Advise on purchasing lower colour grade cushion cut diamond ring

[asdormin]

Good morning. My name is Asen and I am new to the forum. I am in pursuit of purchasing an engagement ring for my partner and believe that I am near the final line, but need some advise. I will cut the story short and get right to the point, as I would not want to waste your time. I have chosen a 1.03ct J SI1 cushion cut diamond, a brilliant cut one to be precise. It is certified by GIA and I have attached a link to the certificate itself. The diamond has excellent polish and very good symmetry, and an excellent cut, according to the supplier, which is apparently based only on the measurements and their ratio. Would that be an adequate cut grade? My biggest fear is that it might appear too yellow. It has medium blue fluorescence. I also encountered a diamond with very similar parameters, but with strong blue fluorescence. Would that medium or strong fluorescence neutralize the yellow faint colour to some extent and bring it closer to an I colour for the naked eye or would that be a shot in the dark? I could obviously go smaller and buy an I coloured one, but would rather get more for my money, if you understand what I mean. I am aware that the ideal colour would be H for such a cut, but would really not want to compromise with the size that much.



https://www.77diamonds.com/certification_CUSPUIFSSCPC2NPX.html

 

[tyty333]

Do you have an asset image for this stone? If so post, please. If not, ask your supplier if they can provide an aset image.

To be honest, the light return on this stone does not look promising IMO. Bad light return will show every bit of color. Good light return
will help the stone look brighter and make the color not look so obvious when viewing straight on.

 

[Matthews1127]

Weight is different than spread. Cushions are fancy cut diamonds, and tend to face up smaller than rounds.
What you need to focus on, if you’re concerned about size, is the l x w ratio in mm. Fancies tend to be bottom heavy, so, a lot of the weight is in the pavilion area, not the crown.
There are .90ct+ Cushions out there with spread similar or better than a 1.00+ct cushion, but you have to search HARD.
Size is subjective.
Fluorescence can assist a diamond in facing up whiter, in lower colors. If color sensitivity is an issue, confirm with the gemologist, not the sales associate, that the medium fluorescence does not impact the stone in a negative way (ie: hazy or milky appearance). It’s not common, but it’s best to confirm.
Fancies tend to show more body color from the side, so you’ll want to consider your setting choice, if you move forward with a lower colored cushion.

 

[marymm]

OP, I think you will be disappointed with the GIA 1.03ct J-SI1 cushion diamond you posted, for all of the reasons stated by the two PSers above.

If you would like to post your budget for the diamond, we could suggest some diamonds that fit your parameters (prioritizing face-up size and performance and keeping to near-colorless if possible) for your consideration...

 

[asdormin]

Do you have an asset image for this stone? If so post, please. If not, ask your supplier if they can provide an aset image.

Unfortunately, I do not have one. I just spoke to a sales rep, but I am not sure that they knew what that was.

Weight is different than spread. Cushions are fancy cut diamonds, and tend to face up smaller than rounds.
What you need to focus on, if you’re concerned about size, is the l x w ratio in mm. Fancies tend to be bottom heavy, so, a lot of the weight is in the pavilion area, not the crown.
There are .90ct+ Cushions out there with spread similar or better than a 1.00+ct cushion, but you have to search HARD.
Size is subjective.

I did try that days ago and I found a 0.90 carat I SI1, which measures 5.27x5.25x3.64. It is not as big as the one I posted initially, but not that far either. It has some cloudy inclusion, which is visible through the table and when turned face down, but the gemologist insisted that it would not be visible by the naked eye. Attached below you will find a picture of it.


https://www.77diamonds.com/certification_CUSZFXQ6REPM.html

OP, I think you will be disappointed with the GIA 1.03ct J-SI1 cushion diamond you posted, for all of the reasons stated by the two PSers above.

If you would like to post your budget for the diamond, we could suggest some diamonds that fit your parameters (prioritizing face-up size and performance and keeping to near-colorless if possible) for your consideration...

My budget is £3000, so you are more than welcome to come up with suggestions. I am located in the UK though, which might be a problem?

 

[david b]

It looks like a diamond with a lot of brilliance!
J is definately not shwing yellow but if you set it with side diamonds take care they will also be J colors

 

[asdormin]

Is it the diamond from my first post that you are talking about or the second one? It is a solitaire ring that I am after, no side stones.

