Good price for this 2.02 Cushion?

[Put A Ring On It]

Any thoughts? Complete newbie. Thanks to all who reply.

2.02 Carat Cushion Modified Brilliant
8.37 x 6.83 x 4.33
Color: H
Clarity: Si2
Polish: Good
Sym: VG
Fluorscence: Medium Blue
GIA
$9500

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/10/2009 10:39:57 AM
Author:Put A Ring On It
Any thoughts? Complete newbie. Thanks to all who reply.

2.02 Carat Cushion Modified Brilliant
8.37 x 6.83 x 4.33
Color: H
Clarity: Si2
Polish: Good
Sym: VG
Fluorscence: Medium Blue
GIA
$9500

Welcome!

We need more info please to begin with then we can see which is the best way to proceed, is the diamond for sale online or from a jewellery store? Do you know if it is eyeclean to your standards and have you seen the diamond in person?

 

[elmo]

Isn''t that something like 30 back? That would be a good price for a good cushion, an ok price for an ok cushion, and a high price for a not-so-good cushion. Which is it?

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 12/10/2009 10:39:57 AM
Author:Put A Ring On It
Any thoughts? Complete newbie. Thanks to all who reply.

2.02 Carat Cushion Modified Brilliant
8.37 x 6.83 x 4.33
Color: H
Clarity: Si2
Polish: Good
Sym: VG
Fluorscence: Medium Blue
GIA
$9500

Pirce is cheaper due to the following:

1) Medium Blue Fluro (Probably nothing wrong with that it doesn't bother me)
2) SI2 (these are often not eye clean) (That is a problem)
3) Its a rectangular cushion LW=1.22 (I have never seen a cushion over LW 1.2 that had decent optics)
4) Its a modified Brilliant (99% of these have a crushed ice appearance)

I would be 99% sure this would not stand up to the nicer Cushion Brilliants we generally suggest here but to each their own.
Price is

to me and this will be a dud

with 99% certainty.

 

[Put A Ring On It]

As im getting more familiar with the diamond world, I went over to Mavilo''s in Tampa, FL.

They''ve got a 1.7 Cushion Brilliant G VS1. I dont have the dimensions in front of me, but they were a much better proportion than the other stone.

Also:
No Fluro
Polish: VG
Sym: VG
EGL
priced at 8900

 

[Lorelei]

I would personally stick to GIA graded stones, EGL are said to be less strict on grading in some circumstances, read more here.

When you say you are a complete newbie, have you researched on cushions at all and do you know exactly what type you want? If you haven't come across this video, watching it would be really helpful to you,

Consumers Guide to Buying a Cushion Cut Diamond.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 12/11/2009 1:04:00 PM
Author: Put A Ring On It

As im getting more familiar with the diamond world, I went over to Mavilo''s in Tampa, FL.

They''ve got a 1.7 Cushion Brilliant G VS1. I dont have the dimensions in front of me, but they were a much better proportion than the other stone.

Also:
No Fluro
Polish: VG
Sym: VG
EGL
priced at 8900

The thing with cushions is you can''t judge by the numbers. I can look at them and reject ones by the numbers but I can''t select a good one.
EGL could be 2-3 color and clarity grades lower so I would prefer GIA or AGS certificates for consistency.

Any stone you choose we will need an ASET and Photographs for us to be able to tell you anything.

To give you an idea of great stones in your price and spec range:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6707/ (Vintage 8 Main)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6372/ (Square Cushion HA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ChunkyCushionLover''s Guide To Buying Cushion Cut Diamonds

Step 1 (Choose The Type of Cut)

Decide the look of cushion you like best. (Watching the videos should help you the most with this.)

i) Cushion Modified Brilliant (often referred to negatively as the "crushed ice" variety as many in this category have only small flashes and were cut to save weght not to optimize light return),
a) 4 Pavillion main facets (several varieties)
b) 8 mains (several varieties) http://www.vimeo.com/3164922 Pictures and commentary here https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-shocking-final-diamond-choice-i-gave-to-my-fiance-which-one-would-you-pick.121154/
c) Square Brilliant (rare seen more in Belgium)
ii) Cushion Brilliant
a) 4 main like this one http://www.octonus.com/oct/projects/foxymovies/round_cushion2_office_fr.phtml or http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (4 main is on the far left)
b) 8 main modern http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (stone on the left)
c) 8 main old mine cushion http://www.vimeo.com/5310842
d) BGD modern 8 main cushion (the mains intersect at the corners) https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-cushion-let-me-know-what-you-think.128493/

iii) Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/analysis/CXF7266-2.mov http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/analysis/CXF7266.mov

iv) Cushette http://www.vimeo.com/3164922

A helpful thread to see the plots and pictures of different types of cushions can be seen here https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-cushion-by-any-other-name.36001/ (keep in mind pictures aren''t as useful as videos and can only be used reliably to understand facet structure not light performance)

