Please help - Comparison between cushion diamonds

[Acarataday]

Hello,

I currently have an issue choosing between two cushion cut diamonds which I haven't been able to see in the flesh due to the stones residing abroad.

First is:

F VS2 Cushion Brilliant (8 pavilion main) 1.61 carat $11,795


Second is:

E VS1 Modified Cushion Brilliant (4 long mains and 4 arrows inwards) 1.72 carat $16,300

Both are similar in size at around 7 x 7mm, with the second stone around 0.4mm bigger in both length and width, are square with good depth and tables on paper.

Pictures of both in the same order are below - and although I know its always ideal seeing stones in the flesh, the second stone at least will be impossible to ship over beforehand without significant cost. Is there anything that justifies the $4.5k price difference between these - are there any obvious deficiencies etc?

Very interested to hear your thoughts!! (I'm looking for size and sparkle)

Thanks:

 

[JulieN]

The second stone leaks quite a bit, and it is worse under tilt (last picture.)

 

[Acarataday]

Thanks for your feedback JulieN. How are you picking up on the leakage?

I have pictures of the first stone tilted too if that helps..

 

[Acarataday]

Some more of the first stone..

 

[JulieN]

Post whatever you have.

Look at the third picture. Look at the area defined inside the table (the big flat facet on top.) The dark area (you see an X) is not leaking. The area inside the table that is not the X is leaking.

Now look at the 4th picture. See how the darkness went away on the left side, and it turned white? Leakage.

 

[JulieN]

Oh, yeah... the videos aren't really under the best lighting, but leakage isn't really an issue with that stone. What to look out for on #1 is dark areas. You can see 3 areas of darkness that are rather prominent.

 

[Acarataday]

Some more of the second diamond (sorry I've just managed to obtain a video and some more images from the dealer, but the website doesn't allow video)

 

[Acarataday]

So basically the dark area within the main part of the table on the side of the X suddenly being dark from one angle, but showing white at the other?

I'm guessing the 3 dark areas on the other stone are going to be non reflecting?

 

[JulieN]

What you're missing is some kind of standardized environment. Long shot, but ask if he has ASET or Ideal Scope.

 

[JulieN]

The dark areas of the second stone and the first stone don't have the same properties. They are photographed under two different lighting setups (well, 3 if you count the video.)

 

[JulieN]

Found some educational material for you: http://ideal-scope.com/reference-chart-aset-images/

Go to the far right, to the princess stone labeled "fair." In the center, do you see the green X and the four red petals? That is like the dark areas in the middle of your second stone.

Do you see the area inside the table, where it is white mixed with mostly green? That corresponds to the whitish/gray part of your second stone (inside the table.)

Watch the animation as the Fair princess rotates. Under ASET, the side that is rotating closer to the viewer gets red (dark in stone #2) and the side getting farther away from the viewer is getting green.

Unfortunately, there is a mistake on the page... the face-up/stationary ASETs are fine. The rotating ASET animation is the same for Very Good and Fair, and actually it's the VG stone twice, there is no animation for Fair. In Instead of the far side going green, it should be going more whitish.

 

[Acarataday]

Many thanks for the breakdown JulieN, I had a read of the ideal-scope sight to gain some more knowledge. Unfortunately neither has access to ideal scope or ASET, which would've otherwise been helpful.

Looks like you wouldn't be a fan of the second stone based on the leakage probably making it closer to a "fair" stone than an "excellent" one on the ideal scope site. Those dark spots on the first stone don't sound ideal too!

 

[ariel144]

Your best way to find a great cushion cut is to post your budget and let the expert PSrs find you a nice cushion.

I don't really like either of the stones you posted sorry and without an ASET I would not buy from that vendor.

Here is a well faceted 8 main cushion brilliant which are hard to find. It is a little on the shallow side but the faceting is very nice...has some Kozibe effect as well. Would be interesting to see the ASET. 1.71c D SI1; 7.4x 7.4 mm It doesn't have the high crown but the faceting looks good...not any "mush" leakage under the table that i can see.

I would not buy a cushion without an ASET and being able to compare several stones at one vendor.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-349647

 

[Acarataday]

Here is a video I've been sent of the second stone uploaded - hopefully that makes it a little easier for you to form a better idea?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkNNmjGJaqY

 

[Acarataday]

Your best way to find a great cushion cut is to post your budget and let the expert PSrs find you a nice cushion.

I don't really like either of the stones you posted sorry and without an ASET I would not buy from that vendor.

Here is a well faceted 8 main cushion brilliant which are hard to find. It is a little on the shallow side but the faceting is very nice...has some Kozibe effect as well. Would be interesting to see the ASET. 1.71c D SI1; 7.4x 7.4 mm It doesn't have the high crown but the faceting looks good...not any "mush" leakage under the table that i can see.

