Cushions............., how did they become sooo popular???

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2008 4:44:02 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I don''t think I have ever seen one in real life. But yours are the most beautiful diamonds I have ever seen, DG. I guess it''s good they aren''t accessible, because then I would have a dilemma! But I''d never settle for an ordinary cushion after seeing yours.

DS2006...

Thanks for the compliment...
What do you mean you have never seen one in real life??

I guess we are going to have to do something about that..., right!

 

[elmo]

That's more than one nice matched pair you've posted DG. Cool stones.

The first time I held a real antique that was cut well was a revelation. What first struck me was what you've described well as the sculpted or three dimensional appearance. It's like I can still imagine the rough that it was fashioned from, with only the most minimal but extremely skillful intervention by man to produce this natural work of beauty. Like the very best wine-making. Then there's the bold patterning...contrast patterns that can make a great hearts-and-arrows stone take notice...the less than perfect pattern-symmetry of the old cushion charming to the sterile perfection of the precision-cut round. And when done well, the old cushion doesn't have to make excuses for its performance.

Talk about classic. If you step over into the colored stone world and consider ruby and sapphire, I think you'll find that a nice cushion commands a premium over most other shapes except for rounds. That's not a recent pricescope phenomenon. Also, what about some of the world's most famous stones like the Hope and Tiffany Yellow? These are not passing fashion.

The more you see and learn, the more charm and appeal the variability has. When you buy the branded round, you aspire to a perfection of uniformity. I'm not a marketing guy but I think that a distinctiveness like this is an important aspect of selling at the high end of the market. And, if you buy well, a great cushion can cost quite a bit less per carat than the round. I'm not going to complain.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 2/6/2008 5:07:51 PM
Author: DiaGem
DS2006...

Thanks for the compliment...
What do you mean you have never seen one in real life??

I guess we are going to have to do something about that..., right!

I haven't seen a cushion in Real life either eta: I take that back; I have not seen a cushion that is smaller than 5 carats in real life! I have seen pears, asschers, emerald, round, marquise, trillion and ovals. I do have an antique brooch that has stones that look cushiony but they are OEC and Rose cut stones. I do love the look of the pillowy cushion.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 2/6/2008 5:07:51 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 2/6/2008 4:44:02 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I don''t think I have ever seen one in real life. But yours are the most beautiful diamonds I have ever seen, DG. I guess it''s good they aren''t accessible, because then I would have a dilemma! But I''d never settle for an ordinary cushion after seeing yours.

DS2006...

Thanks for the compliment...
What do you mean you have never seen one in real life??

I guess we are going to have to do something about that..., right!

Oh, now that would be a very appealing idea! I have only seen pictures of cushions like yours. I have seen the Tiffany Legacy, though, and that is a nice stone. It''s still not as perfect as those in the picture you posted above.

 

[Green with Envy]

On the third season of the Tv show "The Bachelor".. back in 2003, Andrew Firestone picked a cushion cut e-ring for his chosen bacherlotte. I had never heard of one before then, but that ring got a lot of press. Then there have been other stars who have worn beautiful cushion cut e-rings. My friends who have never heard of PS or cushions.... KNOW AShLEY JUDD has an amazing e-ring... a cushion... and Opray Winfrey made a big deal about it on her show.

Tiffany''s is the ultimate marketer...those blue boxes and e-rings do heavily influence the masses and I agree the Legacy-- and now the Novo- rasie awareness of cushions.


I prefer square shapes over round and I thought my preference was a princess cut. Then when I saw my first cushion in real life... I compared it to a RB and princess ... the cushion shape and more chunky facets instantly became my first choice right away! (granted... it was an awesome GOG picked cushion)

I also think the revivial of vintage., platinum, classic designs pave the return of cushions (asschers too). Gone are the days of 80''s and 90''s two tone e-rings with princess cuts, marquises, etc. (no offense to anyone)

 

[indypitty]

I also first heard of a cushion when Andrew Firestone proposed to Jen Scheft with one on "The Bachelor".

I googled it back then and fell in love with the shape immediately.

I wavered for a minute while we were ring shopping and thought I wanted an asscher, but as soon as I saw my cushion I knew it was the stone for me.

It is rather elongated with a L:W ration of 1:26. I get compliments on it all the time, but nobody ever asks me what shape it is. I think lots of people must think it''s an oval????

 

[CrookedRock]

I always thought I was a Radiant girl. I liked the Radiants bc the had a little more going on than the Princess, which is not my personal taste. Then, bc I hang aroung PS too much, I came across PRBagladys ring, and I fell in love. The setting was what really got my attention, but it sparked my interest in cushions. So off I went on a search to decide between Radiants and Cushions, and the Cushions have it!! Now, to just find the perfect one! And I def prefer the elongated stones more than the square. I''m dying to find something in the 1:20:1 ratio range.... I think it''s the random chunks of light that they throw off, although, not a fan of the open/large culet. So I guess I like modern cuts? Who knows, hopefully the right one will find me!

