Need your thoughts/opinions on this cushion cut!

[gracieloufreebush]

Hey everyone,

So I've been on PS for a couple months now but just made a new account cause my old one was messed up. I've been on here learning everything possible about cushions.

Anyways. Some background info:

My boyfriend and I have been looking for a diamond for an engagement ring. We've been together over 7 years (started dating very young). I know I want a square cushion cut (antique style - chunky facets). As big a diamond as we can afford. No lower than I color. And it has to be eye clean. I want to put it in an ERD halo setting (HW look a like). I was planning on getting the diamond at ERD as well but then this one popped up.

So the total budget is $8500.

I was surprised to find a pretty nice chunky cushion cut on JA and put it on hold. This diamond costs around $6800 which would leave us $1000 short for the setting according to the quote I received a few months ago. But I still wanted to check it out because it seems like a great choice - even if it is rectangular instead of square.

The specs are:
Shape: Cushion
Carat Weight: 1.36
Cut: Good
Color: G
Clarity: SI2
Certificate: GIA

Depth: 66.7%
Table: 55.0%
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Very Good
Girdle: Thin to thick
Culet: Very Large
Fluorescence: Faint
Measurements: 7.18*6.24*4.16
Ratio: 1.15

I asked for the gemologist to look at the diamond and determine if it has good light performance and whether or not it is eye clean. Here is his response:
"I have great news to share with you! You've selected a beautiful diamond that possesses very nice light performance. It has a true "G" color as well as a gorgeous antique cut. Best of all, its inclusions blend well and the average eye will view it as eye clean! I'm confident that you'll be very pleased with this diamond and highly recommend it for your purchase. It's a fantastic value and will look stunning in any setting."

I'm concerned about the "average eye" part. I can see the inclusion towards the center of the diamond and am worried how it will look IRL.

Here is the diamond:


And the ASET (which I think looks pretty good..? seems a little dark)


Sorry this was longer than I intedned.
Looking for your thoughts and opinions on whether this would be a good choice or not. Thanks so much!

 

[gracieloufreebush]

Bumping! The diamond's only on hold for 24 hours. Want to make a good choice.

 

[JulieN]

why don't you have it shipped out to you and see for yourself

 

[GemFever]

Looks gorgeous to me. I personally like the shape and the facet structure from the photos. And the G color! I'd say it's worth having it shipped and seeing how you feel about the inclusions. Good luck with it!

 

[gracieloufreebush]

why don't you have it shipped out to you and see for yourself

Just wanted to get others opinions as well - see if it was worth it to ship out. So thanks

 

[gracieloufreebush]

Looks gorgeous to me. I personally like the shape and the facet structure from the photos. And the G color! I'd say it's worth having it shipped and seeing how you feel about the inclusions. Good luck with it!

Thanks a lot; I appreciate your thoughts! I think I do need to see the inclusions in person. Not sure if I have an "average eye" as the gemologist put it!

 

[ariel144]

OMG that stone is awesome...I recommended it to someone else in another thread...saw that it was gone from JA the other day. It is a cushion brilliant with excellent depth mid - 60% and table mid 50%. i would definitely purchase and have it sent to you. the faceting is lovely chunky antique cut and the ASET looks very good as well. Glad the gemologist agrees. Sounds like the clarity will be ok too.

Hope it's the one. Dont think you will find a nicer cushion for that price. Those minute inclusions "that blend" with the facets will probably not be noticed by anyone admiring your ring. I had an SI2 with a white feather and had mega compliments on my stone...no one ever noticed the inclusion.

Take a look at the prices on GOG and ERD for their antique cushions and you will see that this one is very lovely for a great price.

 

[ariel144]

I think that small inclusion near the culet will simply blend with the culet. You can hardly detect it in the ASET. these cushion brilliants with the antique chunky faceting are like finding a needle in a haystack.

 

[Niel]

I had seen that too and recommended it, then saw it was gone. Glad someone on PS snatched it up. I think the "average eye" thing is just the terminology their gemologist are probably told to use for something that is " eye clean", sense technically eye clean is different to different people. Get that home and see it for yourself. To me it looks FABULOUS and a great but.
Good find!

 

[gracieloufreebush]

Thank you soo much for your replies. Now I am more excited about it; just wanted to check with PS for thoughts! I am going to talk to my boyfriend about it and decide if we will move forward with it!

The only thing I'm really worried about now (besides the inclusions) is the price. It's a little over budget. But we'll see..

 

[ariel144]

Thank you soo much for your replies. Now I am more excited about it; just wanted to check with PS for thoughts! I am going to talk to my boyfriend about it and decide if we will move forward with it!

The only thing I'm really worried about now (besides the inclusions) is the price. It's a little over budget. But we'll see..

I think this is a stone that you will be happy that you splurged on...it faces up fairly large also because the depth is in the mid 60% range. I am excited for you...take a gander at this other (large) antique cut cushion on JA and the price....of course it is very high clarity, which is IMO over kill, would much rather have an SI2 and save the $$. They seem to be having more antique cuts on JA lately...they are so rare.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VVS2-Very-Good-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1511028.asp

Here's what you can get on GOG
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9412/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8918/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9739/

The higher color and eye clean lower clarity is a great combination for someone on a budget. I think your stone faces up much larger as well. Have you thought about setting it E/W? If you post a picture of the setting you like many on PS may be able to come up with something similar at a better price so you can come in within budget.

Here's one on LM that is little cheaper but a lot smaller too:

http://www.micropave.com/index.php/loose-diamonds/1-13-carat-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-h-si1-color-7-clarity-by-leon-mege.html

Here is a 1.33c set, which might give you an idea of how yours will look set but your G will look icy white...this one has some color:
http://www.micropave.com/index.php/loose-diamonds/megesaurus-solitaire.html

then there is this one but no stats or picture yet... a little cheaper:

http://www.micropave.com/index.php/loose-diamonds/1-24-i-vs2-antique-cushion-cut-diamond.html

 

[CharmyPoo]

That diamond looks gorgeous and a great price point. I would totally go for it and check it out for yourself to make sure there are no inclusions.

 

[jstarfireb]

It looks really lovely if an elongated antique-style cushion is what you want. As for the eye-cleanness, it may be something you have to view for yourself.

 

[Gypsy]

I think it's beautiful. I hope it knocks your socks off in person!

 

[Naylene]

Thank you soo much for your replies. Now I am more excited about it; just wanted to check with PS for thoughts! I am going to talk to my boyfriend about it and decide if we will move forward with it!

The only thing I'm really worried about now (besides the inclusions) is the price. It's a little over budget. But we'll see..

Hi, just wondering. Did you end up purchasing this stone?

 

[gracieloufreebush]

Thank you soo much for your replies. Now I am more excited about it; just wanted to check with PS for thoughts! I am going to talk to my boyfriend about it and decide if we will move forward with it!

The only thing I'm really worried about now (besides the inclusions) is the price. It's a little over budget. But we'll see..

Hi, just wondering. Did you end up purchasing this stone?

Sorry for the late update! We were going to, but we thought our hold on the diamond was going to last an entire day; however, it ended in the morning. At that point, it was already on hold and about to be purchased by someone else.

 

[CharmyPoo]

That's too bad - I am sorry. It really was a nice diamond.