Having a hard choosing between two diamonds: radiant and elongated cushion

[spicyjalapenopopper]

Hi everyone! I’m planning on getting a 3 stone engagement ring with a 2.5 carat center stone flanked by two Cadillac diamonds about 2ctw, all bezel set. I also plan for there to be claw prongs on the center stone (however the bezel will be what’s securing the stone, claw prongs will just be decorative).

Originally I was going to go with a radiant. However, I’m now considering this elongated cushion. I’d love some insight. I have to return the elongated cushion by tomorrow so I have to make a decision asap. One thing I’m not sure about with the cushion is in some lighting the center looks dark, I’ve included some photos.


Videos:

https://imgur.com/a/TheiiA5

Last two photos show the inspo 3 stone ring and the claw prongs with bezel combo I’d like to incorporate

 

[petrock<3]

In the photos the radiant looks much better to me

 

[spicyjalapenopopper]

In the photos the radiant looks much better to me

Thank you! Do you think the cushion is not well cut?

 

[tyty333]

A little bit about the nature of most radiants and cushions...

So the cushion is a 4 main. Those 4 mains in the "right" lighting will be white and bright. In bright sunlight, they will be dark (like a
well-cut round brilliant goes dark). Around those 4 facets you may see some darkness in any lighting. Do you have any
up close videos of the cushion (well, either stone)?

The radiant is more crushed ice faceting which is a lot of virtual facets that return a lot of little spakles. This type of stones tend
not to go as dark in bright sunlight because its facets are more virtual (light gets bounced around a lot in the stone before being
returned to the eye). With more "direct" facets (like the 4 main), light hits 1 or 2 facets and gets returned to the eye (so bigger,
brighter flashes vs. lots of little sparkles/twinkles).

Here are possible aset images for 4 main cushions and radiant stones...
Cushion

Radiant (mostly crushed ice)


Of course, each stone, radiant or cushion, has to be evaluated on its own merits. (Whether it's a nice stone with good light return for
the type of stone it is). You have to decide what type of look you prefer. Good luck!

 

[spicyjalapenopopper]

A little bit about the nature of most radiants and cushions...

So the cushion is a 4 main. Those 4 mains in the "right" lighting will be white and bright. In bright sunlight, they will be dark (like a
well-cut round brilliant goes dark). Around those 4 facets you may see some darkness in any lighting. Do you have any
up close videos of the cushion (well, either stone)?

The radiant is more crushed ice faceting which is a lot of virtual facets that return a lot of little spakles. This type of stones tend
not to go as dark in bright sunlight because its facets are more virtual (light gets bounced around a lot in the stone before being
returned to the eye). With more "direct" facets (like the 4 main), light hits 1 or 2 facets and gets returned to the eye (so bigger,
brighter flashes vs. lots of little sparkles/twinkles).

Here are possible aset images for 4 main cushions and radiant stones...
Cushion

Radiant (mostly crushed ice)


Of course, each stone, radiant or cushion, has to be evaluated on its own merits. (Whether it's a nice stone with good light return for
the type of stone it is). You have to decide what type of look you prefer. Good luck!

Thank you for your insight! Here are some more close up videos:

https://imgur.com/a/MjKs1aE

Not sure if you saw, but I have some other videos here (I uploaded a handful but imgur added ads in between so you have to scroll a bit for all of them):

https://imgur.com/a/TheiiA5

 

[spicyjalapenopopper]

I also took these photos against a blue foam background

 

[newtojewels]

I'm a cushion person and not an expert at all but I like this radiant much better than this cushion, the radiant looks both brighter and crisper to my eye.

 

[petrock<3]

Yeah the cushion has almost a fish eye look- there are much better cushions out there. The radiant is more even. Does it have to be one of these stones? Can you keep looking?

 

[tyty333]

You are blocking the light into the cushion with the up-close videos. This happens with a well-cut round brilliant too (in other words,
what you are seeing is normal). Radiants dont usually have this problem because they have less direct facets.

See @Garry H (Cut Nut) post #5 on this thread to see whats going on...

E

Thread 'HCA 0.9 "...Low HCA scores and bigger sized diamonds can appear dark when viewed up close..."'

Sep 19, 2024

I found a diamond with a HCA score of 0.9 with everything coming back excellent. I was sooo excited but the paragraph underneath read "Should sparkle beautifully and looks bigger than usual for its carat weight. Low HCA scores and bigger sized diamonds can appear dark when viewed up close, but these stones can be great for earrings and pendants..." So now I am confused. I thought the closer you get to zero the better the performance. Am I wrong?

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• Replies: 4
• Forum: RockyTalky (Diamond Discussion)

You really have to decide what you prefer to see and what you like the best...