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Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for under 6k

H

Heartly

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
40
Hi everyone, I recently posted asking for help on what to do when buying an antique stone ([URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/going-to-buy-an-antique-cushion-how-and-what-next.176779/#post-3219451#p3219451']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/going-to-buy-an-antique-cushion-how-and-what-next.176779/#post-3219451#p3219451[/URL]), and some posters suggested posting here asking for suggestions, so here I am! We're going to look at stones on Friday, but I thought I would see what the experts have to say!

The stone is for my engagement ring, I believe I'm going to go with a bezel halo setting. I want an antique cushion, and haven't settled on metal color yet (any suggestions welcome!). I would like the stone to come in uner 6k, maybe even 5k. Cut and carat are most important to me, I like warmer stones, so lower grade colors are fine and all I really care about is eye clean for clarity. I'm a complete novice, so I don't have too much input otherwise. I'm not particularly discerning, so I don't need anything with perfection, just lots of sparkle and character!

Let me know if you have any suggestions! Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Those proportions look really nice, great stone all around. I am looking specifically for an old stone, do you think the JA one is? It does seem to have the chunky facets!
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

I think you received great advice in your other thread. If you are willing to go the eBay route, I'd post specs and ask the PS-veterans for help.

Have you checked out Jewels by Erica Grace, Single Stone, Lang Antiques, 23rd Street Jewelers, and Diamond Bistro/the Pre-Loved section?
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but is there a visible inclusion at one end of the culet? The plot also shows something there, but I don't know if you would actually see it in real life (or--the flip side--if it would reflect all over the stone and make it look peppered)... ?
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

farmer gal|1340150927|3219739 said:
I'm not loving that cushion either, I don't think it will be eyeclean.

Here is a nice one from DBL
http://www.diamondsbylauren.com/index.php/jewelry/loose-diamond-103ct-old-mine-brilliant-cut-jvs1-gia-beautiful-stone-r4323
Click to expand...

Thanks farmer gal! That is a really nice looking stone. I met with DBL once, but unfortunately it wasn't the best experience, so I'll probably pass.

Mogster, I have been checking out most of those spots, but I'll look at the others. Thanks!
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

If you're not sensitive to color...you might check out some stones on Old World Diamonds...
I love the shape of this one...very elongated and almost cushion/oval-ish! The girdle is v thin which is not ideal but if you're wanting a bezel setting that should help to protect the thin girdle.

http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=893&SHAPE=C
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

bigdiamondtinygal|1340155172|3219798 said:
If you're not sensitive to color...you might check out some stones on Old World Diamonds...
I love the shape of this one...very elongated and almost cushion/oval-ish! The girdle is v thin which is not ideal but if you're wanting a bezel setting that should help to protect the thin girdle.

http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=893&SHAPE=C
Click to expand...

Bigdiamondtinygal, that's the stone I've been drooling over for months!! I'm obsessed with the shape. I was nervous there was something obviously wrong with it since it hasn't been scooped up. SO and I are meeting with Adam on Friday, so here's hoping!! I don't know about girdle ratings or what not, but I understand what you're saying, and luckily I do want a bezel setting. Now if only I could decide on the metal color. Thanks for the input!
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Heartly|1340163092|3219927 said:
bigdiamondtinygal|1340155172|3219798 said:
If you're not sensitive to color...you might check out some stones on Old World Diamonds...
I love the shape of this one...very elongated and almost cushion/oval-ish! The girdle is v thin which is not ideal but if you're wanting a bezel setting that should help to protect the thin girdle.

http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=893&SHAPE=C
Click to expand...

Bigdiamondtinygal, that's the stone I've been drooling over for months!! I'm obsessed with the shape. I was nervous there was something obviously wrong with it since it hasn't been scooped up. SO and I are meeting with Adam on Friday, so here's hoping!! I don't know about girdle ratings or what not, but I understand what you're saying, and luckily I do want a bezel setting. Now if only I could decide on the metal color. Thanks for the input!
Click to expand...

Can't wait to hear about your trip to see Adam.
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

I love the stone bigdiamondtinygal linked to! Can't wait to hear what you think of it. Take lots and lots of pictures!
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Some great stone suggestions here - I'd love to see that K from OWD!

