Help with picking out a cushion cut

[aezo]

I want to propose to my gf in April and I need some serious help picking out a cushion cut diamond. I'm looking for a 1.5 carat, G-H color and a VS1-SL1 clarity. The budget for the diamond that I'm working with is $10,000. Here are some of the diamonds I'm currently looking at. Please let me know what you guys think and if you have any other suggestions I would really appreciate it. Also has anyone here used the financing option through James Allen? If I do get my diamond from them I was considering doing the 6 month finance since I know I can easily pay it off within the 6 months. It would be nice not having to drop 10k all at once.

#1 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-H-color-VS1-clarity-sku-152735

#2 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-SI1-clarity-sku-188109

#3 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.53-carat-H-color-SI1-clarity-sku-118771

#4 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-H-color-VS2-clarity-sku-165410

#5 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-167605

#6 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-170441

I'm really glad I found this community. Thanks everyone in advance.

 

[CopperTop]

If I had to choose I would say #1. I dont like the inclusions on the SI stones. Of the remaining I prefer the faceting of the first one. The last one looks odd to me with the unevenness of the sparkle.

 

[ariel144]

Hi, and welcome to PS. You have come to the right place to find the best stone in your budget and to learn how to pick a well performing cushion. May I suggest that you go to www.goodoldgold.com and watch their educational videos on cushion cuts before you choose one. It will help you to first determine which type of faceting you prefer in a cushion cut, as there are so many.

Of those you posted they all have that gray mush going on under the table which is not good. You should look for crisp facets with no mush. The only one you posted that has this type of faceting is #5 but it is very deep and the table is large for a cushion cut.

Cut is king and not color or clarity. There are modern cushions and then the chunky old cuts that look like the beautiful antique stones.

A good cushion will usually have a mid 60% depth and mid 50% table but there are no hard and fast rules.

I will post some in your price range...JA has started carrying more cushion brilliants and Old Mine Brilliants that are beautiful but they don't last long. They will also give you an ASET image so you can check to see how well the stone performs as it shows where the stone is leaking light.

To see ASETS of nice cushions you can check GOG (August Vintage Cushions) and ERD...Engagementringsdirect.com (A cut beyond).

Good luck on your journey...This is the best place to come to get find the cushion of your dreams.

 

[aezo]

Hi, and welcome to PS. You have come to the right place to find the best stone in your budget and to learn how to pick a well performing cushion. May I suggest that you go to www.goodoldgold.com and watch their educational videos on cushion cuts before you choose one. It will help you to first determine which type of faceting you prefer in a cushion cut, as there are so many.

Thank you for this website. I'm currently watching some of the videos. This guys great! I know my girlfriend prefers a more modern facet and really wants the carat size to be 1.5. She prefers the smaller reflections on the modern facet. I'm really hoping I can find a modern cut in that size that is within my budget and still looks really nice. She's an amazing girl and I wish my budget was limitless so I could get her the perfect diamond.

Of those you posted they all have that gray mush going on under the table which is not good. You should look for crisp facets with no mush. The only one you posted that has this type of faceting is #5 but it is very deep and the table is large for a cushion cut.

This is the kind of stuff i'm worried about. Since I'm not very good at this I cant even see the grey mush that you're talking about. Glad your here to help!

Cut is king and not color or clarity. There are modern cushions and then the chunky old cuts that look like the beautiful antique stones.

A good cushion will usually have a mid 60% depth and mid 50% table but there are no hard and fast rules.

I was never sure what the depth and table percentages should be for a cushion. Good to know!

I will post some in your price range...JA has started carrying more cushion brilliants and Old Mine Brilliants that are beautiful but they don't last long. They will also give you an ASET image so you can check to see how well the stone performs as it shows where the stone is leaking light.

I really really appreciate your help! The diamond doesn't have to be from James Allen either. If you see other options from any other sites I'm all ears. The main focus is the diamond is at least 1.5ct. I'm really hoping I can find something within my budget.

