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Cushion shopping Engagement

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wolverine_man

Rough_Rock
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Nov 15, 2011
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I've been looking for a 1.2 - 1.30 cushion for an engagement ring for a few weeks now. Looking for more of a square symmetry. Vs1-maybe SI1. Has to be naked eye clean for sure. Color F-H. Will be going into 14k white gold simple solitaire or a tiny pave side stone setting. Trying to keep to GIA and within rec table and depth, 53-62 and 59-65 respectively. Saw a 1.2 Vs1 h color with 64 table and 69.3 depth v good polish and good symmetry and GIA. Looked good even under scope. Not crushed ice. Store wanted $6500 but seems maybe high. Any online suggestions? Do I need vs2 for naked clean if buying online, sight unseen? Looked with pricescope search agent but worried about online buying. Can't spend over $6800.
 
Modern cushion or antique cushion?
 
Modern from what I understand. Less like crushed ice. More square than rectangle. Any good online options much appreciated.
 
this one looks like a really nice modern cushion. it is a little smaller than you would prefer...perhaps call GOG and ask them if they have access to any similar ones that are a bit larger?
http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/8991/
 
Thank you. Will try calling tmrw. You think that depth is too high? Also is GIA sI1 almost always naked eye clean?
 
I looked at Good Old Gold and they only had a J color modern cushion that met your budget, but it is a nice looking stone but not square:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8993/

A little over budget: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8995/

James Allen has pictures of cushions that are helpful, but I honestly didn't see any that appealed to me. I think great modern cushions are a little hard to find.
 
Any comment on the one I saw in person listed in first post? I have Gia report but don't know how to scan it in. Plus I'm using my phone right now.
 
Numbers are kind of meaningless with cushions. You really, really have to have a picture. For example, I didn't really like the ones on James Allen that were labelled excellent cut. Jonathan at Good Old Gold might be able to find a couple for you to look at, though. I'd ask.
 
Right ok. Looked at the one on GOG but it looked to have a cutlet. Any idea on how much a typical B&M independent jeweler would discount a diamond? How about if getting it set at same place?
 
wolverine_man|1324264873|3084311 said:
Right ok. Looked at the one on GOG but it looked to have a cutlet. Any idea on how much a typical B&M independent jeweler would discount a diamond? How about if getting it set at same place?
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culet is not bad or good, just matter of personal preference.

not sure what you mean by how much a typical jeweler would discount?
 
If a brick and mortar independent jeweler has a diamond at $6500, is there an accepted percentage range by which they might come down in price. I mean, they looked at a grid/chart, typed some numbers into a calculator and told me the price? The price seemed perhaps about $600 or so on the high end, maybe more. This was on a diamond they said was not theres and got from a vault offsite or something.
 
Thanks. I did watch that video a week ago. Problem is that very few people have ASET and DIAM XRAY reports, and those that do, tend to be a fair amount more expensive. Is a magnified image good enough? I saw three GIA stones with slightly different specs at a jeweler, Diamond Castle in Novi, Michigan, all VS2-VS1, 1.20, 1.21, and 1.22, with tables around 64-66 and depths in the high 60s, and I could hardly tell much of any difference in fire and scintilation, neither could my sister. They all looked amazing. I could only tell differences in that one was more rectangle in ratio and the location of the inclusions under a heavily lit microscope. The price did vary from $6,600 (1.20 car, VS1, H), $7,564 (1.22 car, VS2, G) to $7,865 (1.21 car, VS2, F). Seemed to vary in price mostly based on color.
 
 
Since your in MI, I'd see about taking a trip over to Battle Creek and visit with Pearlmans, if it's not too far of a drive. They are PS vendors and would have cushions for you to see in person. They don't list their stones online like some of the other vendors but it might be worth it for you to actually get somewhere where you can see stones in person and from a vendor who understand pricescope customers :saint:. I'd call before you go so they will have someone ready to spend a little time with you.

I'd also check with Mark t at Engagementringsdirect. He has found some amazing cushions for folks here and is in the heart of the diamond district in NY. He just has a great eye for spotting winners.

Like others have said, you can't judge cushions from the paper/lab reports so being able to see some in person or use a trusted vendor to be your eyes is really the best way to go, IMO.
 
