help needed choosing cushion with best cut within budget

[shinebright]

Hi all. I'm feeling frustrated and in need of help. I was going to choose a signature brian gavin H&A cushion .8 ct but 2 days ago I realized that it's prob too small. Width is a bit under 5.4mm. My gf's ring size is 6 so based on pics i've seen on this forum I'm guessing I need at least a 5.8mm avg width and length coverage to suit her tastes i.e. big enough that it doesn't look tiny. I haven't asked her for a ton of input on rings aside from finding out what shape stone and setting style (thin pave, white gold/platinum) she likes. I want to surprise her altho she already knows I want to marry her.

Here's my issue... My budget for stone only is $6k usd (maybe I can stretch that a bit) but as cut is king I wanted the best cut available. A 5.8mm LxW coverage with top signature cut from BGD, Blue Nile or GOG seems to be past my budget.

Can anyone help me in selecting a beautifully cut cushion with below parameters:
-at least 5.8mm coverage
-clarity doesn't matter as long as eye clean
-willing to go to J color if cut is so good that it'll make-up for the low color grade

 

[soxfan]

This is rose gold, but it's SO pretty! I'd be over the moon with this ring!

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/idj-1-dot-52-ct-cushion-brilliant-halo-engagement-ring-14k-rose-gold-with-mrs-box

 

[shinebright]

As an example:
GOG has this cushion below which is part of their august vintage cushions (their top line cut), $6,830:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-...-I-VVS2-diamond-stock-15855-cert-104092151002

But in looking at the aset image is it any better than this one below which is part of their platinum select line (their 2nd line signature cushions), $3887?
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-...S-J-VS2-diamond-stock-13141-cert-104077528001

The 1st one is almost double the price of the 2nd and the only thing (aside from color and clarity grade) better about it to my not well trained eye is that the 1st has more symmetry.

 

[soxfan]

There's this one too:

https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings-natural-diamond-center/beautiful-cushion-cut-diamond-engagement-ring

 

[soxfan]

As an example:
GOG has this cushion below which is part of their august vintage cushions (their top line cut), $6,830:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-...-I-VVS2-diamond-stock-15855-cert-104092151002

But in looking at the aset image is it any better than this one below which is part of their platinum select line (their 2nd line signature cushions), $3887?
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-...S-J-VS2-diamond-stock-13141-cert-104077528001

The 1st one is almost double the price of the 2nd and the only thing (aside from color and clarity grade) better about it to my not well trained eye is that the 1st has more symmetry.

I like the second one better! There's also this one, which gives you more coverage:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond-search/1.51-august_vintage_cushion-I-GIA-K-VS2-diamond-stock-15796-cert-2146850473

 

[shinebright]

Tx for the rings you posted soxfan. Their settings are similar to what i'm going for, except the I won't have a halo.

Why did you prefer the 2nd of the 2 diamonds I posted? I'm trying to understand how to judge diamonds.

The GOG diamond you posted is color K. Is that grade ok to get? How can I tell from the images online if color grade isn't too low for a particular diamond?

 

[soxfan]

Tx for the rings you posted soxfan. Their settings are similar to what i'm going for, except the I won't have a halo.

Why did you prefer the 2nd of the 2 diamonds I posted? I'm trying to understand how to judge diamonds.

The GOG diamond you posted is color K. Is that grade ok to get? How can I tell from the images online if color grade isn't too low for a particular diamond?

I have K and L diamonds that face up white. They are old euro cuts. You can ask GOG to do a video with the J and K's side by size. Have them do a video with all three! That way you can see if the color difference is all that much from diamond to diamond.

I prefer the second stone because I like the kozibe (reflection of the culet.)

 

[ac117]

Here are a few from JA...there seems to be a lot that meets all of your criteria:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.20-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-2419127 - slightly elongated and stunning (ASET here and JA has it for much less: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Cushion/GIA-Certified-1-2-Carat-I-Color-VVS1-Clarity-Diamond-5218685Z4)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-2353067 - nice balance of specs (ASET here https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Cushion/GIA-Certified-1-11-Carat-G-Color-SI1-Clarity-Diamond-5745Z9031)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.21-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-2526867 - top of the budget and may or may not be eye clean
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1013598 - modern antique cut
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2593777 (ASET here - https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Cushion/GIA-Certified-1-11-Carat-H-Color-VS1-Clarity-Diamond-834056Z61)

 

[shinebright]

Tx for the rings you posted soxfan. Their settings are similar to what i'm going for, except the I won't have a halo.

Why did you prefer the 2nd of the 2 diamonds I posted? I'm trying to understand how to judge diamonds.

The GOG diamond you posted is color K. Is that grade ok to get? How can I tell from the images online if color grade isn't too low for a particular diamond?

I have K and L diamonds that face up white. They are old euro cuts. You can ask GOG to do a video with the J and K's side by size. Have them do a video with all three! That way you can see if the color difference is all that much from diamond to diamond.

I prefer the second stone because I like the kozibe (reflection of the culet.)

Ohhhh ok. I'll ask GOG to do the video. You like the ko-who?? Had to read up on kozibe a bit. Thanks.

 

[shinebright]

Here are a few from JA...there seems to be a lot that meets all of your criteria:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.20-carat-i-color-vvs1-clarity-sku-2419127 - slightly elongated and stunning (ASET here and JA has it for much less: https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Cushion/GIA-Certified-1-2-Carat-I-Color-VVS1-Clarity-Diamond-5218685Z4)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-2353067 - nice balance of specs (ASET here https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Cushion/GIA-Certified-1-11-Carat-G-Color-SI1-Clarity-Diamond-5745Z9031)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.21-carat-e-color-si1-clarity-sku-2526867 - top of the budget and may or may not be eye clean
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-e-color-vs2-clarity-sku-1013598 - modern antique cut
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.11-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2593777 (ASET here - https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/Cushion/GIA-Certified-1-11-Carat-H-Color-VS1-Clarity-Diamond-834056Z61)

Thanks a lot ac117! I'll be checking those out and comparing to see which one I prefer. The 1st one is indeed stunning. Do you put any stock in Enchanted's cut grades? Can I use that roughly as I would use GIA/AGS cut grade for a round cut?

 

[E B]

Great suggestions so far! I'd check this one out, too. Looks like it could be really nice (and hits 6.3mm!):

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.05-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-2200896