cushion: old vs new

[icepunk]

hiya there. i am new around here but have been lurking for awhile. my husband and i may come to some money sometime next year and he had agreed to give me an upgrade on my engagement ring, since we were in fact engaged twice

(don''t ask...). he likes the simple tiffany six prong with round brilliant which is what he presented me with the first time around. i have always been partial to the non-conventional, or should i say, classics with twists. so i ended up exploring antique rings, oval cut, brilliant cut, and the cushion cut. he does not like the oval cut, he said they look old (i really don''t understand...), he felt that dead people''s (sorry) ring gave bad vibes (superstitious!), he does not like the look of brilliant cut ("square"), but he paused when i showed him the cushion. i have always been attracted to cushion. i am not sure why. even before i knew they were cushion cut.

so now, cushion it is. i will be looking for 2-3 ct. the question is, should i look for vintage cushion or modern cut cushion? what is the difference? which is better? how so?

i wish i can see them in person, but thus far i will only be able to source a good one over the net and seeing them in pics will not be the same as in real life. if i could just use my eyes to judge, i have to issue as i trust my eyes. but over a PC monitor it become a totally different thing altogether. i have to educate myself more on the facts of the cushion.

help?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

There are threads here where people have shown images of different types.
You need to decide after looking at images and real stones

 

[icepunk]

i think i took a look at some pics of old / antique cushion cut and newer ones and i couldn ''t tell the difference. the only difference i can see is that the older cushions usually have large culet. from what i heard, the older ones are sometime more yellowish as well. i am not sure. in terms of cut, they say people are better are more precise cut nowadays. but other than that, it is very hard to see how they sparkle in comparison to each other just by looking at monitor screen. as for real life cushions, they are hard to find around here. most people here prefer those ''safe'' ones, ones you can easily resell etc, thus, round brilliant are mainly what they have. i don''t even know where to begin. i suppose at the end of the day, i will have to rely on online seller''s judgement on what is better. and i may have to be as clear as i can be in communicating what kind of sparkle i like to online seller. and in order to do so, i may have to know what i am talking about. at the moment, i am not so sure. i have been going through the threads here and have not so far found the thread discussing old cut vs new cut cushions... will carry on...

 

[Lorelei]

If you haven''t seen this thread, check it out as it might be useful.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-cushion-by-any-other-name.36001/

 

[icepunk]

thank you for that link it was very helpful. the diagrams of a variety of cushion cuts will be very useful in my discussion with those who will be helping me with the search of the stone. i know what i like and what i want but i am having trouble describing it. i can only say yay or nay once i see the stone. since there are no real terms for them there is no common language for me to convey what kind of cushions we should narrow down our search to. thanks again.

by the way, any advise on who i should go to for cushions?

these are the kinds of cushions i am looking for: something like the Daussi and the one marked "C" further down the thread

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/faq1/a-cushion-by-any-other-name-t36001-30.html

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/30/2007 8:48:28 AM
Author: icepunk
thank you for that link it was very helpful. the diagrams of a variety of cushion cuts will be very useful in my discussion with those who will be helping me with the search of the stone. i know what i like and what i want but i am having trouble describing it. i can only say yay or nay once i see the stone. since there are no real terms for them there is no common language for me to convey what kind of cushions we should narrow down our search to. thanks again.

by the way, any advise on who i should go to for cushions?

these are the kinds of cushions i am looking for: something like the Daussi and the one marked ''C'' further down the thread

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/faq1/a-cushion-by-any-other-name-t36001-30.html

You bet!! Mark at Engagement Rings Direct is known as the cushion guy for very good reason. He has helped countless people and many PSers find incredible cushions, he has a definite skill in picking winners in the cushion shape! Contact him and tell him what you are looking for, he will guide you every step of the way!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 8/30/2007 8:50:39 AM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 8/30/2007 8:48:28 AM

Author: icepunk

thank you for that link it was very helpful. the diagrams of a variety of cushion cuts will be very useful in my discussion with those who will be helping me with the search of the stone. i know what i like and what i want but i am having trouble describing it. i can only say yay or nay once i see the stone. since there are no real terms for them there is no common language for me to convey what kind of cushions we should narrow down our search to. thanks again.


by the way, any advise on who i should go to for cushions?



these are the kinds of cushions i am looking for: something like the Daussi and the one marked ''C'' further down the thread


https://www.pricescope.com/forum/faq1/a-cushion-by-any-other-name-t36001-30.html

You bet!! Mark at Engagement Rings Direct is known as the cushion guy for very good reason. He has helped countless people and many PSers find incredible cushions, he has a definite skill in picking winners in the cushion shape! Contact him and tell him what you are looking for, he will guide you every step of the way!

I also cannot recommend Mark highly enough. He was fantastic to work with when we were looking for my cushion and makes virtual shopping very easy!

