In search for a cushion

[Susiecushie]

Hi everyone,

I''ve been a lurker for quite a while and am finally in the market to get a new ring. I lost my old engagement ring (don''t even know where), so I am looking to replace it.

I had a radiant VS1 G 1.03. And I am now looking at getting a cushion cut diamond. Based on my lurking I am willing to go down in clarity to get a bigger diamond.

The thing is I am an upgrader. I will upgrade till the cows come home. But I hadn''t upgraded my radiant in years because we paid for a home and fertility treatments. So now I want to stay with someone I can upgrade with (my jeweler retired). So I want to avoid having someone retire but also can''t really afford to drop 20K on a diamond right out off the bat. So I went to brick and mortar (EE Robbins in Washington) who offered 12 months financing. I just hate going into my savings for this purchase. I''d rather pay over the next few months (I would pay it off quickly just not all at once.)

I looked at a cushion there that was .93 G SI2 (I really want to get a bigger diamond) for $4275 very eye-clean and sparkly. So I did an initial purchase but told them today to hold off and search for something bigger. I really don''t want to spend more than 5-6K for the first of hopefully many upgrades. I put it on this afternoon after it was set in a simply tiffany setting and it was just TOO small. Pretty but too small.

What should I do? I really would like 1.2 - 1.5 cushion that is more square than rectangular. I like the prices on-line but how do I REALLY know if I''ll like them if I don''t see them? And I how do I compare the store''s price vs the on-line price? Cushions seem so difficult to evaluate and compare. I do like the store''s service and attitude and upgrade policy (equal or higher for life). And do any online stores finance?

So lurking here has me leery of brick and mortar (even though this store is a local business, it only has 3-4 stores in the Seattle area) but I am willing to pay a bit more for the upgrade policy and such. Also I am able to avoid tax at this place. I just don''t want to get TOTALLY hosed.

Sorry for the ramble but would like any guidance. From how to think about the search, how to evaluate, etc...

Thanks for any help.

Susan

 

[tyty333]

Hi Susie,
Welcome to Pricescope. We are here to help.

Cushions are deep and will face up smaller compared to a RB. You might try working with Good Old Gold. They have good
pictures, ASET and idealscope images and will do videos for you when you narrow down what you are looking for.
They do have some financing but I dont know how good it is.

Here is the link to the financing web pages...

http://www.goodoldgold.com/Financing/

Dont know what kind of cushion you are looking for. THere are a lot of different types of cushion cuts. Here is an 1.24 I/SI1
for $4568. It has there lifetime guarantee which includes upgrading.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/3400/

upgrade policy - Make sure the stone you are looking at says Lifetime Guarantee at the bottom of the specs.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/LifetimeGuarantee/

Do a seach to see what else they have as far as cushions...
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondSearch.php

When you find a stone you like you can post a link to it (or the images) and get opinions on the stone. Hope this helps,

Tyty

 

[tyty333]

This is a more old fashioned cushion (however the cut has been optimized for the best light return). They are called August Vintage
Cushions and are very popular right now. They are bigger flashes of light. They have some videos comparing the different types
of cushions. I'll see if I can track one down.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6386/

EDIT - I'm having problems with viewing their videos. Dont know if its me or their site. Anyway, here is the link to videos.
You can look down through them and see there are several about cushions that you might want to view.
There is a lot to learn about cushions. We do have an expert prosumer here named cushioncutlover. Hopefully if you have
any questions he can chime in.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/Diamond_Videos/

 

[Susiecushie]

Well,

I think I''m leaning towards the store diamond. But then I am wishy washy because I like the prices I see on-line but am having a really hard time comparing. There seems to be so many factors that can vary the price of a diamond.

So today I looked at a 1.23 cushion brilliant F SI2. Very eye clean. I can get the measurements and such tomorrow. It is so white and sparkly. The price tag is $6495. No tax. I can also get it for 5% less if I go without their lifetime warranty. The warranty pays for insurance deductilbe (up to $500) of the replacement of the diamond if it lost etc... As long as I get it checked out every 6 months. And I need to get the replacement with them, which I don''t think I mind. Should I get the 5% off? It would take off about $350 (not much). All reviews and such say they are a great place. No haggling and very customer oriented. They win lots of awards.

