ehud laniado: cushion, how diamond dreams are made
TRANSCRIPT
By Ehud Arye Laniadowww.ehudlaniado.com
Cushion, How Diamond Dreams Are Made
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Presentation by Ehud Arye Laniado on Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
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The Cushion- shaped diamond has been popular for several centuries. These squarish diamonds have rounded corners and large facets that make them resemble the shape of a cushion.
A full version of the article can be found at the last slide of the presentation
May 2015
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity. None of the information made available here shall constitute in any manner an offer or invitation or promotion to buy or to sell diamonds. No one should act upon any opinion or information in this website (including with respect to diamonds values) without consulting a professional qualified adviser.
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
3May 2015
The Cushion & Pop Culture
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• Sean Lowe proposing to finalist Catherine Giudici on The Bachelor in 2011
• Kelly Rowland, Naya Rivera and Kaley Cuoco receiving Cushion-shaped engagement rings
May 2015
The media fanfare around these diamond rings led to a rise in this diamond’s popularity.
Recently, Cushion-shaped diamonds have received a number of mentions in the media including:
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
5May 2015
The Cushion-shaped diamond is a member of the square diamond shapes, one of three groups of diamond shapes. The other two are Rounds and semi rounds.
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6May 2015
There are a number of different ways to polish a Cushion-shaped diamond, though usually it has 64 facets. Another characteristic of the Cushion-shaped diamond is its depth. More of its weight rests in the lower part of the diamond, making it appear smaller, as the following illustration shows.
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7May 2015
A Comparison of Round, Oval, Pear, Heart, Marquise and Cushion-Shaped Diamonds to Scale
Please note – not real size
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8May 2015
Compared to Rounds, the value of Cushion-shaped diamonds is about 29%-58% less, depending on color and clarity.
The following table compares the value of one carat and 0.95 carat Cushion-shaped diamonds to 1-carat Round diamonds (1 carat Round = 100%) in all colors and clarities.
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
9May 2015
The 0.95-carat comparison is here to highlight the relatively small difference in size that results in a large difference in value.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity. None of the information made available here shall constitute in any manner an offer or invitation or promotion to buy or to sell diamonds. No one should act upon any opinion or information in this website (including with respect to diamonds values) without consulting a professional qualified adviser.
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
10May 2015
Polishing the Cushion
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
11May 2015
In terms of polishing, the manufacturer has to take into account that with Cushions, an important aspect is its exact proportions and faceting.
Cushion-shaped diamonds don’t reflect light as well as other shapes so a very good cut or better is important.
A polisher would usually want to get the best value out of a rough diamond.
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
12May 2015
Example A: The following is a 4.49-carat rough diamond in the 3D render. The polisher can polish out of it a Round diamond, which will result in a 1.87-carat, D color, VS1 clarity and Excellent Cut. In this case, yield is 41.5%, meaning 58.5% of the rough diamond's weight will be lost in the polishing process.
Image: Sarine
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
13May 2015
Example B: The following is a a much larger Cushion-shaped diamond. In this case, a Cushion-shaped diamond will take better advantage of the shape of the rough diamond and will result in a 2.66-carats, D color, VS1 clarity and Excellent Cut polished diamond. In this option, the yield is a high 59.4%.
Image: Sarine
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
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For this rough diamond, the polisher preferred a Cushion-shape to a Round because of the value. The following value comparison is based on an analysis of current prices in the market and represents the total value of the diamonds.
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
15May 2015
Getting a Better Yield
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
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Example A: The following is a 4.55-carat rough diamond. It can be polished into a 1.40-carat, D/IF Round diamond with an Excellent Cut at a yield of 30.7%.
Image: Sarine
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
17May 2015
Example B: Alternatively, the polisher may consider a Cushion-shaped diamond to get a higher yield. In this case, a 1.70-carat D/IF, Excellent Cut diamond can be made at a yield of 37.4%, as shown in the following.
Image: Sarine
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Cushion, how diamond dreams are made
18May 2015
Even though the Round diamond is smaller, it has a higher value than the alternative Cushion, as the following table shows.
The reason the yield is noted in all these polishing options is because from a financial standpoint, it makes sense to try to get the best return out of the cost of the rough diamond.
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19May 2015
Necessary Proportions
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20May 2015
When polishing a diamond, proportions are important for a number of reasons, including aesthetics. Another reason is light return. The more light that is reflected, the more the diamond shines.
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To achieve this, the facets must face each other at the right angles. The following is a list of Cushion-shaped proportions by Cut standard:
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The intention of this review was to highlight a number of issues relating to diamonds and their value.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity. None of the information made available here shall constitute in any manner an offer or invitation or promotion to buy or to sell diamonds. No one should act upon any opinion or information in this website (including with respect to diamonds values) without consulting a professional qualified adviser.
May 2015
A full version of the article can be found here:http://www.ehudlaniado.com/home/index.php/news/entry/cushion-how-diamond-dreams-are-made