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Antique Cushion Choices - OVERWHELMED!

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FieryBrilliance

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 8, 2012
Messages
64
After months of deliberation, the g/f and I have finally decided that a Vintage Cushion is the look we want and now I've got to go through the process of determining who to get it from and what size (debating b/w 1.0 or 1.5ct). She doesn't really care about either of those things -- she doesn't know the difference b/w hand-forged and CAD, and isn't really going to be weighing the stone to see how big it is, nor is she really one to brag about that sort of thing.

Initially, I was intent on getting at least 1.5ct G/H stone. I'm currently considering I-color stones from GOG, ERD, and Leon Mege. The latter because I am thinking about getting a ring made and they would sell a stone with it. But now I'm thinking twice and wanted to get opinions on the following questions:

1) Her ring size is a 6 and I'm getting a halo setting. Will 1.5ct maybe be too big? Would 1.0 be sufficient/look sizable enough?
2) What are key differences b/w AVC from GOG vs. A Cut Beyond from ERD vs. Antique Cushion from Leon Mege? Does the AGS000 rating of an AVC make it that much brighter than the others?
3) Is it okay to go below an H on a cushion cut? The halo on my setting will be rose gold, so wondering if I can get away with that, or if the I-color will look darker than the F/G colored stones used for the pave
4) Still can't get over the size thing. A 1.59ct E/SI1 AVC is $17k (http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9875/), but I could get 1.11ct I/VS1 for 8k (http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7958/), a 1.06ct G/VS2 for $9500 (http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8618/) or a 1.00ct F/VS2 for $10k (http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8619/)

And that's just the AVCs! A Cut Beyond's are even cheaper!

What would you do?
 
there is no reason to think a 1.5 cushion will look too big. 6 is pretty much average for a finger size, and a cushion faces up smaller than a round. I think you could and should go bigger if its in the budget.

I know you are overwhelmed already with the choices but i wanted to throw this one in the mix, it faces up very large!
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/Cushion-cut/1.41-carat-H-color-VS2-clarity-sku-167667

it got an inclusion but being VS2 i dont think its visible. James allen has these every so often and they are a great deal because you arent paying for the branded cut, and based of the vid it looks very sparkly, id have them get an aset if you like it, also id look around and see what other ones they might have. you can have them call in up to three.

also i think an i would be just fine, you could go down to that if you found a nice one
 
Is the 1.59 an actual option? or just there for comparison?

I don't know about the other brands, but an AVC vs a generic cushion is a difference. An AVC is really something special. Whether that difference is worth it to you is a personal decision.

If Jon sees this, maybe he can tell us what the AGS 0 rating on the AVC actually entails, since I am not sure that AGS grades cushions as a matter of course, their website seems to suggest only rounds, princess, emeralds, and ovals: http://www.agslab.com/light-performance-cut-grade.php
 
I would agree that AVC's are better than generic cushions just as ideal cut rounds are better than a lot of other rounds!

The first thing you need to do is set a maximum budget for the diamond. Then figure out what size stone will fit the budget.
 
I think what you are asking is not if it is too big but if a 1.0 Genric Cuhion is good enough. As others have mentioned, only you can decide what is good enough and balancing what you want to spend.

Is a 1.5 ct too big? Absolutely not ... but a 1.0 ct in a halo is not considered small. An AVC is amazing ... I have one. But for most people, a "generic" cushion can be just as beautiful and I personally love a true antique stone with all their imperfections. I would be very happy with a 1.5 ct true antique OMC in a G/H and VS range but I would need to couple it with a well made halo from Leon, Steven, or Victor.

I see you are debating price ... layer on the second hand market and you are in a total different ball game. You save a heck of a lot of money and no one would ever be able to tell a second hand diamond from a "brand new" one.
 
Have you thought about other vendors. I just purchased my antique cushsion and I found all the vendors you listed weren't able to meet my criteria. I would also check with Adam at Old World Diamonds for cushions.
 
Your diamond choices have way too huge a gap in price. Before you decide on the size you have to set a budget just for the stone. Do research and consider what it's going to cost for your setting then figure out what that means for the budget you have left for the stone and let us know. Personally, invest in as big a diamond as you can now put it in a temp setting and then upgrade the setting later. Unless of course you can afford both which isn't apparent at this point.
 
04diamond<3|1359039244|3362752 said:
Your diamond choices have way too huge a gap in price. Before you decide on the size you have to set a budget just for the stone. Do research and consider what it's going to cost for your setting then figure out what that means for the budget you have left for the stone and let us know. Personally, invest in as big a diamond as you can now put it in a temp setting and then upgrade the setting later. Unless of course you can afford both which isn't apparent at this point.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your feedback. My budget is pretty much flexible. At the moment, I've got 15k set aside, but can easily set aside another 5-8k b/w now and when I plan to propose (September 2013).

I like the idea of getting as big a diamond as I can and putting it in a temp setting, but I think that the setting is almost more important to her than the stone itself. She'd like a pretty unique design that I've already got in my head.
 
CharmyPoo|1359014973|3362666 said:
I think what you are asking is not if it is too big but if a 1.0 Genric Cuhion is good enough. As others have mentioned, only you can decide what is good enough and balancing what you want to spend.

Is a 1.5 ct too big? Absolutely not ... but a 1.0 ct in a halo is not considered small. An AVC is amazing ... I have one. But for most people, a "generic" cushion can be just as beautiful and I personally love a true antique stone with all their imperfections. I would be very happy with a 1.5 ct true antique OMC in a G/H and VS range but I would need to couple it with a well made halo from Leon, Steven, or Victor.

I see you are debating price ... layer on the second hand market and you are in a total different ball game. You save a heck of a lot of money and no one would ever be able to tell a second hand diamond from a "brand new" one.
Click to expand...

Thanks CharmyPoo. My budget is somewhat elastic. I guess I'm just trying to determine if a "new" antique cushion is the way to go over actual antiques. I like the clean, symmetrical cut of the AVC, which antique stones don't seem to have, so I dont' think I'd want a true antique w/ it's imperfections (no slight to your appreciation for them, I just don't think that's her style).

I hadn't heard much about the second hand market. Do you have any resources for how to browse in that market? That's something I hadn't really thought of.

Thanks!
 
You aren't going to find excellent, newly cut antique cushions on the secondary market, so I wouldn't think too hard on that! We've seen maybe one small AVC resold here, but that's about it. Stick with the sources you originally posted. As far as true antique stones go, finding a really well cut one with the equivalent of GIA I color and higher would be tough. Kind of like a needle in a haystack!

Oh, and my preference would be for 1.5 in a cushion for a halo ring, and I am one of the most conservative here in regard to the size I will wear!
 
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