Calling Mrs-B please help find a cushion for a friend.

[diamondnewbieny]

Hello there,
@mrs-b
I know that Mrs-B is very good at finding a nice looking cushion diamond, but if anyone else who could give me advice would be very much appreciated as well.

A friend is ready to pop the question and looking for a cushion diamond for his girlfriend.

He knows that his girlfriend likes cushion shape, at least 1ct, DEF color, vs1 charity and up. His budget is $9000 Canadian for the stone.

He is been looking at bluenile Astor cut and it’s about $8500-$8900 Canadian for 1 ct. and I think maybe there is one that is not Astor cut, and that it could be bigger for the money he is willing to pay?

I am not expert and know very little about cushion. Please help. Thanks.

 

[mrs-b]

I LOVE this one. Gorgeous faceting:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

This one would be worth looking into:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.21-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-6320325

This one also:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.20-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3208247

If she's interested in an elongated cushion, this one might be worth looking into. i's very white and clean and somewhat larger than the rest, tho I suspect its light performance is not quite as good. It still has pleasant faceting, tho, and if size, color and clarity are your priorities, this would make a lovely engagement stone:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

Ditto this one:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

My choices would be the 1.21ct F VS2 from James Allen and the 1.2ct F VVS2 from Blue Nile. They give the best spread, they're both ex/ex on polish and symmetry, they're both very white, nice and clean and have good cut with pleasant faceting.

I hope this helps.

ETA If size wasn't the biggest consideration, I'd buy the first one - the Blue Nile stone at the very beginning - in a heartbeat. I think that's a gorgeous stone.

 

[mrs-b]

@diamondnewbieny -

I have to say, I think your friend is setting his parameters too high and too tight. Throwing away his restrictions, these are *my* choices:

1.26ct H VS2 - $5550 before wiring discount
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.26-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-6168887

1.4ct H VS2 - $7520 before wiring discount:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.40-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-5932743

These are both nice, clean, white diamonds with good spread. That 1.26 is a particularly gorgeous stone, and its spread is excellent.

 

[diamondnewbieny]

@diamondnewbieny -

I have to say, I think your friend is setting his parameters too high and too tight. Throwing away his restrictions, these are *my* choices:

1.26ct H VS2 - $5550 before wiring discount
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.26-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-6168887

1.4ct H VS2 - $7520 before wiring discount:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.40-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-5932743

These are both nice, clean, white diamonds with good spread. That 1.26 is a particularly gorgeous stone, and its spread is excellent.

Thank you so much for your help!

He is setting these parameters because of culture reasons. It is also his and his girlfriend’s first diamond. They are stuck with the thoughts that it must be colorless and in vs1 and above and even better if it is Vvs.

I tried telling him that vvs is over kill and to the naked eyes we could not tell the difference. Also told him the color difference between H and F is minimal if they are not next to each other. He seems he still want colorless and above vs1.

I respect that, and I think engagement ring is very important for it to be mind clean for them. I got an H color for my engagement diamond and for a while I let the mind clean affects bothered me so much for culture reasons. I don’t feel that way anymore, but I guess I didn’t want them to fell the way I did and will just let them learn their lesson.

If it was for myself I would pick the 1.4ct you suggested because I learn that I don’t care for colorless and as long as it’s eye clean. I want the best bang for my bucks.

 

[mrs-b]

@diamondnewbieny -

Well, if those are his parameters, and he wants to stay within them, I'd suggest:

1) 1.2ct F VVS2:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

or -

2) 1.2 E VVS2:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

#1 would be my first choice. I think its cut ever so slightly better, it's a little spreadier, and it's not cut *quite* as deep. Do suggest these 2 to him - they're lovely diamonds.

 

[diamondnewbieny]

@diamondnewbieny -

Well, if those are his parameters, and he wants to stay within them, I'd suggest:

1) 1.2ct F VVS2:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

or -

2) 1.2 E VVS2:
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-de...DiamondDetails&action=newTab&catalogView=true

#1 would be my first choice. I think its cut ever so slightly better, it's a little spreadier, and it's not cut *quite* as deep. Do suggest these 2 to him - they're lovely diamonds.