So I guess my thing is...HOW do I know if I''m getting a good deal? Since I can''t compare on-line prices with them? They are willing to answer cut, clarity, type questions etc...and say that the diamond you love is the diamond you love. So they say don''t let the paper guide you, let your eyes guide you and the paper just backs it up. They are really into brilliance not just color or such. Never tried to upsell me, just told me that only I could decide if the price was within my budget for what I liked.

But just because I love something doesn''t mean I want to pay too much for it though, right? So how would you all reassure yourselves that you got a good deal?

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 4/29/2010 2:00:07 AM
Author: Susiecushie
Well,

I think I'm leaning towards the store diamond. But then I am wishy washy because I like the prices I see on-line but am having a really hard time comparing. There seems to be so many factors that can vary the price of a diamond.

So today I looked at a 1.23 cushion brilliant F SI2. Very eye clean. I can get the measurements and such tomorrow. It is so white and sparkly. The price tag is $6495. No tax. I can also get it for 5% less if I go without their lifetime warranty. The warranty pays for insurance deductilbe (up to $500) of the replacement of the diamond if it lost etc... As long as I get it checked out every 6 months. And I need to get the replacement with them, which I don't think I mind. Should I get the 5% off? It would take off about $350 (not much). All reviews and such say they are a great place. No haggling and very customer oriented. They win lots of awards.

So I guess my thing is...HOW do I know if I'm getting a good deal? Since I can't compare on-line prices with them? They are willing to answer cut, clarity, type questions etc...and say that the diamond you love is the diamond you love. So they say don't let the paper guide you, let your eyes guide you and the paper just backs it up. They are really into brilliance not just color or such. Never tried to upsell me, just told me that only I could decide if the price was within my budget for what I liked.

But just because I love something doesn't mean I want to pay too much for it though, right? So how would you all reassure yourselves that you got a good deal?

Susie,

Step back for a second determine which type of cushion cut you like the most FIRST. It is very difficult to shop in a B&M store as they don't have the experience or selection online PS vendors have in the selection of fancy shapes for cut and light performance. Watching the videos below will help you decide which type of cushion you like. For all selections we suggest getting an ASET image so that we can compare its light return properties with other stones.

If you post which type of cushion you like most and your budget I can help you find the closest to your preferences or refer you to an appropriate vendor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ChunkyCushionLover's Guide To Buying Cushion Cut Diamonds (2.0)



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.)
A great video illustrating the best in Cushion Brilliant Optics and a comparison between several varieties http://www.vimeo.com/9188543



i) Cushion Brilliant
a) 4 main like this one http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (4 main is on the left)
b) 8 main thin (modern style) http://www.vimeo.com/9188543http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (1st stone on the left)
c) 8 main thick (vintage style) http://www.vimeo.com/9188543 (3rd stone from the left)
d) BGD modern 8 main cushion (the mains intersect at the corners) http://www.pricescope.com/forum/topic12849.html

ii) Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/analysis/CXF7266-2.mov http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/images/analysis/CXF7266.mov also second stone from the left in http://www.vimeo.com/9188543.

iii) 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 both the left and the right stones have the same facet structure. Most in this cutting style would look similar to the one on the left.


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 or what flashes of light you will see)

If you want to learn about cushions cut for light performance a great video by Jon at GOG can be watched here http://www.vimeo.com/7579666 and bonus footage here http://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) Jon at Goodoldgold.com (The most selective and expert vendor for the best light, especially in his signature lines like the Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows, August Vintage Cushion (8 main vintage) and 4 main cushion brilliants).
ii) Mart at Engagementringsdirect.com (Excellent prices, specializes in 8 main vintage stones and can find 8 main thin modern ones as well)
iii) Bob at Whiteflash.com (Has been known to source decent 4 main cushion brilliants)
iv) Brian at Briangavindiamonds.com (Designed the BGD 8 main cushion brilliant above but mostly specializes in hearts and arrows rounds)

This list is limited to what I beleive are vendors who specialize in cushion cuts designed for light performance, there may be others but they usually they don't provide the tools (ASET images, sarin report data etc.) to allow us to make a proper comparison between what they sell and the very best in cushions cut for light performance. Some vendors like GOG (August Vintage) and BGD (Modern 8 main) 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.

Once you know what kind of cut you are looking for we can be most helpful if you post your preferences in this thread.

Example:

Budget: $6500
Color: I and above
Clarity: SI1 and above (Anything Eyeclean from 15 inches 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 mai

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 http://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 approximately $100 in shipping and insurance (both ways) and $100 in appraisor time seems well worth it to make the most informed choice possible.

