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Elongated Cushion - bad idea?

T

three staplers

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 26, 2018
Messages
9
Budget is about $11000 for a diamond, and she has indicated that she wants an "elongated cushion." Based on my research, that means a cushion cut with a l/w ratio of at least 1.2. Based on my further research, not many of these diamonds exist, and they also don't have a great reputation.
Does anyone have any tips on finding a decent elongated cushion? Or should I talk her out of it?

Thanks!!
 
Where did your research take you? Check out the August vintage cushions from www.augustvintageinc.com. mine has a ratio of 1.06. I don't think 1.02 is enough to give even a slight elongated appearance but I could be wrong.
 
I wouldn’t try and talk her out of a diamond shape she likes just to make your search easier.

I think you can find a nice performing elongated cushion with some effort. What style setting did she like?
 
Niel said:
Here’s a few branded ones
https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/413u7d-1.448-i-vs1-ideal-antique-cushion

https://www.victorcanera.com/diamonds/cnm75z-1.296-g-vvs2-ideal-antique-cushion
Click to expand...
Interesting thanks very much for looking for me! Those look really nice. But also are way more expensive than comparable traditional stats on the main online vendors. Do you think it’s worth paying for a brand name cut? I was thinking before i could probably find something more like 1.5/f/vs1/ideal in my price range. Is that not gonna work for a good elongated cushion?

In terms of setting, I haven’t found a suitable one yet either. She says super thin pave band with a rounded halo. The VC Emilya setting is actually close i think but is still a little thick shows too much metal.

Last: @maggie I meant 1.20 not 1.02
 
Yeah it seems hard to find one, especially a nice one, at 1.2 LxW or over.
Here are a few in the 1.1 LxW range. If that would suit, then see what the more knowledgeable folks here say about these.
Modern:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.55-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3010571
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-4344466
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-3178511
Vintage (you may not see as much of a price break on lower color with these, since it's considered part of the style kinda):
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-i-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3596252
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-3235728
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.53-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-3089600 (most elongated)
It sounds like she has a fairly particular flavor here, but you could ask her what she thinks of ovals, maybe plug the oval from August Vintage that's cut for great light return. Elongated cushions and ovals can look pretty darn similar, especially if you play with halo shape.
 
Oh! Hope I didn't read that wrong... I was just thinking 1.02 was a very minor amount and her specific! :-o
 
three staplers said:
Interesting thanks very much for looking for me! Those look really nice. But also are way more expensive than comparable traditional stats on the main online vendors. Do you think it’s worth paying for a brand name cut? I was thinking before i could probably find something more like 1.5/f/vs1/ideal in my price range. Is that not gonna work for a good elongated cushion?

In terms of setting, I haven’t found a suitable one yet either. She says super thin pave band with a rounded halo. The VC Emilya setting is actually close i think but is still a little thick shows too much metal.

Last: @maggie I meant 1.20 not 1.02
Click to expand...

The Emilia setting up a going to be the nicest example of a hw setting and does not show too much metal in person. I do not think you could accomplish that better than he does.

Vc does give discounts if you buy the setting and stone together. And yes you can buy a cheaper non branded elongated cushion but many of those will not perform up to the standard I was under the impression you were looking for. Pleas provide examples of the stone you found- I could definitely be wrong
 
Alternatively you could also get vendors to source non-branded cushion cuts for you, since fancy shapes would likely need to be evaluated in person to determine it's performance. With an elongated cushion there's a higher likelihood of a bowtie, although I have seen beautiful ones without it.

Brilliantly Engaged is a vendor known for sourcing lovely cushions. ID Jewelry as well. Both are in the NYC diamond district area, so they can be able to take a look for you.
 
Hi,

No, there is nothing wrong with elongated cushions, my engagement ring has a bit more elongated cushion.

It is just that in general square cut cushions are much more sought after and in general considered as a "better" cut but shape is a matter of taste entirely.

Actually elongated cushions are much easier to find than really good square ones but to find a good elongated cushion can prove very difficult albeit not impossible.

In a white cushion I would prefer more squarish with pillowy corners but mine is a light yellow.

There is one important factor I wanted to point out to you. You mentioned that she would like a rounded halo. This will not really work with an elongated cushion unless it is also more rounded like the ones Niel pointed out to you. A rounded halo will go with a pillowy shaped, more rounded stone. You should consider that when selecting your stone. If you are getting a cushion with pointier edges, with the halo it will look a bit more like a radiant (which mine does).

Like I said shapes are really a matter of preference. I love great cushions and cushion halos are my favorite but nothing wrong either way with someone´s preference. You should not try to change that, it is subjective. You should only try to change a preference that objectively makes a stone inferior (say extremely shallow cut and such come to my mind or a cushion with blurry facet pattern, something that is considered as poor quality by trade).

Good luck, this is a fun project!
 
Last edited:
If she has Pinterest you could screenshot some of her examples. There is likely a lot of seemingly different styles, but usually a strong theme. Because even subconsciously, one likes what one likes. We could help distill her strongly favored elements and pint you in the right direction. And, yah, victor canera is a master at micropave settings. Check out his Instagram. You will never have "too much metal" with one of his settings. That's why people love them (and partly why they're spendy).
 
three staplers said:
Interesting thanks very much for looking for me! Those look really nice. But also are way more expensive than comparable traditional stats on the main online vendors. Do you think it’s worth paying for a brand name cut? I was thinking before i could probably find something more like 1.5/f/vs1/ideal in my price range. Is that not gonna work for a good elongated cushion?

In terms of setting, I haven’t found a suitable one yet either. She says super thin pave band with a rounded halo. The VC Emilya setting is actually close i think but is still a little thick shows too much metal.

Last: @maggie I meant 1.20 not 1.02
Click to expand...

Depends on where your girl places priority. For some, a branded cut is absolutely worth it. the stones are cut to precision. As far as the setting, look at the actual video of the Emilya. You will not find a setting that has such minimal metal. it is DEFINITELY not thick. You have to consider too, if you go too thin on the shank, you risk damaging it. ANyway, I just did a quick search so you could see some examples of the Emilya:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...cushion-with-emilya-halo.235210/#post-4238276

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/victor-canera-emilya-reset.230761/#post-4154920

This is nothing but VC work in general:
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...nera-beauties-here.175281/page-9#post-4239559

As far as the halo, is she meaning a rounded edge halo? Because if she wants a round halo, then an elongated stone really wont work. Some snapshots of her pinterest page is definitely a good idea.
 
I think that you can definitely have an elongated look for under 1.2 L/W. Mine is less than 1.2

I also think that if that is the look she wants, that is what you should get her. It might take some time and patience to find a good one, but that makes it all the more special.

I think that you could save some money by going down to a G/H in color, especially if you find one that is well cut. To find a well cut elongated cushion, you will probably need to be flexible with your other perimeters (color/clarity). The VC stones that @Niel found for you are gorgeous and the Emily is a very popular setting here on PS
 
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