Heartly, I read your other post if you're on a budget for the setting another option is to get the OWD stone and purchase an antique replica setting from a vendor that specializes in them - e.g. Beverley K, like the one in my avatar. Price without customizations (I changed the setting to match my stone shape) was $1390 from Good Old Gold in NY.
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

webdiva|1340321226|3221414 said:
Some great stone suggestions here - I'd love to see that K from OWD!

Heartly, I read your other post if you're on a budget for the setting another option is to get the OWD stone and purchase an antique replica setting from a vendor that specializes in them - e.g. Beverley K, like the one in my avatar. Price without customizations (I changed the setting to match my stone shape) was $1390 from Good Old Gold in NY.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely look into this! We saw the 1.62 K from OWD as well as several others. I am completely in love with the shape of the stone, it's absolutely gorgeous. The stone is a bit shallow, but Adam seemed to think it still performed well considering. We also saw a 1.54 K that was a beautiful stone with a great chunky cut, but it is basically a 1:1 ratio. Very very pretty stone, but I'm so torn between the two. (And yes, I'm an idiot and forgot to take pics!) I love the shape and size of the 1.62 elongated K, but it is slightly flatter looking. The culet is also a little large, though Adam said he could easily take that down for us. So I'm not sure, we asked him to keep looking, finger's crossed he'll find something sort of in between!!
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Sounds like you had fun! :appl: When you say flatter looking, do you mean a lower crown?
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

webdiva|1340688300|3223706 said:
Sounds like you had fun! :appl: When you say flatter looking, do you mean a lower crown?
Click to expand...

The crown was a bit lower, the stone is shallower overall. I think we both liked it, it still sparkled well, but they kept talking about how it performs well for a shallower stone and I think that sort of tainted our mind against it. It's still really beautiful though, and looks quite large since a lot of the carat weight is up top. I think we're going back on Friday, this time I must somehow remember to take pictures!
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

These are the stone stats, for reference:

Carat Weight: 1.62
Color: K
Clarity: VS2
Measure: 8.46*6.97*3.77
Cert: EGLUSA
Depth: 54.1
Table: 54
Polish: Good
Symetry: Good
Girdle: vtn
Flourescence: N/A
Culet: Large
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Definitely take it out in different lighting to see the performance. The antique stones perform so differently, it's less of a science. However, perhaps one of our antique cushion experts can chime in with their opinion.

Is there a refund policy and is it possible to take it home and live with it for a couple weeks?
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Are you after a true antique or is a reproduction ok?

Adam seems to like shallow stones, we have had many peopel comment on it when they buy from him: That he suggests shallow ones over ones in the inventory the buyer might have asked about! haha. Not sure why, but shallower stones are spreadier as a rule. My personal preference with an antique cushion is a goodly depth because the profile is the best part. I also really love the weensy teensy table, around 40%, because in the stones I have seen it tends to make it a livlier stone. The under table areas in antique cushions are particularly prone to laziness -- leakage in particular -- because of the super super short LGF they have, and a super small table helps offset that as a broad strokes rule. It also looks cooler to me ;))
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Oh, and if you have not already, compare the antique cushions to some OECs to see which you prefer in terms of optics. OECs tend to be better in terms of light play -- again as a really broad rule -- because cut methods improved over time. At the time cushions were being cut weight retention was the rule, and cutting diamonds was riduculously time consuming so following the shape of the rough was simpler. Anyways, you may prefer the optics of an OEC, in which case you can look for a more cushion shaped OEC (faceting differentiates the two, and some other things). It likely won't be noticably elongated though.
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Dreamer_D|1340725813|3223828 said:
Are you after a true antique or is a reproduction ok?

Adam seems to like shallow stones, we have had many peopel comment on it when they buy from him: That he suggests shallow ones over ones in the inventory the buyer might have asked about! haha. Not sure why, but shallower stones are spreadier as a rule. My personal preference with an antique cushion is a goodly depth because the profile is the best part. I also really love the weensy teensy table, around 40%, because in the stones I have seen it tends to make it a livlier stone. The under table areas in antique cushions are particularly prone to laziness -- leakage in particular -- because of the super super short LGF they have, and a super small table helps offset that as a broad strokes rule. It also looks cooler to me ;))
Click to expand...

