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Help Plz on Cushion I''m Considering

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pierre1

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 24, 2007
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Thanks everyone for their advice on PS. This is my first post re: a cushion cut.
I''m a fan of the modified brilliant cushions (not old mine cut), square in shape.
Here''s what my vendor has found for me:

GIA cert

Measurements:
7.23 x7.19 x4.81
Carat: 1.84
Color: F
Clarity:VS2
Table: 56
Depth: 66.9
Symtry and Polish: Both Excellent
Flourescence: None
Culet: Med to Thick

We''re considering this stone as an upgrade. Our vendor is pricing it at $19,500. I''ll go in tomrrw to look at the stone in person, as i know that really matters when it comes to cushions. Our budget is around $14k-$20k. My priorities are: carat size to remain around 1.85 and under 2carat, Color: D-F, Clarity: VS2,SI1, Shape: Square Cushion.

My question is:
1) When i try to run comparison pricing on abazias, gog, mondera, etc etc..it''s nearly impossible. Closest idea i''m getting is that a stone of this size/color/clarity is running about $16,500. However, the polish/symetry at $16,500 is at Very Good, not Excellent. Is that difference in cut level really accounting for this $3k differential in pricing?

2) What do you guys think of the stone specs? is the spread good?
Any questions i should make sure i get answered when i see the stone tomorrow?

thanks so much for your input cushionlovers!
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The numbers on your cushion are very nice, and yes, the spread is good for a diamond of that size. Well, it's average...as in not cut too deep or shallow.

My cushion has ex polish and vg symmmetry. In my opinion, it's not worth the extra money for ex/ex. (VG/VG or EX/VG would suffice.) But for some people, that is important. From what I've read on here, excellent is reserved for those that meticulously went the extra mile to make the diamond perfect. Do I think my diamond looks deformed because it doesn't have perfect symmetry? Nope....they could tell me it was excellent and I wouldn't have a clue.

I can't tell you anything about the price of that diamond, but it does sound pretty high to me. (And weird....it's at the top of your budget!!
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) Before you put any money down on it, give Mark at engagementringsdirect.com a call. The one jayenray found is priced significantly less than yours, but it may not be the ratio you're looking for. That's not to say that Mark can't get his hands on one that fits your requirements!
 
The price is a little high. Is this vendor taking in your current stone toward the upgrade?

As for ex/ex... even in step cuts vg/vg can be good enough visually not to make a difference (depending on why the diamond got a VG in Sym). So I can''t see that it''s going to make a huge visual difference in a 7.5 square cushion... enough to justify a big price difference? No.

BUT you are talking about a B&M. They WILL have higher overhead, and for that overhead you get the convenience of having them physically there and close to you. So you have to decide if its worth it to you. A good fancy cut is hard to find, so if you fall in love with it, and its a jeweler you trust.... *shrug*

Also, you CAN negotiate. Will you get the price down 5K? Probably not. But you might be able to get them 2-3K telling them that you found another, for about 16K that you liked someplace else. Of course if this is the vendor you have the trade up policy on the diamond with... they have that advantage over you.
 
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for reaffirming what I did feel based on my research--that the stone should be closer to 16-17k.
JayReNay9---- i did find that same stone from ERD, but its'' measurements are not what i''m looking for. However, i totally understand and appreciate your point. Since I''m not in a rush, i can definitely wait to find another that has vg/vg symmetry and polish . Even my BM vendor told me that the excellent vs vg does not make a difference whatsoever to the naked eye. I also never told them the upper reach of my budget. So it''s good that they are being honest about it.

I haven''t pushed them further on pricing because:
1) I have yet to see the stone (they just called me today with it, i will see it tomorrow)
2) they are the vendor i originally bought our stone w/7 yrs ago (when the selection of internet retailers was minimal at best, and not very reputable at the time), and so they are the ones that are offering the upgrade. I''ve always heard that vendors usually buy back your originally diamond for your original purchase price (which they are doing) and then just add another 30% on top for your new upgraded stone.

If i fall in love with this puppy, i will definitely negotiate. Cushions appear to be a bit tougher because it''s so hard to find apples to apples on them (as in the case of the ERD stone JayReNay found as an example).

So given that it is a BM and they do have an advantage over me..what is reasonable to negotiate without insulting the vendor? 15%? 20%? 30%? (i''m in customer service, so i never want people to feel unappreciated..but i don''t want to walk away feeling ripped off either)

Just an fyi..it''s not a mall dealer--it''s a independent jeweler in the SF Gift Center. They''re quite reputable.

Thanks for all your input. It''s truly invaluable to me.
 
I don''t know anything about negotiating on price. It seems like it''s almost worth the extra 3 grand since you can get your ring serviced there, you find them reputable, and they and they seem to know what they are doing! I stopped by a family owned jewelry store today that thought my cushion was an oval.
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Are you allowed to take pictures? Please take some if you can! I love me a nice sized cushion!
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Ooh...and try to find out what kind of cushion it is and what the plot looks like on the GIA cert!!

