Price Premium of Emerald Cut vs Cut-Cornered Rectangular Step Cut?

[jonnyboyquick]

Hi PS--what a resource. Have been reading quite a bit as I look for an ER, and nowhere on the internet does this level of granularity exist--kudos to all of you for building and maintaining such a data trove.

I am looking at a stone that is being represented to me as an emerald cut. Upon looking up its GIA report, I see that it's been graded a cut-cornered rectangular step cut. Here is a link to the GIA report: https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=1186099901&s=1574637557751

It looks like the faceting on the pavilion is different from an emerald, and the corners are cut a little more aggressively. I'm a noob, so please let me know if I'm wrong here.

My question is fairly simple, yet potentially complex: should this one-off cut command less of a price premium than an emerald cut? If so, how much? If I can find similar emeralds (4 ct, J VS 2) for $35k-$40k, is there a rough % off I can reasonably ask the jeweler for given that this is not an emerald cut?

Lastly, is this a diamond you would buy for around $40k? Much appreciated, thank you!

 

[Karl_K]

no discount.
Not enough information to decide to recommend it.
Would need video and aset images.

 

[jonnyboyquick]

What is the polite way of asking for ASET images, short of showing up to the store with my phone and a scope? I'm not sure that is a service that is readily provided by this store.

Does the cloud inclusion in the GIA cert set off any red flags?

I have attached a crappy picture here. I fully acknowledge that one may not be able to tell anything, but I figured I would do it for posterity's sake.

 

[Aaron2789]

I hope I don't sound disrespectful but 40k is a lot of money they should be willing to assist you as a Customer by providing an ASET Image...It's the least they can do lol don't feel shy you wanna make sure you are 100% happy with your Purchase!

Here's a handy ASET Chart for Emerald Cuts for future reference;

 

[Aaron2789]

Here's a nice 3ct Stone K SI1 it's just under 20k have a look at others online it may help you make your final decision

3.00 Carat emerald diamond

This emerald cut 3 carat J color si1 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

 

[Redwoods-hiker-girl]

Or this: https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/....010-e-vs1-emerald-diamond-bkags-104096832002

Brian Gavin has beautiful emerald cuts. You could always ask them to send you info/ASETs/video on the emerald cuts (including a 5-carat K around $43K) listed in their virtual inventory, here: https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/big-diamonds/

 

[jonnyboyquick]

Thank you for posting the alternatives! Definitely going to keep an eye on those and keep looking online, but would also love any more insight or opinions anyone would have on the stone in my original post. Thanks!

 

[Redwoods-hiker-girl]

Thank you for posting the alternatives! Definitely going to keep an eye on those and keep looking online, but would also love any more insight or opinions anyone would have on the stone in my original post. Thanks!

It's really very hard to give an opinion on that stone without a video or the ASET image. The vendor should willingly provide — offer, even — an ASET. It's a red flag that they either can't or won't.

 

[foxinsox]

What is the polite way of asking for ASET images, short of showing up to the store with my phone and a scope? I'm not sure that is a service that is readily provided by this store.

Does the cloud inclusion in the GIA cert set off any red flags?

I have attached a crappy picture here. I fully acknowledge that one may not be able to tell anything, but I figured I would do it for posterity's sake.

I feel like "Hi I'm looking to spend $40k with you, please put some effort into helping me with appropriate imaging so I know I'm getting a fantastic bright stone" would be appropriately polite IMO.
And also based off the options at Brian Gavin and other vendors who do imaging without having to be prompted, I'd probably buy online. If the store you're buying from doesn't have an ASET, buy your own. If they get funky about it, they're giving you some useful information about how much they value you as a customer.

 

[OoohShiny]

What is the polite way of asking for ASET images, short of showing up to the store with my phone and a scope? I'm not sure that is a service that is readily provided by this store.

Does the cloud inclusion in the GIA cert set off any red flags?

I have attached a crappy picture here. I fully acknowledge that one may not be able to tell anything, but I figured I would do it for posterity's sake.

It might just be my eyes and/or the angle of the camera, but does the culet look wonky on that stone when compared to the girdle??

