Super confusing cushions!

[Meowtown2]

Just when I thought I was starting to understand cushion cuts, I realized that I still don''t know what I''m talking about!

I am looking for a chunky cushion brilliant and have contacted Mark at ERD because of all the beautiful stones he has found for PSers. However, after reading the thread ''Cushion Frustration'', I decided to be a bit more proactive in the search. Today, I went onto James Allen and did a massive cushion search just to see what was out there. Well, out of the 100+ diamonds that met my criteria, I only found 2 cushions that had that elusive chunky look!

This brings me to the questions. I first found this stone, BUT the windmill effect (is that what the Templar cross in the middle of the diamond is called?) that comes off the culet seemed to only have half of the windmill, i.e. two of the four blades. (Sorry, I hope I''m being clear). Can anyone tell me why that would happen? Is it a bad cut? Is it a problem with the photo? Hmmmmm.....

Secondly, I saw what I thought was another cushion brilliant, but the GIA cert says it''s a cushion modified brilliant. I thought that cushion modified brilliants had that crushed-ice look and only 4 main pavilions. The GIA cert on this second stone looks like it has 8 main pavilions.

Ahhhhh! I am so confused now!

Sorry if these are obvious/stupid questions, and many thanks to anyone who can help!

 

[diagem]

Date: 9/24/2008 9:33:07 AM
Author:Meowtown2
Just when I thought I was starting to understand cushion cuts, I realized that I still don''t know what I''m talking about!

I am looking for a chunky cushion brilliant and have contacted Mark at ERD because of all the beautiful stones he has found for PSers. However, after reading the thread ''Cushion Frustration'', I decided to be a bit more proactive in the search. Today, I went onto James Allen and did a massive cushion search just to see what was out there. Well, out of the 100+ diamonds that met my criteria, I only found 2 cushions that had that elusive chunky look!

This brings me to the questions. I first found this stone, BUT the windmill effect (is that what the Templar cross in the middle of the diamond is called?) that comes off the culet seemed to only have half of the windmill, i.e. two of the four blades. (Sorry, I hope I''m being clear). Can anyone tell me why that would happen? Is it a bad cut? Is it a problem with the photo? Hmmmmm.....

Thats because the pavilion angles on the length are different than the width..., usually a natural procedure in elongated shapes. No problem!

Secondly, I saw what I thought was another cushion brilliant, but the GIA cert says it''s a cushion modified brilliant. I thought that cushion modified brilliants had that crushed-ice look and only 4 main pavilions. The GIA cert on this second stone looks like it has 8 main pavilions.

It has 8 mains..., but you can clearly notice the steps between the girdle and the pav. mains..., which by GIA language is categorized as "modified"!

Ahhhhh! I am so confused now!

Sorry if these are obvious/stupid questions, and many thanks to anyone who can help!

BTW..., not all modified are crushed ice appearances..., you can also find chunky modified versions!

Keep reading and asking questions....

 

[Meowtown2]

Diagem, thanks so much for clearing that up. I had no idea there were chunky CMBs. I suppose, then, that the terms cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant are irrelevant when looking for this particular effect?

As for the more elongated stones, like example 1, do you know at what l:w ratio the stone begins to lose the full windmill? I have seen some more rectangular stones, with a ratio around 1.15, that still have it.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have seen some Cushion Brillant called Cushion Modified Brillant on the GIA cert. Good luck with your search!

 

[diagem]

Date: 9/24/2008 11:44:34 AM
Author: Meowtown2
Diagem, thanks so much for clearing that up. I had no idea there were chunky CMBs. I suppose, then, that the terms cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant are irrelevant when looking for this particular effect?

As for the more elongated stones, like example 1, do you know at what l:w ratio the stone begins to lose the full windmill? I have seen some more rectangular stones, with a ratio around 1.15, that still have it.

If all four mains (north-south-east-west) are cut to same angles while incorporating a long culet facet..., that will result in a full windmill, if there are differences in angles between north/south vs. east/west mains the "full" windmill effect will loose its evenness appearance.

 

[neatfreak]

Meowtown, modified means just that, it''s modified in some way. Many modified CB''s do indeed have the crushed ice look, but some don''t, so each stone needs to be evaluated individually IMO.