Great topic!

 

[Rhea]

I do like more elongated cushions but when I dream shop I tend to still come back to "what would I buy if I were spending my money" (the semi-practical dream shopping, maybe?) and this causes me to look at smaller stones which I think look better only slightly elongated.

I really like the pair that you posted but not as much as I thought I would. I love asschers and cushions - probably my two favorite cuts if I could afford a larger stone. The ones you posted looked like a combination between the two cuts but not in a way that appealed to me as much as the other stones you posted.

 

[decodelighted]

I knew about the Hope Diamond of course ... but I didn't know white diamonds were widely available in that plump juicy shape until

The Bachelor ... wasn't it a Harry Winston pave halo cushion?? Anyhoo ... since that I learned of Ashley Judd's ring & that country singer, what's her name?? Young girl??

I kinda thought I'd take a big old PASS on diamonds ... because I disliked the headlight-esque appearance of RBs and was meh on the ice cube ECs (my Mom has one). Seeing different softer (cushions, OMC, OEC) or more optically intriguing shapes (like Asschers, Lucidas) really straightened me right out.

But agree that the CURRENT swell of interest is due to Tiffany's HIGHLY ADVERTISED Novo.

 

[mercoledi]

Date: 2/6/2008 5:02:08 PM
Author: DiaGem
These___________ make who's heart tick???

Oooh oooh, that would be me! Does that mean I win them

?


I love these mixed cuts because have massive fire and chunky but organized facets and the same drawing-into-ness that step cuts have. And I vastly prefer the long ones to the squareish cushions; more personality.

 

[strmrdr]

The first cushion I ever saw was a total dog so I dismissed them for many years but have since seen a couple that while likely not exellent cuts were decent and while they arent my favorite they are ok.
Id rather have a step cut.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 2/6/2008 3:58:11 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 2/6/2008 3:42:35 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 2/6/2008 2:55:59 PM
Author: DiaGem
Thank you M. Bijoux for your answer...

Date: 2/6/2008 2:40:26 PM
Author: sumbride
I love them, but I''ve only seen ONE in real life and that was at a jewelry store when I asked them to bring one in for me to look at! I''ve never seen one on someone''s hand outside of PS. So while popular here in the PS world, it will be a while before it joins the ranks of Round and Princess.

I must admit..., it seems like they are ''only'' popular here in our little PS world, but as I live deep inside the core of the cutting centers..., it seems as every manufacturer or cutting Co. these days are ''trying'' to cut these baby''s...

The problem is that Cushions are cut all over the place..., so many different varieties (shapes, cutting styles, faceting arrangements and appearances)..., but only a few Companies really know how to cut them in a fashion that Consumer really want...

Exactly DG, there are so many variations possible within each facet structure type, and there are so many different structures.

There is between 18 and 20 variables for most variants. If you varied each of these by 10 degrees or % in steps of .5, a mathemetician could tell us what 20 to the power of 20 = as combination variations. It is a lot - maybe a billion.

Right Garry..., there goes the idea of ''idealising'' these puppies (out the near future''s window)...

, thank god...

Dont like the term "idealize" any more as it assumes you atained perfection, which will one day be improved upon.
But the Cut group does have a plan to ''optimize'' cushions

 

[sunnyd]

Haha, noone has mentioned Ms. Spears'' cushion! That was when I fell in love with them. It was soooo pretty. I love the not quite sqare not quite rectangular l:w, as in 1.1 - 1.17. Mmmm Ican''t wait to get my hands on one.

 

[Serg]

re:What made them become so all over the place? Why do you think they are so popular?

1) very good yeild
2) AGS stoped development Round and Princess cuts
3) Labs did not know yet what is Ideal Cushion

Same reasons and way likw it was with Princess

 

[tberube]

Before I knew much at all about diamonds, I especially liked cushions because they were square without being square, if that makes sense. I love the outline of a cushion - especially an almost-square one (like the last few in the photo). Also, I like the sort of "imperfect-ness" of the cut - which is different from rounds. I don't prefer rounds just for that reason -they're just too perfect. I didn't end up getting a cushion for my ering, primarily because I assumed they were very expensive and difficult to find, and I was wary of making my boyfriend go nuts looking for a hard-to-find diamond for me (even though he respects my love for the stones, he knows and cares so little for them). Naturally, now I know of PS and cushions are my #2 love, right behind ECs for their laid back, underscored brilliance (and because that's what I have).