Then come back here and tell me so that I can drool.

Are you going to have to get a new setting to go with your new diamond?
 
Hi LuckyStar,
I can''t believe they thought your cushion was an oval!!! LOL!
I will indeed try to get pix and GIA plot..

I too love the oval and cushion rectangle size..but my fingers are not long enough to carry that look off. Yours must be amazing!
yes, i''m thinking of going with a micro pave setting..and claw prongs..hope it all works out. I''ll definitely keep this thread updated!
 
Yeah, people always seem to think it''s an oval or a princess. It''s annoying, but it''s also why I got the cushion in the first place-- besides the fact that they are gorgeous, not many people have them! The ratio of my stone is 1.13, so it''s not quite square, but not quite rectangular either. It''s also a 1.08ct, so it''s not like it''s huge enough that people can tell the shape right away, but I love it, and it loves me. hehe.

I''m so excited for you and your new stone!!! My dream one day is to own a 2ct cushion, but for now I like to live vicariously through other people.
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Date: 8/24/2007 11:54:43 PM
Author: pierre1
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for reaffirming what I did feel based on my research--that the stone should be closer to 16-17k.
JayReNay9---- i did find that same stone from ERD, but its'' measurements are not what i''m looking for. However, i totally understand and appreciate your point. Since I''m not in a rush, i can definitely wait to find another that has vg/vg symmetry and polish . Even my BM vendor told me that the excellent vs vg does not make a difference whatsoever to the naked eye. I also never told them the upper reach of my budget. So it''s good that they are being honest about it.

I haven''t pushed them further on pricing because:
1) I have yet to see the stone (they just called me today with it, i will see it tomorrow)
2) they are the vendor i originally bought our stone w/7 yrs ago (when the selection of internet retailers was minimal at best, and not very reputable at the time), and so they are the ones that are offering the upgrade. I''ve always heard that vendors usually buy back your originally diamond for your original purchase price (which they are doing) and then just add another 30% on top for your new upgraded stone.

If i fall in love with this puppy, i will definitely negotiate. Cushions appear to be a bit tougher because it''s so hard to find apples to apples on them (as in the case of the ERD stone JayReNay found as an example).

So given that it is a BM and they do have an advantage over me..what is reasonable to negotiate without insulting the vendor? 15%? 20%? 30%? (i''m in customer service, so i never want people to feel unappreciated..but i don''t want to walk away feeling ripped off either)

Just an fyi..it''s not a mall dealer--it''s a independent jeweler in the SF Gift Center. They''re quite reputable.

Thanks for all your input. It''s truly invaluable to me.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I noticed the ratio wasn''t the same as the one you posted -- I was just using that as an example. I LOVE square cushions, so I''m glad you don''t want that specific one! LOL

Good luck in your search!
 
HI Everyone,

Here is the latest in my cushion search.
We went this weekend and loved the stone (plz see my original post above for stats). Without seeing the diamonds w/identifying labels, we compared it to an E color, VS2, 2.02ct and actually both picked out our F, VS2, 1.84ct cushion independently. I think the table/depth/cut of this stone is magnificent, very very happy with it.

The jeweler is now offering it for $17,500 for it ( they originally went from 19,500, then to 18.700, and now $17,500). It is a modified brilliant cushion.

So here are my 2 questions:
We are upgrading from my current stone (which we purchased from this same jeweler for $8700):

Original Stone :
RB, 6.35x 8.42 x3.93
Carat: .97
Color: D
Clarity:IF
Depth: 61.6
Table: 55
Polish: Very Good
Symtry: Good
Flourescence: None
Culet: Very Small
Girdle: Med, Faceted

The jeweler is buying it back for our purchased price of $8700. We know of course the stone is worth more now. Do we try to sell the stone ourselves, and if so, how much do stones sell for? A quick web search shows stones in our spec/size seem to go for $12-14k online retail. I know upgrades are a win for the original jeweler...but i just don''t want to walk away feeling ripped off on my trade. I know trying to find an independent seller would require time (which i have), patience etc.. I guess my limit would be this---if i can sell my original stone for 10k, I''m open to doing so on my own. If you all think this isn''t what I''d get for the original, I will go to the jeweler and do the upgrade process.

thank you so much for your guidance and advice!
 
You won't get retail for that stone. If you consign you will havbe to give anywhere from 15% (IF you get really lucky) to 30% of the price you get to the person you are consigning with. Personally, I don't think you are getting ripped off at all. I'd just do the trade up. Or you can ebay (who set of other problems) or craigslist (which can be dangerous too).
 
Hi Gypsy,
Thanks for the info. I wasn''t expecting to get retail for our D, IF stone..but I was hoping to get the appreciative wholesale value (we got it for $8700, and now 1cts that are D, IF are running $11,200 wholesale).

Does anyone here have a good source on a buyer that would be interested in my particular stone specs? I''d really like to free up the cash to buy any cushion that i love... Thanks in advance.
 
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