Cushion Cut - Hearts & Arrows Help

[brownd]

Hey everyone,

So I was all set to buy a awesome ACA round diamond, then found out that my GF loves square cushion cuts...Which has proven more difficult! After some research, here is what I am after:

• H&A or Modern Cushion Brilliant (though not with a 'crushed ice' effect)
• Ideal cut (good brightness, sparkle & fire)
• F-H colour
• VS1-SI1 clarity
• Preferably carat would be 1.3ct-1.5ct, but with H&A seems like 1ct is more likely
• Budget for stone is $8-10k
• Flexible time frame, would like the stone/ring by April next year

The problem I am having is finding some good availability on H&A Cushions! After shopping around, I found:
GOG (1 available,outside price range): http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/diamonds/cushion/brellia-hearts-arrows-cushion.html
BGD (3 small diamonds): http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/signature-diamonds/cushion
My favourite are from Brilliantly Engaged and they are the "Mark T" cuts (only 1 available as well, outside price range): http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/mark-t-cushion-diamonds/

However, I've found a fair few Modern Cushion Diamonds available and based on my limited experience analysing ASETs, these are what I liked best..
- GOG:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.3ct-2.html
- Brilliantly engaged:
http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/newly-added-1.51ct-h-vs2-selection.-gid-675160.html
http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/newly-added-1.52ct-f-si1-selection.-gid-675158.html
- James Allen also has many Cushion cuts to choose from. Seemed hard to know if a diamond is "ideal cut" without ASET/Ideal images. JA mentioned they will not supply the ASETs during holiday period, until Mid January. So I excluded them for now.

My questions are:

a) Is this just a bad time of year to buy or are H&A cushion cuts always so scarce? I've only been looking for a little over a week so it's hard for me to judge.
b) Given that H&A Cushion cut seem to be much more expensive than even an Ideal Modern Cushion cut, do you think it's worth it or is the extra carat weight a better choice?
c) Out of the Modern Cushion Diamonds above, which would you choose as the best? Or do you have better suggestions?

Thanks heaps in advance!

 

[tyty333]

Have you checked Blue Nile? They are mostly around 1 carat. Here is the biggest one they have right now. You might have to wait
until more come out.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD05351271

 

[flyingpig]

a) Is this just a bad time of year to buy or are H&A cushion cuts always so scarce? I've only been looking for a little over a week so it's hard for me to judge.

Thanks heaps in advance!

It is a bad time to find a good deal. Many are doing last minute shopping and 5~10k is a commom budget. No wonder JA is not providing IS images and a simple wedding ring (mine) is taking two weeks until shipped. GOG lists only a fraction of their inventory online. You may want to contact them, and they may be able to find a stone you want. Good luck

 

[brownd]

Have you checked Blue Nile? They are mostly around 1 carat. Here is the biggest one they have right now. You might have to wait
until more come out.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD05351271

Thanks, I do think that the BN signature cushion cut stones look very nice. My main concern with BN is that without ASETs, it's hard to really check that the cut does have good light performance.

It is a bad time to find a good deal. Many are doing last minute shopping and 5~10k is a commom budget. No wonder JA is not providing IS images and a simple wedding ring (mine) is taking two weeks until shipped. GOG lists only a fraction of their inventory online. You may want to contact them, and they may be able to find a stone you want. Good luck

Thanks for the advice. I did contact GOG and got some useful help from them. Seems like they may be able to find what I am after.

From the stones in my original post, does anyone think any of those 3 modern cushions would be close to an ideal cut?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.3ct-2.html
http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/newly-added-1.51ct-h-vs2-selection.-gid-675160.html
http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/newly-added-1.52ct-f-si1-selection.-gid-675158.html

 

[Gypsy]

All there are above average. But of the three I like the performance of #1 best.It is as close to ideal as I've seen on that style of cushion and should be a knock out. Get GOG to make you a video.

 

[brownd]

All there are above average. But of the three I like the performance of #1 best.It is as close to ideal as I've seen on that style of cushion and should be a knock out. Get GOG to make you a video.

Thanks Gypsy. Unfortunately that GOG diamond was already reserved. However I found another one on GOG, with very similar cut and ASET. It's L/W ratio is 1.05, do you guys think that is close enough to square?

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.3ct-f-si1-platinum-select-modern-cushion-diamond.html

I've asked GOG for a video on this diamond to see light performance and will update here.