 

[lovedogs]

I am not liking either stone you posted, unfortunately. Fancy cuts will show more body color, and neither of these look very well cut .

 

[marymm]

Blue Nile ships internationally (free) ... https://www.bluenile.com/policies/international ... not sure of additional customs/taxes you may incur as recipient.

Based on video and face-up size, I suggest these:
1. 0.90ct I-VVS2 - medium blue fluor - 5.9 x 5.4mm - LD10047332 - USD $2375 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - Note: this shape is rectangular with a spready face-up and beautiful faceting - the I-color with fluorescence and the high clarity are nice factors too.

2. 1.05ct J-VS1 - 5.8 x 5.8mm - LD11870207 - USD $2664 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - this is a true square at 5.8mm and although a J-color the video and faceting should make for a bright, lovely diamond.

These two are also worth considering:
3. 1.01ct J-VS1 - 5.8 x 5.75 x 3.98mm - LD11964680 - USD $2895 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - not quite a perfect square

4. 1.00ct J-VS1 - 5.84 x 5.58 x 3.90mm - LD11884816 - USD $2699 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - more rectangular

 

[Austina]

You can copy the stock number of each diamond, and paste it into the search box of Bluenile’s UK website. This will give you the price in £ including VAT.

If you import a diamond from outside the UK, you will have to pay the VAT and possibly other charges before it’s released to you, HTH.

 

[lovedogs]

Blue Nile ships internationally (free) ... https://www.bluenile.com/policies/international ... not sure of additional customs/taxes you may incur as recipient.

Based on video and face-up size, I suggest these:
1. 0.90ct I-VVS2 - medium blue fluor - 5.9 x 5.4mm - LD10047332 - USD $2375 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - Note: this shape is rectangular with a spready face-up and beautiful faceting - the I-color with fluorescence and the high clarity are nice factors too.

2. 1.05ct J-VS1 - 5.8 x 5.8mm - LD11870207 - USD $2664 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - this is a true square at 5.8mm and although a J-color the video and faceting should make for a bright, lovely diamond.

These two are also worth considering:
3. 1.01ct J-VS1 - 5.8 x 5.75 x 3.98mm - LD11964680 - USD $2895 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - not quite a perfect square

4. 1.00ct J-VS1 - 5.84 x 5.58 x 3.90mm - LD11884816 - USD $2699 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - more rectangular

These are all great options and I think will be more lively and better than the ones OP originally was considering. The facets are crisper , and the better cut makes the color less noticible. I'm a sucker for cushions with the X pattern in the middle so those are my personal favorites of these , but all are strong contenders.

 

[asdormin]

Blue Nile ships internationally (free) ... https://www.bluenile.com/policies/international ... not sure of additional customs/taxes you may incur as recipient.

Based on video and face-up size, I suggest these:
1. 0.90ct I-VVS2 - medium blue fluor - 5.9 x 5.4mm - LD10047332 - USD $2375 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - Note: this shape is rectangular with a spready face-up and beautiful faceting - the I-color with fluorescence and the high clarity are nice factors too.

2. 1.05ct J-VS1 - 5.8 x 5.8mm - LD11870207 - USD $2664 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - this is a true square at 5.8mm and although a J-color the video and faceting should make for a bright, lovely diamond.

These two are also worth considering:
3. 1.01ct J-VS1 - 5.8 x 5.75 x 3.98mm - LD11964680 - USD $2895 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - not quite a perfect square

4. 1.00ct J-VS1 - 5.84 x 5.58 x 3.90mm - LD11884816 - USD $2699 - https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true - more rectangular

Thank you very much for your time and suggestions. I personally prefer a square diamond, with measurements ratio of up to 1.05. I favor options number 2 and 3, but number 2 is graded as a good cut. Wouldn't that affect performance massively? In those pictures/videos the J coloured diamonds do not look bad at all. I thought they would be more yellow. I imagine that once settled into a white metal band, they should look even better?

 

[asdormin]

You can copy the stock number of each diamond, and paste it into the search box of Bluenile’s UK website. This will give you the price in £ including VAT.

If you import a diamond from outside the UK, you will have to pay the VAT and possibly other charges before it’s released to you, HTH.

I have just confirmed with Blue Nile UK that prices include VAT and their products are imported from Ireland, which means there are no extra charges, in terms of taxes and duties. What you see on the website is what you pay. I guess this might be useful for other UK based users too.

