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hirame73

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
1
Hi, first time poster. Thanks to everyone for all the great info here. I'm looking for a ~1.5 carat cushion. I am looking for chunky brilliance, not crushed ice.

What do you think of this cushion brilliant:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1315400.asp

James Allen sent me the ASET for it, posted below. It also says the inclusions are not at all visible from the naked eye and don't impede the brilliance of the stone.

I know many people here prefer August Vintage cushions from Good Old Gold. The closest I could find are these:
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7441/
big inclusion smack dab in the middle of the stone; also paying a lot for E color which isn't that big a deal to me. I personally can't tell the difference between E and G, even on cushions.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7089/
this has feathers all over the sides and I worry about the durability.

Also, both of the GOG AVCs are quite a bit more than the JA stone.

Any thoughts? Does the ASET on the JA stone look good to you?

Thanks so much.

cushion.jpg
 
Hi Hirame73,

Welcome to PS! Cushions vary wildly, so it's important to know what you really want in a cushion.
The Modern cushion brilliant from JA is a very different look from an AVC, so it can be hard to compare the two.

Have you come across CCL's guide to choosing a cushion?
____________________________________________________________________
ChunkyCushionLover''s Guide To Buying Cushion Cut Diamonds
Step 1 (Choose The Type of Cut)

Decide the look of cushion you like best. (Watching the videos should help you the most with this.)

i) Cushion Brilliant
a) 4 main like this one http://www.octonus.com/oct/projects/foxymovies/round_cushion2_office_fr.phtml or http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (4 main is on the far left)
b) 8 main modern http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (stone on the left)
c) 8 main old mine cushion http://www.vimeo.com/5310842
d) BGD modern 8 main cushion (the mains intersect at the corners) https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-cushion-let-me-know-what-you-think.128493/
ii) Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/analysis/CXF7266-2.movhttp://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/analysis/CXF7266.moviii) Cushette http://www.vimeo.com/3164922

iv) Cushion Modified Brilliant (often referred to negatively as the "crushed ice" variety as many in this category have only small flashes and were cut to save weght not to optimize light return),
a) 4 Pavillion main facets (several varieties)
b) 8 mains (several varieties) http://www.vimeo.com/3164922 Pictures and commentary here https://www.pricescope.com/communit...to-my-fiance-which-one-would-you-pick.121154/
c) Square Brilliant (rare seen more in Belgium)

A helpful thread to see the plots and pictures of different types of cushions can be seen here https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-cushion-by-any-other-name.36001/(keep in mind pictures aren''t as useful as videos and can only be used reliably to understand facet structure not light performance)

If you want to learn about cushions a great video by Jon at GOG can be watched here http://www.vimeo.com/7579666and bonus footage herehttp://www.vimeo.com/7611843.

Step 2 (Choose the 4Cs)

1) Post your budget, Color, Clarity, Carat Weight, LW(length to width) Ratio (do you like perfectly Square or Rectangular?) and cut preference. We will help find stones in your price range or tell you if your budget is realistic for the specs you have chosen or if you will have to make some tradeoffs. If you would rather go directly to the vendor at this point I suggest you speak to:

i) Mark at Engagementringsdirect.com
ii) Jon at Goodoldgold.com
iii) Bob at Whiteflash.com
iv) Brian at Briangavindiamonds.com

This list is limited to what I beleive are vendors who specialize in cushion cuts designed for light performance there may be others but I haven''t had experiences with them. Some vendors like GOG and BGD have even developed their own cushion signature cut diamonds lines not available for sale by any other vendor. All of these vendors will be able to provide ASET images and pictures of stones to help you decide prior to purchase.

Example:

Budget: $10,000
Color: H and above
Clarity: SI1 and above (Anything Eyeclean from 6 feet away looking faceup)
Carat Weight: 1.3Ct+
Lw Ratio = 1 - 1.05 (I want square) or 1.1 - 1.3 (I want rectangular)
Cushion Brilliant (Modern) either 4 main or 8 main

Than we can help you narrow things down considerably.

Step 3 (View and Post ASET Image and Photographs and/or see in person)

Ask the vendor for a Video and/or ASET image (http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_ASET_scope.asp) of your possible choices and we can help you narrow down which of your selections we prefer and why.

Step 4 (View a side by side comparison at a vendor or appraisor for final selection)

If you are still not sure I would send your two or three favourite stones to a PS listed appraisor https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx close to you, where you can view your final choices in person prior to purchase you will just have to pay shipping. Many PS vendors will send stones to a trusted appraisor without you having to pay first and the appraisor will only release the stone to you only upon payment to and consent of the vendor.
For such an expensive purchase $100 in shipping and $100 in appraisor time seems well worth it to make the most informed choice possible.

Happy Hunting,

CCL
__________________________________________________________________________

As purple silk so ardently stated, Perry with Leon Mege also sources antique style cushions, but I don't think he takes ASET Images, so analysing light performance is more difficult - more of a "trust your eyes" situation.

I'll let those with more experience comment on the stones you posted.

Best of luck!
 
Looks good to me.
 
"As purple silk so ardently stated, Perry with Leon Mege also sources antique style cushions, but I don't think he takes ASET Images, so analysing light performance is more difficult - more of a "trust your eyes" situation.

I'll let those with more experience comment on the stones you posted."


I like best the first cushion you posted, but the black spot in the middle of the stone leaves me in a state of uncertainty: is it really not visible to the naked eye?
The other two cushions seem dull to me.

As I stated, I'm not an expert: I gave my opinion on pictures and I'd be happy if someone with more experience comment on the stones : it'd be helpful both for you to buy with confidence and for me to improve my diamond knowlegde.
 
Oops, I realise there was some ambiguity in my previous posting. :oops:

"As purple silk so ardently stated, Perry with Leon Mege also sources antique style cushions, but I don't think he takes ASET Images, so analysing light performance is more difficult - more of a "trust your eyes" situation.

I'll let those with more experience comment on the stones you posted."

The He bolded in my sentance was refering to Perry Chen, and his stone selection methods.

It was not my intention to call PurpleSilk's expertice into question, - sorry for any confustion!
 
The JA Aset looks just okay to me - not remotely great by any stretch. Leakage under the table and sides (the white areas - it means you can see through the stone at this angle. Those areas don't reflect any light back). Very little, if any red, or even green extending to the edges (making the stone look smaller because it's not reflecting as much or any light around the edges either). I'd pass on this JA stone.

The August Vintage's have great light performance. As you are finding, there is a premium for them.

If you like the JA stone's "look", keep asking JA whether they have anymore in the pipeline. I've noticed this pattern of cutting over quite a few JA cushions in the past, so they definitely have connections with a cutter who makes these stones. Sometimes, the angles will work together better than... well, this particular stone. It might not (and probably won't be) AVC's level of light return, but I'm sure you can still find something very lovely at JA. I just don't think this particular one is it.
 
HopeDream said:
Oops, I realise there was some ambiguity in my previous posting. :oops:

"As purple silk so ardently stated, Perry with Leon Mege also sources antique style cushions, but I don't think he takes ASET Images, so analysing light performance is more difficult - more of a "trust your eyes" situation.

I'll let those with more experience comment on the stones you posted."

The He bolded in my sentance was refering to Perry Chen, and his stone selection methods.

It was not my intention to call PurpleSilk's expertice into question, - sorry for any confustion!
Click to expand...

Don't worry, I'm on this board to share opinions, not to compete and not to recommend any diamond company.
 
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