What cut for a yellow diamond?

[winternight]

I''m planning to have a ring that my mother has remade at some point and I''m looking into yellow diamonds. Her ring has a strongly art deco feel, it is a square cut emerald surrounded by a square halo design, basically 4 baguette cut diamonds surrounding the emerald and 4 rounds, each one in a corner (hope that makes sense).

I started looking at yellow diamond because I thought that might be fun but so many are cut into the radiant cut. Is there a reason why? Honestly I''m not a big fan of radiant cut white diamonds, but I''m wondering if it wouldn''t be better for a fancy yellow then say an emerald or assher cut. I''m just wondering if getting a yellow diamond in a emerald cut could look a little yellow sapphire-ish? I do wonder if it would work in this ring though because of the particular design.

Thoughts??

 

[Rockdiamond]

Cutters of Fancy Yellow diamonds have different goals as compared to colorless cutters.
For this reason the cut on many yellow diamonds is different that on colorless.
Step cuts, such as Asschers, Emerald Cuts, and baguettes are less effective at showing color due to the fact there''s less facets.
For this reason natural yellow emerald Asscher and baguettes are quite hard to find.......

I hope this helps!

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 3/10/2010 5:49:32 PM
Author:winternight
I''m planning to have a ring that my mother has remade at some point and I''m looking into yellow diamonds. Her ring has a strongly art deco feel, it is a square cut emerald surrounded by a square halo design, basically 4 baguette cut diamonds surrounding the emerald and 4 rounds, each one in a corner (hope that makes sense).

I started looking at yellow diamond because I thought that might be fun but so many are cut into the radiant cut. Is there a reason why? Honestly I''m not a big fan of radiant cut white diamonds, but I''m wondering if it wouldn''t be better for a fancy yellow then say an emerald or assher cut. I''m just wondering if getting a yellow diamond in a emerald cut could look a little yellow sapphire-ish? I do wonder if it would work in this ring though because of the particular design.

Thoughts??

Colored rough is very expensive and cutters first priority is to retain color, second priority is to save weight. A radiant cut does both, it has moderate white light return(smaller virtual facets) and a long ray path, and thus retains color and can be cut in many different proportions which save weight.

You can get yellow diamonds in an asscher or EC but might have to look in the MMD section.

 

[kenny]

The reason light has a longer ray path in some cuts like radiant is the facets are cut to force the light to bounce around more times inside the colored material before leaving the diamond.

The more colored material the light travels through the more colors it picks up.
The stronger the color looks when viewing the diamond face up the higher the color grade it will get, making it more valuable.

It amazes me that any naturally-colored diamonds are cut into emerald or asscher shape.

IBD has eight. Click

Fancy Diamonds has a few, click on advanced search and enter yellow, emerald. Click

Langerman has a few. Click

 

[diagem]

Date: 3/10/2010 6:23:27 PM
Author: ChunkyCushionLover

Date: 3/10/2010 5:49:32 PM
Author:winternight
I''m planning to have a ring that my mother has remade at some point and I''m looking into yellow diamonds. Her ring has a strongly art deco feel, it is a square cut emerald surrounded by a square halo design, basically 4 baguette cut diamonds surrounding the emerald and 4 rounds, each one in a corner (hope that makes sense).

I started looking at yellow diamond because I thought that might be fun but so many are cut into the radiant cut. Is there a reason why? Honestly I''m not a big fan of radiant cut white diamonds, but I''m wondering if it wouldn''t be better for a fancy yellow then say an emerald or assher cut. I''m just wondering if getting a yellow diamond in a emerald cut could look a little yellow sapphire-ish? I do wonder if it would work in this ring though because of the particular design.

Thoughts??

Colored rough is very expensive and cutters first priority is to retain color, second priority is to save weight. A radiant cut does both, it has moderate white light return(smaller virtual facets) and a long ray path, and thus retains color and can be cut in many different proportions which save weight.

You can get yellow diamonds in an asscher or EC but might have to look in the MMD section.

One of the cutting methods used to enhance Fancy colored Diamonds is painting the brillianteering facets onto the pavilion to minimize contrast..., contrast is the enemy of the light colored material!

When the (Diamond) material is genuinely dark material..., there is no need for these methods as applying standard colorless faceting design will be more valued. In such a case no need to look into the MMD section unless the price/cost is an issue as Asschers, EC''s, RB''s (or other standard colorless facet structure cuts) will cost X times a Diamond cut for color enhancement.

 

[winternight]

Thanks for the information.

So any thoughts as to whether I should go with a yellow radiant vs. emerald or asscher since I''ll be using baguette and rounds for the square shapped halo?

Also, I''m a little confused would the same color grade yellow diamond look better or more yellow in a radiant cut vs. emerald or asscher?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Step cut versus radiant really depends on your budget. Step cuts in deeper yellow colors can cost from 25% more all the way to double compared to radiant.


As far as which shows color best- generally speaking brilliant faceted stones such as radiant cushion or pear in anything but the darkest colors.
It takes a very deeply colored emerald cut to broadcast color.
Radiant cuts in lighter colors broadcast the yellow effectively.
Fancy Light Yellow is a strong shade in a well cut Radiant, but much lighter in emerald cut.

My avitar was a Vivid Yellow- and was as Vivid as any radiant- but also about double the cost.

 

[diagem]

Date: 3/10/2010 7:03:04 PM
Author: winternight
Thanks for the information.

So any thoughts as to whether I should go with a yellow radiant vs. emerald or asscher since I''ll be using baguette and rounds for the square shapped halo?

Also, I''m a little confused would the same color grade yellow diamond look better or more yellow in a radiant cut vs. emerald or asscher?

All things being equal..., I believe a colorless faceting design will most of the time "look better" (have a better appearance) than a cut to enhance color.

