Cushion Solitaire Engagement (2ct)

[Atlas_]

Heya all! I am looking for some insight and guidance into the purchase of a cushion cut diamond for an engagement ring for my girlfriend - hopefully I've come to the right place.

I've done a good bit of reading around this site and elsewhere trying to learn what I can. I have taken several trips to local jewelers to see what they had in stock, and to get used to viewing and handling diamonds. I am still a novice, however, and would appreciate any help.

The setting will be a very simple solitaire, possibly with some sort of cathedral type variation, in white gold or platinum. Since the stone itself will make up for the lion's share of the cost, that is where I am focusing my attention first.

My initial thought was to buy from a local jeweler, since the whole 'sight unseen' issue from a retailer I have never dealt with on such a large purchase is intimidating. Looking around at advice from various sites has alleviated some of that anxiety, and while I would much prefer a local jeweler, if the pricing is clearly the best option online, then that is the route I will take.


So, the basic specs I am looking for

1) 2.0+ Carat Cushion cut
2) D-H Color
3) IF-SI1 ('eye-clean' when set)
4) Excellent cut

5) Price: Ideally 16-18k. I would go up to 20k for the entire ring with setting/mounting costs.


The size and color seem the easiest to get straight. Seems like if it has a GIA cert the color should be accurate, and the carat weight isn't hard to wrap my head around.

The inclusions seem to get much more difficult when buying online. The stones I have seen in store have ranged from hardly noticeable to downright distracting depending on the location and type of inclusion or blemish. Even with some higher res images on a site like JamesAllen, along with a GIA cert showing inclusions, it still seems hard to see the impact of an inclusion.

The part I probably need the most assistance with is the cut. Cushion cut diamonds especially seem to have a large variation in cutting designs and quality. I've seen terms like 'crushed ice' thrown around as both a compliment and a hallmark of a poorly cut stone. JamesAllen doesn't even have the ability to grade cut when sorting diamonds.


Im mostly trying to find the 'sweet spot' for price to performance with color, cut, and clarity. I would obviously like a nice looking stone, but I want to limit how much I am paying for qualities that will only be appreciated on a certificate that sits in a drawer. I think the G/H range and VS1-SI1 range is a good place to start. Problem is once I sort a list based on those parameters (Pricescope, JamesAllen, etc) I don't know where to take it from there - other than to sort by price.

I would like to try to narrow down a few options, and look into having some more detailed images or ASET pictures set up to move this process forward.


Thanks!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would say that a cushion would be extremely hard to buy locally, because great cushions are few and far between, so you really raise your possibilities by using an online vendor who will likely source more stones for you. Good Old Gold specializes in fancy cuts such as cushions, and that is who I'd recommend you work with. They will find 2-3 that meet your specs and take video showing their light performance for you.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11252/ ($19002.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11261/ ($19294.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11573/ ($15267.)

August Vintage antique style cushions:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8214/

 

[Gypsy]

I adore this stone: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11573/ That Diamondseeker posted for you. It's GORGEOUS.

I'd advise you to put it on hold.

This stone is gorgeous too, and since you are doing a simple solitaire, it is in budget for you: http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/2.06-carat-h-vs1-x-factor-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-178094.html

And this one too: http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/2.02-carat-h-vs2-royal-chandelier-cushion-brilliant-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-168401.html

ERD has gorgeous platinum solitaires too.

 

[Todd Gray]

There is a lot of variation between the overall shape, proportions, and facet patterns of cushion cut diamonds because they are cut from diamond rough which is not symmetrical... and the GIA does not provide crown height or pavilion depth (or angle) measurements for fancy shape diamonds, so it is practically impossible to buy them online unless you are working with a vendor who specializes in this particular niche, knows what to look for (e.g. has a vendor that they work with who they know produces an exceptional cushion) and has the capability of running a Sarin | OGI | Helium scan on the diamond, and can provide you with those measurements... Most of the more well known vendors here on PS have the capability of doing that.

If you don't like the crushed ice look, stay away from the options where the pavilion facets have been split apart into smaller and smaller facets, because they will produce smaller virtual facets, which in turn will produce smaller flashes of light... which our eyes tend to interpret as brilliance (white light) as opposed to dispersion / fire (colored light); likewise if you prefer the crushed ice look, this is what you would look for!

One look is not better than the other, it is simply a matter of personal preference, I sat with a client awhile back who had brought two cushion cut diamonds in from different internet vendors, they had different facet structures... My preference was for the one which exhibited bright, broad flashes of light, while his preference was for the one which looked more like crushed ice, because he liked the fact that it looked more like a disco ball, instead of say a chandelier faub cut with larger facets... both diamonds were beautiful, but one "spoke to him" more than the other based upon his personal preferences.

