Cushion cut help please!!

[nutmeg189]

Hello everyone! I am new to this site and I'm finding it SUPER helpful. My boyfriend and I are getting engaged VERY soon and I was tasked with finding my ring (he wants to leave it up to me). I'm really hoping I can find the perfect ring SOON. I am looking for a cushion cut, and I LOVE the Ritani Classic and Endless Love settings. I'm hoping someone on here can help point me in the right direction. I'm not sure where the best place to start is - especially since I live in Central PA. I've done some browsing and found a beautiful stone on James Allen and I'd like some opinions, please....

Here are the specs for the cushion cut I found from James Allen:
Carat Weight: 1.61ct
Cut: Premium
Color: I
Clarity: VVS2
Lab Report: GIA
Depth: 63.4%
Table: 64.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Girdle: Thin to Slightly Thick
Culet: Very Small
Fluorescence: Medium
Measurements: 7.18*6.74*4.27
Ratio: 1.07

Here's the link: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VVS2-Premium-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1159638.asp

The above is along the lines of what I'm looking for. I know I want the stone to have some fluorescence to it because I care more about size than color - and I know fluorescence can help the color appear brighter. I also know I want more of a square-ish shape.

I went on GOG's site and while they have beauuuuuutiful cushions, they are all out of our price range. That's why I started looking elsewhere for the stone and setting. I called the closest place to me that carries Ritani and they said they will not set an I color stone (which I expected). So I guess I am out of luck here. Does anyone know if GOG will set a stone like the one above in a Ritani setting??

If it looks like I can't get GOG or another reputable place to set my stone (or whatever I can afford), I guess I am going to shop around... and then maybe take the stone to a local jeweler to see if they can make a custom setting similar to the Ritani Endless Love or Classic setting.

If anyone has additional advice on the next steps I could take, please let me know. I'm assuming the stones and settings at the jewelers around me are very marked-up pricewise.. that's why I began looking online. I am in Central PA and unsure of where to look next! NYC isn't THAT far from me... but has anyone had experience with buying a stone/setting without seeing it in person? Or is that completely NOT recommended?

Again, if anyone can help me out, I'd really appreciate it. This website is fantastic!! I'm rewarding myself at work right now - every time I finish a task, I get to browse this site!

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome Nutmeg!

I would ask James Allen if they could perhaps send you another photo of the diamond, and maybe an Idealscope image, it is hard to tell from the pic that is there, and as you can't judge a cushion that well by the numbers, another photo would be helpful. Also did you want such high clarity? You could drop to VS or even SI and still have a very clean diamond, but this is a personal preference. An I colour won't be icy white, but a softer white, I take it that is ok with you?

Many of us have bought online sight unseen with excellent results, also I was thinking I don't know if JA carry Ritani, but it might be worth asking them if they could order you the setting? I don't know if that would fly, but no harm in asking.

 

[corkstone]

I would contact GOG directly to see if they have anything in their inventory that hasn''t been loaded onto the site.

I just bought a cushion myself, but with I could go back a few weeks and do the whole thing though GOG.

 

[nutmeg189]

Thank you both! I will reach out to James Allen and GOG to see what my options are. I''m also counting the minutes til 5 so I can leave work and head to the jeweler.. haha!

 

[ShannonM]

If you aren''t 100% set on the stone from James Allen there are other options for you still. I looked at the GOG site when I started looking and didn''t think they had anything in my price range either, but when I called Jonathan he called in a whole bunch he thought might work. He was very helpful and almost as excited about the process as I was which made it fun. If you let him know what you''re looking for and your budget he''ll help you find it and even take videos and photos so you''ll have a better idea about the stone before you buy. I live in FL and it was an awesome experience. People on the boar also have had great experiences with Mark and Gary at ERD. They''ll go through a similar process of looking based on your criteria but they don''t do the tech stuff. With them you''re trusting their very well trained eye. Good luck!