Cushion Cut - H&A G now or wait?

[mistermer]

Brief background - I''ve been looking at cushion shaped diamonds (1.75 to 2 carats) for an engagement ring. I''m not terribly worried about the clarity of the stone but I do want a great cut and as colorless a diamond as possible.

I have been unable to find any really great cuts that have a D or E color. The only one that I''ve found in recent searches has a good breakdown at Good Old Gold: http://www.goodoldgold.com/1_77ct_f_vs1_cushion.htm. It appears to be a very nice diamond, but then I get hit with the ideal squares, also at GOG, and now I am at a bit of a loss as to which way to go.

These two ideals have struck my fancy:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/square_cushion_1_79ct_g_vs1_h%26a.htm
http://www.goodoldgold.com/square_cushion_h%26a_1_98ct_g_vvs2_h%26a.htm

Both of these are G color - which is just outside the colorless end of the spectrum. I have read that they are really something to behold but I don''t want to regret anything. I kind of see this as a once in a lifetime shot (hopefully) and I''d like to get it right. Any thoughts/advice about how I should proceed? Should I wait it out until the right one comes along? As noted, very few really impressive cushions seem to be out there...thanks for any assistance.

 

[afrodyt2000]

Have you looked at different color diamonds in person? A G color diamond is at the top of the near colorless range. Maybe you should look at one in person to see if it looks yellow to you. If you like the G color in person then I would say if the other specs are good to you, then get one of the diamonds you listed, they look great.

 

[mistermer]

Thanks for the response. I have looked at Gs - and some have the hint of yellow that I don''t want. I have not looked at these particular stones at Good Old Gold so I don''t know how they compare. I will add that the person I''m purchasing for has a very thorough understanding of diamonds and has unequivocally stated that color is the most important to her.

Another recent post suggested that a very good cut can mask color or make certain colors look "whiter".

 

[moremoremore]

Oh boy! Well, I am biased. That modern cushion (the non H&A) looks SPECTACULAR. I think it's an easy choice. And check out how much bigger it is than even the 1.98 H&A. I'm not a fan of the h&a square cushion. Just seems like a waste to me. So deep for the money. No doubt beautiful but I happen to have a modern cushion and it is the most spectacular beast. A disco ball that outshines some ideal rounds I see. It is stunning just like that 1.77 cushion looks. No brainer imo. I am a fan of ideal cut stones but I do not think a stone has to be an H&A to be a stunner. And especially when they are that deep? Easy choice for me...but I"m not the one buyin'

p.s. although a G H&A won't show any color at all...even to MY eyes. And I"m psycho.

 

[katrina_33]

Sounds kind of like what we''ve been looking at! If your girlfriend is color sensitive and has specified that high color is important, I wouldn''t go down to a "G." Before I got out this past week and really looked at tons of stones up close at jewelry vendors, I would have said that a G and even an H are safe bets. I''d read on this board so many times that good cut masks body color and that G, H, and even I look colorless to most people that I thought I was set on an H to get the most size for our money. Then I get out there and look, and could tell the difference immediately between a D and G, and an F and an H that I compared in office lighting. Even H''s that I looked at alone without a higher color side by side seemed somehow dingy to me. Some people love that warmth, but if your GF doesn''t I think a G is pushing it.

I would recommend that you go down to VS2 in clarity if possible, but I know when you want such specific specs elsewhere sometimes you have to pay for a higher than necessary clarity to get the size and color you want. Or maybe you specifically want really high (VS1 or better) clarity?

My ideal combo I now know is E or F SI1.

I think those H&A cushions are so neat, and I wouldn''t let the depth bother you that much. I was hung up for a long time on getting the best value for the $, spread, and all that, but at a certain point you have to let go of it, buy what you love, focus on getting the right stone for you vs. the stone that satisfies the mental challenge of making the most of the money spent (which believe me is something I always focus on otherwise). I think the real ''value'' is how much you love the stone relative to how much was spent vs how much was spent relative to how big the stone appears.

 

[kateh]

I totally agree with Katrina, although I might be a bit biased. My BF just bought me a cushion H&A!!! I think they''re so unique, and they sparkle incredibly!

I know you said your GF is stuck on color, but I will tell you, the stone we just bought (also from GOG) is a G, and I guess if you put it next to a D or an E, you would notice a slight difference. But the stone honestly faces up incredibly white.

Are you close to GOG? Is there any chance you can see them?

 

[moremoremore]

" I think the real ''value'' is how much you love the stone relative to how much was spent "


Very good point!!!!!!!! YOu are absolutely correct. For me, half of the value is the spread, but that''s just me.
But I do undersdtand that when a certain shape speaks to you, that''s what you should get!

 

[mistermer]

I don''t know that I really have an "ideal combo". As I said, color and cut are very high on my list. Anything from a VS1 to an SI2 clarity would be fine - obviously one would have to make sure that on an SI2 and even some SI1s - that whatever inclusions don''t affect the diamond too much. I''m pretty set on having a colorless stone so I don''t think the GOG H&As are really in the picture. Some may say that the difference between F and G is so negligible that it''s not worth the hassle. Unfortunately I have not been able to look at the GOG square H&As in person and likely will not be able to (I''m on the west coast) - so that makes this kind of comparison a little difficult.

That and most everyone has a differing opinion on what''s makes up their perfect diamond - as evidenced over and over on this board. Hopefully whatever decision I make will be the right one. One would like to think that if a person puts his heart into creating an engagement ring, does what''s financially viable, that the person receiving the ring will love it, etc. Then again, if you have an idea in your mind of what kind of engagement ring you''d like to receive, and what you get doesn''t fit the bill, there''ll be some disappointment, no matter how well masked.

I do hope I can find my "ideal" - maybe I already have. We''ll see. Thanks, all, for your kind responses.

 

[reena]

i agree with MMM -- those H&A cushions are probably awesome, but they are SO! deep. that might be a dealbreaker for me. in addition, since you''re willing to compromise on clarity a bit, IMO there''s no sense in paying extra $$ for the VVS2 . . .

my cushion is a G and it certainly does not have any noticeable yellow or warmth. im sure a VERY discerning eye could tell, but unless you are super color sensitive i wouldn''t sweat the G in a well-cut cushion.

 

[moremoremore]

Yup! My next stone will definitely be an F or G.

 

[Rhino]

Hi mistermer,

If there is any way we can accommodate you let me know. Ie. You can, without any large financial obligation be able to view a Sq. H&A alongside a princess cut with AGS ideal proportions and light performance side by side. IMO it would be one of the best camparisons you can make side by side and once you see both alongside each other, your decision will be a much easier one. We often ship two different shapes to clients for this very reason, especially those wherein it is not convenient to see these in our store.

On another note... I can appreciate rare color/clarity combo''s but let me tell you this ... once you see and understand the impact of cut upon the appearance of the diamond, any hangup''s you might have about a G color will quickly fade away. Color takes a back seat to cut since cut impacts the appearance and beauty of hte diamond waaay more than 1 or even 2 color differences will any day of the week.

if you''d like to see both pm me and check off the email option and we''ll be glad to help. IMO that would *really* be the best thing to do and will, without a doubt help you know if a. the issues of color are as important and b. know for a fact that you''re not passing up the diamond she would love to have on her hand for the rest of her life.

Kind regards,
Jonathan