Happy Hunting,
CCL

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/29/2010 2:00:07 AM
Author: Susiecushie
Well,

I think I'm leaning towards the store diamond. But then I am wishy washy because I like the prices I see on-line but am having a really hard time comparing. There seems to be so many factors that can vary the price of a diamond.

So today I looked at a 1.23 cushion brilliant F SI2. Very eye clean. I can get the measurements and such tomorrow. It is so white and sparkly. The price tag is $6495. No tax. I can also get it for 5% less if I go without their lifetime warranty. The warranty pays for insurance deductilbe (up to $500) of the replacement of the diamond if it lost etc... As long as I get it checked out every 6 months. And I need to get the replacement with them, which I don't think I mind. Should I get the 5% off? It would take off about $350 (not much). All reviews and such say they are a great place. No haggling and very customer oriented. They win lots of awards.

So I guess my thing is...HOW do I know if I'm getting a good deal? Since I can't compare on-line prices with them? They are willing to answer cut, clarity, type questions etc...and say that the diamond you love is the diamond you love. So they say don't let the paper guide you, let your eyes guide you and the paper just backs it up. They are really into brilliance not just color or such. Never tried to upsell me, just told me that only I could decide if the price was within my budget for what I liked.

But just because I love something doesn't mean I want to pay too much for it though, right? So how would you all reassure yourselves that you got a good deal?

Hi Susie

Does the diamond you have on hold have a GIA lab report or a report from another lab? This is very important as some labs other than GIA may not grade with the same accuracy.

As to whether you are getting a good deal, it might be helpful to make the sale final on getting an independant appraisal on the diamond, thats really the only way to know. Also I take it you have looked at some cushions and know exactly the type you want and this cushion fits the bill? Cushions can vary tremendously so it is best to look at as many different types as possible to make sure you are getting exactly what you want.

It can also come down to various priorities, if you want a cushion which is quite unique and is cut with the best visual performance in mind, then the GoodOldGold August Vintage Cushion could be the best choice if you like that style and performance. Alternatively Jon at GOG has other types of cushion available which might suit you, he is an expert and could be of great help to you, plus he also offers financing I believe if this is what you need.

Here is the appraiser listing for you.

 

[Susiecushie]

Thanks for the advice. I have decided to step back and start from the beginning. I will follow your steps. I didn''t realize that there are so many different types. I need to figure out which one I am really drawn too. The one at the store is a bit too square for my tastes I think. I need to look at the videos that you posted.

I called up GOG and they sent me an email with advice on evaluating cushions. They were super nice.

Tonight I plan to look over the videos to get a better idea of which type of cushion I am particularly drawn to.

Thanks for the listing of what to do. It really helped me breakdown this overwhelming task. I think I was just so anxious to get my hands on a cushion that I didn''t step back to enjoy the process.

Susan

 

[Susiecushie]

Lorelei,

I decided to return the cushion from the B&M because I don''t feel like I''m making an informed decision, kwim? So I will be researching to truly understand the cushion before I pick one. I love them all, but don''t know for sure yet if maybe I am always seeing the same type. So I want to really understand which one I love that way I don''t waste time looking at the wrong type. Though really...is there a wrong type of beautiful???

Susan

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 4/30/2010 12:39:48 AM
Author: Susiecushie
Lorelei,

I decided to return the cushion from the B&M because I don''t feel like I''m making an informed decision, kwim? So I will be researching to truly understand the cushion before I pick one. I love them all, but don''t know for sure yet if maybe I am always seeing the same type. So I want to really understand which one I love that way I don''t waste time looking at the wrong type. Though really...is there a wrong type of beautiful???

Susan

There is no wrong choice! But I am happy you will take the longer journey and make the most informed decision possible.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/30/2010 12:39:48 AM
Author: Susiecushie
Lorelei,

I decided to return the cushion from the B&M because I don''t feel like I''m making an informed decision, kwim? So I will be researching to truly understand the cushion before I pick one. I love them all, but don''t know for sure yet if maybe I am always seeing the same type. So I want to really understand which one I love that way I don''t waste time looking at the wrong type. Though really...is there a wrong type of beautiful???

Susan

No. There is no wrong type of beautiful but the best beautiful is what appeals to YOU the most! Good plan to compare as many different cushions as possible before deciding, that way you will know what is most beautiful to you personally.