If you want to learn about cushions a great video by Jon at GOG can be watched here http://www.vimeo.com/7579666 and bonus footage here http://www.vimeo.com/7611843.

Step 2 (Choose the 4Cs)

1) Post your budget, Color, Clarity, Carat Weight, LW(length to width) Ratio (do you like perfectly Square or Rectangular?) and cut preference. We will help find stones in your price range or tell you if your budget is realistic for the specs you have chosen or if you will have to make some tradeoffs. If you would rather go directly to the vendor at this point I suggest you speak to:

i) Mark at Engagementringsdirect.com
ii) Jon at Goodoldgold.com
iii) Bob at Whiteflash.com
iv) Brian at Briangavindiamonds.com

This list is limited to what I beleive are vendors who specialize in cushion cuts designed for light performance there may be others but I haven''t had experiences with them. Some vendors like GOG and BGD have even developed their own cushion signature cut diamonds lines not available for sale by any other vendor. All of these vendors will be able to provide ASET images and pictures of stones to help you decide prior to purchase.

Example:

Budget: $10,000
Color: H and above
Clarity: SI1 and above (Anything Eyeclean from 6 feet away looking faceup)
Carat Weight: 1.3Ct+
Lw Ratio = 1 - 1.05 (I want square) or 1.1 - 1.3 (I want rectangular)
Cushion Brilliant (Modern) either 4 main or 8 main

Than we can help you narrow things down considerably.

Step 3 (View and Post ASET Image and Photographs and/or see in person)

Ask the vendor for a Video and/or ASET image (http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_ASET_scope.asp) of your possible choices and we can help you narrow down which of your selections we prefer and why.

Step 4 (View a side by side comparison at a vendor or appraisor for final selection)

If you are still not sure I would send your two or three favourite stones to a PS listed appraisor https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx close to you, where you can view your final choices in person prior to purchase you will just have to pay shipping. Many PS vendors will send stones to a trusted appraisor without you having to pay first and the appraisor will only release the stone to you only upon payment to and consent of the vendor. For such an expensive purchase $100 in shipping and $100 in appraisor time seems well worth it to make the most informed choice possible.

Happy Hunting,

CCL

 

[diamante12]

The only way to truly judge is to see the diamond in person. While there may be a few instances of poorly cut Modified Cushions, you should not assume that this is usually the case, as some other posts have suggested.

There are many specialty Cushion suppliers who offer patented finely cut Cushions, and these will have specific facet arrangements allowing for maximum light return. On the laboratory certificates for these, it will state "Modified Cushion Brilliant." A finely cut Modified Cushion will often be more brilliant and yield more 'oohs' and 'aahs' than would a standard Cushion Cut (Cushion Brilliant).

 

[Put A Ring On It]

I went ahead with the 1.70 from Mavilo''s. Michael came highly reccomended from a family friend who''s been buying there for years. when the ring is finished, ill post pics. thank you everyone for your help.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 12/11/2009 5:08:36 PM
Author: diamante12
The only way to truly judge is to see the diamond in person. While there may be a few instances of poorly cut Modified Cushions, you should not assume that this is usually the case, as some other posts have suggested.

There are many specialty Cushion suppliers who offer patented finely cut Cushions, and these will have specific facet arrangements allowing for maximum light return. On the laboratory certificates for these, it will state ''Modified Cushion Brilliant.'' A finely cut Modified Cushion will often be more brilliant and yield more ''oohs'' and ''aahs'' than would a standard Cushion Cut (Cushion Brilliant).

Do you have any evidence to back up your claims? What speciality cushion suppliers would those be?
More Oohs and aahs from a Modified Brilliant? Please show examples and provide anything.

You may want to watch any of the 15 videos I posted above especially the one under modified cushion brilliant 8 main.