Interesting...these are definitely things I know little about. I'll have to do some more research. Adam was actually edging us more towards another stone that really performs well. It's a better depth, and it looks more 'perfect' (for an antique, that is). The only real issue is that it's a 1:1 ratio, and we sort of like them elongated.

I think I'm mainly looking for a true antique. I like the reuse, reduce, recycle kinda vibe, and that it's been worn by probably many people before, etc. Here is a video of the 1.62 K:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn_aT-uKtNY&list=UU6HIj62yZjThDHS5NSkilgA&index=44&feature=plcp

Thoughts?
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

webdiva|1340724767|3223819 said:
Definitely take it out in different lighting to see the performance. The antique stones perform so differently, it's less of a science. However, perhaps one of our antique cushion experts can chime in with their opinion.

Is there a refund policy and is it possible to take it home and live with it for a couple weeks?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Adam offered to let us take them home, which I think we should've done. We're in the process of moving, so we didn't think it made sense, but I really need to see them in other lights, so we'll see what he says on Friday.
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Heartly|1340726262|3223838 said:
Dreamer_D|1340725813|3223828 said:
Are you after a true antique or is a reproduction ok?

Adam seems to like shallow stones, we have had many peopel comment on it when they buy from him: That he suggests shallow ones over ones in the inventory the buyer might have asked about! haha. Not sure why, but shallower stones are spreadier as a rule. My personal preference with an antique cushion is a goodly depth because the profile is the best part. I also really love the weensy teensy table, around 40%, because in the stones I have seen it tends to make it a livlier stone. The under table areas in antique cushions are particularly prone to laziness -- leakage in particular -- because of the super super short LGF they have, and a super small table helps offset that as a broad strokes rule. It also looks cooler to me ;))
Click to expand...

Interesting...these are definitely things I know little about. I'll have to do some more research. Adam was actually edging us more towards another stone that really performs well. It's a better depth, and it looks more 'perfect' (for an antique, that is). The only real issue is that it's a 1:1 ratio, and we sort of like them elongated.

I think I'm mainly looking for a true antique. I like the reuse, reduce, recycle kinda vibe, and that it's been worn by probably many people before, etc. Here is a video of the 1.62 K:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn_aT-uKtNY&list=UU6HIj62yZjThDHS5NSkilgA&index=44&feature=plcp

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

The 1.62 is not my personal favourite make for a cushion. It is really shallow, and that cannot help but affects optics, even if it is good for a shallow stone! The crown is almost flat! Don't compromise on this, take the time and get what you want.

A 1:1 ratio would be pretty rare back in the day. Do you have photos or a link to that contender?
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Here is an example of a cushiony OEC that I bet is really great in person. They are asking $6570 and its a 1.27ct K VS1. I like the little table. This is the style of cut I am personally looking for, in my ever-present search for "the one" :lol I am posting it as an example of what I personally like in cushiony cuts:

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/127ct-Loose-Old-European-Cut/20928504_SMrXcF#!i=1662462360&k=PMVSmkQ
 
Re: Need help looking for elongated Antique Cushion for unde

Dreamer_D|1340727305|3223850 said:
Here is an example of a cushiony OEC that I bet is really great in person. They are asking $6570 and its a 1.27ct K VS1. I like the little table. This is the style of cut I am personally looking for, in my ever-present search for "the one" :lol I am posting it as an example of what I personally like in cushiony cuts:

http://jewelsbyericagrace.smugmug.com/Jewelry/Loose-Diamonds/127ct-Loose-Old-European-Cut/20928504_SMrXcF#!i=1662462360&k=PMVSmkQ
Click to expand...

That's a really nice looking stone. I don't have a video or anything of the other contender, but I may ask Adam for one. Thanks for the help thus far!! Also, I will be putting the stone in a bezel halo setting, if that makes any difference in the advice given :)
 
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