Former lurker, please help with these cushions!

[Bobobanana]

So, after months of lurking on here drooling over everyone''s beautiful diamonds my brilliant boyfriend has surprised me with a proposal in Venice and it''s my turn!!

Thanks everyone for the massive amounts of knowledge I feel that I''ve gained from this site, it''s been invaluable in getting me to this point.

I''ve finally decided on a cushion cut and think I have narrowed it down to two options...

Option 1:

Carat weight: 0.91

Cut: Very Good

Colour: J

Clarity: SI1

Depth %: 66.0%

Table %: 64%

Symmetry: Very good

Polish: Very good

Girdle: Thin to very thick

Culet: Very small

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 6.06 x 5.29 x 3.49 mm

Length/width ratio 1.15


Option 2:

Carat weight: 0.92

Cut: Very Good

Colour: J

Clarity: SI1

Depth %: 65.2%

Table %: 54%

Symmetry: Excellent

Polish: Excellent

Girdle: Slightly thick to thick

Culet: Medium

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 6.22 x 5.43 x 3.54 mm

Length/width ratio: 1.15


I would be massively grateful if you could let me know which you would choose - We''re on a tight budget as we''re just buying our first house and my boyfriend has saved for ages for this so I really don''t want to go over the budget he''s set. Option 1 is very slightly cheaper but I was wondering whether the slightly smaller size would make a difference? It seems like such a small amount in terms of mm.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[stone-cold11]

No way to judge with numbers alone, will need some images, ASET preferably.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/1/2009 2:37:38 PM
Author:Bobobanana
So, after months of lurking on here drooling over everyone's beautiful diamonds my brilliant boyfriend has surprised me with a proposal in Venice and it's my turn!!

Thanks everyone for the massive amounts of knowledge I feel that I've gained from this site, it's been invaluable in getting me to this point.

I've finally decided on a cushion cut and think I have narrowed it down to two options...

Option 1:

Carat weight: 0.91

Cut: Very Good

Colour: J

Clarity: SI1

Depth %: 66.0%

Table %: 64%

Symmetry: Very good

Polish: Very good

Girdle: Thin to very thick

Culet: Very small

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 6.06 x 5.29 x 3.49 mm

Length/width ratio 1.15


Option 2:

Carat weight: 0.92

Cut: Very Good

Colour: J

Clarity: SI1

Depth %: 65.2%

Table %: 54%

Symmetry: Excellent

Polish: Excellent

Girdle: Slightly thick to thick

Culet: Medium

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 6.22 x 5.43 x 3.54 mm

Length/width ratio: 1.15


I would be massively grateful if you could let me know which you would choose - We're on a tight budget as we're just buying our first house and my boyfriend has saved for ages for this so I really don't want to go over the budget he's set. Option 1 is very slightly cheaper but I was wondering whether the slightly smaller size would make a difference? It seems like such a small amount in terms of mm.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Have you seen these in person? If not and they are online then detailed photos are essential along with an ASET image if you can get it? Numbers give you a place to start although they do not tell you much, but from the info given I would be most interested in the second one, but really at least photos are needed unless you have seen both. If you have seen them have you checked they are eyeclean to your standards?

 

[Bobobanana]

They are from blue nile and so I wouldn''t get to see them until they actually arrived. I''m afraid my options are rather limited as I''m in the UK where cushions are relatively hard to come by!

 

[Sugardiamonds]

Hi. Not always the rule, however, a smaller table in general is better, because it means
the surrounding facets are bigger, which are the facets that give you fire.

Good luck!

Sugardiamonds

 

[lowphat]

Can you get in touch with Mark at ERD or Jon at GOG? They can at least take some pics/videos or something of the cushions they have available and email it to you.

Worst case scenario, I''d feel much more comfortable having either of them just pick out a cushion for me, rather than going through Bluenile where they know as much about the particular diamond as you do.

 

[Bobobanana]

I emailed ERD but haven''t heard anyhting back but had only had a look on GOG. Does anyone know how easy is it to import into the UK? It seemed like a bit of an ordeal with teh customs etc which is why I started looking at Blue Nile.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 7/1/2009 4:17:09 PM
Author: Bobobanana
I emailed ERD but haven't heard anyhting back but had only had a look on GOG. Does anyone know how easy is it to import into the UK? It seemed like a bit of an ordeal with teh customs etc which is why I started looking at Blue Nile.

Bluenile ships from the US no matter if you are on the UK or Canada. So its not going to be any easier from them as anywhereelse. If in doubt call them on their UK line and ask about the import process.
Whatever their process is the other vendors can likely do the same thing.

When choosing a cushion you should decide the following things:

1) Have you chosen the L/W ratio of 1.15 because you like a rectangular cushion? If you want the square look its gotta be 1 - 1.10. Your choice is slightly rectangular and a slightly cheaper proportion option as well.
2) I would not buy a cushion from bluenile because they won't provide you with a lot of information prior to purchase (like pictures, ASET, IS). You get the most info from John at GOG but Mark at ERD has great eyes and will pick you a good one even if you won't see a video like on GOG.
3) Do you like chunky facets or the smaller facets that is going to make a huge difference and you didn't mention that here. You didn't tell us if they were cushion modified or cushion brilliant. In general in PS we prefer the Chunky Faceted kind (Cushion Brilliant), over the smaller facets (Cushion Modified Brilliant), sometimes referred to negatively as the crushed ice look, but both can be beautiful.

For a cushion search you are going to have to get good pictures, an ASET and really trust your vendor. I would fully endorse Jon at GOG and Mark at ERD and those would be the only two I would speak to.

Good-Luck,

CCL

 

[Bobobanana]

Thanks so much for your help - I really appreciate it.

Option 2 is a cushion brilliant with option 1 being modified. I prefer the chunkier look but was wondering whether it would makie such a difference as the stones won''t be huge...

I guess I will try to be a bit more patient and contact ERD and GOG again. Patience is really not my strong point!

Thanks again!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/1/2009 5:10:09 PM
Author: ChunkyCushionLover

Date: 7/1/2009 4:17:09 PM
Author: Bobobanana
I emailed ERD but haven''t heard anyhting back but had only had a look on GOG. Does anyone know how easy is it to import into the UK? It seemed like a bit of an ordeal with teh customs etc which is why I started looking at Blue Nile.

Bluenile ships from the US no matter if you are on the UK or Canada. So its not going to be any easier from them as anywhereelse. If in doubt call them on their UK line and ask about the import process.

Ditto

 

[chrono]

There’s really no way to judge by the numbers. We need pictures because no matter what the cert says, it could be a modern cushion, chunky cushion, crushed ice cushion or anything else in between. Not only that, since you are going long distance, it is more important to pick the right one the first time. This is where the IS and ASET becomes very important. I recommend GOG highly if he has what you are looking for.

 

[Bobobanana]

Thanks so much for your help everyone - as usual your advice has been great!

I''ve taken at look at GOG and ERD and there didn''t seem to be anything within our budget. So, after various recommendations on here and your advice above I''ve taken the plunge on a stone from James Allen! The stone itself looks nice and chunky in the picture even though it is a modified brilliant and so I am hoping that it will look as good in real life when it arrives next week!! On top of that, it''s really similar to option 2 above except that it has a slightly larger table and is nearly 300 pounds cheaper!

Anyway, fingers crossed it will be lovely and I can get busy posting some photos on here.

Thanks again for all of your help. Sooooooo excited!!!!!!!