Do all EC's leak light ?

[Fancygems]

Hi,

Do all emerald cut diamonds leak light primarily from the corners? It seems as though all step cuts with exception to the branded royal and Octavia show leakage in the ASET images. Asscher's on GOG seem to show better results for fire, scintillation, and brilliance than the EC's? Do Asscher's normally perform better?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think GOG tries to carry better than average step cuts, and if you are trying to find one, they will call in several and do the light performance testing. I certainly think there are some good EC's out there, but it just takes some searching. I have an asscher that does have great light return on the corners, but I think not all asschers do from the ASETs I have seen people post from other vendors. They just don't carry many EC's in stock because it is not a high demand stone, and it just works better for them to call them in with the specific specs the person is looking for.

I know he recently posted a video of a nice EC. He does say this one is rare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUVxF5Y6IJI&list=UUEV7slr-i-VduBBnfv9MxhA

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11664/

 

[Fancygems]

Thank you DS for the link. Your correct Jon refers to it as a needle in a haystack. I just went through an exhausting search for an oval with ERD so I am reluctant to begin a new search for a fancy. Thanks!

 

[Gypsy]

I think Karl is the best to respond. And hopefully he will see this and be able to answer your question.

 

[Fancygems]

Thank you Gypsy

 

[Karl_K]

This is a highly complex topic and I cant discuss Octavia nor gog EC/SE.

I can answer the general question:
All diamonds leak where, how much, and how long under tilt are what matter.
Leakage can and will be seen in the best EC that ever gets cut someplace on the diamond at some angles.
It is not uncommon that eliminating all face up leakage from a design results in a notably less bright diamond.
That is not an excuse for large areas of leakage however.

 

[Fancygems]

Thank you Karl for your reply,

So even the best cut EC's leak and without the minimal leakage from the top the diamond would not be as bright. Seems like Asscher's ASET better than most ECs.

 

[Karl_K]

Seems like Asscher's ASET better than most ECs.

In general yes.
The reasons are complex but grossly over simplified:
There are more direct light paths (in and out without traveling through a lot of diamond)) to any point in a square or round stone than a rectangular one.

 

[Fancygems]

That makes sense, thank you Karl for taking the time to respond as I had been dying to ask