Is this Cushion sound acceptable?????

[Jas12]

Hi Guys (sorry for the gramatically incorrect title--i am in such a rush--)

Me again (sigh) --my jeweler found me this stone....i need quick advice--it looks nice to the eye, but i think the cost is a little high

here are the specs

grade: EGL
shape: cushion modified brilliant
Measurements: 7.17-6.49 x 4.31
total depth 66.4
total width 66
crown hight: 12
pavilion depth: 53
girdle: med-facetted
finish: polish good to vg
symetry vg
cutlet: none
clarity SI1
colour H
no floresence

(it is worth close to 11k US--not sure if this includes taxes or not)
I know cushions come down to the eye--i like stone a lot, but if i can find somehting just as nice for a better price, then so be it. I have looked at DCD stones and GOG--i can't find one of eactly the same cut, but the prices do seem better for higher clarity grades....

HEEEELP...i am running out of time b/c michael b. wants the stone dimensions to make my setting--i don't know what to do--cushions are starting to stress me out!

 

[mrssalvo]

have you tried Mark T. at engagementringsdirect? he''s known around here as on of the best for locating winning cushions. If i were purchasing a cushion I''d go to him, no question. As for the one you posted. I don''t know a lot about cushions but I do know I prefer ex/ex polish and symmetry if possible. The EGL cert on the stone would make me a little nervous as well since they tend to grade a little softer than GIA or AGS. meaning your H could really be a GIA I and that''s lower than I''d probably go in a fancy. But, if you''ve seen it and it''s pleasing your eye, it could be the one for you.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/7/2006 11:56:26 PM
Author: mrssalvo
have you tried Mark T. at engagementringsdirect? he''s known around here as on of the best for locating winning cushions. If i were purchasing a cushion I''d go to him, no question. As for the one you posted. I don''t know a lot about cushions but I do know I prefer ex/ex polish and symmetry if possible. The EGL cert on the stone would make me a little nervous as well since they tend to grade a little softer than GIA or AGS. meaning your H could really be a GIA I and that''s lower than I''d probably go in a fancy. But, if you''ve seen it and it''s pleasing your eye, it could be the one for you.

Ditto. Please call Mark on Monday. He has found some of the nicest cushions I''ve ever seen on here. He is the GO TO guy for cushions. The EGL cert does make me a tad nervous. Would rather you get Mark''s advice and find a killer stone. Good luck!!!

 

[lizzyd]

..

 

[oggg]

I''ve read that cushions emphasize clarity, so when I was looking, I wanted VS2 -- but it really depends on where the inclusions are -- I saw an SI-1 in a store that had a clear bubbly inclusion in the far corner, which probably would be hard to find under a prong.

What''s the carat weight here? 2carat?

EGL is a risk
EX/EX would be nice.

if your jeweler is a B&M, then they almost certainly will be quoting you a price without tax included. One place offered to mail to any out of state friend to avoid tax.... kinda sketchy.

 

[Defender]

You did not mention which EGL Lab graded the stone. If it is U.S. EGL you may be OK, but you should watch out for the overseas EGL certificates, as they are generally inaccurate and lenient. For what its worth, I recently bought a Cushion with a U.S. EGL certificate that is absolutely beautiful. I had it independently appraised, and the appraiser felt the grading on our stone was in line with GIA standards.

Furthermore our stone is an SI2 and it is really eyeclean. The inclusions are not visible without a loupe and the stone shines brilliantly. This may be more of an exception than a rule. but finding an eyeclean SI graded cushion is possible....

By the way you did not mention table %....Is this what you meant when you quoted the width?

 

[Jas12]

To answer a few of your questions....the lab is in belgium (i think) b/c that is where the jeweler mentioned getting the stone from
sorry for not including the size--it is 1.56 and i think the cut is best described as cushion modified brilliant (it has quite a few facets--which i like)
The EGL report does not give a table %??? Just a table width...i was confused by that--maybe it''s just the terminology?

I am still not sure about the cost--any input ?

I will contact engagement rings direct, I have been looking into quite a few PS vendors (b/c a good cushion is hard to find), and they are on my list .

Thanks for the ''heads up'' regarding EGL--u confirmed my every suspicion. My current e-ring stone is a H color, and beside this H graded cushion, the cushion looked a lot yellower, which made me think one of the stones was not graded accurately (and since jewelers would not intentionally grade down, i thought the EGL report was cheating up a bit!)