help finding a cushion

[wooz]

Budget: <$7000 (<6000 would make for a very happy wooz)
Color: I thought I was picky (D-F) but I was shown some G & H that I thought were colorless...so... as colorless as possible
Clarity: Again, I thought I was picky (IF-VV2) but I saw some VS2 and even an SI1 where I couldn''t find flaws
Size: As big as possible

I''m open to any cushion as long as it sparkles like crazy


So far, I found: http://www.whiteflash.com/premium_select_cushion/Premium-Select-Cushion-cut-diamond-2164039.htm


Thanks!

 

[nycm3656]

Without a doubt go to Mark at EngagementRingsDirect.com. I literally just left him and picked out the most perfect cushion. I also paid less than I would have at other places for inferior stones. He is patient, educational and does a great job making you feel at ease. Without a doubt, go to Mark. Tell him Scott sent you

 

[Gayletmom]

Welcome, Wooz. Depending on what your tastes are , you should also check with Good Old Gold. If you do a search, you will find several recent threads about their new signature cushion that practically dances it''s so sparkly. Great reviews, too, of Jonathon and the folks at GOG.

ERD is known for cushions and Jewels by Erica Grace and Singlestone have been resources for antiques. Someone here recently posted one from Brian Gavin Diamonds, also. All have very good track records with the exacting PS community.

You can get an in-depth education by searching these forums for "cushion" with or without further modifiers ("brilliant" "chunky" "antique" etc.)

Happy hunting!

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 11/3/2009 5:43:20 PM
Author:wooz
Budget: Color: I thought I was picky (D-F) but I was shown some G & H that I thought were colorless...so... as colorless as possible
Clarity: Again, I thought I was picky (IF-VV2) but I saw some VS2 and even an SI1 where I couldn't find flaws
Size: As big as possible

I'm open to any cushion as long as it sparkles like crazy


So far, I found: http://www.whiteflash.com/premium_select_cushion/Premium-Select-Cushion-cut-diamond-2164039.htm


Thanks!

That cushion you posted doesn't impress, way too much green in the ASET. This may be nice in strong spot lighting but will likely be a weak overall performer in other lighting.
You didn't tell us what type of cushion cut you like best.

But here are some choices:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6463/ (1.04 G GOG signature Old Mine Cushion)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6037/ (1.05 E GOG Signature OMC More Rectangular and you would need to ask if its Eye Clean to your standards ask Jon or Sarah)
http://img.bluenile.com/is/image/certs/?src={/1975/GIA5111248124_zoom.jpeg}&fmt=swf (8 main cushion brilliant I would have Jon at GOG pull this in and do a side by side with the two above)
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6002/ (E VS2 but you have to be okay with Strong Blue Fluorescence some people like it some are scared by it) Watch the video for this diamond it compares the many types of cushions.

If you are willing to go lower colors down to an I you could get:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6475/ (1.29 I SI1)
http://img.bluenile.com/is/image/certs/?src={/4/GIA1116047214_zoom.jpeg}&fmt=swf (1.10 I VVS1 under $5000 and Jon at GOG should be able to pull it in even cheaper).

With the bluenile stones a PS vendor should call them, like Jon at Goodoldgold.com and do Video and a side by side with the other stones listed above if you choose to call in either one with other stones in his inventory.
Mark at ERD called in one like the 1.1 and gave us a great price on it.

Also to see other types of cushions available take a look at my guide below.
___________________________________________________________________
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 modern 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

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)

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

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/3/2009 8:06:19 PM
Author: Gayletmom
Welcome, Wooz. Depending on what your tastes are , you should also check with Good Old Gold. If you do a search, you will find several recent threads about their new signature cushion that practically dances it's so sparkly. Great reviews, too, of Jonathon and the folks at GOG.

ERD is known for cushions and Jewels by Erica Grace and Singlestone have been resources for antiques. Someone here recently posted one from Brian Gavin Diamonds, also. All have very good track records with the exacting PS community.

You can get an in-depth education by searching these forums for 'cushion' with or without further modifiers ('brilliant' 'chunky' 'antique' etc.)

Happy hunting!

Good post!

Hi Wooz, do you have a preference regarding the type of cushion you want? I would definitely suggest you check out the cushions at Goodoldgold, these are beautiful.

The WF cushion looks nice, depends on what you are looking for but it looks like a pretty stone.