$0.02


ETA: I looked over the OP photo - and I definitely lurve the 4th cushion the best. Just a little elongated, but not so much as to look like an oval, and not perfectly square (again - not "perfect" which is what I love).

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 2/6/2008 3:53:53 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 2/6/2008 3:32:31 PM

Author: mrssalvo

I''d never heard of them until coming to PS. The first one I saw in person was a daniel K square cushion and it was love at first site. If we didn''t have a silly thing called a budget I would have bought that ring on the spot. I hope to someday, somehow own one. I just thing they are unique and yet amazing....

mrs S,


Do you happen to remember what year the Daniel K Cushion line was launched off?

I believe it was 1999.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

I actually prefer the stone on the right although it looks a little "crushed" the size is right for me.

I''d love a pink diamond cushion for a RHR.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 2/7/2008 1:17:40 AM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
I actually prefer the stone on the right although it looks a little ''crushed'' the size is right for me.

I''d love a pink diamond cushion for a RHR.

What about 2 vivid pink radiants Lisa?
I do not as a rule post my goodies on Pricescope, but this is a bit special.

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2008 7:49:29 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 2/6/2008 3:58:11 PM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 2/6/2008 3:42:35 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 2/6/2008 2:55:59 PM
Author: DiaGem
Thank you M. Bijoux for your answer...

Date: 2/6/2008 2:40:26 PM
Author: sumbride
I love them, but I''ve only seen ONE in real life and that was at a jewelry store when I asked them to bring one in for me to look at! I''ve never seen one on someone''s hand outside of PS. So while popular here in the PS world, it will be a while before it joins the ranks of Round and Princess.

I must admit..., it seems like they are ''only'' popular here in our little PS world, but as I live deep inside the core of the cutting centers..., it seems as every manufacturer or cutting Co. these days are ''trying'' to cut these baby''s...

The problem is that Cushions are cut all over the place..., so many different varieties (shapes, cutting styles, faceting arrangements and appearances)..., but only a few Companies really know how to cut them in a fashion that Consumer really want...

Exactly DG, there are so many variations possible within each facet structure type, and there are so many different structures.

There is between 18 and 20 variables for most variants. If you varied each of these by 10 degrees or % in steps of .5, a mathemetician could tell us what 20 to the power of 20 = as combination variations. It is a lot - maybe a billion.

Right Garry..., there goes the idea of ''idealising'' these puppies (out the near future''s window)...

, thank god...

Dont like the term ''idealize'' any more as it assumes you atained perfection, which will one day be improved upon.
But the Cut group does have a plan to ''optimize'' cushions

You cut-nuts thought me the meaning of the word....

, now you are backing out???

I was allways against idealizing Diamonds. Like I said many times..., no such thing as a "perfect" Diamond!
I think the special feature in Cushions are their non-uniformed/non-perfect appearances...

Out of ALL the varieties of Cushions out there..., which are you "cut group" trying to "optimize"?

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2008 8:08:13 PM
Author: Serg
re:What made them become so all over the place? Why do you think they are so popular?

1) very good yeild -True, but to cut beautiful Cushion Cut Diamond you sacrifice weight!
2) AGS stoped development Round and Princess cuts
3) Labs did not know yet what is Ideal Cushion Why... today Lab''s know what the "Ideal" Cushion is?

Same reasons and way likw it was with Princess

I personaly think that consumers were the ones who were actually creating the demand for Cushions rather than the market was trying to create a market artificially as supposed to what happened with Princess cuts.

Even today..., I think that consumers are having an extremely hard time finding the right Cushions for their personal taste..., even though there are tons of Cushions being cut these days!

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/6/2008 8:37:02 PM
Author: tberube
Before I knew much at all about diamonds, I especially liked cushions because they were square without being square, if that makes sense. I love the outline of a cushion - especially an almost-square one (like the last few in the photo). Also, I like the sort of ''imperfect-ness'' of the cut - which is different from rounds. I don''t prefer rounds just for that reason -they''re just too perfect. I didn''t end up getting a cushion for my ering, primarily because I assumed they were very expensive and difficult to find, and I was wary of making my boyfriend go nuts looking for a hard-to-find diamond for me (even though he respects my love for the stones, he knows and cares so little for them). Naturally, now I know of PS and cushions are my #2 love, right behind ECs for their laid back, underscored brilliance (and because that''s what I have).

$0.02


ETA: I looked over the OP photo - and I definitely lurve the 4th cushion the best. Just a little elongated, but not so much as to look like an oval, and not perfectly square (again - not ''perfect'' which is what I love).

Thank you for your feedback!!!
You are quite right..., imperfect-ness is the key to a beautiful Cushion (in my opinion...)

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/7/2008 6:10:44 AM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 2/7/2008 1:17:40 AM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
I actually prefer the stone on the right although it looks a little ''crushed'' the size is right for me.

