Need a realistic budget for my cushion.... Help?!

[Twinmama02]

I am having some trouble establishing what my budget is for my new upgraded cushion diamond. I wish I could afford an August Vintage Cushion but I simply cannot afford one in the 1.50-1.75 range that I want. I have been checking out all of the websites to establish a realistic goal and I get so overwhelmed with all of the choices that I don't know what my range should be based on my wants. Here's what I know for sure:

- I definitely want a cushion shape
-I want 1.50-1.75 range
-Antique, or modified cushion (NO crushed ice)
-No less than H in color AND No less than SI2. (I am ok with the warmer range but still want it to match the pave on the Emilya halo)
-The ASET/Diam x-ray images must show good light performance/ little light leakage
-must face up nicely

****I am not looking for people to show me possible diamonds right now (as we are not ready to pull the trigger quite yet) So I ask...... If these were the specs for the diamond that YOU were saving for, what would you set your budget at?****

 

[diamondloveaffair]

check in with Good Old Gold for the price range. Based on your specifications, you had more or less decided to get something from them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I'll tell you, if I were setting my diamond in the Emilya Halo, I would definitely get the diamond you want. If that is not possible all at once, then get the diamond in a plain solitaire setting and save up until you can do the setting. I think it is a major mistake to settle for a modern cushion if what you love is the AVC or similar stone. I would far rather go lower in color for an AVC than get an H modern cushion for the Emilya.

You really have this backwards, though. Set the budget and then see what size diamond fits and whether you can do stone and setting with that budget. Another option is to get a smaller AVC now and when you can upgrade it, then set it in the Emilya.

 

[focusr3]

I'm buy no means an expert. I have only bought 1 cushion. But I have to ask if your doing a halo setting why worry about weight? I would focus on dimensions IMO. You might find the right stone to budget ratio based on size not weight.

 

[ariel144]

Here are some comparisons on JA:

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut//CaratFrom:1.38|CaratTo:2.18|PriceFrom:400|PriceTo:999000|Sort:Carat%20asc,%20DefaultOrder|TabSelected:3|advancedParameter:pn|showAdvanced:show|ps:15||DiamondID:199203,184945,199202,177005,178741,187286,195030,178358,129036,178750,187280,187284,205088,188402,187278|PolishSymmetryLabFlourDepthFrom:45.0|DepthTo:71.4|TableFrom:50.0|TableTo:62.6|

I would also check on ERD...Here's a really large cushion for a nice price, but of course they have all sizes and prices:

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/2.40-carat-h-si1-a-cut-beyond-cushion-cut-diamond-gid-109138.html

 

[Twinmama02]

Thanks for your thoughts. I suppose I am focused on carat weight because I don't completely understand which dimensions will yield me the size I want. (My finger size is 6.25 so I don't want to be regretting going to small.) I guess this is what is making it difficult for me to gauge what a fair budget should be.

 

[LibbyLA]

Look at the dimensions (length x width) of the diamonds that are "big enough" (whatever that is) and use that as a guideline for size. Two diamonds that are about the same L x W may be very different weights because of the depth.

Once you've established the L x W parameters, you can figure out the approximate weights that will likely get you that size, so a search for diamonds in that weight range, get rid of any that are too deep, and see what those cost. That gives you a ballpark budget.

Trying to set a budget without looking at diamonds isn't going to work very well. Just pretend you're buying one now, find some you like, and that tells you about what your budget should be in an ideal world. If it's too much money, you'll have to look for diamonds that do fit into your budget.

liz

 

[focusr3]

From my search for a cushion I had found around 7mm would be in that 1.5-1.75 carat range. Keep in mind you could get a larger or smaller face up look in the same carat range. I found this site usefully for finding carat weight for dimensions, I didn't make any purchases here just used as a reference I knew what dimensions I wanted but didn't know what caret range to search.

http://www.uniquediamondcollection.com/products/diamonds/

 

[ariel144]

The best buy for a budget is to find the smaller weight/carat that faces up large for it's weight. I once found a lovely 1.66c K IF cushion brilliant that faced up over 7mm x 7 mm and it was an excellent cut...price was only $6,800. PSrs kept recommending that stone but most newbies don't comprehend that color and clarity do not make a beautiful diamond. CUT IS KING and a well cut lower color stone will be a more beautiful stone than a poorer cut higher colored stone. 7x7mm is the face up size of most 2 c cushions. The stone finally sold...what a deal they got IMO. It was an high K color and faced up very white, according to the gemologist's report and the ASET was very nice too.

Ideally for a cushion cut you want to find a "cushion brilliant" or Old Mine Brilliant ...depth around mid 60% and table around mid 50%. If you look at the well cut AVC's on GOG and watch his educational videos on cushion cut diamonds these are the depth/table perameters that Jon suggests. But cushion brilliants are like finding a needle in a haystack.

Fortunately JA has started carrying more and more the better cut cushion brilliants and Old Mine Brilliants but they sell fast...they are always adding more though and those I posted above have the better faceting of CB's and OMB's. If you see that mushy looking gray faceting under the table that is leakage and you do not want that stone. There are also some Modified Cushion Brilliants that have very nice faceting and are nice stones as well but they are also hard to find and some people prefer that modern faceting pattern.

Best for you to post your budget and then the cushion experts on PS will post what they are finding on the different sites that fit your budget and have the facet pattern and shape that you prefer.

Hope this helps.

 

[ecf8503]

2nd what was said above - if you know you want the Emilya setting, which ain't cheap, don't "settle" on the stone either. Get an AVC or equivalent in a simple inexpensive temporary setting and enjoy it while you are saving money to get the size you want (and don't get too hung up on carat weight - that's a "mind clean" issue).

Have you looked at ERD?

 

[Twinmama02]

Ariel44: Thank you for all of your time helping me understand this! You all are truly so helpful. This does help me a lot. Can I ask a straightforward question regarding PS edicate? I plan on reaching out to you all (as well as certain vendors) when I am ready to purchase my stone so that I can have opinions & look at ASETS, etc... but how does it work when so many of us are looking for the same things? I would hate to be finally looking at the one I want to buy only to have another person snatch it up as we are all talking about it. How do you prevent this? Do I immediately reserve all of the diamonds in question until I can make my selection? Are you even allowed to do that? Should potential buyser only post ASETS & not describe much more about the diamond or which vendor has the ring? If there is already a thread containing these tips I would love for someone to show me. Thanks!!