Help me find a diamond for my Glam Girl!

[lala2017]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking to find an elongated cushion 1.8 carats ( or higher) but I'm having a hard time finding good stones on James Allen. I have been lurking these forums for a few years- and I was really hoping gypsy ( the resident expert) is still around to help! I recall her picking out some amazing stones in the past.

My girlfriend is a total glam girl and is very picky about these types of things but wants to be surprised:
Things I know she wants:
Elongated cushion ( she said she would be equally happy with an oval as she feels they take up more real estate on her finger), 1.8 carats( but something that faces up closer to 2 carat measurements). excellent light return, large face up. She mentioned she wanted a cushion that's pillowy and crisp faceting for larger flashes of sparkle ( no crushed ice)
Color: H or higher, Eye clean.
Budget- 13k for stone. She likes the halo settings from Lauren B Jewelry ( she likes all the elongated cushion and oval halo's on their instagram page) but we will likely set it locally since we are from Toronto, Canada.

Any Ideas? Thanks for all your help in advance

 

[whitewave]

Gypsy is in the trade now, with high performance diamonds I believe, so she doesn't really post here any more.

I hope someone can help. I'm not great with cushions, though I think basically you pick the one that looks best.

 

[ac117]

Are you at all flexible on the color? Nicely cut, elongated cushions are hard to come by. Here's what I've found so far:
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C201-171718048?
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C201-570431718? https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C210-18579Z214? (stone looks tilted in ASET/IS)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.04-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-2702341
(ASET/IS here but pretty sure the stone was also tilted when images were taken: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamo...4-Carat-I-Color-SI1-Clarity-Diamond-548217564)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.02-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-265007

Smaller and not as elongated but also nice:
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C191-092183231?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.80-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2703662
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.80-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2626995
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C191-7581408Z8?

 

[lala2017]

Thanks for all these suggestions ac117. I think she is sensitive to color which is why we decided H and higher. The first stone looks awesome- I will check to see if it's a higher I. Maybe they will be able to do a video for me. I also like the 1.91 H ( though I wish it was more elongated).

 

[BlingDreams]

If she likes the big pillowy cushion facets, have you considered an August Vintage Cushion?
https://www.goodoldgold.com/the-august-vintage-cushion

Or Victor Canera Antique Cushion?
https://www.victorcanera.com/education/diamonds/canera-antique-cushion

 

[lala2017]

She isn't particularly looking at antiques- I think she said as long as its not the crushed ice look and has crisp faceting/lots of larger sparkle she is fine with that. She initially wanted a 2 ct. but realised the only way we could get that is if we dropped down to an I and she said she would rather a whiter/brighter stone at 1.8/1.9 since we will be halo-ing.

What are your thoughts on ovals? She likes fat ( not elongated ovals) as well. I think she would enjoy the finger coverage.

 

[ac117]

She isn't particularly looking at antiques- I think she said as long as its not the crushed ice look and has crisp faceting/lots of larger sparkle she is fine with that. She initially wanted a 2 ct. but realised the only way we could get that is if we dropped down to an I and she said she would rather a whiter/brighter stone at 1.8/1.9 since we will be halo-ing.

What are your thoughts on ovals? She likes fat ( not elongated ovals) as well. I think she would enjoy the finger coverage.

I prefer cushions since nicely cut modern ovals are even harder to come by and they all have some areas of crushed ice or mush or pronounced bow tie and color tends to concentrate as the ends....but I will have a look.

ETA...here are a couple and I'll try to look at a couple of diff places if no one else does (remember to look at dimensions and not carat weight with fancy shapes):

This one is probably my fave but it's not as fat as others: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.57-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2407464
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/oval-cut/1.60-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2794251

 

[lala2017]

ac117- I showed her the first diamond link and she said she wants the stone to be slightly more elongated. She is fine with a 1.8 or 1.9 to get a higher color. I guess the search continues...

 

[Rivendell]

I always think cushions face up small, ovals face up well but can have a bow tie effect . What about a radiant cut they can be lovely and are the shape she likes.

 

[ac117]

ac117- I showed her the first diamond link and she said she wants the stone to be slightly more elongated. She is fine with a 1.8 or 1.9 to get a higher color. I guess the search continues...

I'd ask if they could get you an ASET on this stone: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C170-351972568?

Here are a few more that you can ask JA if they have ASETs for:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.80-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-3091784
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.81-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-1963231
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-2696673
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.71-carat-f-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2083439

This stone isn't my favorite, has some mushy areas, but also a lot of areas of nice light return and is more elongated: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C171-821957Z46?

 

[lala2017]

Cushions do face up small but she feels the halo will help with finger coverage. She has tiny fingers (size 4).
I need to buy the stone fairly urgently as I still will need to go the custom setting route and propose by first week August. Time is of the essence lol.
Here's the setting she wants:
https://www.laurenbjewelry.com/lepozzi-2-52-ct-cushion-cut-platinum-engagement-ring.html

 

[valeria101]

Hint WWW

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Are you open to preloved?
I know this might not be an option for you, since some of the specs are lower, but the ring is ready, a VC (!!) , STUNNING and HUGE and the seller is an absolute doll to buy from.
So in case your GF might trade some of her specs for finger coverage:

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings/2-plus-ctw-cushion-in-victor-canera-emilya

 

[hobbitfancier55]

Throwing this curve ball, but has she ever considered a pear? They usually have a nice face up size IMO. But same as ovals, you'll want to watch out for a bow tie. It should like she might be more concerned about the actual dimensions/finger coverage instead of total carat weight?

 

[lala2017]

I love the VC ring kipari. My gf is a huge fan of Victors work. I will get in touch with the seller.

Hobbitfancier55- she has tried on pears and liked them. She just narrowed it down to an elongated cushion or oval and left it to me to decide. She likes the finger coverage of the oval but wants to eliminate as much of the bow tie/ mushiness as possible.
At this point I feel like I'm already overwhelmed so I don't want to veer too far from what she is looking for- I feel I need to pull the trigger on a stone/ ring soon and not try to be too OCD about specs/ finding the "perfect" stone. I will also check some of the great options ac117 provided earlier.

 

[valeria101]

I don't want to veer too far from what she is looking for

Is this the kind ? If so, you may want to ask if another with suitable grades is available -

http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/ind...-si1-cushion-brilliant-diamond-ring-gia-r7330