 

[jonnyboyquick]

I feel like "Hi I'm looking to spend $40k with you, please put some effort into helping me with appropriate imaging so I know I'm getting a fantastic bright stone" would be appropriately polite IMO.
And also based off the options at Brian Gavin and other vendors who do imaging without having to be prompted, I'd probably buy online. If the store you're buying from doesn't have an ASET, buy your own. If they get funky about it, they're giving you some useful information about how much they value you as a customer.

Absoutely, I agree with this. Going to ask for ASET scope images.

It might just be my eyes and/or the angle of the camera, but does the culet look wonky on that stone when compared to the girdle??

What about the culet looks wonky to you?

 

[Rockdiamond]

As someone who owns the technology to produce first rate ASET images- and also is a step cut lover...
ASET images will assist participants to understand the light performance of the stone better. You will get informed answers.
The reason that matters is that "light performance" is what draws us to diamonds.
The question then becomes, what sort of light performance will YOU love best.
For me, the ASET is a sales tool- but the ultimate test is the eyes. Your eyes.

ETA- it's quite possible the place you're shopping won't have the ability to take aset images. It's possible they won't even know what it is.
IMO - that alone is not worth immediately dismissing the stone. Not that I'm recommending buying ( or not buying) it. But as I said, your eyes have to determine how much you love it.

 

[Karl_K]

It might just be my eyes and/or the angle of the camera, but does the culet look wonky on that stone when compared to the girdle??

at that angle there is some leakage near the culet... the white bar is the background.
Which doesnt mean much of anything.

 

[lambskin]

Cut aside, are you happy with the warmth of the J color?

 

[jonnyboyquick]

As someone who owns the technology to produce first rate ASET images- and also is a step cut lover...
ASET images will assist participants to understand the light performance of the stone better. You will get informed answers.
The reason that matters is that "light performance" is what draws us to diamonds.
The question then becomes, what sort of light performance will YOU love best.
For me, the ASET is a sales tool- but the ultimate test is the eyes. Your eyes.

ETA- it's quite possible the place you're shopping won't have the ability to take aset images. It's possible they won't even know what it is.
IMO - that alone is not worth immediately dismissing the stone. Not that I'm recommending buying ( or not buying) it. But as I said, your eyes have to determine how much you love it.

I absolutely love how this stone looks in person. I have gone ahead and requested an ASET scope image, let's see how it comes back. There was some resistance to get one done.

at that angle there is some leakage near the culet... the white bar is the background.
Which doesnt mean much of anything.

Gotcha.

Cut aside, are you happy with the warmth of the J color?

I think so. Does it look extra warm to you for a J? FWIW, I had H and I stones next to this particular stone and couldn't tell them apart.

 

[foxinsox]

I absolutely love how this stone looks in person. I have gone ahead and requested an ASET scope image, let's see how it comes back. There was some resistance to get one done.
[...]
I think so. Does it look extra warm to you for a J? FWIW, I had H and I stones next to this particular stone and couldn't tell them apart.

Hey @jonnyboyquick, in what lighting conditions did you see and love this stone? What did you love about it?
If it was in the store, under their lights, you need to be aware that all jewelry stores put a lot of $$ into ensuring their lighting would make a lump of cheese sparkle.
You need to take it away from their lights, see it in natural light, in diffuse/shaded light, fluorescent light etc to ensure it performs as well as it can and that you love it in those lighting conditions.
In terms of colour, what shade were the walls of the room in which you were viewing it? The background of the table/counter on which it was lying? How good is your colour acuity?
If you're not the intended wearer, is she at all colour sensitive? ie where you're looking at it all " big and sparkly!" will she be " it's YELLOW (and not the cool expensive vivid kind)!"
How will you set it? In a halo where there is potential for contrast between the centre and the melee around the outside? In a white metal or yellow gold?

Btw I don't really go for emerald cuts so I'm not saying this is a terrible or great stone - I don't actually know. I just want to ensure you're looking at it as objectively as possible and in conditions which are as close to the everyday wearing conditions you or your fiancee will experience.
I would give a bit of side eye to the store for being resistant about giving you imaging. I absolutely agree that you should buy with your eyes first and foremost (@Rockdiamond) but imaging is an objective thing that can help you pin down the subjective things your eyes pick up. And the store being less than accommodating over a small request that helps you be a more informed customer sounds a note of caution to me.