Cushion help - almost there with ERD or GOG

[pugfacet]

Hi everyone, first I just want to thank everyone on this forum. It''s been a GREAT resource for a guy on a cushion adventure! I''ve really grown to love and appreciate cushions like so many of you.

Still, I am a guy without a girl''s guidance (the few female friends I have who are engaged have rounds). I''ve been in New York looking at cushions in person for a little while. I''m down to ERD and GOG. Looking to decide this week.

My goals:
Cushion Brilliant (8 main, chunky look, nice cross/windmill under the table, nice variety of facet size--so the flashes vary nicely as you rotate the stone)
Carat: 1.5
Color: DEFGH
Clarity: VS2, maybe SI1

Other criteria (table, depth, etc) I''m flexible with.. the most important thing to me isn''t numerical, just overall beauty

ERD - I''ve seen Mark at ERD three times now. He''s been awesome and patient at learning my taste and then continuing to search. The top stone (pictured below) is my favorite from him. F SI1.

GOG - I saw GOG''s August Vintage cushions, but none in my size/color range. Every one I saw had consistent cuts and consistently amazing light performance. I''m supposed to see some in my size/color range soon.

Before I go out to GOG again, I''d like to get your opinions on this top stone from Mark. You all seem to be familiar with his pictures

Thanks so much, and I hope I can keep my girlfriend from reading pricescope!

 

[pugfacet]

Edit: I''d like to hear your opinions on the top stone compared to what you''ve seen of GOG''s August Vintage cushions. Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Top and middle cushions look great!

 

[bgray]

the top cushion has a distracting facet pattern. the middle is more even -dont care for the bottom either

 

[tyty333]

Date: 11/10/2009 8:18:28 AM
Author: bgray
the top cushion has a distracting facet pattern. the middle is more even -dont care for the bottom either

I agree with bgray. I dont like the difference between the big facets and the crushed ice facets in the first stone. The
second stone would be more my taste and looks more like what I have seen on the GOG website. Dont really care
for the 3rd stone.

 

[pugfacet]

Thanks for your comments - I see what you''re saying about it being "distracting" or "crushed ice" in appearance on the top and bottom..

I know that my girlfriend does NOT like the crushed ice look, and I don''t want her to think this looks too crushed icey.

In person, my sense was that the overall look of this stone is chunky, but with some smaller facets to make it interesting. Perhaps I need to see it again.

Can any other cushion experts chime in? Do you think Mark''s picture is exaggerating the crushed ice/distracting look? Have you noticed that that''s common in his pictures?

It kind of reminds me of these pictures from Mark:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cushion-brilliant-2-01-1-10-ratio-g-vs2-vg-polish-good-symm-for-17-3k-thoughts.104483/

...As compared to these pictures from Leon Mege:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-cushion-brilliant-2-01-1-10-ratio-g-vs2.119815/

Thanks!

 

[lilyfoot]

I agree with all posters above. The second stone speaks to me more than the others, for the reasons previously stated.

 

[CharmyPoo]

My opinion ..
1. Mix crushed ice look? Something is distracting.
2. Not a fan of how tiny the windmills are and the short centre facets
3. Not my type

 

[Diamondbug]

Date: 11/10/2009 11:14:58 AM
Author: CharmyPoo
My opinion ..

1. Mix crushed ice look? Something is distracting.

2. Not a fan of how tiny the windmills are and the short centre facets

3. Not my type

Ditto what she said...... personally I would keep looking.

 

[emeraldlover1]

I perfer the look of the middle stone pictured the best. Why not that one?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/10/2009 11:12:54 AM
Author: pugfacet

Can any other cushion experts chime in? Do you think Mark''s picture is exaggerating the crushed ice/distracting look? Have you noticed that that''s common in his pictures?

I have seen this effect in some of Mark''s cushion photos before and it was a result of the photography, call him and ask him about it then he can tell you for sure.