To see ASETS of nice cushions you can check GOG (August Vintage Cushions) and ERD...Engagementringsdirect.com (A cut beyond).

I've read through a lot of these other forum posts and I did learn about the ASET image. I was planning to make sure to have one sent to me before I made any type of purchase.

Good luck on your journey...This is the best place to come to get find the cushion of your dreams.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[JulieN]

I like your #5, though I might put it up against this one, which is a little bit bigger. Possibly a good choice if you are looking for that rapid-fire scintillation: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-195762

This one has good spread but it is more expensive: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.55-carat-H-color-VS2-clarity-sku-137280

This one might be a little mushy, but it's big and possibly eye-clean: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-H-color-SI2-clarity-sku-158906

In budget, and I love an eye-clean SI2, but the feather seems to run from one side clear to the other: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.53-carat-F-color-SI2-clarity-sku-37189

Seems more yellow than other H: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-H-color-SI1-clarity-sku-173230

http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-H-color-VS1-clarity-sku-148267

 

[ariel144]

Are you looking for squarish or elongated?

Here are some on ERD...take a look at their videos. I like the first two the best as they face up the largest for the $$. The 1.68 has been reserved but if they don't buy it you might want that one.

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

Here is the results of my search on JA, the first one being my favorite for the price and cut:
the very high crowns and small tables are highly desired as they make a plump pillowy cushion, there are some antique cuts
and some modern cuts:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-sku-191539

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.22-carat-G-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-124816

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.28-carat-G-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-191546

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-166143

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-F-color-SI1-clarity-sku-177021

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.40-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-191537

Favorite Modern cut: 1.71 I VS1

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-sku-67633

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut//CaratFrom:1.18|CaratTo:10.00|PriceFrom:400|PriceTo:17500|Sortrice%20asc,%20DefaultOrder|TabSelected:3|advancedParameter:pn|showAdvanced:show|ps:15||DiamondID:146043,179903,187284,165631,36865,178358,195030,124816,174997,191539,191546,67634,67633,166143,191537,177021,164017,177004|PolishSymmetryLabFlourDepthFrom:45.0|DepthTo:73.3|TableFrom:50.0|TableTo:63.5|

Here are some 2c stones...over budget
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut//CaratFrom:1.18|CaratTo:10.00|PriceFrom:400|PriceTo:17500|Sortrice%20asc,%20DefaultOrder|TabSelected:3|advancedParameter:pn|showAdvanced:show|ps:15|pn:2||DiamondID:146043,179903,187284,165631,36865,178358,195030,124816,174997,191539,191546,67634,67633,166143,191537,177021,164017,177004|PolishSymmetryLabFlourDepthFrom:45.0|DepthTo:73.3|TableFrom:50.0|TableTo:63.5|

 

[ariel144]

Oh, and try not to pay attention to the carat size...that is the weight of the stone....you want to look at the mm...the length and width measurement to see which stone faces up the largest for the carat weight. The shallower depths produce the largest spread (face up measurements) and thus the more impressive size to the eye.

modern cuts on GOG...take a look at those Megascopes

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10197/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10321/

Fancy light brownish yellow AVC...nice for $8.5k...lovely and very large

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8153/

 

[CharmyPoo]

Out of your list ... #5 is my fave.

If you don't mind trying out other vendors, there is a diamond that I think has potential but no pics. I know Mark from ERD can get diamonds from this dealer. Ask him for that LOT and GIA number. Only thing to check is the inclusions to make sure it is eyeclean.

Lot #000-156

 

[ariel144]

Out of your list ... #5 is my fave.

If you don't mind trying out other vendors, there is a diamond that I think has potential but no pics. I know Mark from ERD can get diamonds from this dealer. Ask him for that LOT and GIA number. Only thing to check is the inclusions to make sure it is eyeclean.

Lot #000-156

That stone is nice a large...bet it is a beaut~! Do you know the cost?

