Help: Looking for a cushion-cut diamond

d_apprentice · Mar 31, 2015

Finally decided on taking the plunge

Looking to purchase a cushion-cut diamond and would most appreciate any advice. Have a budget of $8000 to $9000.

Things that are important, in order of priority...
1. Cut
2. Color - ideally E (willing to go to F)
3. Clarity - eye-clean
4. Carat - >0.95 carat
5. Platinum, half-eternity band

Thank you very much!

JoshuaNiamehr · Mar 31, 2015

I think the best first step in looking for a cushion is determining what facet arrangement you are most interested in - that way you know what type of look you are looking for. Are you aware of the dozens of various facet arrangements available in cushions, cushion modified brilliants, old miners and cushion brilliants? Within those categories there is a wide variation of facet arrangements available.

d_apprentice · Mar 31, 2015

I am pretty much open to all except Old Mine Brilliant. Any recommendations?

JoshuaNiamehr · Apr 1, 2015

I really like the modern cushion modified brilliants / x factor cushions.

X Factor Cushion is used broadly - my personal definition is a facet arrangement as such:

The benefits to this type of cushion is that for the most part they are cut with spread + light performance in mind.

This is hugely up to personal taste/preference of course. The good news is you are on the best website to get advice in such matters

Hopefully my reply can give this thread a bump and get you some other suggestions/tips from the prosumers here!

Rockdiamond · Apr 1, 2015

One very interesting real life aspect to cushion diamonds is that two diamonds with identical facet patters ( and GIA diagrams) can look totally different.
For this reason, selecting based on a GIA facet diagram is not going to be productive.

Many people do place "Cut" a a high priority- and indeed it is.
The real issue is determining which cut you love- as there are a lot of different looks.

Have you looked in person yet?

As in many conversations about subjective issues- and evaluations of different styles of cushions is totally subjective- it may seem that there's a definitive answer- but there is not.
I would also strongly caution against trusting any seller generated cut grade.

emmebee · Apr 1, 2015

If you are trying to pick out a facet plot you like, I would strongly suggest starting at JA (James Allen) to figure out which is your favorite. Then we can help you from there

Having said that, I really like the 8 main cushions! I hear they are harder to find, but I find that faceting to be gorgeous!

d_apprentice · Apr 3, 2015

Thank you for the guidance! A very friendly JamesAllen staff helped shortlist a few stones--I requested ASET scans for two stones. What do you think of these two stones? Would you buy any of these?