 

[Nicrez]

Personally, I am a big fan of the old cut stones. Just to show faceting, this picture can not possibly depict the amount of fire and presence this center stone has. It''s unbelieveable! It''s a shame you don''t have any antique stores or pawn shops, second hand stores, etc to see some older stones... they have so much personality, but they are certainly not for everyone.

And I am sort of surprised by you husband''s reaction to antique pieces. Someone who died doesn''t leave an imprint of any sort on their jewelry, or haunt it in any way. I suppose some people would like to think so, which is proof positive why famous people and historical figures have their jewlery sell at auction at astronomical prices, compared to the actual street value of the item. In the industry it is called "provenance". A tiara made in this decade may be worth $100,000. But if it was owned by Princess Diana, perhaps you can safely tripple that price. Now if it was given to her as a gift passed down by the former queen, and was worn by many queens before her, easily double THAT price...

So the more "dead" people that owned that piece and the more important they were, the higher the value of the piece. Look at Elizabeth Taylor''s jewlery! Or more recently Ellen Barkin! her pieces sold at Christie''s for a mint. Granted she had fine exquisite pieces, but that is the lure of estate. A recycling and collecting of things that seem to go up in value. Often times a good investment.

And when it comes to everyday jewerly, you can often find an amazing deal in estate pieces. Like a Harry Winston engagement ring for $15K my friend found. The retail for the same ring would have been $35-38K

 

[icepunk]

i personally prefer antique jewelries

but i think husband is a bit overwhelmed with all of the vintage and old stuff around the house and said that he wished i get something ''new'' or ''modern'' for a change

i suppose if i am in new york (lived there for 2 years and loved it!) i would be stalking antique fairs and stores for an old cushion. YOURS LOOK WONDERFUL! but there is no hope here. i can''t even get a modern cushion...

now, for old cushion cuts, for a long distance buyer like myself, anybody you can recommend. i just took a look at www.engagementringdirect.com and saw that all of the cushions they have listed are modern cut. i will email him anyway and see if he is able to locate a more old fashioned ones. i have also contacted niceice. i heard they are very paticular about choosing their rocks.

 

[icepunk]

nicrez, would you happen to have a diagram showing the faceting of your old cut cushion? i think this is the only way i can communicate what i am looking for.

 

[ericad]

Here's a pic of my new 2.09 carat OMC/Cushion. It's an antique diamond. I'll try to dig up a video link also that the seller had sent me before I bought it. You can find really good deals on antique diamonds and have one set into a new setting. For what I paid for this 2 carat I would have only been able to get around 1.25 carat in a modern cut. But that's not the reason I chose it - I just really love the history that the old stones carry. They have so much character and I far prefer them over modern stones. Modern stones may be cut to more "perfect" standards and pass a lot of tests for a variety of things, but the old stones are just so darn CHARMING and, for me, far more interesting. I guess it just really depends on what your eyes tell you.

If you are looking for an antique diamond, I highly recommend Ari @ Singlestone. He's fantastic and I'm working with him on the setting for this diamond. For comparison pricing, you should check out www.oldworlddiamonds.com - no pics (they will email pics to you upon request) but a good resource to compare pricing you find on a modern cushion to the antique cushion/OMC of comparable specs.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/30/2007 10:04:01 AM
Author: icepunk
i personally prefer antique jewelries

but i think husband is a bit overwhelmed with all of the vintage and old stuff around the house and said that he wished i get something ''new'' or ''modern'' for a change

i suppose if i am in new york (lived there for 2 years and loved it!) i would be stalking antique fairs and stores for an old cushion. YOURS LOOK WONDERFUL! but there is no hope here. i can''t even get a modern cushion...

now, for old cushion cuts, for a long distance buyer like myself, anybody you can recommend. i just took a look at www.engagementringdirect.com and saw that all of the cushions they have listed are modern cut. i will email him anyway and see if he is able to locate a more old fashioned ones. i have also contacted niceice. i heard they are very paticular about choosing their rocks.

IcePunk, definitely email Mark, he can get his hands on almost anything, not only is he THE cushion expert, he is also located in NY''s diamond district, so give him a chance to see what he can come up with.

 

[Nicrez]

Date: 8/30/2007 10:06:48 AM
Author: icepunk
nicrez, would you happen to have a diagram showing the faceting of your old cut cushion? i think this is the only way i can communicate what i am looking for.

Actually it is not my ring, but that of someone I know. This is a very old stone, circa Belle Epoch around 1890''s. No diagram for something this old, as it was never unset. Nor would I. GIA has some stock diagrams they use, so no antique cut is ever accurately depicted. In my opinion, I would only buy an antique cut face to face. They will NEVER be the same from photo to finger. The fire they show in different lighting just can not be captured by a camera. So if you absolutely can not see stones in person, then I suggest that you buy a modern brilliant cushion. It will be much easier as many more of those are GIA graded and with certs.

