Princess cuts: 2-3-4 Chevron.. huh?

[strmrdr]

The arrows on the wire diagrams of princess cuts points to the Chevron facets.
The first has 2 the second 3 and the third has 4 chevrons.

 

[strmrdr]

What does it mean for the diamond?
The more chevrons the smaller the virtual facets for identical sized diamonds.*

*Virtual facets split up the light return and form patterns in diamonds.
The smaller the virtual facets the smaller the chunks of light returned.
They are formed by the interaction of the actual facets with one another.

 

[strmrdr]

This is the 2 chevron notice that the chunks are rather large compared to the 3 and 4.

 

[strmrdr]

3 chevron

 

[strmrdr]

4 chevron
Notice how the light return is split into a lot smaller chunks than with the 2 chevron and there are more of them.
Given that there is enough light to make them all active it will show smaller and more flashes of light than the 2 chevron design.
In low, soft light the 2 chevron has a large advantage in smaller diamonds.
In brighter light when there is enough light to work all the virtual facets and in larger diamonds where all the virtual facets are large enough to be effective in both designs it is a personal preference issue.

 

[strmrdr]

4 chevron

 

[Lorelei]

This is great Karl, thanks!!

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2009 2:45:32 PM
Author: strmrdr
4 chevron

I kinda like the four chevron picture..., if a crushed ice look..., then crushed all the way!

 

[John P]

Thanks Karl. Bookmarked.

I'm always instructing our dealers about these differences. It's insanity that this is not made more clear on the report. The difference between 2-4 chevron is a difference between 24 and 40 facets on the pavilion.

I'd add that the larger the diamond the greater justification for more facets so the surface area is broken up proportionately. For example, a 5ct diamond will need more facets than a 1ct to have similar virtual facet sizes.

 

[AprilBaby]

In those pictures the 4 chevron looks like it would be the prettiest.

 

[geckodani]

Very cool! Thanks Strm!

I love this place. I learn something new every day.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Date: 2/6/2009 3:22:37 PM
Author: AprilBaby
In those pictures the 4 chevron looks like it would be the prettiest.

Yeah, but do not forget that you are looking at a +1,000 Ct diamond there.

Live long,

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2009 2:34:07 PM
Author:strmrdr
The arrows on the wire diagrams of princess cuts points to the Chevron facets.
The first has 2 the second 3 and the third has 4 chevrons.

Hi Karl...
Can you show what would happen with a 3 and 4 chevron which are spread wider (rather than crunched together?)
Which naturally needs a smaller thinner P1...

Will the visual face up appearance still have such a difference?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 2/6/2009 3:35:11 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 2/6/2009 2:34:07 PM

Author:strmrdr

The arrows on the wire diagrams of princess cuts points to the Chevron facets.

The first has 2 the second 3 and the third has 4 chevrons.

Hi Karl...

Can you show what would happen with a 3 and 4 chevron which are spread wider (rather than crunched together?)

Which naturally needs a smaller thinner P1...


Will the visual face up appearance still have such a difference?

Diagem,
I will look into that this weekend and get back to you.
For now I would like to keep this thread as simple as possible and not confuse people.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 2/6/2009 3:27:12 PM
Author: Paul-Antwerp

Date: 2/6/2009 3:22:37 PM

Author: AprilBaby

In those pictures the 4 chevron looks like it would be the prettiest.

Yeah, but do not forget that you are looking at a +1,000 Ct diamond there.


Live long,

Very good point.
These pictures can not be used to tell which you prefer as the difference in person is different than in huge static pictures.
I used huge pictures to make the difference easy to see.

The goal of this thread is to inform the reader of what the difference is between them not which is better or which they might prefer.

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2009 4:00:57 PM
Author: strmrdr

Date: 2/6/2009 3:35:11 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 2/6/2009 2:34:07 PM

Author:strmrdr

The arrows on the wire diagrams of princess cuts points to the Chevron facets.

The first has 2 the second 3 and the third has 4 chevrons.

Hi Karl...

Can you show what would happen with a 3 and 4 chevron which are spread wider (rather than crunched together?)

Which naturally needs a smaller thinner P1...


Will the visual face up appearance still have such a difference?

Diagem,
I will look into that this weekend and get back to you.
For now I would like to keep this thread as simple as possible and not confuse people.

OK..., BTW..., I didnt think I asked something which is not simple....

 

[Rockdiamond]

Awesome thread Karl!!

Thank for pointing out the differences in such a way everyone can understand.

 

[Eva17]

i love when you provide these visuals Karl!!

Thank you!!!

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Date: 2/6/2009 4:27:10 PM
Author: Eva17
i love when you provide these visuals Karl!!


Thank you!!!

ditto! the visuals really help.

I''m curious to know if my stone is a 2/3/4 chevron. it''s been a while since i''ve looked at the cert (GIA)- would it be on there?

 

[Tuckins1]

Great visuals! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 2/6/2009 4:44:02 PM
Author: ChargerGrrl

Date: 2/6/2009 4:27:10 PM
I''m curious to know if my stone is a 2/3/4 chevron. it''s been a while since i''ve looked at the cert (GIA)- would it be on there?

All you have to do is look at the facet structure represented by the lower plotting diagram and follow Karl''s example as to how to count the chevrons.

Nice to see the Chevron and Virtual Facets topics being discussed

Not a lot of time to chatter today myself, but nice to see it...

 

[Catmom]

Thanks Karl! I love the visuals. I wish I had my old princess so I could look to see how many chevrons it had.

 

[John P]

Date: 2/6/2009 4:44:02 PM
Author: ChargerGrrl

I'm curious to know if my stone is a 2/3/4 chevron. it's been a while since i've looked at the cert (GIA)- would it be on there?

I agree with Todd, but there are sometimes exceptions. In some instances you'll find mismatched numbers of chevron rows between quadrants. Many of these examples might not be sent to a top lab and when they are it's usually picked up - especially now that we have scan technology doing measurements that used to be manual - but some scanners still have a hard time with facet angles especially close to each other so they can "miss." When I was seeing lots of supplier diamonds brought in for inspection we'd find the occasional princess with a pavilion graphic that wasn't quite right.

 

[purrfectpear]

I much prefer the chunkier less faceted look. One of the things I dislike about princess diamonds is the crushed ice look.

Now I realize I''ve seen some that have less of that effect that I liked better. Must have had less chevrons

Kewl explanation Karl.