3 carat Cushion- A good deal or a lemon??? what do you think?

[dreamofdiamonds]

Hello Everyone-

This is my first time posting and I hope you guys/gals are able to help. I am an ammature diamond shopper but a professional eye shopper . I fall in love with different diamond rings everytime I see a new one. One second, I think I like emerald cuts and then I see a cushion and I''m in love with that. Basically, I am all over the place. I think I have a more a classic, modern, clean, and elegant taste. I am looking for a diamond upgrade. I currently have a .70 Princess cut that my fiance bought at the mall, WITHOUT any research or much thought. I''ve had the ring for 5 plus years and have been wanting a new diamond, lets be honest since he first put the ring on my finger. Its a SI2 with a black inclusion right in the middle of the stone. I kept my mouth shut for the past 5 years and have now mentioned to him that I would like an upgrade. He doesnt really like the idea but with my persuasion/obession, he has some what agreed. I am basically all on my own and with our finances being both our money, Our budget is 20K. So here is the diamond that I am currently obessing over:

3 Carat Cushion, modified, med flouresence.
SI2, H color
Depth- 68.7
Table- 68%
measurement is- 8.35 x 8.18 x 5.62
my finger size 4 - 4.25

The price of this diamond is 21,500. That is what the jeweler is saying the lowest he can go. He said it is eye clean and more like a VS2 and doesnt understand why GIA has it as a SI2. I brought up the Rapaport report ( to make myself sound like a pro) and how I knew with the clarity and color it should be 8400.00 a carat and he seemed surprise that I would know such a thing. Please let me know what you think of the measurements and the depth and table. I am going to try to upload a picutre of the ring ( its in a premade setting). Do you think its a good deal? Should I run away? Is it a good quality diamond?

 

[dreamofdiamonds]

this is the picture of the ring

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/26/2009 10:10:56 AM
Author:dreamofdiamonds
Hello Everyone-

This is my first time posting and I hope you guys/gals are able to help. I am an ammature diamond shopper but a professional eye shopper . I fall in love with different diamond rings everytime I see a new one. One second, I think I like emerald cuts and then I see a cushion and I''m in love with that. Basically, I am all over the place. I think I have a more a classic, modern, clean, and elegant taste. I am looking for a diamond upgrade. I currently have a .70 Princess cut that my fiance bought at the mall, WITHOUT any research or much thought. I''ve had the ring for 5 plus years and have been wanting a new diamond, lets be honest since he first put the ring on my finger. Its a SI2 with a black inclusion right in the middle of the stone. I kept my mouth shut for the past 5 years and have now mentioned to him that I would like an upgrade. He doesnt really like the idea but with my persuasion/obession, he has some what agreed. I am basically all on my own and with our finances being both our money, Our budget is 20K. So here is the diamond that I am currently obessing over:

3 Carat Cushion, modified, med flouresence.
SI2, H color
Depth- 68.7
Table- 68%
measurement is- 8.35 x 8.18 x 5.62
my finger size 4 - 4.25

The price of this diamond is 21,500. That is what the jeweler is saying the lowest he can go. He said it is eye clean and more like a VS2 and doesnt understand why GIA has it as a SI2. I brought up the Rapaport report ( to make myself sound like a pro) and how I knew with the clarity and color it should be 8400.00 a carat and he seemed surprise that I would know such a thing. Please let me know what you think of the measurements and the depth and table. I am going to try to upload a picutre of the ring ( its in a premade setting). Do you think its a good deal? Should I run away? Is it a good quality diamond?

Its hard to say with the depth and table, cushions are tricky and need to be seen, have you fallen in love with the way this cushion looks or the size?

 

[dreamofdiamonds]

Here is a picture of the ring in natural lighting.

 

[dreamofdiamonds]

I think I''ve fallen in love with the size of the rock. And those are not my hands

 

[vintagelover229]

If you like the size...I''d contact Jonathan at www.goodoldgold.com He doesnt select dud cushions!

For example: https://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/she-s-here-gog-new-chunky-cushion-t118333.html

 

[oldminer]

A Rapaport price has nothing to do with your purchase at your level in the market. Rapaport prices are indications of highest asking prices per carat for dealers of a wide range of best make cuts, To refer to any Rapaport price for a very non-standard shape, a cushion, is way off base. We all wish there was better and there is: Pricescope''s search combined with its many vendors.

This diamond may be okay and could be the one for you, but there will be reasons why SI2 was the grade. They may not be obvious to you or the seller, but likely as not, there are reasons present upon close examination. The depth is not far off what you can expect to generally find and I''d suggest the table is larger than what may look better yet. You just have not found the proper alternatives so far. A patient search over a period of time will do for you what failed to happen five years ago. Now you know more, part of that knowledge must include patience and diligent searching. There are many bad to fair choices and only a few really great choices in the market at any one time.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/26/2009 10:21:11 AM
Author: dreamofdiamonds
Here is a picture of the ring in natural lighting.

Weird how the stone is in sharp focus and the ring band isn't.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 6/26/2009 10:42:00 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/26/2009 10:21:11 AM
Author: dreamofdiamonds
Here is a picture of the ring in natural lighting.

Weird how the stone is in sharp focus and the ring band isn''t.

Photoshop job. (Yes, I pulled the photo and zoomed in just to be sure. Call me a geek.

