Cushion Cut new buyer-HELP PLEASE!

[refount]

I placed a deposit on a diamond last week and I don''t really know much about diamonds, would appreciate any help you can give. It is GIA certified/ 1.02 ct cushion cut brilliant/ measures 6.33 X 5.91 X 3.80mm/ Grade D/ SI1 clarity/ Depth 64.3%/ Table 65%/ no culet/ Girdle- med-very thick and heavily faceted/ Symmetry-good/ Polish-good/ price is $5100.00. It has 2 or 3 feathers in it. I was reading some of the posts where diamonds cracked due to feathers, should I not purchase a diamond with feathers? Where should I take it for appraisal, I am buying from an independent jeweler. What if it doesn''t appraise a purchase price? Are there any specs available for cushion cuts? It was GIA certified in 2003, does this mean it is a new diamond, recently cut? I was told by another jeweler that it was probably purchased from someone on the street and has to be an old, previously owned stone because they haven''t cut cushion cut stones in over 30 years. Please help me not to make a bad purchase. Does anyone know if this is a fair price? Many thanks.

 

[sylvesterii]

Is there a specific reason that you are considering a cushion?

 

[Magnum]

Admittedly, I know very little about cushion cut stones, but hopefully I can help answer a couple of your other questions. As far as the feathers go, that may be something to ask an independent appraiser. I think it depends on the type of feather, and depending on how big they are and their placement in the diamond, they can worsen if the diamond is placed under pressure like in the setting process. But I don't think it's a reason to outright disqualify a diamond, but some of the experts might have a more educated opinion on that. As far as where to take it for appraisal, there's a link at the top of this page that takes you to another page that lists appraisers by state so that hopefully you can find on e near you. If that's not an option, several people have done appraisals through the mail with a couple of the highly respected/trusted appraisers that post here:

Dave Atlas (oldminer) at www.gemappraisers.com

Richard Sherwood at www.sarasotagemlab.com

Bill Lieberum (RocDoc) at www.consumersgemlab.com

Finally, just because the GIA graded the stone in 2003 does not mean it was previously owned and traded-in. It's not uncommon for a stone not to be sold a year after it was graded depending on the type of vendor and their inventory turn-over.

 

[diamondsbylauren]

Hi Rose,


I also think cushions are beautiful- I don't think your taste requires you to have a reason!




The numbers on the GIA report seem good- but that still is no guarantee that it is a nice diamond- have you seen it?


Your eye is very important here.




My opinion of feathers is that this should not be a cause for undue concern- although I would ask the seller to make sure that the feathers do not break the surface.


If the diamond is loose it is an easy matter for them to check.


I am never afraid of stones with minimal ( SI1) feathers which do not break the surface.




The price is reasonable. If it is indeed a GIA D/SI1 1.02 Cushion, I could not see anyone knowledgable apprasing it for less.




Lastly, cushion cut diamonds are currently being cut all over the world. Whoever told you that it could not be a newly cut diamond is out of touch.

 

[CaptAubrey]

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On 5/25/2004 10:04:20 AM refount wrote:











I was told by another jeweler that it was probably purchased from someone on the street and has to be an old, previously owned stone because they haven't cut cushion cut stones in over 30 years.

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completely false, and a sign you're dealing with a very out-of-touch jeweler. cushions are quite hot now--there are even some new proprietary designs on the market.

 

[moremoremore]

David- so if the feather doesn't break the surface, we're 99% ok? I'm nervous b/c I also recently purchased a stone...I love it and am not turning it down b/c of a feather...I was told it does not break the surface...should I take particular care with the stone in any event? Sorry to go off on a tangent in this post!

Please forgive....and I think cushions are awesome!

 

[diamondsbylauren]

I always make sure never to put a diamond with a feather near a cat- they might mistake it for lunch....


Kidding.




Seriously- I NEVER put a diamond with a feather in a rock crusher, or mulcher.






Now I'm really not kidding- If the feather does not break the surface, and you have a competant jewelr/setter, you have nothing at all to worry about.




If, on the other hand, your setter's name is "Steve Stonebreaker" I'd stay away from mulchers.

 

[valeria101]

I really hope no thread here reached the conclusions that feathers make diamonds crack

Anyway, I do not understand why would it matter if the diamond "is old" - all are darn old minerals and once cut do not wear off that easy.

I would definitely worry about what that cut delivers (brilliance, that is) and about visible inclusions (if you don't want them and they show). The price seems a tad more than stones with similar specs posted around here - not much, just showing there is where to choose from. The range defunitely includes E-VS2 stones too, if you would rather not hunt for a clean SI1.

Besides, what a "havily faceted" girdle? "Extra facets" on the GIA comments? This is the first time I hear the expression...

The rest of the communication seems like straight scare tactic - to me, that's just saying that the seller assumes I'm not very sart. That might be actually be true, but it definitely is not polite for him to assume it

 

[Magnum]

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On 5/26/2004 3:07:59 AM valeria101 wrote:

I really hope no thread here reached the conclusions that feathers make diamonds crack

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I don't think anyone's said that feathers make a diamond crack, however, in this thread (Link) there was a discussion including several experts, in which it was said that it's possible for a feather to worsen when the diamond is placed under a lot of stress, like the stress involved during the setting process, especially if the setter is not proficient. I don't think, however that this is a reason to avoid all diamonds with feathers, it's just something to be aware of. And if there's a question, an independent appraiser should be able to determine if there's any reason for concern.

 

[niceice]

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On 5/25/2004 10:04:20 AM refount wrote:

I was told by another jeweler that it was probably purchased from someone on the street and has to be an old, previously owned stone because they haven't cut cushion cut stones in over 30 years.>----------------

Well, there's a jeweler who apparently has been "out of touch" for quite awhile... Modern versions of the traditional Cushion Cuts have been in production for quite some time and benefit from the advancements that have been made in modern cutting technology... In other words, it's an old design that is being produced with modern advantages. As with every other shape of diamonds, they are being produced to different levels of perfection, the ones that we represent have GIA Excellent polish and symmetry.

 

[Kimber14]

This is not an old stone. The cut is old but it is coming back huge. My engagement ring is cushion cut and is new and is amazing. Your finance would be receiving a very special ring. This cut was very popular long ago. Most popular cut ever they say.