Help choosing cushion for engagement ring (Gypsy?)

[amazondyve]

Hi all-

My fiancé and I are starting to design my engagement ring and could use some help selecting the stone, as we are complete diamond newbies. I've done some reading and I think I know what I'd like, but I don't feel confident choosing a cushion diamond since the appearance is so dependent on the quality of the cut. We're planning to design a "Harry Winston" style Halo, but haven't selected the ring designer yet. For the diamond:

Budget: <10,000 for the stone and setting (so 6-7k for the stone?)
Size: 1-1.5 carat. We'd like it to face up as large as possible without sacrificing cut quality, and staying within our budget
Cut: I don't like crushed ice cushions, but do like both antique and modern cushions. I like the BG "Heart and Arrows" as well.
Color: D-G (From what I've read that should be reasonable?)
Clarity: VVS2 or higher
Symmetry/Polish: Very good or better
Shape: Square (L/W<1.05)

We would appreciate any direction the community can provide as far as stone selection. If my selection criteria need adjustment, please let me know! At this point I know enough to realize that... I don't know much!

And any suggestions for designers would be much appreciated as well. Thus far I've looked at Victor Canera (outside our budget, I think), Steven Kirsch, and Brilliantly Engaged.

Thank you so much!

 

[Gypsy]

I would advise relaxing your clarity requirements to eyeclean SI1. You can't tell the difference between that a VVS to the naked eye. And color to H.

I would personally work with Brilliantly Engaged for the setting in CAD/CAST construction. And give them a shot for the stone too, they have fabulous cushions both antique and their X factor would work for you. http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/1.20-carat-g-vs2-x-factor-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-518061.html

 

[Gypsy]

Two cushions at JA worth a look:
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-260299
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.20-carat-d-color-si1-clarity-sku-78674

You would put on hold and get an ASET from them.

 

[amazondyve]

Thank you for your help! The 1.2 carat JA stone is a little more rectangular then I'd wanted, but I'll look at the other two. Also, one of the BE reps suggested this stone:

http://www.brilliantlyengaged.com/1.10-carat-f-vs1-x-factor-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-514355.html

Thoughts?

 

[amazondyve]

We've since found a couple more stones with the help of Chris at BE, but would love some input about the quality of the stones. The post can be found here:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/would-love-some-input-on-these-three-cushions.214143/

Again, thank you for the advice!

 

[ariel144]

This one looks nice and faces up pretty large:

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-513984

 

[amazondyve]

Hi Ariel,

Thanks for the suggestion! That stone is beautiful, but a bit outside our price range. We'd hoped to stay within 6-7.5K for the stone.

Unfortunately, I'm also starting to find that I do prefer antique style cuts to modern cushions. Other than the ones I described in my more recent post (https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/would-love-some-input-on-these-three-cushions.214143/), though, I can't find any within our budget...

 

[therainbowradish]

Have you visited Jewels By Grace or Love Affair Diamonds? Here are some beauties in your budget.
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-42ct-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-ags-k-si1#.VYjWqF_n9SA

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-31ct-antique-cushion-cut-egl-j-vs2#.VYjXE1_n9SA

http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/loose-diamonds/1-ct-to-2-00/1-39ct-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-gia-j-si1#.VYjXRF_n9SA

http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/1-17ct-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-ags-i-vs2/

This one is a wild card with the P color (I prefer them warm personally) but it is a 2.06 stone in your budget! http://www.loveaffairdiamonds.com/2-06ct-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-ags-p-si1/

Both vendors are a dream to work with. David Klass is building my ring right now and you may want to check him out!

 

[amazondyve]

I haven't, I'll take a look at those websites too. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[ariel144]

I prefer the chunky faceting of an antique cushion as well. If you can find an AVC in your budget even the lower colors are bright and white face up...the K colors...especially the J's just because the cut is so amazing and J still comes under the GIA "nearly colorless" range, they are the best buys in WELL CUT diamonds. A well cut J can be very white facing.

Antique cut cushions are to die for...the best IMO.

You may also want to consider an OEC and set in cushion halo or sub halo. They usually face up larger and when set this way look like you have a cushion.

Go to youtube and watch the Good Old Gold videos and you will see what I mean.

Here are some examples:
5c chunky cushion J VS2 Leon mege halo

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/leon-mege-antique-cushion.140739/[/URL]


[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/perry-chen-at-lm-steven-kirsch-cushion-halo.169586/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/perry-chen-at-lm-steven-kirsch-cushion-halo.169586/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/4ct-cushion-in-steven-kirsch-halo-setting.165905/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/4ct-cushion-in-steven-kirsch-halo-setting.165905/[/URL]

I/J’s in halo’s
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-i-and-j-color-diamonds-in-halos.148208/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-i-and-j-color-diamonds-in-halos.148208/[/URL]

 

[amazondyve]

Wow, those are *stunning*. I've been looking for AVC and also browsing Leon Mege's selection, but I'll go back through them with broader color specifications. Thank you so much for the links!!!

 

[ariel144]

Here's another option which will get you a larger face up stone for your budget..an August Vintage round in a cushion halo setting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceIgxYV0nxE

https://www.google.com/search?q=round+cut+diamond+in+cushion+halo&biw=1280&bih=633&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-0-KVdu6D8zHsAWU1IOYAQ&ved=0CEIQsAQ&dpr=1#imgrc=7Kz66urg0vgvXM%253A%3Bjd2fyzCKfLhfJM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.since1910.com%252Fimages%252Fproducts%252Fprecision-set-cushion-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-7379-1-C.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.since1910.com%252Fprecision-set-7379-cushion-halo-diamond-engagement-ring%3B400%3B216
'
These AVR's are close to 7mm which is the size of a 2c cushion and the chunky faceting:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1.20ct-i-si1-august-vintage-round-diamond.html

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ecommerce/1-36ct-j-si1-august-vintage-round-diamond.html

Many options still bringing you in your budget ...there are more but here are a few:

Some with paved halos and some with plain metal:

https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER9891W83JJ/amavida

https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER9957W83JJ/amavida
https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER11763R4W83JJ/amavida

https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER11976R4T83JJ/amavida

https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER10432W83JJ/amavida

 

[ariel144]

I & J color next to an E color...interesting!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzBGhkF5C4o