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Opinions on H&A Cushion

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Lee23

Rough_Rock
Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
9
Hello all, long-time reader, first-time poster.

I'm in search of a cushion, and came across one that looks very good on paper (and the images look good as well), but I'm a bit skeptical of it because it seems, well...too cheap.

Specs:
1ct, H, VS2 - $3450

6.01 x 5.93 x 3.97
Depth: 66.9
Table: 54%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very good
Fluorescence: N

(Images below)

I'm weighing this one against .90ct, H, SI1 H&A Cushion that I saw in person and really liked, but it was several hundred $ more. Something tells me that the symmetry being below excellent is what drives down the price compared to other H&A cushions. I'm awaiting a lab report right now, so I don't know if it's one of the AGS certified H&A.

Any thoughts are appreciated.



168828_xlarge.jpg391540_xlarge.jpg168827_xlarge.jpg
 
It looks beautiful. And the price is crazy. But I'm no expert. I'm also very curious as to what the resident knowledgeable folk here will say.
 
Looks promising. Slight tilt in the stone when the IS image is taken.
 
interesting-where is this one from? do you have a hearts image?
 
I got the report and it is a GIA cushion brilliant (not an AGS H&A).

Could it be that since it is not perfectly square (1.01 l/w ratio) and not Excellent symmetry that it's not quite up to the H&A standards, but otherwise it's just as brilliant? Or is it just labeled that way because it is graded by GIA and not AGS (ie if it were graded by AGS, it might be labeled as a H&A cushion)?
 
It does not appear as square as most of the SCHA diamonds Ive seen. Most have longer straight edges with tighter radiuses at the corners. You may have just found a diamond thats been sitting around for a bit that they want to get rid of.

EDIT: The top side is not square with the bottom. I think the symmetry and shape are the major causes for the low price.
 
Lee23 said:
Hello all, long-time reader, first-time poster.

I'm in search of a cushion, and came across one that looks very good on paper (and the images look good as well), but I'm a bit skeptical of it because it seems, well...too cheap.

Specs:
1ct, H, VS2 - $3450

6.01 x 5.93 x 3.97
Depth: 66.9
Table: 54%
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very good
Fluorescence: N

(Images below)

I'm weighing this one against .90ct, H, SI1 H&A Cushion that I saw in person and really liked, but it was several hundred $ more. Something tells me that the symmetry being below excellent is what drives down the price compared to other H&A cushions. I'm awaiting a lab report right now, so I don't know if it's one of the AGS certified H&A.

Any thoughts are appreciated.
Click to expand...
Lee,

These stones are nothing like the AGS graded stones sold by GOG. The stones outline is much more rounded in this stype. Also this stone is more shallow than the the square cushions hearts and arrows.

Looks like an interesting cut, can you get a sarin scan and post a .srn file?

Who is the vendor who took that ASET image? Excel?
What is the GIA report number so we can look up the report with that information?

I haven't seen this type of generic cushion before but it is promising especially if that is the price.
 
1.01 is about as square as it gets. I am interested in this one because the H&A cushions from GOG and the one that I have have depths in the low 70s and also look more 'squarish' - to me this one looks more roundish. I am really curious to see what the experts have to say
 
GIA 5106533632

It is from Excel. I'll see about the Sarin...I'll also try to get the AGS report on here for the H&A I looked at to compare.

Thanks for all the input!
 
Seriously .. why don't you have this diamond on hold? Please please put it on hold before someone snatches it up from under you. You won't find another similar to this. If I was looking for a cushion in that size and color, I would have jumped on it. So please buy it before I hear you cry!

Just a note - this cushion is rounder than the typical cushions we see. When set, it will look more rounded than other cushions. Make sure you are ok with this.
 
Lee23 said:
GIA 5106533632

It is from Excel. I'll see about the Sarin...I'll also try to get the AGS report on here for the H&A I looked at to compare.

Thanks for all the input!
Click to expand...

Not a sarin report, the full .srn data file which will allow me to generate a video for you.
I can't pull up that GIA report.

Please check the number and the carat weight.

1.00 ?
5106533632

I can't seem to find it in GIA's database.
 
Sorry, it's .99ct ... I had rounded up in my head and typed that out.

I will contact them for the .srn file first thing tomorrow.
 
Lee23 said:
Sorry, it's .99ct ... I had rounded up in my head and typed that out.

I will contact them for the .srn file first thing tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Yeah so I found it in GIA's database, the ASET green rabbit ears at 12,3,6,9 and girdle variation (Thin to Extremely Thick) tell me its like a squashed round. I'd like to see the .srn to see how well they did it and also to see the true girdle outline in 3D.
 
I really like it! GOG's square H&A are too square for my taste, but this one is nicely rounded. It does look a bit like a squished round, but still, very pretty.

And it's a great price -- what's to stop you?
 
That does not look like a cushion, just a round.
 
Lee23 said:
Barry at Excel took the courtesy to put together the DiamCalc. Any more thoughts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9FL0PBqC70

99%20H%20VS-2%20CUSHION%20DETAILED%20SARIN-2.jpg
Click to expand...

Is Barry going to provide the .srn or .gem or .dmc which you requested so you can attach as a file to this thread?
Video link doesn't work and judging from his other(diamondmaven) white background videos that will not provide the information I was looking for.
 
Lee23 said:
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/Loose_...Carat_H_Color_VS2_Clarity_diamond-391540.html

That's the link to the diamond if anyone else is interested in it. Excel has been more than helpful with my inquiries.

I'm sure it is a very nice stone, but I couldn't pass up the square H&A cushion (.90, H, Si1) I saw in person through Whiteflash, even though this one was a very good value.
Click to expand...