But be prepared..., it will cost a few folds more as well

.

 

[Karl_K]

Date: 3/10/2010 7:16:19 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 3/10/2010 7:03:04 PM

Author: winternight

Thanks for the information.


So any thoughts as to whether I should go with a yellow radiant vs. emerald or asscher since I''ll be using baguette and rounds for the square shapped halo?


Also, I''m a little confused would the same color grade yellow diamond look better or more yellow in a radiant cut vs. emerald or asscher?

All things being equal..., I believe a colorless faceting design will most of the time ''look better'' (have a better appearance) than a cut to enhance color.


But be prepared..., it will cost a few folds more as well

.

ditto, I am not a fan of faked fancy colors.
ie: darkening light rough with trick cutting and the sacrifices it brings with it.

 

[kenny]

Date: 3/10/2010 7:03:04 PM
Author: winternight
...would the same color grade yellow diamond look better or more yellow in a radiant cut vs. emerald or asscher?

Your question could read more than one way:
1. If a piece of yellow rough could first be cut as a radiant to maximize color, then magically you go back in time and cut the same rough as an emerald cut ... which cut of the same rough would look more yellow?

2. If you placed two actual diamonds side by side, cut from different rough, one radiant, the other emerald cut, both graded Fancy Intense Yellow by GIA after cutting ... which would look more yellow?

Which is it?

If the first the radiant would likely look more yellow and may get a stronger color grade from GIA.
If the second if they are both graded Fancy Intense Yellow by GIA after cutting, they will both have the same amount yellow (at least both will fall within GIA's range for that color grade).

Now that said if you had three diamonds of the same weight and clarity, all GIA Fancy Yellow Intense diamonds, one asscher, one emerald, and the other radiant if you ask which will look better this is a matter of personal preference.
If you ask which will look more yellow, you could answer they all 3 fall within GIA's range fro Fancy Intense Yellow.

I think the radiant will be much cheaper though, because it likely came from cheaper rough with weaker color which was strengthened by making it a radiant.
The radiant cut itself strengthens the color.

This is why so many colored diamonds are radiant, pear and those shapes that make the light bounce around more times before exiting out the top.

 

[winternight]

Question No. 2 Kenny. Thanks.

How about an octavia fancy yellow?

Thanks to everyone who has been replying this has been very helpful. Since I don''t live in NYC my access to fancy colored isn''t that great. I''ve seen a number in person, but there is so much more selection online.

 

[winternight]

Oh forgot to add that I love that asscher David!! Wow.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Date: 3/10/2010 9:06:20 PM
Author: winternight
Question No. 2 Kenny. Thanks.


How about an octavia fancy yellow?

Thanks to everyone who has been replying this has been very helpful. Since I don't live in NYC my access to fancy colored isn't that great. I've seen a number in person, but there is so much more selection online.

You're welcome, and thank you!
I'd also love to see an Octavia in Fancy Yellow.....then again, I might prefer it in a lighter shade, such as U-V.

 

[Tom Gelb]

I agree with kenny''s assessment, an intense yellow is intense regardless of the cut. I would add that an emerald cut diamond tends to show it''s color in the corners of the stone, while a radiant''s color is much more uniformly distributed across the crown of the diamond. The GIA uses a convention called "characteristic color" to define what area of the stone''s color is graded. In an emerald cut this is usually the corners, in a pear shape it is usually towards the head and point, etc. Thus I think it is vital for you to view a number of differently shaped rectangular diamonds to decide which one you prefer. I recognize that this may be difficult, but I would say it is well worth the time and effort.

Good luck.

 

[PumpkinPie]

I don`t have anything to contribute to this thread, just wanted to say thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge! I don`t often look in RockyTalky but I`m impressed with the time you guys spend and the information you give

 

[winternight]

I''m in DC so if I made a trip to NYC would there be enough vendors/stones do you think to make a purchase or at least get a more informed view of what I want? I''m not sure which vendors have a storefront presence in NYC. I go to NYC at least once a year if not 3x or more, so I could make it a side trip. I went to a local DC store that carries some colored diamonds but the color on them was rather pale.

 

[winternight]

Date: 3/11/2010 9:57:19 AM
Author: Tom Gelb
I agree with kenny''s assessment, an intense yellow is intense regardless of the cut. I would add that an emerald cut diamond tends to show it''s color in the corners of the stone, while a radiant''s color is much more uniformly distributed across the crown of the diamond. The GIA uses a convention called ''characteristic color'' to define what area of the stone''s color is graded. In an emerald cut this is usually the corners, in a pear shape it is usually towards the head and point, etc. Thus I think it is vital for you to view a number of differently shaped rectangular diamonds to decide which one you prefer. I recognize that this may be difficult, but I would say it is well worth the time and effort.

Good luck.

Thanks, I didn''t know that.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Date: 3/11/2010 9:57:19 AM
Author: Tom Gelb
I agree with kenny''s assessment, an intense yellow is intense regardless of the cut. I would add that an emerald cut diamond tends to show it''s color in the corners of the stone, while a radiant''s color is much more uniformly distributed across the crown of the diamond. The GIA uses a convention called ''characteristic color'' to define what area of the stone''s color is graded. In an emerald cut this is usually the corners, in a pear shape it is usually towards the head and point, etc. Thus I think it is vital for you to view a number of differently shaped rectangular diamonds to decide which one you prefer. I recognize that this may be difficult, but I would say it is well worth the time and effort.


Good luck.

Interesting point Tom- although it seems to agree that other shapes show the color better than step cuts.
If an emerald cut Fancy Intense has the color concentrated more at the ends ( I agree, that''s common) then a radiant will look more yellow overall if we''re considering perceived color.
In the lighter colors such as Fancy Light, or Y-Z my experience is that it''s very noticeable