Help - Cushion Search - 15k

[rockhntr]

My girlfriend has mentioned several times that she likes cushion cut diamonds. Not sure if she prefers antique/vintage or modern. I do know that she does not like the cracked or crushed ice appearance. I know that there isn’t an industry standard for cushions and it is virtually impossible to judge solely by the numbers alone but given the following parameters, what would you choose from what is available from the online vendors?

Preferred Specs
1.8 + ct
F – J
VS1 – SI1
Sym/Pol - Vg/Ex
Flr - no/faint
GIA cert
Sqaure-ish Shape
Price – 15k Max -> Is a 2ct+ possible at the 15k max price?

I plan to take a trip to NYC in the next couple of weeks and hopefully visit Mark at ERD and also to Long Island to see Jon at GOG. Open to online buying as well so asking what all the the board cushion experts would recommend.

Thank you.

 

[ambition]

I highly recommend Good Old Gold (GOG) and their signature chunky cushions (GOG - Cushions). I just purchased a 1.66 F SI1 (eye clean) for a decent bit under your max and it is a beauty! You can be assured that all of their signature cut stones are great performers and cut to the same standards.

 

[rockhntr]

Thank you for your reply. I plan on contacting GOG and visiting them soon. For now I would also like online stone recs.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 10/29/2009 8:58:47 AM
Author: rockhntr
Thank you for your reply. I plan on contacting GOG and visiting them soon. For now I would also like online stone recs.

Welcome to Pricescope I wouldn't disagree with your choices of vendors in fact I consider them amongst the best in the world for Cushions. I think you should go armed with some choices though:

Here are some choices I would consider as candidates:

1) 8 Main Modern Cushion Brilliant:

http://img.bluenile.com/is/image/certs/?src={/4/GIA1116101746_zoom.jpeg}&fmt=swf or http://img.bluenile.com/is/image/certs/?src={/4/GIA1116101745_zoom.jpeg}&fmt=swf
Mark at ERD or Jon at GOG should be able to call this in for you and offer same or likely better price which is just within your budget. I'd want to see an ASET or Video and especially see in person before making a final decision though.

2) Take a look at this http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6468/ and if its your preferred cut discuss with Jon at GOG about getting one in your spec range.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 antique or old mine brilliant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g708wEVYmJ4
d) 8 main old mine cut http://www.vimeo.com/5310842

iii) Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows http://www.vimeo.com/2120109
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)

 

[rockhntr]

Thanks. I did read some of those threads prior to posting. Been lurking for a few weeks now. Again, I and my girlfriend really don't have a preference about antique/vintage or modern cushions types. I like the cushion h&a but want more bang for the buck and won't get that with a branded stone. Not overly impressed with the cushette.

No preference again for the Cushion Modified or Cushion Brilliant just as long as it doesn’t have the crushed ice appearance. I have seen a lot of cushion pics, both vintage and modern, on this site and was equally impressed with them all.

I just wanted to throw the stats and dollar amount out there and ask the experts for their personal opinions and recs on a stone. This will give me a springboard to compare what the experts deem as the most desirable cushions available.

SO, if given 15k to purchase a cushion, with the above specs, what would be your choice? Open to PriceScope in-house and all diamond listings.

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 10/29/2009 2:29:54 PM
Author: rockhntr


Thanks. I did read some of those threads prior to posting. Been lurking for a few weeks now. Again, I and my girlfriend really don't have a preference about antique/vintage or modern cushions types. I like the cushion h&a but want more bang for the buck and won't get that with a branded stone. Not overly impressed with the cushette.

No preference again for the Cushion Modified or Cushion Brilliant just as long as it doesn’t have the crushed ice appearance. I have seen a lot of cushion pics, both vintage and modern, on this site and was equally impressed with them all.

I just wanted to throw the stats and dollar amount out there and ask the experts for their personal opinions and recs on a stone. This will give me a springboard to compare what the experts deem as the most desirable cushions available.

SO, if given 15k to purchase a cushion, with the above specs, what would be your choice? Open to PriceScope in-house and all diamond listings.

The main problem is you can't judge cushion optics well by the numbers and other than WF and GOG very few vendors provide ASETS on Cushions.
From my search there is nothing that impresses me at GOG or WF inventory in your spec range that I can see online.

If you like Cushion HA but not the pricetag you may be happy with the outline, brightness, and color of the 8 main modern cushions I posted above from Bluenile. Mark or Jon should be able to pull one of those in(at better prices than bluenile) tell them the GIA report number and/or the specs and they should be able to find it. It won't have the contrast and fire of a cushion HA but you get much bigger faceup for the same money and you still get arrows like a round and 2+ Ct size that really looks like a 2+ Ct diamond. For some pictures of a comparison we did take a look here https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-shocking-final-diamond-choice-i-gave-to-my-fiance-which-one-would-you-pick.121154/. My fiance chose the Modern 8 main.

Also I would do a side by side of the modern 8 main with the best Antique 8 main mark can find and modern 4 main that either Jon or Mark can find as well. If you want to get Jon to do a video comparison we can all comment but your choice and sight in person makes the most difference.

Overall in this case there is very little I or anyone on this forum can do and the vendors should do the searches (I hate saying this but sadly its true), finding a good cushion is like searching for a needle in a haystack and although I know you don't want to be sold or limited those two vendors are more qualified and it will be cheaper time wise and you will avoid excessive shipping charges. I would also speak to Bob at Whiteflash and Brian at BGD(he might have one of his signature diamonds to show you.)

Good-luck,
CCL

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 10/29/2009 2:29:54 PM
Author: rockhntr


Thanks. I did read some of those threads prior to posting. Been lurking for a few weeks now. Again, I and my girlfriend really don't have a preference about antique/vintage or modern cushions types. I like the cushion h&a but want more bang for the buck and won't get that with a branded stone. Not overly impressed with the cushette.

No preference again for the Cushion Modified or Cushion Brilliant just as long as it doesn’t have the crushed ice appearance. I have seen a lot of cushion pics, both vintage and modern, on this site and was equally impressed with them all.

I just wanted to throw the stats and dollar amount out there and ask the experts for their personal opinions and recs on a stone. This will give me a springboard to compare what the experts deem as the most desirable cushions available.

SO, if given 15k to purchase a cushion, with the above specs, what would be your choice? Open to PriceScope in-house and all diamond listings.

Welcome rock!

I just wanted to begin by saying the posters who have replied to this thread, myself included, are not experts and we can't actually recommend specific diamonds, we can make suggestions but specific recommendations are going beyond the bounds of the consumer.

As to what to buy, if you want the largest cushion you can get for the money I would look at H colour or possibly I or J colour as you suggest if you don't mind a very slight warmth in some lights and angles, and SI clarity which has been verified eyeclean by a trusted vendor.

I would proceed by considering the vendors suggested and also Todd at www.niceice.com as he has an excellent rep for fancy shapes, he is not in the NYC area though if you prefer to shop in person. See what the above mentioned vendors can come up with for you.

Also www.exceldiamonds.com are in NYC and www.jamesallen.com also have offices there, for all the vendors you would need an appointment.