 

[Atlas_]

Some great links, thank you.

On the GoG website is there a way to see the prices on the stones not listed? Most show as 'please call' to me. Although they appear to sort by price in a way I can get a ballpark?

Also can you compare ASET images (or is the ERD one a different image type?) comparable from one vendor to another. These two seem styled differently enough that they are hard to compare to each other?





That top ASET from http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11573/ looks nice. Its at the lower end of where I was looking at clarity wise, and a little below on the color scale. Would slipping to the I color (GIA) be a noticeably warmer colored stone? Or will it still be a sharp , bright, stone? No idea if it is 'eye clean' but the enlarged image looks pretty good to me, and the GIA cert doesn't appear riddled with marks. The price is right too!

I'm no expert on reading an ASET, but how would you all rate the light characteristics of that stone? Seems to have a good amount of red throughout the stone. Maybe a bit lacking in the greenish areas at 12/3/6/9 o'clock? A few white 'dead spots' but overall seems to be decent. Thoughts?

The facet outline shows an X pattern extending all the way to the edges. It is 4 pointed vs 8. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. The majority I have seen do not extend to the edges of the diagram, instead most look like a pointed circle inside the boundaries of the entire stone (is that more of a 'crushed ice' cut?). Is that X facet structure extending to the edges a desirable cut?


I assume most prefer cushions that are more big flashy light returns rather than the smaller crushed look? I assume the broader flash returns creates an overall brighter and more 'wow factor' look? I know many of the questions should be answered ' well, what do YOU like,' but ultimately it's her that is going to be wearing it, and while she knows it is coming, I don't want her THIS involved in the process. So, I'll have to lean on the expertise of people more knowledgeable than me -- and thank you for that!

 

[Gypsy]

I don't have time to answer all your questions, but I can help you on color:

First GOG can make you a video of that I next to higher color stones free of charge.
Second:
It is important to remember is that color is graded FACE DOWN. Where there is NO light return. Not face up where there is light return and refraction. You wear diamonds set. FACE UP.

Within one color grade, even the labs can't agree on the color grades of stones and something could be a "high" H or a "low" E. So... no. Not really. Within 2 color grades it is hard. Not impossible. But very hard. And it gets harder once set. Light return masks body color so we do try to maximize light return.

This is how I think of it.

Ever gotten one of those HUGE paint fan decks? Where there are literally 100s of colors of whites? And when they are RIGHT next to each other you can TOTALLY tell that one is bluer/colder and one is a bit warmer and which one is one is TOTALLY warmer. One there's one that's slightly greener. One that's slightly pinker? But really. They are all white?

Then you pick one after agonizing over this white or that white and when it's on the walls and people are like: Oh. You painted again. And it's STILL white. Great.

And you're all... BUT it's BLUE white. Or it's a WARM white now. It used to be ____ white. It's TOTALLY different.

It's like that. You are talking about shades of white. D is colder... J is warmer. But it's all white.

YES. If you have an accurately graded F and an H THAT HAVE THE SAME PERFORMANCE you are going to be able to tell them apart when you compare them. Just like you would be able to tell if you painted your walls a warm white, but painted the crown molding a cold/straight white. But both are STILL white.


I want you notice all the qualifiers thought. I'm talking about stones with the SAME performance. An ideal H will out white an F that has compromised light performance from a poor cut.

NOTHING impacts the appearance of a diamond as much as cut. CUT is king. And with fancies that means light return and faceting. So ASET images are very important.

You want the shinest whitest and brightest diamond out there: Cut is King. No other factor, not color or clarity or anything else impacts how white bright an shiny a stone is.

How to read ASET: http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance

The GOG ASET is a white field ASET which is frankly easier to read. The ERD ASET is a black field. And you are right, it does make comparisons hard. So you really have to pay attention to the colors and try to translate from one to the other best you can. Where you see black in the ERD ASET you have to imagine white, that's the best way to go.

That said, for my money, that I at GOG would be on my short list and on hold for me, while I want for videos.

Also if you are still concerned about color, GOG can ship the stone to you (you would pay) before setting, and if you don't like it, then can send it back.

And none of those stones are crushed ice. Don't worry.

 

[Gypsy]

One more thing. You know that she wants a cushion. Has she sent you any pics or given you any hints as to cushions (does she like the Tiffany Novo, or the Harry Winston Cushions or anything) she likes? Has she taken you to vintage stores and shown you vintage cushions? Does she have a pinterest page with pictures of rings/cushions she likes?

