Help me pick my cushion!!

My eyes really like the appearance of this stone!!!  It''s almost like an old european cut.  However, I really don''t know too much about cushions, so I can''t comments on aspects of the cut.  The table is slightly large, but with a big crown height it''s probably not a problem.  The 2004 cert isn''t too much of a red flag to me personally.

Date: 8/14/2008 7:17:01 PM
Author:dasman08
Hello everyone. Really appreciate the wealth of knowledge on this site. I''ve learned a lot already, and you all have some gorgeous stones!


I have narrowed my search down to a cushion brilliant (not modified) with a 1:08-1:20 ratio, and Mark at ERD has presented me with the following stone:


2.01 ct

VS2

G

Ratio: 1:10

Depth:60%

Table:64.2%

Girdle:thin to xthck

Culet:medium

Fluor: none


How do these dimensions sound?


''Crown angles are greater than 40 degrees'' - is this a problem? We''re getting a 2-prong split shank Maytal setting.


GIA Cetificate is from 2004. This seems like a red flag to me - why would it have been on the market so long when these specific cushions are so hard to find?


Stone is attached - please offer your opinions!


thks,

dave

The picture looks good and I generally trust Mark''s judgment. As for specs, the table is a bit larger than I typically go for and often I like the table to be smaller than the depth to get maximum fire. Plus 60% depth is usually right on the cusp of being too shallow. I know mark generally searches for 60% or higher. But that doesnt mean this stone isn''t a beauty because the look is quite nice. Have Mark shoot you some video of the stone so you can get a better sense of light performance.

Also, just for grins, see if he has a stone with a table in the high 50''s and depth in the mid 60''s. If this is the only G/VS2 2 carat stone out there right now, then be willing to wait for the right stone and see a few more options.

As for the date of cert, GIA did alter some standards after 2006 so that might be an issue but I''m not a GG so I dont even know what was changed. But if you have some time before buying, you probably can find another if it bothers you. I wrote here recently about this issue and many people say it doesnt matter and it probably doesnt but it always did signal a red flag for me from a "mind-clean" standpoint.

The real question is what do you think?

Mark got me my diamond and its gorgeous. I trust his eyes as to what''s a good value. But if it doesn''t sing to you, then ask him to keep looking. He''s great!

Other than Cushion Brilliant, and 1.08-1.2:1 ratio what are your recs?

Well, it''s just hard to tell from this photo, the real shape and brilliance of it. My recs beyond what I listed aren''t all that specific...I want the stone to have a lot of brilliance, be eye-clean, and be suitable for the two-prong setting we have in mind. Mark says that what we''re looking for is not very common, a needle in a haystack. I''m willing to wait a bit for the right stone..I wish I could get some better pics, but am not sure I will. Just curious what everyone thought

I think it looks great but it depends on how you feel, if it looks as if it is possibly what you want. 

Looks like a very pretty stone, but I would love to see another picture of it. Looks lower than a 1.10. As others have said, the table is a little bigger than normal for that kind of antique cushion, but still beautiful. When will you get to see it in person? I totally trust Mark, but you shuld try and see it for yourself if possible.

The table and depth percentages are a bit concerning, but I think what counts the most is what you think of the stone.

Keep in mind that Mark has a great eye and has picked out so many beautiful stones. On the other hand, he''s not a great photographer. When I first saw the picture of my stone it didn''t initially sing to me, ended up getting it, and in person it''s spectacular and I love it.

could it be that the stone was upgraded, i.e. bought back from ERD... could that explain an early GIA cert?

also, that''s a great pic of the stone, and i have seen recent photos from ERD and they don''t look as nice as that pic...

reminds me of a James Allen photo???

Here''s a video of the stone.

Thoughts?

My goodness, I think it looks outstanding. I know there''s a lot of expertise/discussion here re the "numbers" of indiviidual stones. However, in my experience, cushions need to be seen, and I like what I see in this one.

Another great choice by Mark.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. It amazes me that the video makes the stone look SO different than the pictures. My one remaining concern is the picture seems to make the stone look unevenly cut on the edges - but this doesn''t seem to be the case in the video. Hard to tell. Sadly my schedule won''t allow me to fly to NYC to see it in person, so I''ll have to trust Mark and send it back if I end up not liking it.

Oh, it''s also about $2K more than a similar stone he quoted with an H color rating and a 1:05 ratio. Seems odd to me, but he did say these chunkier cuts were much more rare. Been reading every cushion thread ever on here, but will keep at it.

It's really unique and beautiful. I would (and have!) trust Mark's eyes 100%. If he says it's stunning, I bet it is. We all know some of his photography skills are lacking...

Oh and BTW, if you are actually looking at a stone, don't let the numbers dissuade you. There are some crazy numbered cushions out there that are stunning. It's only a tool to use if you can't see it/photos before you buy with cushions.

Date: 8/17/2008 10:34:53 AM
Author: neatfreak
It''s really unique and beautiful. I would (and have!) trust Mark''s eyes 100%. If he says it''s stunning, I bet it is. We all know some of his photography skills are lacking...

Oh and BTW, if you are actually looking at a stone, don''t let the numbers dissuade you. There are some crazy numbered cushions out there that are stunning. It''s only a tool to use if you can''t see it/photos before you buy with cushions.

Ditto Neat.

ok! I'll help! LOL...

Don't care about the date of the cert..

I always hates this answer...but ya, the numbers won't help ya here...and as for the crown angles...I think that's common in these antiq-ie looking cushions...so as long as you like the look of a more antique cut, that's all that matters...It certainly doesn't appear to have any funky shadows or anything that would be visually unappealing...and it perhaps faces up in size quite nicely?  Also, I would pay more for a G over an H in a cushion cut...


