Help Choosing a Cushion Cut

[kyjbrown]

Please help... I did some research on PS and felt like I had a pretty good idea of what I can afford. I have +/-$10k to spend on the diamond and a quick search on PS & Blue Nile indicated I could afford a 1.7 - 2.1 cushion, depending on the other 3 C's.

However, after a visit to a reputable jewler (he is mentioned throughout PS), his stone suggestions were in the 1.5 carat range (just back of the napkin estimates at first, but then he provided a quote for an Old Mine 1.5 HSI1 slightly over my budget). I realize that Old Mine makes a difference, so this is probably the first thing I'm going to have to concede.

I welcome any comments on anything I have posted above, but the primary question is whether I'm being overly aggressive on my wish list or if perhaps I'm not looking in the right place. I was hoping to have this jewler source the diamond for me for a couple of reasons 1) discount on the setting 2) price match guarantee on the same diamond 3) less time spent searching for me.

Finally, I mentioned above that my preliminary research was done on Blue Nile but I've since looked at GOG and ERD (online research only). I find that GOG's supply tends to agree with the jewler's assessment and ERD falls somewhere inbetween Blue Nile and GOG. I know PSers rave about GOG's cushions, so should I assume that the ERD and BN options are somehow inferior? I'm trying to decide if I should start lowering expectations before I burn too many brain cells and just accept a smaller, higher quality cushion...or should I keep pushing to find that perfect (larger) stone?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[JulieN]

the PS database and and Blue Nile are like a big trawl net: it just catches all sorts of things, most of it undesirable. (Did you know that shrimp trawling produces 6 lbs of bycatch for every pound of shrimp?)

There is a premium that should be paid for quick and ready access, either through an online vendor or local jeweler for a well-curated inventory.

 

[Niel]

like the PP blue nile isnt necessarily desirable. but EDR doesnt have that negative feedback on here. GOG AVC are a cut designed to produce optimal light return. Other stores like EDR do sell vintage style cushions, and I do believe they have good light return. GOG is a branded cut too, so that adds to the price.


If you scour JA they have some vintage cushion in there inventory.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1527659.asp

 

[Chuck55]

I was looking at cushions for the last few weeks as well (until today because I found one!) with a similar budget, and I quickly decided that it was worth it to sacrifice size for a premium cut. Watch the videos that Good Old Good has put on Youtube comparing the different styles of cushions. You may find that you much prefer the type of stone that will end up costing more per carat, i.e not the "crushed ice" look. $10,000 might get you a larger cushion with the most common facet pattern, but in my opinion, it is worth it to buy a smaller stone from the premium section of websites such as ERD or GOG.

Blue Nile doesn't even have pictures, so that site isn't much help. I think that it's worth it to browse the inventory on James Allen to see that it can be easy spend a lot of money and get a not-so-great cushion. This is why you might want to avoid BN - you can't see the stone beforehand.

How about this one?

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.52-carat-g-vs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-105725.html

 

[ariel144]

like the PP blue nile isnt necessarily desirable. but EDR doesnt have that negative feedback on here. GOG AVC are a cut designed to produce optimal light return. Other stores like EDR do sell vintage style cushions, and I do believe they have good light return. GOG is a branded cut too, so that adds to the price.


If you scour JA they have some vintage cushion in there inventory.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1527659.asp

Yes, this one...very good price and faces up LARGER than the 1.5c. at ERD.

The 1.36 G SI2 is a beautiful antique cushion cut...an 8 main cushion brilliant mid 60% depth and mid 50% table which produce the best faceted cushion cut stones. Would love to see the ASET on this stone.

Also this cushion brilliant is very nice too and faces up like a 2c cushion. The gemologist stated it is a great performer and a high K color.

It should face up white because of the excellent cut...there is a thread on this somewhere on here with the ASET:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-IF-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1471593.asp

 

[Chuck55]

FYI, the price on that 1.66 K was over $8,000 not too long ago. Could be a great buy at that price.

 

[ariel144]

FYI, the price on that 1.66 K was over $8,000 not too long ago. Could be a great buy at that price.

Yes, they lowered the price to $6800...a great buy for a great cut that faces up as large as a 2c stone. Also they first listed it as an "IDEAL" cut, which it is...but they changed it to "GOOD". Really weird on that cut designation change.