OK, found it. ...this guy usually has the best prices on the net ... a little over budget:

http://buydiamonddirect.com/details/detailGIA.asp?ITEM=42551085


Our Item Number Is 42551085
Price Is $ $15,712.95






Weight 1.78

Shape Cushion
Measurements 8.16x7.03x4.31

Proportions
Depth 61.4
Table 55
Girdle Slightly Thick-Thick
Culet None

Finish
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent

Clarity Grade SI1

Color Grade G

Fluorescence None

Here it is on Excel for $16,200

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Diamonds-1/GIA-Graded-Cushion-Diamond-1-78-Carat-G-Color-SI1-Clarity-252328.html

 

[aezo]

Ariel,

The ERD Link you posted doesn't work for me. I just come to a page that says I don't have any diamonds to compare. So I wasn't able to see the diamonds or videos you suggested.

The amount of options you guys have given me so quickly is unbelievable. It's so hard to look at these and pick one. Some of these are just to out of budget for me but the selection within budget is still amazing. The ones I really liked in no order..

#1 http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-I-color-VS1-clarity-sku-191539 - Ariel, I could def. see my girlfriend loving this cut. It's a beautiful stone. I see what you mean about the plump pillowy cushion look being attractive.

#2 http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.28-carat-G-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-191546 - I'll have to talk to my gf about the whole carat size thing. She def. doesn't care about the weight of the stone but more about the size of the face.

#3 http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.22-carat-G-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-124816

#4 http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10197/ - I would have to call.. I have a feeling it would fall out of budget.

#5 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-195762 - Julien, thank you for this suggestion.

#6 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-167605 - my #5 in my original post.

I would love to hear everyones opinions on the following stones. They all look gorgeous to me it's so tough to decide. It's a decision I want to make on my own but in the end I might just have to bring the girlfriend into the discussion. There's also this sense of urgency I have to reserve a stone before they are taken. For everyone that chimed in and gave me options, thank you so much. I'm forever grateful!

 

[justginger]

Ariel has come up with some lovely suggestions for you! You have a healthy budget, so no worries there - please don't feel pressured into spending more than you are comfortable with. There has to be a line drawn in the sand somewhere or you'll just end up going up and up and up!

I think you should show your girlfriend some of the videos, specifically one comparing a modern cushion to an antique style one. You say she likes the small faceting of a modern stone - but is that because she hasn't seen the chunkier kind before? They are very different beasts, so I think the first step is deciding for sure which type of cushion you're focusing on.

 

[ariel144]

Here are the two largest ones on ERD ...just select "A cut Beyond" and you can see their inventory.

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/index.php?file=diamond_details&gems_item_id=109134&first_step=diamond

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/index.php?file=diamond_details&gems_item_id=113715&first_step=diamond

Pick the 3 you like the best on JA and ask for the ASET images. Then we can compare to the ASETS of these on ERD. The first one on ERD is kind of dark under the table.

 

[JulieN]

The amount of options you guys have given me so quickly is unbelievable. It's so hard to look at these and pick one. Some of these are just to out of budget for me but the selection within budget is still amazing. The ones I really liked in no order..

#1 You said your gf wants a modern cushion, this is antique style

#2 see #1

#3 http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.22-carat-G-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-124816

#4 it is less than $11K

#5 You're welcome.

#6 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-167605 - my #5 in my original post.

 

[aezo]

Although I really liked the cut of the vintage diamonds #1 and #2 I showed my girlfriend the different options and she still prefers the more modern brilliant cut. She likes the bigger flat table on the modern cut compared to the vintage cut where the table is smaller with a larger crown.

I asked for the ASET images for #'3 #5 and #6. Once I get them emailed to me i'll be sure to post them up on here to have them compared to the GOG diamond.

Thanks everyone! If anyone else has any beautiful moderns they can throw into the mix please do

 

[CharmyPoo]

Awesome sleuthing Ariel. I suspected it was over 15k. I get emails from this dealer with his Inventory list but don't really know who retails them. Its funny... after I bought my cushion ... I was doing some searching and found the dealer of my diamond.