I would not buy a cushion without an ASET and being able to compare several stones at one vendor.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-349647

Thanks Ariel, from the amount of knowledge in here including JulieN's kind posts- I really should have come here first!

The base requirements are a square cushion D-F, down to VS2, 1.6 carats or above (more looking at size to be around 7 x 7 mm) and no fluorescence - Want the stone to look large and sparkly. I tend to prefer the cushion brilliant or clean faceted cushion modifiers.

All in all I wouldn't want to pay more than $19-20k for the stone (I'm based in the UK).

I do like that James Allen stone too, may just be a little out in terms of being SI1 and having faint fluorescence though is all..

 

[JulieN]

Does she want antique style cushion or modern style cushion?

 

[Acarataday]

Theres generally a preference for the 8 pavilion main and then 4 main cushion brilliant types as they tend to give a cleaner look in the centre. But even the four main'd cushion modifieds seem to fit the bill on occasion.

As long as the mains aren't too too chunky, and there is a good contrast etc. The hearts and arrows tend to be quite nice too, but I think become too pricey for my budget within the specs I'm after!

 

[ariel144]

Flourescence is not a bad thing. Many long time PSr's prefer it (even strong blue fl) as it gives the stone more personality and can make an higher color stone look more white. It is rare that fl. makes a stone milky or cloudy. It is a matter of educating yourself on flouresence. Many retailers are uneducated on it and mislead the public.

Here are two well respected vendors/gemologists with info. on fl.
Brian Gavin Blues
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/brian-gavins-blue-diamonds-with-fluorescence/
Good Old Gold "A Consumer's Guide to Fl"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKDshYGBdko

You should check out the vendors that specialize in cushion cuts. You have a nice budget and
they will find you the very best cushion based on your preference of facet pattern.

I thought your budget was around $15k so I checked James Allen...even though it is tough to find a really good
one on JA they sometimes have a needle in a haystack and the price will be better for those on a budget ...plus
they will do an ASET for you.

The 1.7 D SI1 looked eye clean ...and is an 8 main cushion brilliant which are hard to find. No need to pay for higher
clarity if an SI1 is eye clean. would love to see the ASET on that stone. It faces up larger than some 2c cushions.
Also FYI there are VS2 stones that are not eye clean and some SI1's that are eye clean, so I would not eliminate a
SI1 that is eye clean.

You should check out the vendors that specialize in cushion cuts. You have a nice budget and
they will find you the very best cushion based on your preference of facet pattern. GOG has
awesome videos on all types of facet patterns on cushions. Well cut cushions are very hard to
come by.

Good Old Gold will also do a video for you comparing several cushions that you might be considering.
Jonathan has done many videos on cushion cuts.

Good luck on your search! You are in the right place to find the best on your budget and specs.

Victor Canera
Good Old Gold
Brilliantly Engaged

 

[JulieN]

This one looks, really, quite nice. Perhaps they work better in the larger sizes.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05236268

 

[ariel144]

Blue Nile is now carrying H & A cushions. This one is a little over budget but very nice:

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search?stockno=LD05236267

For the price and size I still favor the 1.7 D SI1

Like most newbies they equate higher color and clarity to making the best diamond but not so...CUT IS KING. A well cut lower color stone will be brighter and nicer than a stone with not so great cut but a higher color.
And as far as clarity as long as the stone is eye clean and well cut you will have a beautiful stone and save yourself some $$.

(Sorry above on flourescence I meant to say that it can make a LOWER color (H/I/J) look more white.)

 

[Acarataday]

Thanks a lot for your help JulieN and Ariel, its much much appreciated! - I've reached out to each of them to give me larger run down on their inventory and asked James Allen to provide the ASET for the stone initially mentioned (the other thing with that stone is that it has a fairly large cutlet in the middle but I guess that may add character for some). I've also reached out to get some more information on the cushions identified on bluenile - I guess I'd have to get myself a little more comfortable paying the same money for a G/SI1 (eye clean) with a better cut than say an E VS1 - Are the hearts and arrows diamonds generally seemingly more expensive because its still a relatively new concept - or is the extra money purely for the brilliance and fire etc that they seem to more consistently exhibit?

Thanks again for putting in the time to help.

 

[Acarataday]

Ok so I saw another stone today, apologies for the bad quality pictures below - they were taken with my phone.

Its an E VS2 with faint fluoresence, at about 7.3mm x 7.3mm and is just over 2 carats (60% table and 69% depth and medium to very thick girdle). Priced currently at around $21k.

Please would you be able to offer opinions from the admittedly little you can see? Thanks a bunch, you guys are seriously heroes.

 

[Acarataday]

and a few more of the stone to try help