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Choosing a Cushion Cut under $3000

hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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After previously thinking I was settled on a custom halo, we have decided to compromise and get a solitaire. Ritani seems to have the best prices for cushion cut diamonds so I have narrowed it down to three settings for my boyfriend to choose from (in platinum):
1. https://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-diamond-cathedral-tulip-engagement-ring-in-platinum/5687
2. https://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-diamond-cathedral-engagement-ring-in-platinum/5686
3. https://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/solitaire-diamond-cathedral-engagement-ring-with-surprise-diamonds-in-platinum/5688

The price range from $1340 Canadian to $1490 Canadian leaves a diamond budget between $2800 to $3000 Canadian. I know this is probably quite low to find a nice cushion. I've been looking at I and J colors approximately 1 ct. Ritani does not have photos of their diamonds but you can choose up to 4 and have a "virtual appointment" with a gemologist to see high def images of the stones.

James Allan seems to have cushions in my price range but unfortunately I don't like any of their solitaire settings (I want a cathedral setting with a thin band). GOG, Whiteflash, and Brian Gavin have nice settings but their diamonds seem to be more expensive.

I've included a number of in-budget cushion cuts in Ritani's "compare" tool below. Would any of the stones here be worth looking into further?

https://www.ritani.com/diamonds/compare?builder=ring&diamonds=D-FPM0QW,D-FS1R6M,D-Q9PHN0,D-QFS7NJ,D-Q2FF7B,D-Q225Y0,D-0VR2P3,D-0M50J9,D-Q2Q5PH,D-Q2PQ2N,D-QNSPMY,D-QR2J1M
 

tyty333

Super_Ideal_Rock
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27,198
I just wanted to point out that JA does have a few but they are over in the designer area so they are harder to find. The plat versions
are all about $1500+ except this one so I'll post it.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/jeff-cooper/platinum-chloe-engagement-ring-item-54593 $1350/US would leave
only about $2150 US for stone.

They have made this one for a cushion and a pear for other people. I think you should ask if you like it.
https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-sleek-diamond-engagement-ring-item-50012 $1030

Leaves about $2470/US

Does your setting have to be platinum? If it's just because you like it then I think you should go with white gold which would
allow more for your stone.

Unfortunately without images we can not tell you a think about those cushions. :((
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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40,225

hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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37
This is going to be a forever ring so I would really like to stick with platinum.
Do either ritani or whiteflash accept outside stones?
Would a $200-$300 budget increase allow me to get a nicer or a bit larger of a stone from JA?
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
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37
The 0.84ct f above looks beautiful but is a little smaller than I was hoping for.
The other stone looks a bit rectangular.
Also, I know the ritani stone list does not provide photos, but they will provide this for up to 4 stones. Are there any that can be eliminated based on the info provided to narrow the list down? Is there anything in particular I should be looking for when searching their stones? vg to ex polish and symmetry? What about proportions? Fluorescence?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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40,225
Problem is that there is very little well cut selection out there right now. Slim pickings. I literally looked through a thousand stones and found 2.

I picked Stuller cause even in platinum thw setting should be in 800 range to maximize stone budget. Pick two of the settings you like the best and ask IDJ to quote you for a 5.5mm stone, square.


It might be best to wait till eight stone comes along and save uo whike you dDo NOT look at weight with cushions only spread. Weight is meaningless.
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
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37
Is spread the surface area or the average of the length and width for a cushion? Im looking for something that faces up as close to a ct round as possible. We arent in a rush and can wait. Do you know if ritani or whiteflash will accept outside stones for setting?
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Aug 8, 2005
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Okay so. You just flat out have unrelaistic expectations. .

A round at ome carat faces up at 6.5mm (spread is just l and w). You are not getting than in a K or better round OR cushion stone for 3k. 6k in a K color? Sure. But cushions and squares face up much smaller for for their carat weight than rounds do. They are also cheaper per carat.

So you just need to accept reality: you are nor getting a 6.5mm spread stone for 3k that is well cut and eyeclean. Not happening,
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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Im not really familiar with the definitions used with stones, but when I looked up the diameter of some round stones, they had a diameter around 6.4. So with a diameter of 6.4, the surface area that you see is 32.17mm2. To have a square stone cover the same surface area, it would have to have a length and width of 5.67mm which is not all that much higher than the stones you posted above.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Best stones for budget, I've now looked through over 1500 stomes for you and I am done. Pick one or none. :wavey: FYI rectangles are very hand flattering. Your budget and size expectations are already slimming down an anorexic pool, adding square as a requrement is inadvisable.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.91-carat-k-color-vs2-clarity-sku-685010
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.91-carat-j-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-685321
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-1803694
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.03-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-sku-1044360 :love: beautiful stone, gets you over a carat and 5.8mm spread -- which is great in a one carat cushion, andmvery well cut and square.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.04-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-sku-937636M 2nd choice if you can afford it