That would be the most helpful information to have to help you find the right cushion for you.

 

[Atlas_]

Thanks for the info Gypsy.

I haven't had her send me any pictures or anything other than the basic details she wants (Cushion cut, solitaire setting with a very delicate band). I don't really want her involved in the actual selection of stones and rings, I'd rather it be a surprise, and I think she feels the same. She does have a twin sister however, so I can get a pretty good idea of what she is looking for.

I'm going to contact GoG and try to get some more information. Anything specific I should ask for? Maybe the full resolution pictures/ASET, a description on how noticeable the inclusions and how 'eye clean' it is, and maybe a comparison video (they do this?) with a couple similar stones?

 

[Gypsy]

GOG will make comparison videos. I don't know what, if any, ERD's video capabilities are.

I really like the I stone though. So maybe you can talk to her twin, and if she wants just a cushion (doesn't specify antique cushion, etc.) you can have that sent to you to see what you think?

 

[Atlas_]

I've contacted the people at GoG and they sent a recommendation of the stone listed at: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12106/


Any thoughts?

It does appear to have very good light return. It is a few thousand dollars more, which obviously is a drawback. Is the area showing a dark X through the stone due to light leakage along the black areas in the ASET? I thought in a white backround ASET light leakage was in areas of White, and not black? The reds in the ASET do seem quite a bit brighter - can you make a comparison in brightness between one stone and another? Or is it simply a difference in the image itself?

 

[Rhino]

I've contacted the people at GoG and they sent a recommendation of the stone listed at: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12106/


Any thoughts?

It does appear to have very good light return. It is a few thousand dollars more, which obviously is a drawback. Is the area showing a dark X through the stone due to light leakage along the black areas in the ASET? I thought in a white backround ASET light leakage was in areas of White, and not black? The reds in the ASET do seem quite a bit brighter - can you make a comparison in brightness between one stone and another? Or is it simply a difference in the image itself?

Hi Atlas,

Just reading the forum and caught your post. Good questions.

The blacks that you see in our photography setup is a direct reflection of the lens above the camera. Ie. Indicative of and showing identically what the blue would be in the ASET providing contrast. If you'd like comparisons of brightness in any given diamonds with us just request and I'll be happy to demonstrate any optical/visual differences in multiple lighting for you.

Kind regards,
Rhino

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I've contacted the people at GoG and they sent a recommendation of the stone listed at: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12106/


Any thoughts?

It does appear to have very good light return. It is a few thousand dollars more, which obviously is a drawback. Is the area showing a dark X through the stone due to light leakage along the black areas in the ASET? I thought in a white backround ASET light leakage was in areas of White, and not black? The reds in the ASET do seem quite a bit brighter - can you make a comparison in brightness between one stone and another? Or is it simply a difference in the image itself?

That is a gorgeous modern cushion and a very nice shape! I certainly think it would be a great choice!

 

[heididdl]

I would say that a cushion would be extremely hard to buy locally, because great cushions are few and far between, so you really raise your possibilities by using an online vendor who will likely source more stones for you. Good Old Gold specializes in fancy cuts such as cushions, and that is who I'd recommend you work with. They will find 2-3 that meet your specs and take video showing their light performance for you.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11252/ ($19002.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11261/ ($19294.)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/11573/ ($15267.)

August Vintage antique style cushions:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8214/

I agree with DS using GOG and I am in love with the august vintage bbut since it is over budger I love the second H VS1 stones

 

[Gypsy]

I've contacted the people at GoG and they sent a recommendation of the stone listed at: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12106/


Any thoughts?

It does appear to have very good light return. It is a few thousand dollars more, which obviously is a drawback. Is the area showing a dark X through the stone due to light leakage along the black areas in the ASET? I thought in a white backround ASET light leakage was in areas of White, and not black? The reds in the ASET do seem quite a bit brighter - can you make a comparison in brightness between one stone and another? Or is it simply a difference in the image itself?

beautiful stone.

 

[tyty333]

I've contacted the people at GoG and they sent a recommendation of the stone listed at: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/12106/


Any thoughts?

It does appear to have very good light return. It is a few thousand dollars more, which obviously is a drawback. Is the area showing a dark X through the stone due to light leakage along the black areas in the ASET? I thought in a white backround ASET light leakage was in areas of White, and not black? The reds in the ASET do seem quite a bit brighter - can you make a comparison in brightness between one stone and another? Or is it simply a difference in the image itself?

beautiful stone.

That is a gorgeous stone!