I would be very careful, I have never seen WF sell an H&A cushion. Many vendors pass off 8 main thins as a square cushion hearts and arrows, they are night and day different. Both have the same pavilion inclusion plot and name on the GIA or AGS grading report.
I would require verification by ASET and Hearts and Arrows viewer before accepting a vendor claim of this style.

To see the differences in the two see these two video links:

(Brightness and Fire) Versus (Spread and Weight Retention)

or

Comparison of the most popular cushion cuts
 
WF apparently has a selection of square H&A cushions from one of their vendors. I don't have the ASET yet, but I saw it (the ASET) while there and also on the AGS report and it looks like the real deal - I compared it to some on GOG and it compares...though I think theirs perform a little better, but that also comes at a price. ;) I'm getting it appraised by a third party to be sure though.

Ultimately, I'm sure she'll be very happy with it based on what I saw in person.
 
you said the SCHA from WF was only a few hundred dollars more than the one from Excel??

do you have pics of it (or the AGS report number?) i am really interested to see it
 
Lee23 said:
WF apparently has a selection of square H&A cushions from one of their vendors. I don't have the ASET yet, but I saw it (the ASET) while there and also on the AGS report and it looks like the real deal - I compared it to some on GOG and it compares...though I think theirs perform a little better, but that also comes at a price. ;) I'm getting it appraised by a third party to be sure though.

Ultimately, I'm sure she'll be very happy with it based on what I saw in person.
Click to expand...

If you want to know if the stone offered from Whiteflash is really a hearts and arrows take a look at the ASET and the hearts viewer images both are crucial. I wouldn't call something a square cushion hearts and arrows unless it satisfies the optical symmetry criteria for hearts(pavilion view) and arrows(crown view). Unless something has changed I doubt WF sells them especially since the primary supplier for SCHA sells only to B&M stores and not to internet only retailers.

The ASET images of the two, hearts images, as well as the light return signature of the two are significantly different.
This may not factor into your purchase decision as you seem to be focussed on the price and both are beautiful but you should not be misled into thinking one is close in appearance or light performance to the other.

8mainthinversusSCHA.jpg
 
This is the SCHA from WF: .90 ct, H, Si1, $3895

IS_AGS104046196041.jpg
H_AGS-104046196041.jpg
DI40X_AGS104046196041.jpg
AST_AGS104046196041.jpg

This is the third SCHA that WF has recommended to me over the past couple of months (the other two were more expensive- slightly larger CT and color grade), so perhaps they just started to have access to them recently. Not sure whether it makes a difference, but it should also be noted that these stones were not in-house ... they were all available to ship to WF for them to evaluate, just like the virtual selection stones on their site. The SCHA are not listed there though...these were pulled from a different selection specifically by Liza with WF and she emailed me the AGS reports.
 
Looks nice but for the IS image, the stone looks to be placed too deep into the idealscope.
 
oh interesting! I did not know WF was calling those in. I think you will be very happy with it!

how do you plan to set it? here is a pic of mine :)

IMG_0308.jpg
 
Lee23 said:
This is the SCHA from WF: .90 ct, H, Si1, $3895
Click to expand...


Fantastic! That looks like a lovely stone and the price is also excellent given comparable SCHAs. :appl: Thank-you for providing those images! Definitely what I woudl call a SCHA, near perfect hearts, beautiful ASET, nice photograph.

I am even curious if its the same supplier, it seems like the outline is a bit less square and the girdle painting isn't as thick on the 3,6,9,12 positions which may even be a plus in my opinion. Many women prefer slight more rounded edges.

Do you have a link to the AGS report or sarin data, or the WF link I'd love to see it. Sorry if its too much information to ask for.
 
Stone-cold11 said:
Looks nice but for the IS image, the stone looks to be placed too deep into the idealscope.
Click to expand...

SC please clarify what part of the IS makes you feel the stone is too close to the lense of the IS in the image. I don't see it.
 
ChunkyCushionLover said:
Lee23 said:
This is the SCHA from WF: .90 ct, H, Si1, $3895
Click to expand...


Fantastic! That looks like a lovely stone and the price is also excellent given comparable SCHAs. :appl: Thank-you for providing those images! Definitely what I woudl call a SCHA, near perfect hearts, beautiful ASET, nice photograph.

I am even curious if its the same supplier, it seems like the outline is a bit less square and the girdle painting isn't as thick on the 3,6,9,12 positions which may even be a plus in my opinion. Many women prefer slight more rounded edges.

Do you have a link to the AGS report or sarin data, or the WF link I'd love to see it. Sorry if its too much information to ask for.
Click to expand...

Don't mind at all! Loving the feedback. No links since it was never listed on their site, but the AGS # is 104046196041 if you're able to pull it up with that.

slg47- I'm leaning toward the Grace by Vatche right now.
 
The upper girdle facets? Usually those should show some leakage near the edge, where the 2 adjacent upper girdle facets meet at the corner? The beauty shot shows leakage but the ASET/IS do not?
 
Stone-cold11 said:
The upper girdle facets? Usually those should show some leakage near the edge, where the 2 adjacent upper girdle facets meet at the corner? The beauty shot shows leakage but the ASET/IS do not?
Click to expand...

SC,

Those are heavily and I mean heavily painted girdle facets(thick girdle) on the SCHA that are capable of gathering and reflecting low angle light like the eighstar rounds.

They should be partially if not fully red in some cases and is exactly as expected, no problems with the image I can see. Look at the green in the same areas in the ASET image.

This low angle light is of lower intensity especially in photographs where it can cause glare.

ExtremelyThickGirdleSCHA.jpg
 
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