=)

Follow the advice on stuller or ignore it, makes no difference to me. Good luck.
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
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Thank you, I really appreciate it. I wasnt trying to be rude about the stuller settings, I was just wondering if anyone knew whether whiteflash or ritani accepted outside stones as there were a few ritani settings that I really liked that were reasonably priced
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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hollyns|1471430342|4066833 said:
Thank you, I really appreciate it. I wasnt trying to be rude about the stuller settings, I was just wondering if anyone knew whether whiteflash or ritani accepted outside stones as there were a few ritani settings that I really liked that were reasonably priced


Check with WF. Thier policy is on their site. Personally if WF does,accept outside stones I'd get the Legato, as it is perfect. No clue on Ritani policies either. Just ask them; no issue with asking questions. Always best to go to source on vendor policies. :wavey: I really like the last batch of stones. Hopefuily one will work out for you.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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I like this setting at JA and it is a nice cathedral and very budget friendly. You can get it for a cushion (specify 'delicate prongs' be included on all paperwork for settings and confirm it is there) and it allows for a flush fit band too. https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/platinum-sleek-diamond-engagement-ring-item-50012

There is also this one: https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/jeff-cooper/platinum-chloe-engagement-ring-item-54593

And this one is the one I'd get if you go I or higher in color: https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/platinum-petite-diamond-accent-engagement-ring-item-50319 asking them to add milgain to the metal around the pave on shank.
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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Do you know if a band could be worn flush with this one? https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/platinum-petite-diamond-accent-engagement-ring-item-50319

What about the Legato? It is hard to tell because although there is a doughnut there is an indent where it is..

I have these two stones on hold but would need to go with the f you posted if I went with the pave ring. I like the k stone better than the j but I'm worried about it looking yellow. I don't mind some warmth - I've seen lower colors in antique cushions that look beautiful, but I don't want my diamond to look yellowish.

"https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.03-carat-k-color-vs1-clarity-sku-1044360 :love: beautiful stone, gets you over a carat and 5.8mm spread -- which is great in a one carat cushion, andmvery well cut and square.
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.04-carat-j-color-vs2-clarity-sku-937636M 2nd choice if you can afford it"
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
Messages
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Gypsy, Yuketiel asked me to show you these. I do like that Stuller setting but for approx $500-$600 more could get a Vatche bliss, venus, lyric. Worth it? Are you familiar with these? I'm looking for thin because I have short, thin fingers, but worried those might be a tad TOO thin. I can be rough with my jewelry. I have a spinel that is currently coated in alkyd paint from when I was refinishing cabinets.

gia_2226594813-aset_black__fancy_-01.jpg

gia_2226594813-aset_white-01.jpg

gia_2226594813-idealscope-01.jpg

gia_2226594813-officelight_black-01.jpg
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Aug 8, 2005
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40,225
Yes I am very familiar with them. I have tried them on several times. They are too thin and if you have any meat on your fingers they look terrible. So if you have bony fingers they may work.
But if you are tough on jewelry then you must stick to minimum 1.8mm shank.

I like that cushion! Specs???
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
Messages
37
The specs are below. Yekutiel said he liked the 1.03 ct k you posted but not the 1.04 ct j. He was worried the k may be too warm and couldn't easily look at it in person because it is in India. He recommended the above stone.


5.80 x 5.67 x 3.97

Carat Weight ......................................................... 1.00 carat
Color Grade .......................................................................... J
Clarity Grade ......................................... Internally Flawless
Polish...................................................................... Excellent
Symmetry ............................................................. Very Good
Fluorescence................................................................ None
Comments: Minor details of polish are not shown.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Buy it now! Sold! Seriously.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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If it were me, I'd do a custom setting with IDJ. I would ask for a four prong version of the Unicorn setting they just did. Same shank but a head modified for a cushion.
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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Yes I'm buying the stone for sure. Stressing over settings now. My RHR is approx 1.5mm at the top and 2.5mm at the bottom and is perfect. Where would I find a photo of this unicorn setting?
 

Gypsy

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ringo865

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hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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I think I'm going to get this setting from IDJ:

_38048.jpg

_38049.jpg
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Ok. Make sure prongs are super delicate and dainty. Keep shank to 1.8. If you want a flush fit band you need to have them raise the bar under the basket and thicken it to 2mm so a basic band can sit up against it.
 

hollyns

Rough_Rock
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Aug 2, 2016
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By keep shank to 1.8 do you mean not go any thinner? Or thicker? My plan was to have 2.5mm at the bottom tapering up to either 1.8 or 2mm at the top.
 

Gypsy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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I meant maximum thinness. You plan is perfect. Go to 1.8 at top.
 

PintoBean

Ideal_Rock
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That will be very elegant for the cushion!!! I have to highly recommend that you ask IDJ for comfort fit inner shank - the part that touches your finger - it will feel like butter sliding on and off!! :appl:
 
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