Opinion on Antique Cushion (pics inside!!)

[emmebee]

Hi all,
I fell in love with antique cushions, and I've been looking at this diamond for a while. It is definitely not the traditional antique cushion with the maltese cross pattern, but rather a more transitional look..

It reminds me a little bit of Bonfire's center diamond, which I love and covet!!
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-antique-cushion-ring-by-jbg-blows-me-away.207982/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-antique-cushion-ring-by-jbg-blows-me-away.207982/[/URL]

Can you guys please give me your expert opinions on what you think? What do you think of the ASET? Will those facets in the middle always be dark? Do you think it will look like Bonfire's stone?

Thanks!!

 

[emmebee]

I need to make a decision whether to order by end of day today, so any opinions much appreciated!!

 

[emmebee]

Bump for help please!

 

[tyty333]

Is the stone with anyone who can do a video? It appears that the center will always be partially dark and partially lit. I would
love to see it moving to make sure the dark does go lite when moved. You would need to decide if you would be ok with partial
lite/dark table area.

Other than that...it looks to be a very pretty stone. How is the girdle? Size and cost would also affect my decision. If it were a
good deal then I* might be able to live with the center. If it's just an ok deal then I might keep looking. Is this for an engagement
ring or just a RHR?

Is it returnable if it doesnt have the light return that you desire?

 

[marymm]

Well, it's got a bit of a wonky shape to it, but that's not unusual for antique cushions. My eyes find this cushion pleasing too.

As to the images, which are not bad at all for a true antique-cut, the only way to know if the center facets flash on and off when the diamond is rocked/moved or if they stay dark is to ask the vendor (or, better, to see it in person).

If you've been looking at it for a while now, as long as there's a good return policy I'd go ahead and order it, and then examine it carefully in all kinds of lighting environments. For me, I'd want to make sure the center facets light up, that there is a nice contrast/off-on pattern, and that there is scintillation at the edges as well as the table.

Is there a diamond grading report for this stone? Do you know the stats? Is the clarity/girdle condition to your satisfaction? Is it reasonably priced for what it is purported to be?

 

[emmebee]

Thank you both for your input!

It isn't with a vendor that can make a video, but thanks for informing me that a video or my own eyes (no ASET, photo, etc) are the only ways I'll be able to tell whether the center flickers on/off or whether it's always off.

Luckily, the vendor does have a great return policy, so I think this is my best option at this point! Especially since I've been looking at it for a while, and once when it went "unavailable", my heart dropped! At that point I knew I should take a serious look at it.

To answer the other questions, this is for a RHR, and it is a J VS2 graded by GIA. The girdle is "extremely thin to slightly thick (faceted)". I haven't done much research on girdles, but I know certain ones can be a chipping risk. Do I have to worry about it with this one?

 

[Bonfire]

Emmebee thanks for your kind words! Antique cushions are getting harder and harder to find! I got truely lucky. I would recommend reaching out to Grace at Jbg (where I got mine) or Erika at LAD. If they don't have something now they may be able to find what you are looking for. My advise is, be patient and work with a reliable vender. If it's possible to see this stone irl I recommend it, only if they have a good return policy. Also my stone is wonky...it's an antique! Good luck, I hope you find the cushion of your dreams!! Keep us posted.

 

[Bonfire]

Sorry I just re-read your last post. Yes you do need to be careful with an extremely thin girdle. Mine is very thin to thin. That's another reason I put it in a new setting. It has a bit more protection.

 

[emmebee]

Thanks for both the comment and the advice, Bonfire I'm receiving the stone today.. I'm excited to see!!

 

[arkieb1]

The stone is either going to be a winner with arrows and lots of fire or those dark areas will stay dark, hard to tell unless you see it in person and move it around a lot to tell. It also looks lower than a J in that photo even though it's supposed to be GIA graded so check that the paperwork is in order. If you love it, it needs to be put into a bezel or a halo or a protected setting, as the girdle is already thin and we can see in your pic chipped and ragged and an expose setting could be asking for trouble or the girdle needs to be rehabbed ie polished but then you also run certain risks and have pros and cons with that as well.

Post more pics when you have it.

 

[Bonfire]

Thanks for both the comment and the advice, Bonfire I'm receiving the stone today.. I'm excited to see!!