 

[marymm]

OP, a cushion is a fancy shaped diamond and there is no cut grading system for fancy shapes.



For fancy shapes, including cushions, the best way to evaluate is based on personal examination and/or videos/photos/images (Aset/Idealscope) ... meaning, numbers alone cannot guarantee quality or performance in fancy shape diamonds.

For more PS knowledge, check out the article on fancy shapes (https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/fancy-shape-diamonds ) and on cushions (https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/cushion-cut-diamond)

 

[asdormin]

You are the best! Thank you very much and everyone else that has taken their time to help me out! I will carefully read through those materials.

 

[lovedogs]

You are the best! Thank you very much and everyone else that has taken their time to help me out! I will carefully read through those materials.

I would do that, and not worry as much about ratio, since none of that guarantees good performance in a fancy cut. The reason the ones suggested above look less tinted/yellow than the ones you linked is bc the cut is better.

 

[diamondhoarder]

I have just confirmed with Blue Nile UK that prices include VAT and their products are imported from Ireland, which means there are no extra charges, in terms of taxes and duties. What you see on the website is what you pay. I guess this might be useful for other UK based users too.

For this reason Bluenile are a great option for UK purchases. Also, importantly, if you need to return the diamond then you only have to return it to Ireland rather than the USA and you receive a full refund which includes the VAT you paid. If you had purchased from a US vendor who ships from outside of the EU then if you did need to make a return you have to reclaim the VAT back yourself which is an arduous process and can take weeks. (I'm in the UK and have experienced this pain with HMRC myself )

 

[asdormin]

It is not that much my concern with performance, rather than my personal preference that the stone would have a square shape. As far as I know my partner and I'd like to believe that I know her quite well, she would prefer that as well. Between option 2 and 3, which one would you guys personally chose? I imagine 3 or not necessarily? I have now chosen a band and clarified payment options with Blue Nile UK, so I am pretty much ready to place my order, but have to make the final and most important choice.

 

[kb1gra]

It is not that much my concern with performance, rather than my personal preference that the stone would have a square shape. As far as I know my partner and I'd like to believe that I know her quite well, she would prefer that as well. Between option 2 and 3, which one would you guys personally chose? I imagine 3 or not necessarily? I have now chosen a band and clarified payment options with Blue Nile UK, so I am pretty much ready to place my order, but have to make the final and most important choice.

Just for reference, 1.05 is getting quite close to obviously elongated.

For myself I actually liked the last one posted the best, but I prefer elongated and do not like square cushions.

 

[tyty333]

I prefer the 1.05 even though the table is a bit large it is nice and bright. The 1.01, although nice, seems a little dark under the table for me.

 

[asdormin]

I seem to like option 3 a bit better. Isn't it a bit more transparent or is it darker under the table, as mentioned above, which creates this illusion? What would it being darker be a result of? Also, doesn't option 2 display a slightly stronger yellow tint?

 

[asdormin]

I have now definitely made my mind and have decided to go with option 2. Earlier I said that I had the band sorted out, but now I am having second thoughts. I still want something classic and simple, that is for sure. My partner is a hair stylist and quite a busy one. Obviously, she works with chemicals, but she will always wear gloves. If that is not effective, due to the ring splitting the gloves or pure inconvenience, I will buy her one of those ring holder necklaces. My question is - for better performance and general looks, would it matter whether I decided to get a high or low setting? Or is it purely a matter of personal preference and doesn't really affect the diamond itself? Attached below you will find the two types that I am trying to decide between.

https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...mg&track=product&vtype=sample&diamondShape=CU
https://www.bluenile.com/uk/build-y...mg&track=product&vtype=sample&diamondShape=CU

 

[asdormin]

Fyi, i went for option 2 and just received the ring yesterday. I chose the Tapered Cathedral Setting, as I wanted a non-flimsy look and better protection for the stone. It takes a bit of the diamonds size away, as the band is 2.15mm, but it looks very classy. I absolutely love the diamond, its very bright and performs very well, as far as i can tell. Attached below I have sent a a few photos. I would once again like to thank you all for your time, advise and help. I wouldn't have made such a great choice without you. Will definately keep in touch and recommend you to others in need!

 

[asdormin]

 

[tyty333]

Congratulations! It looks lovely!

 

[marymm]

Beautiful choice - very elegant and classy!