Cushion Advice...Please

[kweet]

Hi there
You might remember that last week I posted a thread about a cushion I had found ( https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-do-you-think-of-these-cushion-stats.121304/ ). I have now located two more cushions and I would be really grateful for any opinions on them, particularly Cushion A. Their specs are as follows:

Cushion A:
GIA certified
Cushion Brilliant
dimensions 8.23 x 7.27 x 4.6
2.01 carat
J colour (a good J, closer to I)
VS2 clarity
Polish VG
Sym G
Flour None
54% Table
63.3% Depth
Medium Culet
Ratio 1.13

Cushion B:
GIA certified
Old Mine Brilliant
dimensions 7.83 x 7.18 x 4.78
2.09 carat
J colour
SI 1 clarity
Polish VG
Sym G
Flour None
61% Table
66.6% Depth
Large Culet

Myself and the vendor favour Cushion A. It appears that Cushion A
is more chunky faceted than Cushion B, but yet B is an old mine brilliant and A is a cushion brilliant. However, based on this photo, A is closer to the look I am aiming for.

I attach a photo showing both A and B. In the photo, Cushion B is on Left and Cushion A is on Right (a sign perhaps???). Anyhow, I''d be most grateful for any of your thoughts or opinions....

Also, if you had any guidance as to which is better, cushion A or the stone which I posted last week at the link above, I would also be grateful to hear....

Kweet

 

[kweet]

I attach a side view of cushion A (the 2.01 carat)

 

[kweet]

by the way, I should probably mention that the seller is Mark at ERD, whose eyes I trust, based on all his great reviews on PS!
However, I likely to be purchasing online without having seen the stone, so I''d really appreciate any PS''er opinions you can give. Many thanks in anticipation.

 

[jet2ks]

Date: 8/4/2009 3:33:02 AM
Author:kweet

Myself and the vendor favour Cushion A. It appears that Cushion A
is more chunky faceted than Cushion B, but yet B is an old mine brilliant and A is a cushion brilliant. However, based on this photo, A is closer to the look I am aiming for.

I attach a photo showing both A and B. In the photo, Cushion B is on Left and Cushion A is on Right (a sign perhaps???). Anyhow, I'd be most grateful for any of your thoughts or opinions....

Also, if you had any guidance as to which is better, cushion A or the stone which I posted last week at the link above, I would also be grateful to hear....

Kweet

I think you've answered your own question. Cushions have many different looks, so if this is one that is speaking to you, and Mark is recommending also, all is good.

 

[kweet]

thanks Jet. I guess I am a little nervous about this, given the amount of $$$ at stake. Do the dimensions look good to you?

 

[Ellen]

I like the looks of A as well! and I lightened the pic up for you.

 

[kweet]

Gee Ellen, thank you so much, that makes the picture a lot clearer. Thanks also for your $0.02, I know that you know a lot about cushions.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 8/4/2009 8:39:17 AM
Author: kweet
Gee Ellen, thank you so much, that makes the picture a lot clearer. Thanks also for your $0.02, I know that you know a lot about cushions.

Kweet,

1) Photographs are only good for viewing facet structure and tell you very little about the optics of the stones.
2) They both have the facet structure of an old mine cut, I am basing this on the crown facets. Both are 8 main cushions. The stone on the left has a larger culet than the stone on the right.
3) By definition by GIA stone B cannot be an Old Mine Brilliant as they define it by the table percentage and it has to be below 53% or somewhere around that. You should ask Mark for clarification but you have mixed up the names of the two stones.

You are in good hands with Mark so I would get the ASETs and ask him detailed questions about how the stones look to him.
Is there a specific look you are going for? You should be aware though that neither of these is optimized for large bright mirrors under the table like the GOG signature cushions, but I bet they are nice bright stones and more competitively priced.

I have hassled Mark with the most detailed of questions over the last two months(and still not bought anything) and he has always been honest, patient and an excellent educator. If you can go see him and the stones in person that would be the best scenario.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/4/2009 8:39:17 AM
Author: kweet
Gee Ellen, thank you so much, that makes the picture a lot clearer. Thanks also for your $0.02, I know that you know a lot about cushions.

You''re welcome!

 

[geoffreysnow]

Biggest lesson I''ve learned on pricescope is you have to judge cushions by their appearances not their stats. In this case I think A is the winner.

 

[kweet]

In case it is any help, I attach the relevant parts of the GIA certs...

 

[kweet]

and for B....

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 8/4/2009 12:57:38 PM
Author: kweet
and for B....

Gotta love GIA.

1) They ignore the shape of the facets and name the cuts based on the table %. (WRONG to begin with)
2) They put the same facet plots for both stones here and call them different names.
3) They don''t even apply their own logic properly here and name them the opposite of what they are supposed to be.

Both stones look like Old Mine Cuts from both the crown facets and the pavillion facets so no doubt in my mind.
Both have big chunky facets, but you won''t know how bright they will be without an ASET and asking Mark qualitatively.

GL,

CCL

 

[kweet]

Thanks CCL..I am going to speak with Mark.
At the end of the day, I think that this is a very pretty stone.
I attach a further picture showing Cushion A "head on" - you might see that it was tilted in the picture above.

I really appreciate all the comments...if anyone else would like to chime in, feel free....

 

[paeony]

Date: 8/4/2009 2:01:06 PM
Author: kweet
Thanks CCL..I am going to speak with Mark.
At the end of the day, I think that this is a very pretty stone.
I attach a further picture showing Cushion A ''head on'' - you might see that it was tilted in the picture above.

I really appreciate all the comments...if anyone else would like to chime in, feel free....

I guess I''m in the minority, but I really prefer Cushion "B" (the one on the left)
Its hard to tell without more pics (with more angles, etc.) but I prefer the shape/size of the culet and the overall outline of the stone.
It seems more charming to me- like old style cuts should seem

 

[Ellen]

Date: 8/4/2009 2:01:06 PM
Author: kweet
Thanks CCL..I am going to speak with Mark.
At the end of the day, I think that this is a very pretty stone.
I attach a further picture showing Cushion A ''head on'' - you might see that it was tilted in the picture above.

I really appreciate all the comments...if anyone else would like to chime in, feel free....

Yanno, as long as Mark feels it performs well, that''s really all that matters. If you love it, it''s "the one".

 

[joelly]

I like B better. More facets than A.