Help - Need Your Cushion Advice

ipo170 · Jan 4, 2012

Hi! I am looking for a modern faceted square-ish cushion with cut being a top priority and have found the following options. Which of these would you recommend?

It makes me nervous to purchase a diamond that I cannot see in person and I would greatly appreciate any thoughts you have on the below.

#1. GIA cert Cushion Brilliant: lowest price option.
1.07ct H VS1
Measurement: 6.18 x 5.92 x 3.93 mm
Depth: 66.40%
Table: 56.00%
Girdle: Thin to Very Thick
Culet: Medium
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Excellent
Fluorescence: None

#2. GIA cert Cushion Brilliant: almost $2000 more then option #1 but still within budget. I was concerned about the dark spots in the ASET image but the vendor assures me this is a brilliant stone.
1.05ct G VVS2
Measurement: 6.12 x 6.07 x 4.12 mm
Depth: 67.80%
Table: 57.00%
Girdle: Very Thin to Thick
Culet: None
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None

3. GIA cert Cushion: almost $1900 more then option #1 but still within budget.
1.22ct G VS2
Measurement: 5.97 x 6.31 x 4.11 mm
Depth: 68.87%
Table: 57.77%
Girdle Avg: .22 mm
Cutlet: .01 mm
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Fluorescence: None

4. AGS cert Square H & A: around $3600 more then option #1 and slightly over budget. I am told this diamond is eye clean.
1.12 G SI1
Measurement: 5.80 x 5.80 x 4.21 mm
Depth: 72.62%
Table: 52.29%
Girdle: Thin to Extremely Thick
Culet: Pointed
Polish: Ideal
Symmetry: Ideal
Fluorescence: None

Haven · Jan 4, 2012

This is really subjective and based on these photos alone, but I prefer stone #3.

#1 and #2 just don't do anything for me. And #4 is a square H&A, and I don't much like RBs, and #4's faceting is too close to an RB for my taste.

CharmyPoo · Jan 4, 2012

If I had to pick,i say 3. But not loving any.

stargurl78 · Jan 5, 2012

I like #3 the best. I do like the square H&A too, that would probably be my 2nd choice.

Gypsy · Jan 5, 2012

Number 2 is going to look small.

I vote number 3 as well.

ipo170 · Jan 6, 2012

Thanks everyone for your reply! I think I will continue on searching. I am not a huge fan of cushions with a prominent "X" in the middle but am told the majority of modern cushions nowadays will have this feature. I was hoping to find a cushion with a similar faceting pattern to Charmypoo's modern around 1.20 ct which I guess is not really being cut anymore.

I am also considering going the antique cushion route if I cannot find a great modern cushion. Antique cushions are starting to grow on me the more I see examples of them on this website. Has anyone seen one of ERD's A Cut Beyond cushions in person? How would you say these compare to AVC's?

Gypsy · Jan 6, 2012

I've only seen them in pictures, but they look lovely. I prefer them to the AVC's because they don't have the maltese cross in the center.

April14 · Jan 7, 2012

I vote #3! But some things to consider, is the size of the stone on her finger a concern? Or are you more focused on sparkle? Will this be a solitaire? My FI and I recently picked out my cushion cut solitaire and I spent a long time researching the different cuts, went back and forth between vintage cut and modern cuts, debated the whole "cushions size up less than most other cuts" issue... we found a wonderful 1.3 carat, G, SI2, no cutlet, no fluor, modern brilliant cut, ex polish, vg sym, roughly 6.5 height with a 1.19 l:w ratio. I thought I wanted a more square shape but seeing this ratio in person was square enough for my taste. I like it even better because the height of it allows my stone to size up to a 1 carat round cut. The color is wonderful, it looks perfectly white and I do have one hardly noticable spec in the center that is only visible when the stone is super dirty (no one else can even spot it if I try to point it out). I don't have super close up shots to give the comparison to your pics from the dealer but my cut best compares to your #3 option (if not identical). This is what it looks like on my hand, size 6 finger. Hope this helps, I'm happy to give you more info!