I actually visited John Pearlman a couple weeks ago in Battle Creek, since I go to court there every so often. I called him up yesterday, and he said he found some stones in the specs I was searching for. However, he said most diamonds are traded by paper these days, and that while I could come in and check out the GIA reports, he usually didn't get the stone in unless I would be more or less buying it. At least that is the way I understood it. I can call to clarify, as I plan to meet with him this Thursday.
 
Thank you farmergal! I am starting to realize this is a much more arduous task than car shopping! You are all tremendously helpful. Sine my girlfriend is somewhat on the particular side, I just may have to bite the bullet and have her come with me. While I would LOVE to surprise her, I just could not make such a large purchase in the dark. Asking friends and family, has not gotten me very far. :wink2:
 
wolverine_man|1324390392|3085266 said:
I actually visited John Pearlman a couple weeks ago in Battle Creek, since I go to court there every so often. I called him up yesterday, and he said he found some stones in the specs I was searching for. However, he said most diamonds are traded by paper these days, and that while I could come in and check out the GIA reports, he usually didn't get the stone in unless I would be more or less buying it. At least that is the way I understood it. I can call to clarify, as I plan to meet with him this Thursday.
Click to expand...

Let us know how your meeting goes. I have purchased from Pearlmans a few times (including a cushion) and always had a wonderful outcome so I have no doubt they can come up with an amazing cushion for you. But, I agree the asets that other vendors provide are a extremely useful when buying sight unseen.

Jon at Goodoldgold will shoot video's of his in house stones which are very helpful too.

You're on the right track and I've no doubt one of the these vendors will have the perfect stone for you. Getting the stone and setting at the same place is also a good idea if at all possible so I'd be sure to check out the settings offered at the vendors you are looking at as well! Many times you can get better pricing buying the complete package at one place.
 
Will do. He has quite some nice settings, but I will probably have to go with a plain solitaire for now. Gf has indicated she will be happy with anything and trusts my judgment. She caught me at lunch searching on my computer. Doh!

Should have the ASETs within three days, give or take pending holidays. Anyone care to comment on the above three stones based on the GIA and images right now?
 
Still waiting on ASETs. Been looking some more. Anyone think I should not be leaning towards a cushion, and go for a round brilliant instead? GF says she is not particular at all and that I can get whatever, and she will be happy. She's just elated to be on verge of getting married. :D I was intrigued by cushions because they are not as well known by as many people, and so they are kind of unique (e.g. none of my friends wive's have one for an e-ring). I tend to like things that are a little different or not as mainstream. . . anyway.

I am presently looking in the 1.20-1.25 carat range of cushions, but am now reading that those will look really small in comparison to a round brilliant. How much smaller? In my price range of under $7,000, it seems that decent round brilliants would come in around 1.01/.02 range for the ideal to hearts and arrows type cut. Was wondering if when comparing a cushion in the above 1.20-1.25 range with a size under 7 mm, if it would appear smaller than a round brilliant in the 1.01 to 1.02 range? In other words, what is more bang for the buck as far as wow factor?

Any opinion on this?
 
I would go for a round brilliant unless I was getting an August Vintage Cushion from Good Old Gold (or the one MrsS has which we can't have!). But I did choose an ideal cut round brilliant for my anniversary upgrade stone anyway, because I do think they have the most impact for the size and they never, ever go out of style. And an ideal cut round brilliant is a LOT easier to choose online, too! I'd look at Good Old Gold, WhiteFlash, and Brian Gavin for superior ideal cut rounds. I think a 1.0 rb will be roughly equivalent to the visual size of a 1.25 cushion in most cases.

BUT I forgot to add, I also love Pearlman's and know that they deal in ideal cut stones as well. So if you go there in person, tell them you saw them recommended on PriceScope and that you need competitive pricing for your diamond (or PriceScope discount)!
 
It is awful that diamonds are so high right now!!! Frustrating to look for a diamond with a great budget and have a hard time finding anything!

This stone is a great one if you can handle J color:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.010-j-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104055121003

This one might be a possibility:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8967/

This one comes in right at your price point, is a new stone, and it might be great if you can request an idealscope image and always ask if stones are eyeclean just to be safe (VS2 usually is):

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1440496.asp
 
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