)

If it is off a dealer website showing a stock photo, it is surely so they can show "handshots" of different shaped stones.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/26/2009 10:50:39 AM
Author: jet2ks

Date: 6/26/2009 10:42:00 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 6/26/2009 10:21:11 AM
Author: dreamofdiamonds
Here is a picture of the ring in natural lighting.

Weird how the stone is in sharp focus and the ring band isn't.

Photoshop job. (Yes, I pulled the photo and zoomed in just to be sure. Call me a geek.

)

If it is off a dealer website showing a stock photo, it is surely so they can show 'handshots' of different shaped stones.

Thanks Jet, I thought it looked shopped on.

Geek.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 6/26/2009 10:10:56 AM
Author:dreamofdiamonds
Hello Everyone-

This is my first time posting and I hope you guys/gals are able to help. I am an ammature diamond shopper but a professional eye shopper . I fall in love with different diamond rings everytime I see a new one. One second, I think I like emerald cuts and then I see a cushion and I'm in love with that. Basically, I am all over the place. I think I have a more a classic, modern, clean, and elegant taste. I am looking for a diamond upgrade. I currently have a .70 Princess cut that my fiance bought at the mall, WITHOUT any research or much thought. I've had the ring for 5 plus years and have been wanting a new diamond, lets be honest since he first put the ring on my finger. Its a SI2 with a black inclusion right in the middle of the stone. I kept my mouth shut for the past 5 years and have now mentioned to him that I would like an upgrade. He doesnt really like the idea but with my persuasion/obession, he has some what agreed. I am basically all on my own and with our finances being both our money, Our budget is 20K. So here is the diamond that I am currently obessing over:

3 Carat Cushion, modified, med flouresence.
SI2, H color
Depth- 68.7
Table- 68%
measurement is- 8.35 x 8.18 x 5.62
my finger size 4 - 4.25

The price of this diamond is 21,500. That is what the jeweler is saying the lowest he can go. He said it is eye clean and more like a VS2 and doesnt understand why GIA has it as a SI2. I brought up the Rapaport report ( to make myself sound like a pro) and how I knew with the clarity and color it should be 8400.00 a carat and he seemed surprise that I would know such a thing. Please let me know what you think of the measurements and the depth and table. I am going to try to upload a picutre of the ring ( its in a premade setting). Do you think its a good deal? Should I run away? Is it a good quality diamond?

Dear DOD,

Welcome to Pricescope.

You really have to know what you want in your diamond there are way too many parameters to narrow it down.
You should definitely watch this video so you understand how huge the price range is in these stones at 3CT http://www.vimeo.com/4650334.

We need to know what company graded the stone was it GIA? Have you seen this stone in person? Where are you getting it from?

1) This stone is a a cushion modified, meaning you will get many little flashes and may see the crushed ice appearance. Most PSers like big chunky facets so this is something you need to consider. There are plenty of really nice Cushion Modified stones but you have to prefer the look. To get a comparison between the two looks and a really nice diamond you might like click here http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5415/ and take a look at the video presentation.)

2) I rarely see Eye Clean SI2 stones. So I would want to see scan of the certificate and a 10X magnification image of the stone or even better look at in person under a loop to find out where the inclusions are and then with just the naked eye to see if the inclusions will bother you or not. As you have already noticed you don't want carbon spots anywhere as they are easy to see no matter how small they are.

3) You can't judge cushions by their specs alone you have to see the stone. For Brilliance I'd want to see it in person or barring that an ASET image would be most helpful or an Idealscope image would be helpful as well if they don't have an ASET.
If you post that here we can tell you if its a bright stone or not.

4) Just from looking at the specs it has a large table (so it will have a flatter appearance) and has medium Fluorescence so you might see a slight blue tinge in some lightning conditions. These aren't necessarily bad things but you have to really like this appearance.


I'd say for your budget you should go to jon at GOG or mark at ERD and ask them to find you the best stone. GOG will be able to show you a lot of things visually about any potential diamond, Mark at ERD has a great eye and both will give you a very bright stone. You have to decide what is most important to you. Size? Brightness? Chunky versus Modern Facets? Colour of the stone must it be completely colourless or do you like a little bit warmer stones?.

This stone could be really nice and well priced as its SI2 but we need a lot more information to tell. From the picture it looks a bit dead in the center but its impossible to tell and might just be the lighting conditions.

 

[DiamondFlame]

It looks pretty but I''m not completely sold. I was expecting to see more finger coverage given its spread and for 20K I''d expect something spectacular. Unless you''re dead certain you must have this particular cushion and nothing else, my advice to you would be to hold on to your 20K and expand your shortlist of ''potential candidates.'' Find one that knock your socks right off from the get go, the one against which every other stone seems to pale in comparison. When it comes to cushions, go with your eyes and your heart.

 

[tyty333]

Date: 6/26/2009 1:06:05 PM
Author: DiamondFlame
It looks pretty but I''m not completely sold. I was expecting to see more finger coverage given its spread and for 20K I''d expect something spectacular. Unless you''re dead certain you must have this particular cushion and nothing else, my advice to you would be to hold on to your 20K and expand your shortlist of ''potential candidates.'' Find one that knock your socks right off from the get go, the one against which every other stone seems to pale in comparison. When it comes to cushions, go with your eyes and your heart.

Ditto, I know cushions run deep and small for their weight but I did expect more finger coverage for $20k. Just doesnt
look like its a $20k ring (although it is a very pretty ring/stone from the pictures).

 

[Gypsy]

It''s really pretty, but... I agree it looks small. I would hold off too.