Need some opinions please

[egonzalez173]

Hi there - I have been reading up on the site, trying to prepare myself to make a smart buying decision - however, some of this stuff still makes little to no sense to me.

Below I have uploaded an image of a diamond I am considering, which I will followup with the idealscope image.

Can someone please tell me, specifically on the idealscope, what should I be looking for? I am not quite sure I understand what's bad or good about it!

Help! =/

 

[egonzalez173]

IS

 

[slg47]

hi, do you have an ASET image? for fancy cuts ASET images are preferred to IS images. also, what type of stone are you looking for?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Red is light return and white is leakage. I imagine the black is a reflection of the camera or something. But this stone is a pretty shape and has pretty good light return. I like it as far as modern cushions go.

 

[egonzalez173]

ASET image

 

[egonzalez173]

hi, do you have an ASET image? for fancy cuts ASET images are preferred to IS images. also, what type of stone are you looking for?

Well, my girlfriend has long stated she is willing to sacrifice some quality in favor of size, so I am not looking for perfection. I am just looking to get something that will sparkle enough to catch people's eye but keep the cost low enough that I can edge my way as far over 1 ct as I can without breaking the bank.

 

[slg47]

but she wants a modern cushion cut?

 

[yssie]

I'm no cushions expert, but I find that one to be an - interesting - stone. The patterning is intriguing - makes me go back and look at it again. ASET looks fine, and WF's ASET setup is pretty stable as far as I know so few concerns about an improperly taken image..


Beyond that - I'll leave it to those who know more than I do

 

[egonzalez173]

but she wants a modern cushion cut?

Yes, she likes the cut. She is the one who dropped the hint when showing me a ring a couple months ago.

When you say "modern", however, what do you mean? What the alternative?

 

[yssie]

vs "antique" /antique style -

Jewels by Erica Grace old mine cushion


Haven's new ring


Good Old Gold's line of precision-cut August Vintage Cushions

 

[yssie]

ChunkyCushionLover's Guide To Buying Cushion Cut Diamonds (2.0)

Step 1 (Choose The Type of Cut)

Decide the look of cushion you like best. (Watching the videos should help you the most with this.)
A great video illustrating the best in Cushion Brilliant Optics and a comparison between several varieties http://www.vimeo.com/9188543

Types of Cushions:

i) Cushion Brilliant
a) 4 main http://www.vimeo.com/2120607 (4 main is on the left)
b) 8 main thin (modern style) http://www.vimeo.com/9188543 (1st stone on the left)
c) 8 main thick (vintage style) http://www.vimeo.com/9188543 (3rd stone from the left)
d) BGD modern 8 main cushion (the mains intersect at the corners) https://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/view..... ... icID=12849

ii) Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows
http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/image ... 7266-2.mov http://video.jogiadiamonds.com.au/image ... XF7266.mov also second stone from the left in http://www.vimeo.com/9188543

iii) Cushette
http://www.vimeo.com/3164922

iv) Cushion Modified Brilliant
(often referred to negatively as the "crushed ice" variety as many in this category have only small flashes and were cut to save weight not to optimize light return),
a) 4 Pavillion main facets (several varieties)
b) 8 mains (several varieties) http://www.vimeo.com/3164922 both the left and the right stones have the same facet structure. Most in this cutting style would look similar to the one on the left.

Step 2 (Choose the 4Cs)

1) Post your budget, Color, Clarity, Carat Weight, LW(length to width) Ratio (do you like perfectly Square or Rectangular?) and cut preference. We will help find stones in your price range or tell you if your budget is unrealistic for the specs you have chosen or if you will have to make some tradeoffs. If you would rather go directly to the vendor at this point I suggest you speak to:

i) Jon at Goodoldgold.com (The most selective and expert vendor for the best light return in cushions especially branded lines like Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows, August Vintage Cushion (8 main vintage) and 4 main cushion brilliants.
ii) Mark at Engagementringsdirect.com (Excellent prices, specializes in 8 main vintage stones and can find 8 main thin modern ones as well)
iii) Bob at Whiteflash.com (Has been known to source decent 4 main cushion brilliants)
iv) Brian at Briangavindiamonds.com (Designed the BGD 8 main modified cushion brilliant above but mostly specializes in hearts and arrows rounds)

Once you know what kind of cut you are looking for we can be most helpful if you post your preferences in your thread.
Example:
Budget: $10,000
Color: H and above
Clarity: SI1 and above (Anything Eye clean from 6 feet away looking face up)
Carat Weight: 1.3Ct+
Lw Ratio: 1 - 1.05 (I want square) or 1.1 - 1.3 (I want rectangular)
Cut: Cushion Brilliant (Modern) 8 main

Step 3 (View and Post ASET Image and Photographs and/or view in person)

Ask the vendor for a Video and/or ASET image (http://www.ideal-scope.com/1.using_ASET_scope.asp) of your possible choices and we can help you narrow down which of your selections we prefer and why.

If you want to learn about cushions cut for light performance a great video by Jon at GOG can be watched here http://www.vimeo.com/7579666 and bonus footage here http://www.vimeo.com/7611843.....

Step 4 (View a side by side comparison at a vendor or appraiser for final selection)

If you are still not sure I would send your two or three favorite stones to a PS listed appraisor https://www.pricescope.com/appr_list.aspx close to you, where you can view your final choices in person prior to purchase. Many PS vendors will send stones to a trusted appraiser without you having to pay first and the appraiser will only release the stone to you only upon payment to and consent of the vendor. You may incur small shipping and appraisor fees to view potential choices in person which for many is well worth it to be sure about their purchases.

Happy Hunting,
CCL