Help me find a cushion cut! :)

[thenewguy]

Hi everybody. I'm looking to buy my girlfriend (hopefully soon to be fiance) a ring and I have no clue where to begin. I know that she wants a cushion cut diamond in a setting similar to the Tiffany Soleste. I'm looking to spend anywhere from 10-15k on a 1.2-1.5ct. How do I tell if something will have fire and brilliance from an online picture? Are there any sort of specs I should look at? What do you think of the hearts and arrows collection?

Are either of these rings good choices?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1531616.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1529724.asp

Would I be okay purchasing something online? Do you think I should go to a store and take a look at what I purchase first? Where can I get a setting similar to the Tiffany Soleste?


I just realized that the last few sentences in this post are questions. Sorry to bombard all of you with the questions I just want her ring to be perfect and I'm absolutely clueless!

Thanks in advance.

 

[farmer gal]

I would suggest ERD for both the diamond and the setting. He has made very similar settings to the soleste.

Diamonds:

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.55-carat-f-vs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-102269.html

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.60-carat-g-vs1-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-102270.html

You would have to contact him on the price of the setting, they really do great work.

 

[CharmyPoo]

From these photos, it looks like you are looking for a modern cushion (versus the old antique style with bigger facets). The first one is better than the second but both I would described as crushed ice and not appealing to my eyes. I am writing up a 101 on cushions for my friend and will share when I am done. In the mean time, I suggest you reach out to Engagement Rings Direct, Perry Chen at Art of Platinum, or Jon at Good Old Gold. Victor Canera may be a good choice too if you decide to go antique cut.

With all that said ... start with Engagement Rings Direct.

 

[ariel144]

I would work with some of these online vendors who specialize in cushion cut diamonds. To determine which type of faceting you prefer in a cushion cut stone I would watch GoodOldGold.com's educational videos and check out their August Vintage cushions which are cut for maximum light performance.

ERD and Leon Mege also specialize in the older chunkier cushion cut diamonds:
This one faces up nice and large at 7x 7.4mm. You would have to ask if it is eye clean with an SI1 clarity grade, but you can go as low as a well cut J color and still have a nice white diamond.

http://www.micropave.com/index.php/loose-diamonds/1-78-g-si1-antique-cushion-cut-diamond.html

Check out this thread where someone else was searching for a cushion cut stone for some more good advice:


[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-with-cushion-cut-diamond-selection.179763/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-with-cushion-cut-diamond-selection.179763/[/URL]

Here is a thread that demonstrates that a J color can face up nice and white ... a 5c J antique cushion cut set in a halo...note she could have purchased a higher color stone but she can't tell much difference in her 5c. J and her engagement ring E.

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


Post by Thouarella » 14 Apr 2010 12:54
Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone!

It''s our 5th wedding anniversary, hence the 5 carat stone Image

Laila - thanks for adding it to the cushion thread.

jgny:
The dimensions are 9.95 x 9.61 x 6.71mm And I believe the OMC style stones face up smaller as well given their high crowns (someone correct me if I''m wrong on this). But I looked at a bunch and I vastly preferred the OMCs to the modern brilliants, plus I think this way the 5 carat isn''t too enormous (vs say a 5 carat RB).

We bought this stone from Leon just before he launched his diamond concierge service, so I don''t know if they will provide additional details now, but basically he sent me photos of the stone from all angles, set and unset and on a black and white background. No ASETs. It was rather a leap of faith to buy it without looking at it in person and without ASETs etc but at the end of the day we decided to trust his eye and we had just fallen in love with the faceting of the stone.

Before we decided on this one, we''d taken a look at stones at our local B&Ms, one who specialises in OMCs and another who flew in 5 stones from their sightholders in Israel. I''d also contacted all of the cushion specialists mentioned on this forum and gotten a stone flown out to me, though ultimately we decided not to go with that one. It is REALLY difficult to find a stone with the requirements we had (>5 carats, OMC or 8 pavillion mains, large culet, near 1:1 aspect ratio, eyeclean) and there were very few responses to our request both online and at the B&Ms. It was basically between this stone and the one that was flown out to us. Jon at GoodOldGood had offered to get an AVC cut but the prices of rough had gone up so much at the end of last year/beginning of this one, plus we didn''t want to have to wait!

So at the end of the day and after months of searching we decided to go ahead with Leon''s stone and I just love it. The J doesn''t bother me at all and mostly it looks icy white and I only notice a tiny bit of warmth very occasionally from certain angles (my e-ring is an E and there is a very slight difference but really not very much).

 

[Gypsy]

Hi everybody. I'm looking to buy my girlfriend (hopefully soon to be fiance) a ring and I have no clue where to begin. I know that she wants a cushion cut diamond in a setting similar to the Tiffany Soleste. I'm looking to spend anywhere from 10-15k on a 1.2-1.5ct. How do I tell if something will have fire and brilliance from an online picture? Are there any sort of specs I should look at? What do you think of the hearts and arrows collection?

Are either of these rings good choices?
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1531616.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Very-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1529724.asp

Would I be okay purchasing something online? Do you think I should go to a store and take a look at what I purchase first? Where can I get a setting similar to the Tiffany Soleste?


I just realized that the last few sentences in this post are questions. Sorry to bombard all of you with the questions I just want her ring to be perfect and I'm absolutely clueless!

Thanks in advance.

No. Those are not good choices. If you want a Tiffany Soleste and want to do one stop shopping CALL (don't email) Mark or Gary and Engagement Rings DIrect. They can provide you with a gorgeous cushion and a fantastic setting.

This is absolutely gorgeous: http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/1.55-carat-f-vs2-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-102269.html

Or if you prefer a modern faceted stone: http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/this-modern-x-factor-cushion-has-been-sold.-gid-81841.html