EDITED: Hey! When did Mark start doing videos? Awesome good chap!
After seeing it in the vidoe, it has a lot of life to me and a lot of fire....Very nice indeed!

Well, I read in another post, someone had said to another cushion seeker to just "have mark take some video for you", so I asked, and he had someone do it within a coupla hours. Really improved the odds of me buying the stone!

heck ya! when I got my cushion from him several years ago, he wasn't even emailing pictures  LOL...

I think I mentioned to ask him to shoot a video.  I never knew he did this either until he (or gary) said he could shoot me some video so now I tell people who are working with ERD to ask for video (i''m sure mark/gary love me for that!)

Video!! I din''t get any! LOL
Seriously... That stone looks beautiful. Mark is right they really are a lot harder to find. If you read all the cushion threads you probably ran across mine detailing my trip cross country to find my stone. Still only had one from Mark and one from Jon to choose from. I was shocked, but it worked out. Good luck I know its a big decision, but I think your first option is an excellent one!

So, I spoke with Mark today just to ask him about the symmetry of the edges of the stone. I sent him a pic (attached here) and he took a look and confirmed that it was off, most likely b/c to make it symmetrical would have meant shaving enough off of it to put it under 2 carats, which would lose a lot of money for the original seller.

He also said the culet was off center a bit, but didn't seem to concerned about that. But the symmetry issue bothered him enough to say let's put this stone away and look for another. I didn't really push him - I'm kind of torn but I guess I do want it to be over 2 carats, and to me the edges are quite a bit off when you look at it up close. I don't want to end up waiting for months, but would love to see a non-crooked option (no offense, crooked rock! ) Is your rock actually crooked, CR? Does it matter?

FYI, the setting I am having Maytal make will be similar to this one: http://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/erd-maytal-hannah-my-new-set-t80781.html

dave

Attachments

cushion2-edges.jpg (31.53 KiB) Viewed 197 times

Tried to edit my post to fix the link of the setting I''m having made but I suspect PS doesn''t like Macs too much

Here it is

LOL! Luckily my stone is not crooked. Glad Mark agreed with you. If that was something that would have bothered you, then it''s best to move on. Keep us posted on your next option!

Like I said before, the question is whether it sings to you. If your first thought looking at the stone is "yea, its kind of nice" then pass. If its "yipeee!" then you know you''ve hit gold.

Mark is the best, he''ll come through

When it's set you'll be able to tell even more and it would bother me and I think it will be quite noticeable...You have a good eye for realizing this on your own..it might bother me that I noticed it and not my vendor...but that said keep looking...I'm confident he can find you a great stone...he's really good to work with...

Date: 8/18/2008 2:35:37 PM
Author: dasman08
So, I spoke with Mark today just to ask him about the symmetry of the edges of the stone. I sent him a pic (attached here) and he took a look and confirmed that it was off, most likely b/c to make it symmetrical would have meant shaving enough off of it to put it under 2 carats, which would lose a lot of money for the original seller.

He also said the culet was off center a bit, but didn''t seem to concerned about that. But the symmetry issue bothered him enough to say let''s put this stone away and look for another. I didn''t really push him - I''m kind of torn but I guess I do want it to be over 2 carats, and to me the edges are quite a bit off when you look at it up close. I don''t want to end up waiting for months, but would love to see a non-crooked option (no offense, crooked rock! ) Is your rock actually crooked, CR? Does it matter?

FYI, the setting I am having Maytal make will be similar to this one: http://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/erd-maytal-hannah-my-new-set-t80781.html

dave

Beautiful cushions aren''t like beautiful rounds.  Often times the lack of perfect symmetry is what makes a cushion interesting.  I personally would be fine with it, because I don''t look for the same perfection in cushions that I do in rounds.  instead I look for an overall aesthetic, beautiful, and "look" with cushions if that makes any sense.

I looooove the setting you chose by the way, stunning!

I find it peculiar Mark didnt notice the symmetry issue until after dasman pointed it out....

OK, I''m back with another stone from Mark. It looks quite brilliant and is better cut than the stone I was looking at before, but is a slightly lower clarity and color grade. Mark assures me it''s incredibly eye-clean and is 99% it''s the one for us. I''m leaning towards getting it, but would love any feedback

2.09 ct Cushion Brilliant
1:10 ratio
H
SI1 (eyeclean)
Cut = EX
Polish = EX
Symmetry = VG
Fluor = none

"Additional clouds are not shown"

Don''t have the other specs yet. Here''s a pic. Thoughts?

Attachments

cush222.jpg (91.2 KiB) Viewed 197 times

This stone is also significantly less than the G VS2 I was looking at before, which is nice...but wasn''t strictly necessary. Here''s the pic without enhancement.

Attachments

cush222b.jpg (65.92 KiB) Viewed 197 times

it looks incredible. i love the chunky faceting and face up i dont see any difference in color let along clarity so good you saves the extra coin.

do you have the depth and table percentages?? the table looks nice and small so it must be a fireball. is it also an 8 pavilion facet stone?

i think its a real winner....good work!

Thanks for your feedback, stone_seeker. Loved your stone

Just got the other info:

Table: 54%
Depth: 62%
Girdle: Thin to Medium
Culet: Small

Is the table small? Is that desirable?

Prrrrrrty! It reminds me a lot of Scarlet16''s and CrookedRock''s wonderful cushions. Perhaps it was cut by the same person as theirs. Looks outstanding!