How exciting!! Please let us know what you think, and of course pictures

 

[emmebee]

Hi all, just wanted to give you an update! I should first caveat by saying this was my first time seeing an antique stone. It really was beautiful.. I could see the "contrast" areas in the ASET, but only when looking directly over it, which is not how I mainly see diamonds on my hands. It was really beautiful - I loved the slight flowery center, with the crisper geometric edges. My only issue with it? The size I have 7.5 size fingers, and it just looked too small. Funny thing, it is a GREAT size considering the ct weight (and price)! I would highly recommend it to someone else to see! I thought it was truly beautiful. Also, it definitely did not show lower than a J. (GIA graded a J, but I know there was concern with the "photo" that it looked lower) It faced up white, and I didn't see much tint at all from the side.

Unfortunately, my phone doesn't have a macro mode I'm hoping I can borrow my friend's iPhone tonight for pics. Stay tuned!

Also, I want to say a huge thanks to Samuel at B2CJewels. He was patient with me in obtaining the pics, placing my order, and now he will help me make a seamless return. Thanks Samuel!

 

[tyty333]

Hi all, just wanted to give you an update! I should first caveat by saying this was my first time seeing an antique stone. It really was beautiful.. I could see the "contrast" areas in the ASET, but only when looking directly over it, which is not how I mainly see diamonds on my hands. It was really beautiful - I loved the slight flowery center, with the crisper geometric edges. My only issue with it? The size I have 7.5 size fingers, and it just looked too small. Funny thing, it is a GREAT size considering the ct weight (and price)! I would highly recommend it to someone else to see! I thought it was truly beautiful. Also, it definitely did not show lower than a J. (GIA graded a J, but I know there was concern with the "photo" that it looked lower) It faced up white, and I didn't see much tint at all from the side.

Unfortunately, my phone doesn't have a macro mode I'm hoping I can borrow my friend's iPhone tonight for pics. Stay tuned!

Also, I want to say a huge thanks to Samuel at B2CJewels. He was patient with me in obtaining the pics, placing my order, and now he will help me make a seamless return. Thanks Samuel!

Well darn! But know you have a better fill for old cuts so it wasnt all for naught! Keep looking...you're bound to find something!
Curse big fingers! (I'm a 6 3/4 - 7)

Edit - how big was it and what size do you think you need?

 

[emmebee]

Exactly! I definitely see why people say they have a personality. My only experience had been seeing them on PS, so I really enjoyed getting to see one in person. I think the difficult part about that is on PS, I see the photos magnified, and the facets are so large because the photos are large.. so when you get what was not a small diamond in hand, I was a little underwhelmed. And my fingers still aren't off the hook either - 7.5 does not help the problem!

To be completely honest, I was wondering if I could take this one (around 7.7 x 7.2) and put a FC halo on it to make it have more presence on my hand but it is an expensive endeavor, especially compared to a blingy 5 stone, which is my second choice for my RHR.. Two very different looks, you can see why I'm torn! The 5 stone provides SUCH great coverage though. The other factor going into this is that because it was more of a round-ish cushion shape (which I actually found to be very pleasing!) as opposed to a more rectangular cushion, it would wear similarly to my to-be e-ring, which is a RB. Decisions decisions!

 

[tyty333]

Exactly! I definitely see why people say they have a personality. My only experience had been seeing them on PS, so I really enjoyed getting to see one in person. I think the difficult part about that is on PS, I see the photos magnified, and the facets are so large because the photos are large.. so when you get what was not a small diamond in hand, I was a little underwhelmed. And my fingers still aren't off the hook either - 7.5 does not help the problem!

To be completely honest, I was wondering if I could take this one (around 7.7 x 7.2) and put a FC halo on it to make it have more presence on my hand but it is an expensive endeavor, especially compared to a blingy 5 stone, which is my second choice for my RHR.. Two very different looks, you can see why I'm torn! The 5 stone provides SUCH great coverage though. The other factor going into this is that because it was more of a round-ish cushion shape (which I actually found to be very pleasing!) as opposed to a more rectangular cushion, it would wear similarly to my to-be e-ring, which is a RB. Decisions decisions!

I'm going through the same thing...I had been looking for a 7mm old cut but after using

http://www.diamdb.com/ and seeing how small it would look on my finger I thought I really need an 8mm...but at what cost?

So then I was thinking graduated 5 stone with a 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 5mm, 4mm size. Plenty of coverage, lots of bling and less
cost (I think). Plus, I could collect them at my own pace.

Still not sure what I'm going to do. Guess it all depends what drops in my lap first. I'm in no hurry!