Need guidance for upgrade stone selection...

[bebe]

I really need some guidance. I am leaving in 2 weeks for NYC and I want to find a stone and meet with Leon to design the setting.
But I am hung up on what I want. I love a rectangular stone like a cushion but want the performance of a round. I''m stuck.
I have contacted one vendor and finding a cushion like I want is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I''m looking for around 3.5cts, decent color,
hopefully nothing lower than G and eye clean. Not square in shape, more rectangular, above 1:1.10.
OR
I could "settle" for a round stone, which would put me at just 3cts., but again if I settled for a RB, I want knock your socks off performance. I have never
been a round person, but after many years here at PS, I get it now!

I''m truthfully afraid the cushion is a pipe dream. I don''t want chunky fat facets, so that would eleminate a lot of stones right off the bat. I don''t want a visible culet.
Leon''s r513 "Classic" 5 stone setting is almost what I want, but with some changes on the shank and I''d like to consider traps instead of half moons.

This is going to be my dream ring and I can''t budge for fear of making the wrong choices. I''m also conflicted on who to call for the stone. I know ERD for a cushion,
but can he source a RB that is equal to say, a Whiteflash ACA ?? Or GOG? I know they can find a RB, but their cushion sources are few. And wouldn''t it be easier
to do all of this in NYC in the span of a week than buy a stone a WF and have to ship (and pay taxes)

I know this is a rambling post, but what was supposed to be a fun, exciting thing is turning into something not so fun! I have a liberal budget, but for the kind of dollars this
is going to cost, I want to make the best decision I can. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Lorelei]

You could certainly try GOG and if you are in the NY area, make an appointment with them, Jon has superideal rounds and also has sold some stunning cushions - but Mark can also pretty much get hold of anything being located in the DD.

 

[dbsdiamonds]

Some more detail like specific measurements or budgeting vs. color/clarity and the P/S''s can help recommend...

Marty
CEO/Pres
Diamond Brokerage Service, Inc
www.dbsdiamonds.com

 

[pixley]

My suggestion would be to have a really close look at the cushion tutorial videos from GOG and post a picture of the type that you''re most drawn to so we can help you determine which facet plot you like best. Once you decide on the type of cushion, I would call ERD and GOG and see what they can find for you, and arrange to see those stones in person when you''re in NYC. You can also have them pull some super ideal AGS rounds in your spec range and you can see side-by-side how they differ in performance and go from there.

 

[bebe]

I like the look of this stone, but I''m guessing it is around 5cts. If I could find a cushion like this that is on fire with sharp faceting, then I''d be ok. But I have looked in the
past and just got met with dead ends. Now I''m determined to put this search to an end.

 

[bebe]

pixley, I have studied the GOG videos and they did help. GOG also looked at the Cushette inventories and nothing was there.

 

[lisamarie]

Not square in shape, more rectangular, above 1:1.10.

That's too bad. There's a 3.2 carat square hearts and arrows on the GOG site. Don't know if it's eyeclean though.

 

[bgray]

leon has a lot of sources--he can help you find a stone

 

[bgray]

another great source for magnificent old stones is


http://www.estatediamondjewelry.com/

 

[bebe]

lisamarie, I saw that one! Very pretty, but again, too square.

I thought Leon would only source side stones and such, not the center stones, that''s interesting.