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Need help buying a cushion cut for the big proposal! :)

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Scottie21

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
17
Hello friends! Found your forum and love all the info / positive energy you guys have here. I'm hoping you can help me find the perfect stone for an engagement ring so I don't get taken advantage of by a jeweler.

Originally I had found a 4ct cushion, K color with an excellent cut and SI2 clarity (GIA) for $24k. I didn't move on the stone fast enough so in I asked a local jeweler to look for some other stones for me. He found me an (intl EGL) 3ct I color SI1 with an excellent cut for $17k. Is that a good deal? Not too impressed with EGL gradings and I just want to find a stunning stone that's a great value.

My plan is a cushion cut in a micropave halo setting, white gold. I've read that color is more important in bigger stones and cushion cuts? Am I being too picky with GIA vs EGL?

Thanks for your time!
 
Scottie21|1380675983|3530464 said:
Hello friends! Found your forum and love all the info / positive energy you guys have here. I'm hoping you can help me find the perfect stone for an engagement ring so I don't get taken advantage of by a jeweler.

Originally I had found a 4ct cushion, K color with an excellent cut and SI2 clarity (GIA) for $24k. I didn't move on the stone fast enough so in I asked a local jeweler to look for some other stones for me. He found me an (intl EGL) 3ct I color SI1 with an excellent cut for $17k. Is that a good deal? Not too impressed with EGL gradings and I just want to find a stunning stone that's a great value.

My plan is a cushion cut in a micropave halo setting, white gold. I've read that color is more important in bigger stones and cushion cuts? Am I being too picky with GIA vs EGL?

Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...

In a word, no. You are not being too picky at all. EGL is very iffy... EGL Int is crap. Also, have you seen a K color in a cushion? It will show considerable body color...

What type of cushion are you looking at (chunky or crushed ice)? Cushions show color more than rounds, but if you could find an older cut, then a K would be "kinder" to the eyes (i.e. whiter). What size are you looking for (not carat weight)? I would look into GOG for a cushion.

A cushion in a halo will be gorgeous!! :appl:
 
You should be quite leery of EGL International stones. They are usually graded in places like India, Asia, Israel and so on and have less strict structures in place for grading compared to EGL USA and GIA which is more reliable. Stones from EGL International are frequently two to three times out on colour but can be up to 5 to 6 grades worse than it states on the certificate and usually around 2 grades out on clarity. Knowing this doesn't make EGL stones bargain when you compare them to GIA stones because you are being deceived into thinking you are buying something of a much better cut, colour and clarity than what you will generally end up with. You would be better off buying a lower colour and lower clarity GIA graded stone from the outset and know what you have rather than a wildcard that will probably end up with a nasty surprise if you ever go to upgrade, sell or get a strict valuation or certificate done.

Let the stone finding gurus here find something in the size and budget you seek that comes with a reliable certificate.
 
arkieb1|1380678408|3530500 said:
You should be quite leery of EGL International stones. They are usually graded in places like India, Asia, Israel and so on and have less strict structures in place for grading compared to EGL USA and GIA which is more reliable. Stones from EGL International are frequently two to three times out on colour but can be up to 5 to 6 grades worse than it states on the certificate and usually around 2 grades out on clarity. Knowing this doesn't make EGL stones bargain when you compare them to GIA stones because you are being deceived into thinking you are buying something of a much better cut, colour and clarity than what you will generally end up with. You would be better off buying a lower colour and lower clarity GIA graded stone from the outset and know what you have rather than a wildcard that will probably end up with a nasty surprise if you ever go to upgrade, sell or get a strict valuation or certificate done.

Let the stone finding gurus here find something in the size and budget you seek that comes with a reliable certificate.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I've hit up a few people now, going to see what we can find.
 
Scottie21|1380732957|3530798 said:
msop04|1380678087|3530496 said:
Scottie21|1380677809|3530489 said:
Maybe something like this one?

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/3.07-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-sku-248185
Click to expand...