 

[aezo]

Just to update everyone, I spoke with someone at James Allen about the 3 diamonds that I picked and he said there was some concern with two of them being a little dark under the table. He found two other diamonds that he recommended bringing to the gemologist to have looked over instead.

He said he had some concerns about the light performance in these two diamonds under the table.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.22-carat-G-color-VVS1-clarity-sku-124816

http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-167605

He replaced them with the following two diamonds and the third diamond being the one Julien suggested.

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Cushion-cut/1.38-carat-F-color-VS2-clarity-sku-163295

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-170441

http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-195762 - Juliens suggestion

I should have the review from the gemologist along with the ASET images within 3 business days.

 

[JulieN]

This one, 86 it. http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Cushion-cut/1.50-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-170441
It is super deep and your gf wants you to prioritize size. This one faces up bigger: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.31-carat-E-color-VS2-clarity-sku-154769
http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.33-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-42040
http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.31-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-168388

I didn't post this earlier because the inclusion looked a little scary http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-H-color-SI2-clarity-sku-158906

ETA: Make this one of the three, the spread is good: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.26-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-190804

 

[aezo]

Thanks Julien,

I should have went with my gut instinct. I felt the same way about that 1.5. It looked so thick and bulky and wasn't that appealing. I sent an email back to the guy i'm working with at James Allen and also left him a voice mail. Hopefully he hasn't put the transaction through for the 3 diamonds yet and can take a look at your suggestions.

 

[aezo]

Julien,

He got back in touch with me and liked both your 1.33 and 1.26 selections. We both came to the conclusion to go with the same suggestion that you had of adding the 1.26 as the third selection. It has a lot of uniqueness to it and it's a very attractive diamond.

Now comes the anticipation for the reviews on these diamonds by the gemologist and the ASET images. He said he should be in contact with me by Thursday. The wait is going to drive me crazy lol..

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[aezo]

So I just heard back from Garrett and we discussed the ASET images. Now I'm stuck with a very tough decision and I would appreciate everyones input.

The first diamond is the 1.38 http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Cushion-cut/1.38-carat-F-color-VS2-clarity-sku-163295



This diamond is out obviously. Way to much light leakage.

The second diamond is the 1.26 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.26-carat-G-color-VS1-clarity-sku-190804



The 1.26 has good light reflection and was the diamond the gemologist said she would choose. She loved the symmetry of the diamond and said it had a very unique look to it that she loved. As far as me wanting the size of a 1.5ct she said that the face of this diamond came very close to the size of a 1.5. It would be hard for most people to tell the difference. The price of this diamond was $10,030 and with the pricescope discount it came to $9720.

The third diamond is the 1.51 http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-G-color-VS2-clarity-sku-195762 - THANKS JULIEN!



The 1.51 had the best light reflection as you can see and fit the style of a cushion more then the 1.26. The gemologist said it was a hard choice for her between this diamond and the 1.26 but in the end said her #1 would be the 1.26 because of the symmetry and uniqueness of it. I love the light reflection of this diamond and the fact that it's a 1.51ct. The price of this diamond was $1010 and with the pricescope discount it came out to $9700.

I have a tough choice ahead of me between these two diamonds and unfortunately only have 24 hours to make it before I loose the hold on them. I would love to hear everyones input on which diamond I should go with. I'm torn between the two.

 

[04diamond<3]

Yuck to the first one. The other two are nice, but I prefer #3!!!

 

[JulieN]

I really hated to say it before, but we all knew that first one was not going to turn out well...

For the second one, they all ASET like that, lots of green. Despite what the ASET shows, I think they will be more comparable in appearance than that, and it would come down to preference; possibly you may prefer one of them in diffuse light and the other one under spot light... By all accounts of people who actually own that type, they say it is very sparkly and much nicer than the ASET looks. The 1.26 and 1.51 are almost the same size, the 1.51 is a very nice example of a modified brilliant , a little bit bigger and of course "1.5 carats."