In my opinion, if you are looking for a ring and a stone you truly love that will be on your finger for years and years to come, I would get exactly what you like. To me I have learned that buying jewlery based on numbers makes it feel like a car purchase. If you want to buy something you will always wear and fall in love with something, it''s best to go on appearances and your gut reaction to it. After all, it''s decorative, and if it appeals to you, that is the most important.

I understand your husband''s wish for something more modern, but wouldn''t that be your decision if this is a gift to you? Either way, if you want more modern, the modern round brilliant is the way to go. Mark T at ERD is a wiz at finding all types of stones, so he should be useful either way. If you can make it out to NY and save some of that windfall for the trip out here, there are so many places to see antique stones that it will be best to narrow it down...

Good luck!

 

[icepunk]

actually, i would love to be able to see some old cushions face to face....
however, in the real possible absence of such opportunity, i may have to rely on good people on the net to pick some wonderful ones for me to pick from.

so, thus far we have: engagement ring direct, single stone, nice ice, and good old gold from what i see on this thread and others.

i have also contemplated leon mege for the setting (if loose diamond is what i ended up with), and judging from his website, he may be able to source some really nice cushions for me? old or otherwise? do you think? anyone has a thought on this?

 

[icepunk]

ericad, that cushion looks round! i can see the interesting faceting around the table. i am going to see if i can find some pic of what kind of cushions i am drawn to. i am not sure if the link to another thread which i posted above can be opened?

how about this:

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=280

 

[ericad]

It's more of an old mine - sort of a square-ish round. I don't actually think I've ever seen a rectangular antique cushion, but that's not to say they aren't out there. But my stone is a bit off - narrower on one end and wider on the other. That's common in the old stones - mine is well over 100 years old. It's the OEC's that are really round, and OMC's are a tad square - just depends. Here's another pic where the stone looks more cushion shaped.

 

[Hest88]

Droooolllllll over all the pictures so far. I, too, am fond of antique cushions. The lumpiness of an OMC, the large culet, and the variable facets that the hand-cutting created just make it more gorgeous to my eye. Add to it the aura of mystery--what wealthy ladies or gentlemen cherished this stone? did a lover bestow it upon them? did they buy it when they finally clawed their way to financial security? did it get passed from daughter to daughter?--and there''s really no way I''d choose a modern cushion over an antique one.

Here''s my OMC, lit so you can see the facets but not much else.

 

[icepunk]

i am persuaded.... i am persuaded...

can anyone comment on what kind of cushion this one is?

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=280

i don''t i have ever seen anything like that before and i am intrigued....

 

[icepunk]

thanks again for all those who shared with me their cushions and thoughts. thanks for the link/s to previous thread/s discussing similar/same topic which i had not been able to find prior to posting. therefore, sorry if my inquiry is a bit repetitive.

will update you all once i hear back from the vendors.

there are so many kinds of cuts of cushions out there, but only so many terminologies!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 8/31/2007 8:55:24 PM
Author: icepunk
i am persuaded.... i am persuaded...

can anyone comment on what kind of cushion this one is?

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=280

i don''t i have ever seen anything like that before and i am intrigued....

That one definitely is modern cut. I don''t like it as well as the ones with the larger facets. Do a search on Boston Jeff''s ring. He got a gorgeous modern cushion that is cut like an old one...best of both worlds! Mark and ERD found it for him. And I also love Jonathan at Good Old Gold, as a second source.

 

[icepunk]

thanks for that addiditonal contact point diamondseeker. will definitely follow up on that one. i have contacted two vendors so far, nice ice and engagement rings direct. and i did plan on contacting GOG as well as i heard good things about them here in the forum. thanks again!

 

[Phoenix]

It''s so funny, I had the same "dilema" a little while ago. I thought I loved the modern cut, but after this trip I took in London to New Bond Street and Bond Street and having looked a dozens of old cut cushions, I was in love! For me, now, this old cut wins hands-down. There is something so magical about the old cut... love the chunky facets, amongst other things. They''re so full of charater and imagine the history that goes with each one of these antique rings?

 

[icepunk]

i am in to antique jewelries! and a whole lot of other antique everything else too! i had been very curious about the old cushion cuts for a while now. but where i am, there is absolutely no chance of taking a peek of the real thing. so my exploration have been limited to the net thus far. i am really hoping that one of the vendors i contacted might be able to help me with some comparisons. i have seen some nice pictures here in the forum. but having shop on the net so far i noticed that there is always a dimension or two that you are missing when you see something in two dimension.

can you perhaps attempt to describe the difference? using metaphors perhaps.....?