This looks promising...
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Good to know! Is this more of the old world cut or is it going to look like crushed ice? Would like the old world (antique) one if possible.
Click to expand...

It's not a chunky cushion, but not quite the "crushed ice" look that a lot of people don't care for... it shows broader, more symmetrical faceting. These links may help -- lots of good photos showing the different cuts:

https://www.pricescope.com/communit...rience-in-making-a-harry-winston-halo.183473/
https://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/cushion-cut-diamond
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/cushion-cut-diamond-video-guide-good-old-gold

I think you should look into chunky or antique-cut cushions -- they are beautiful!
 
04diamond<3|1380734549|3530819 said:
Scottie21|1380732957|3530798 said:
Good to know! Is this more of the old world cut or is it going to look like crushed ice? Would like the old world (antique) one if possible.
Click to expand...

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/the-2.46-ct-royal-t-cushion-brilliant.-gid-141436.html

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10939/ (these tend to face up pretty white, so don't worry about the "color" you'll only see it from the side).

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10726/
Click to expand...

Oooo.... what about this one? http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/this-royal-t-cushion-brilliant-has-been-sold.-gid-109138.html

I like the first link you sent me but feel like I'm wasting money with VS1. Would this be a better buy?

What do you guys mean by it's deep on the James Allen one? Are the proportions off?

Thanks for you help! :)

*edit* argh i just realized it was sold. :(
 
Scottie21|1380736082|3530836 said:
Oooo.... what about this one? http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/this-royal-t-cushion-brilliant-has-been-sold.-gid-109138.html

I like the first link you sent me but feel like I'm wasting money with VS1. Would this be a better buy?

What do you guys mean by it's deep on the James Allen one? Are the proportions off?

Thanks for you help! :)
Click to expand...

Scottie, I'm certainly not a cushion expert... there are many here that are really good at picking them, so I hesitate to recommend very many. :oops:

Cushions are all different, so you can't just choose by the numbers like in MRB stones. Also, carat weight doesn't mean a lot in cushions, you have to look at LxW of them for the "size." I thought the JA one looked nice, but Gypsy was right -- it is quite deep, so you lose a lot more weight in the depth, causing it to face up smaller. The ERD stone looks nice to me if eye clean, but I'd let another more experienced PSer comment to be sure. :))

Are you looking for a specific size (not weight)? Do you like a more square or elongated cushion? Does it matter? What is your budget for the stone alone? ...apologies if you've already answered any of these.
 
Gypsy|1380736441|3530841 said:
You have to buy fancy cuts by spread (measurements) not by carat weight.

That diamond was overly deep (by A LOT) and so it was facing up small. So yes, the proportions were off.


http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/3.02-carat-j-color-si2-clarity-sku-177035 Potentially lovely.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/3.02-carat-i-color-si2-clarity-sku-247639 If eyeclean.

Put those on hold. Ask for an ASET. When they come in post them.
Click to expand...

Gosh, Gypsy!! Crossing all over each other!! ;)) :lol: Glad you're here to help, as I'm still learning...

OP, Gypsy knows her stuff -- pay attention to this PS vet! :))
 
Scottie21|1380736082|3530836 said:
*edit* argh i just realized it was sold. :(
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Yeah... me too. ::)

Don't worry!! You came to the right place!! I'm sure there are several stones out there that will be great -- just let the cushion vets do their thang! ;)) :D
 
I like the James Allen one, not bad! I think I've narrowed down what I'm looking for:

Antique cushion with an excellent spread (still trying to find out how to figure out if a spread is good or not lol)
H- I color
SI1 - SI2
preferably 2.5+ carats
I'd like to stay under $20k for a stone.

Chris said he's got a 2.3 I need to check out so I'm waiting to hear back on that. This is so exciting! :D
 
I read above on EGL-International which is absolutely correct. However, I find EGL-USA to be much more consistent and many old stones are graded by EGL-USA which isn't a bad thing. Just know that they are usually 1 grade off color and occasionally 1 grade off on clarity.
 
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