Cushion Cut Diamond Advice

[warrenlwade]

Hello PriceScope Friends,

First of all, thank for you all the help all of you have given my girlfriend and I so far. You are awesome and have been instrumental in us narrowing down our search to something she loves. My girlfriend recently posted some questions on this thread about cushions:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...w-please-help-me-find-a-great-cushion.185026/

Since then we have changed our search criteria and I have decided that I'd rather just get her the nicest ring possible, so we are looking at around $10K for the setting and stone. This is the setting she likes:

http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/halo-french-set-diamond-engagement-ring-in-palladium/4774

This setting is around $1.2K, so we are left with about $9K for the stone. Our criteria we are now using is:

Cut: Very Good or Excellent
Color: H or above (Must Face up White)
Clarity: SI1 or above (Must be Eye Clean)
L/W Ratio: As close to 1 as possible
Dimensions: 6 mm x 6 mm or above
Size: 1.3 Carat or above
Depth Percentage: 61-67%, close to table %
Table Percentage: 61-67%, close to depth %
Cutlet: None
Fluorescence: None
Symmetry: Very Good or Excellent
Polish: Very Good or Excellent
Grading: GIA or AGS

Based on that criteria, this is one of the diamonds we are considering:

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-3286769-1.32-carat-Cushion-diamond-H-color-VS1-clarity.aspx

There are no ASET images available, but here is the GIA report:



My thought is although there is limited information it is a good deal and B2C has a good return policy so I could order it and we could see it for ourselves, take it to a local gemologist to get an ASET image and appraisal, ask you for your opinions once we have those, and send it back if those are not satisfactory.

What do you think of the stone?

What do you think of the plan?

Any other advice?

Thanks Again!

Warren

 

[diamonds-are-friends]

the gia report is too small and low resolution. if i am not wrong the depth is around 66.7? Proportion wise, it looks ok. But you can never estimate the cut of a fancy shaped diamond based on a report alone.

anyway, your plan is good. bring the diamond in and see if it works for you. If it doesn't, sending it back won't be a hassle unless you aren't based in the USA.

 

[ariel144]

the question I have for you is...which type of facet pattern does she like...antique chunky facet? cushion brilliant? modern cushion?
If she will watch the Good Old Gold videos on cushion cuts it will give you a better idea of what to look for to find the best cut.

NO WAY to tell about a cushion cut from a cert. report...you have to see it, sorry.

Ideally your depth should be mid 60% and table mid 50% on a well cut cushion:

Here are some on JA:

The 2c J vs2 is my favorite...j's can face up very white...this one is over budget.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut//CaratFrom:1.25|CaratTo:10.00|Color:H,J,K,I|PriceFrom:400|PriceTo:999000|Sortrice%20asc%20,DefaultOrder|TabSelected:3|advancedParameter:pn|showAdvanced:show|ps:15||DiamondID:187285,36539,172680,178711,196693,180262,158906,191545|PolishSymmetryLabFlourDepthFrom:45.0|DepthTo:69.2|TableFrom:50.0|TableTo:61.4|

Here is a 5c J vs2 honker that is really nice set in a halo...read pg 3 about how it faces up very white:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/[/URL]

Here is one on GOG

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7958/

You should also check out ERD;

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/diamonds_compare.html

 

[04diamond<3]

Your expectations for cut is completely wrong considering you can't judge a cushion by the cut on paper!! On top of that, I would absolutely never buy from somewhere that didn't give me an aset prior to me buying the stone! There are "good" cut cushions that look 10 times better than an "excellent"...Also, the stone you have isn't close to 1.0 ratio....

I don't know what type of cushion you like so I'll post different options. You need to remember that the video and pictures are zoomed in a lot so the inclusions will not look as big:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-I-color-SI1-clarity-sku-180262

this faces up pretty white for a J:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-J-color-VS1-clarity-sku-180822

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.31-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-168388

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.40-carat-I-color-VS2-clarity-sku-175724

JA gives a discount for PS members. If you like anything of theirs, put up to 3 on hold and request aset images.

 

[JulieN]

Good Old Gold is a Ritani vendor AND a cushion expert. You should just email GOG your desired specifications and budget, and tell them you want a cushion that is worthy of their Lifetime Guarantee. You can't go wrong this way. They have the best cuts in many different styles, I see a handful on their website that meets your requirements.

 

[CharmyPoo]

Please read this thread to learn about cushions first:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-101-my-experience-in-making-a-harry-winston-halo.183473/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-101-my-experience-in-making-a-harry-winston-halo.183473/[/URL]

I know some people like B2C because they participate in cash back programs but you really need photos (at a minimum) when buying a cushion. On paper, the diamond may look fine and in many cases what I see on paper is a match up to what I would expect. However, you really can'y buy a cushion without seeing a photo of it.

 

[isekii]

Here is mine I purchased recently

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.24-carat-I-color-VS2-clarity-sku-178738

I think you need to decide on a type of cushion first as CharmyPoo suggested. it shows squareish and it has lots of sparkle and fire.
if you click on my name and see my posting i have other pictures up including a youtube video.

You'll see a lot more cushion modified ( crushed ice look ) cushions compared to the 8 main 4 main cushions.

If you like Chunky and this is in your budget

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-H-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-191545

 

[silkyfilly]

Hi Warren!

I too was looking for a cushion cut and have looked at several over the past months, and I finally found exactly what I was looking for, but as a huge bonus, and for just a little bit outisde outside my budget I ended up with a 1.75ct stone that my mom found through auction!
however, I live in seattle and prior to this I was looking at purchasing a 1.58 cushion in a platinum setting that had diamond paving from a local private seller - we went and met up with them at a local jeweler to see it...it was a GIA diamond VVS1 and I color but the cut was so good that it looked like a G, and it looked BIG. They wanted $13500 for the ring, but a few days later my boyfriend managed to get them to agree to $11000 for it
well, after all that, that weekend we ended up having to let them know we had found something bigger, but when i came across your post it made me wonder if it was still for sale!!