I did show him these 2 and the 1ct E color . I will let him think of this. I will come back and update you which he pick and how it turn out.

I really appreciate your help!

 

[Matilda]

If he has a bit of time available it might be helpful if he could join in on the search at PS. It may just be a bit more efficient. Obviously if he cannot then that’s okay

 

[diamondnewbieny]

If he has a bit of time available it might be helpful if he could join in on the search at PS. It may just be a bit more efficient. Obviously if he cannot then that’s okay

He works long hours and rarely join any forums. He is meeting his girlfriend’s family very soon. He is waiting for that to happened , then he wants to see if they can accept him into their family before he pop the questions.

 

[doberman]

Must the stone be DEF? I'd go with an AVC. Has he seen those?
https://www.augustvintageinc.net/co...vs2-august-vintage-cushion-brilliant-73733600
Remind your friend that cushions face up small and he could go larger if he opened his parameters to include near-colorless stones.

 

[mrs-b]

Must the stone be DEF? I'd go with an AVC. Has he seen those?
https://www.augustvintageinc.net/co...vs2-august-vintage-cushion-brilliant-73733600
Remind your friend that cushions face up small and he could go larger if he opened his parameters to include near-colorless stones.

Doberman, this is a beautiful stone. But it's a long way outside his budget.

 

[diamondnewbieny]

Must the stone be DEF? I'd go with an AVC. Has he seen those?
https://www.augustvintageinc.net/co...vs2-august-vintage-cushion-brilliant-73733600
Remind your friend that cushions face up small and he could go larger if he opened his parameters to include near-colorless stones.

Yup, it must be DEF. I told him about the cushion would face up smaller than round, but he said cushion is his girlfriend’s preference.

He never seems the AVC and I doubt his girlfriend did... will I overwhelm him if I give him that information? Also the stone you showed me is also out of his budget. He want to spend less than $9000 Canadian.

 

[Matilda]

@diamondnewbieny of course, well lot of luck to him!!

These may be nice. The ASETS are promising:

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...on&wire_price_max=8410#diamond=C100-0697Z3092

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...on&wire_price_max=8200#diamond=C121-467464790. NO ASET but I like the facets and it is 1.2ct

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...on&wire_price_max=8200#diamond=C102-0415Z5Z46

 

[diamondnewbieny]

@diamondnewbieny of course, well lot of luck to him!!

These may be nice. The ASETS are promising:

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...on&wire_price_max=8410#diamond=C100-0697Z3092

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...on&wire_price_max=8200#diamond=C121-467464790. NO ASET but I like the facets and it is 1.2ct

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...on&wire_price_max=8200#diamond=C102-0415Z5Z46

Thanks for the suggestion! Out of the 3 , the first one looks the beat to me. Will also suggest that stone to him.

There are 2 stones 1.2ct from bluenile that mrs b pointed out and it’s around the same price range. Those seems to have better value.

I never dealt with enchanted diamonds, how is their customer service and upgrade policy?

 

[Matilda]

@diamondnewbieny I would suggest searching them through PS for vendor reviews. I personally only know they are a PS recommended vendor. I wish I could give you more of an accurate, detailed opinion on them, I am sorry!

Their upgrade policy seems the same as JA and BN:

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/education/everything-you-need-to-know-about-buying-diamonds

Upgrade for twice original price

 

[ccuheartnurse]

You've gotten some awesome suggestions here. Another thought perhaps... can you clarify with your friend if his girlfriend loves the cushion shape of the diamond or loves the cushion shape in general? Meaning, he could buy a round stone & set it in a cushion halo of diamond or metal, but would be the best of both worlds. If she doesn't want a diamond halo, she can have a metal halo. David Klass has done quite a few metal halo's as you will see. If she wants a solitaire then you'll need a cushion shaped diamond.
There are more threads on PS, I just picked one.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/please-show-me-rcs-in-a-cushion.238752/
.
https://www.instagram.com/davidklassjewelry/?hl=en

Good Luck.

 

[doberman]

I need to read for comprehension. I missed the Canadian part, sorry!