I''d love a pink diamond cushion for a RHR.

What about 2 vivid pink radiants Lisa?
I do not as a rule post my goodies on Pricescope, but this is a bit special.

A bit??? Nice understatement!!

Are the colors in the image equal to reality???

If yes..., it looks more than "just vivid Pinks" to me...

No doubt it''s Argyle tender material...

, where you there?

 

[Cachette]

I`ve only seen the Amorique cushion from Birks. Very pretty stone BTW but too modern looking and $$$$$. Other than that, I don`t know anyone who owns one and I`ve only seen pictures of them here on PS.

The ones that appeal to me (in pictures and on GOG videos) are the larger, more rectangular ones (not too rectangular) with large, chunky facets. They have an old world look to them... Romance and affluence in one stunning stone and I think that I would like them with some warmth to them rather than stark white.

I would never turn one away...

Cachette

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Date: 2/7/2008 6:10:44 AM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

Date: 2/7/2008 1:17:40 AM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
I actually prefer the stone on the right although it looks a little ''crushed'' the size is right for me.

I''d love a pink diamond cushion for a RHR.

What about 2 vivid pink radiants Lisa?
I do not as a rule post my goodies on Pricescope, but this is a bit special.

WOW - Garry gorgeous ring, the intesity of color, yada, yada, yada....

What''s the sticker shock???

Any tips on acquiring loose stones from Argyle? (I know they have this super top secret one a year event open to those in the upper eschelon trade).

Ah, what''s a girl to do?

BTW, any opinions of these?

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

#2

 

[diagem]

Thanks for your input elmo...

Date: 2/6/2008 5:08:37 PM
Author: elmo
That''s more than one nice matched pair you''ve posted DG. Cool stones.

The first time I held a real antique that was cut well was a revelation. What first struck me was what you''ve described well as the sculpted or three dimensional appearance. It''s like I can still imagine the rough that it was fashioned from, with only the most minimal but extremely skillful intervention by man to produce this natural work of beauty. Like the very best wine-making. Then there''s the bold patterning...contrast patterns that can make a great hearts-and-arrows stone take notice...the less than perfect pattern-symmetry of the old cushion charming to the sterile perfection of the precision-cut round. And when done well, the old cushion doesn''t have to make excuses for its performance.

Exactemundo...

Talk about classic. If you step over into the colored stone world and consider ruby and sapphire, I think you''ll find that a nice cushion commands a premium over most other shapes except for rounds. That''s not a recent pricescope phenomenon. Also, what about some of the world''s most famous stones like the Hope and Tiffany Yellow? These are not passing fashion.

Beautiful antique Diamonds were always sought after..., I think the world just become smaller..., and more people are discovering the characteristics of a beautiful Diamond that was fashioned 100+ years ago..., I really believe they will always be considered classics...

The more you see and learn, the more charm and appeal the variability has. When you buy the branded round, you aspire to a perfection of uniformity. I''m not a marketing guy but I think that a distinctiveness like this is an important aspect of selling at the high end of the market. And, if you buy well, a great cushion can cost quite a bit less per carat than the round. I''m not going to complain.

Not always..., I am noticing that the larger you go thats when beautifully cut fancy shapes equal or even surpass RB''s prices...

 

[diagem]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:12:50 AM
Author: Cachette
I`ve only seen the Amorique cushion from Birks. Very pretty stone BTW but too modern looking and $$$$$. Other than that, I don`t know anyone who owns one and I`ve only seen pictures of them here on PS.

The ones that appeal to me (in pictures and on GOG videos) are the larger, more rectangular ones (not too rectangular) with large, chunky facets. They have an old world look to them... Romance and affluence in one stunning stone and I think that I would like them with some warmth to them rather than stark white.

I would never turn one away...

Cachette

Any pictures of the Amorique??? I would like to see one...

 

[pixley]

Here''s a link to the Amorique: http://www.birks.com/index.asp?PageID=2&SecID=64&CatID=712&LangID=1&SKU=908993

I''ve seen about 5 at our local Birks stores. Only one was really WOW, and the others were just kinda "meh", but yowza were they expensive!

 

[diagem]

Thanks for the link...

Yes..., I agree..., I would expect better quality imagery from a name like Birks...

 

[Gothgrrl]

I was trying to find information on the Ashoka, and found PS. I then searched on the asscher cut, thinking that would be my upgrade stone. That is until I saw a cushion cut. It was love at first sight. I do like the more square shape, though. I was completely taken in by the chunky facets, and open culet. There was one ring that just blew me away. It was a 3+ stone from Singlestone that was set e-w. The big open culet just made me melt.

Diagem, I love the 3rd and 5th stones. Yummy!