it, take it in to the nearest jeweler and they will steam clean it for you.

 

[CaptAubrey]

That diamond does not look like a dud to me--it looks like a very nice fancy yellow stone. Do you know the color grade?

Swimming in a public pool is asking for trouble. Diamonds are grease magnets, which means that while you''re swimming your diamond is busy collecting all the suntan oil and bodily fluids floating around in the water. That''s the cause of the cloudiness--a coating of grease over the stone. Fortunately, it''s easily removed with jewelry cleaner.

 

[yellowsparkles]

I took this with my camera. Not sure how it will turn out. It''s not easy taking good photos!!

thanks.

 

[yellowsparkles]

Capt Aubrey, I LOVE your avitar.

I didn''t think about the grease, etc floating around in pools. I was at this really nice resort in Boca and there were some ladies there with HUGE rocks on their fingers and in their ears. AMAZING. really. Anyway - I got lazy about taking off the rings and I swam with them on. The yellow ring looks cloudy now but my eternity band looks fine. Hmmmm.

 

[yellowsparkles]

Capt Aubrey,
To answer your question about color grade. My HRD cert says Fancy Intense Yellow. I took it to a master gemologist while on vacation in Calif and her opinion is Fancy Yellow (medium yellow). So I am not sure what to go by. I liked the color.... now I will work on cleaning it tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 7/13/2006 9:52:23 AM
Author:yellowsparkles
Please take a look at this diagram.

Can anyone shed some light on the inclusions found in this diamond? In your opinion is this SI1 or SI2. I have heard both. Would the circle be very visible?

Your response/opinion is greatly appreciated.

Oh look! *ANOTHER* cushion cut! hahahaha... ::adding it to my list::

Oop, sorry... I don''t have any advice for you, I just went a little nuts for a moment

 

[Cehrabehra]

oh THAT circle in the middle? that''s likely the culet. Handsome cut on that stone BTW, love the corners. It''s pretty unique.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Okay (@@ at self) skip the culet coment, I''m not thinking clearly... JMO, on a cushion I would be careful about having inclusions right in the middle of the stone. When you''re blinded by brilliance in an ideal round IMO you don''t notice stuff as much as you do on the other cuts like asschers and cushions.

 

[yellowsparkles]

Cehra,
Thanks for the post. I have been reading your posts on cushion cuts. I love them too.
As for the circle in the center - no its not the culet. On the HRD cert - Culet is none. To me this is a modern cut - more brilliant than cushion. However, I am not the expert. I love the chunky cushions though.

Thanks again.

 

[yellowsparkles]

Cehra, I agree with you on not getting any inclusions in the center on fancy cuts. The thing is, I got this ring and took it to an independant appraiser (master gemologist, blah blah). At that time, I had a poor copy of the cert and the diagram was verly poorly copied. The appraiser said "SI1" and pointed to something in the 10 O''clock position. I am assuming the ring was upside down according to the diagram where there is an inclusion at the 4 o''clock position. She liked it, but turns out she didn''t agree with the color (fancy intense vs fancy yellow). no biggie. I was more concerned with the SI1 vs SI2 grading. Once I agreed to buy the ring, I got the cert and noticed that the diagram has a circle in the center. I noticed a light "something" in the center. Kinda looked like you were seeing the circle of the ring mounting through the ring... I couldn''t decide. Anyway - I had to make a quick decision and bought the ring.

Now that the ring looks totally dull is driving me nuts. I will try cleaning it tomorrow, but for some reason I am having doubts. Could I have done something to the stone to make it totally cloudy?

Thanks again for your posts.

 

[belle]

clean the ring!
diamonds MUST be clean to look their best. even after a day of normal wear, the natural dirt and oils from your skin is deposited on the diamond making it less sparkly.
you can use windex or even soap and water. get a small toothbruch and give it a good cleaning each day and it will look much better.

the ring looks quite stunning!

 

[RockDoc]

Hi Sparkles

Gee you were here in Boca..... Lots of big diamond rings here.....

Should have stopped around to say hi.

Rockdoc also in Boca

 

[yellowsparkles]

Rock Doc,
Darn, If I had known, I would have stopped by. I am living in the English Countryside at the moment, so there isn''t much chance of stopping by a jeweler to get my ring cleaned / or looked at.

I really appreciate everyones replies - I am feeling a tad better.

Thanks.

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 7/13/2006 4:58:59 PM
Author: yellowsparkles

Now that the ring looks totally dull is driving me nuts. I will try cleaning it tomorrow, but for some reason I am having doubts. Could I have done something to the stone to make it totally cloudy?

No--diamonds are pretty tough.

Unless you went after it with a blowtorch, I don't think you could have done anything to it. It's likely just dirty.

On the color grade, I'd be inclined to trust the HRD report. They have the fancy yellow masterstones to assign a fancy diamond color grade; that appraiser almost certainly does not. If the color in the image is accurate, it looks to me to be around the FY/FIY boundary, so maybe it's a borderline stone (caveat--you cannot color grade from an electronic image, so this is just a guess

). Color grading fancy-color diamonds is very tricky and only for the real experts.

 

[yellowsparkles]

I just want to say thank you to everyone who replied to my post.

I cleaned the ring as recommended and yes, it looks great.

I was a little worried. I think it all started after I visited the Tiffany''s (at some mall in Boca) and the salesman made me feel bad about my ring. He used the usual sales tactics...like undermining the carat size of the ring and the clarity, etc. It was just dirty! Anyway, I still believe Tiffany''s have beautiful stuff - I just wouldn''t buy from the salesman I encountered.

Thanks again!

 

[belle]

yay! glad to hear it''s all a sparkle again!
it really is a beautiful ring and the color looks great. keep that baby clean and wear it with pride!