Cushion Questions.....help

[Sopranojla]

I am in the market for a new center stone and am looking into cushions like an Old Mine Cut. Is the August Vintage Old Mine Cushion just a designer name for the antique-y Old Mine Cut?

Also, what specifications (size/color/clarity) should I look to stay within while shopping if I'm looking to be around a 1.4 - 1.5 carat stone?

Thanks

 

[Gypsy]

1. August Vintage is an old mine faceted stone. But it goes a step futher and maximizes the light return and earns an AGS 0 for light return (one of the only cushion lines to do so).
2. You shouldn't shop by color and clarity. You should shop by performanace. But to answer your question. Eyeclean SI or better for a ring is my recommendation. As for color. That's entirely personal. If you want to stay in the 'white' range for an engagement stone I would stick to J or better.

 

[Gypsy]

Other vendors do carry Old Mine style cushions. They won't have ideal light performance but it is possible to get great light performance.

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.55-carat-f-vs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-102269.html is a really nice one. I have a fondness for F color personally. I don't know what your budget is though.

You'd have to ask for ASETs of these to see light performance.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1511012.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VVS2-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1511020.asp

You can also get in touch with Victor Canera to see what he has. He is just launching a new line of Old Mine faceted cushions with AGS0 light performance.

GOG does have the easiest one stop shopping for them, though. ERD is a close second in terms of ease of purchase. JA is third and only has those two I posted in your size range.

 

[Sopranojla]

Thanks for the help, Gypsy! I'm going to NYC to our jeweler next week to look at stones.

I've been researching cushions online and learned that approx. specs should be 54-62 for table and 59-64 for depth. I know when it comes to fancies, numbers aren't what you should go by, visual inspection is more important for light return and overall appearance. BUT, that being said, when I search online (JA, GOG, Diamond Engagement Rings Direct), I cannot find any that have a depth of 59 - 64; they are mostly 66, 67, 68 and some even in the 70's. Is this normal? I know that people always say cushions "face up smaller"....is this due to them being cut so deep? Also, is it rare to find one that is within the 59-64 range?

 

[ecf8503]

The old-cut style chunky faceted newly cut cushions like the August Vintage are supposed to be deeper.

The "specs" you are looking at don't apply to vintage style cuts; that's more for the splintery crushed ice 4-main or 8-main modern style cushions. If you are looking at vintage styles you need to pay attention the the ASET as that will tell you the most about the light performance. The "numbers" go out the window.

 

[Sopranojla]

Thanks, ECF....In reality, I'm torn between the vintage and the modern cuts. Both are pretty, but I am looking for a whiter stone (I know the vintage stones can be warmer and I don't think my budget is large enough for a decent size (1.4-1.6carat) stone. As far as the modern cut, I'm not 100% in love with the crushed ice look. Is there a way to get the best of both worlds? Meaning, a modern cut with slightly chunkier faceting? What would that be called?

 

[JulieN]

There are many pavilion faceting patterns for cushions, but GIA has two broad categories, the cushion brilliant and the cushion modified brilliant. Of course, the cushion part of the name refers to the outline/shape. The brilliant bottom is like the round brilliant- it has 4 or 8 pavilion mains that go from culet to girdle (only, no modifications.) But any kind of modification makes it a modified brilliant, so some modified brilliants have broader flash and some will be crushed ice.