Opinions on JA cushion cut!

[mswaves]

Hello all, first time poster here.
My partner just purchased a stone from James Allen. Opinions?
I will attempt to get some in person pictures, but the stone isn't set yet. We are going to have a custom setting made locally.
Do you think the slightly warmer H tone of this diamond would look good in a platinum setting?

My main "worries" (seems dramatic) are the "good" symmetry and H color.
Everything else about the stone is perfect for me (table/depth- faces up well, L/W etc)
We are still well within our return time, but they only held the stone for a week so we purchased.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.61-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-311524

Thanks for your thoughts, this website has been really helpful!

 

[Gypsy]

Return it. Your worrying about the wrong thing.

The cut on it is going to have compromised light performance.

 

[Gypsy]

Here is what you need to know about cushions:

Read this:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-and-looking-for-help-choosing-cushion-cut-diamond-to-oz.205195/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-and-looking-for-help-choosing-cushion-cut-diamond-to-oz.205195/[/URL]

Then this:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-need-opinions-about-this-cushion-cut-diamond-pics.206771/#post-3763444#p3763444']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-need-opinions-about-this-cushion-cut-diamond-pics.206771/#post-3763444#p3763444[/URL]

Here's some information to start you off:
The entire purpose of faceting a diamond is to reflect light.
How well or how poorly a diamond does this determines how beautiful it is.
How well a diamond performs is determined by the angles and cutting. This is why we say cut is king. With fancies though (anything other than a round brilliant), that is a little complicated. But no other factor: not color, not clarity has as much of an impact on the appearance of a diamond as its cut.

There really is no other way to determine if you have a good cushions is to see images of the stones, and then you need is a way to check actual light performance of your actual stone.

That's what an ASET image does. http://www.highperformancediamonds.com/index.php?page=education-performance Please read.
And ASET shows you how and wear your diamond is reflecting light, how well it is going at it, and where you are losing light return That is why you won't see us recommending vendors like Blue Nile, as they do not provide images or ASET images for their diamonds. James Allen and Good Old Gold do this. So do Brian Gavin and Whiteflash and High Performance Diamonds.

Or you can get an AGS0 cushions, but those are rare, and usually branded. . GIA does not grade their cushions for performance. Only AGS does. And any lab other than GIA or AGS is not worth considering at all.

 

[mswaves]

Thanks so much Gypsy, you seem to have a lot of knowledge with cushion cuts. While disappointed, I will take advantage of JA's return policy next week. I still have a lot to learn.

If you have time could you help me find some options with other sites?

Budget for diamond 10-13K
1.50-1.80 carat range
Elongated (but not extreme-nice pillow shape)
Faces up well/eye clean

I appreciate your feedback!

This is the design I will base my custom setting off of, but with a few changes.

 

[Gypsy]

Elongated cushions are hard. Why? Because the square one perform better and don't have bowties.

Pick three and get an ASET of each. Please post them when you have it.

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-282775 I like this one.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-si1-clarity-sku-314530
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.70-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-sku-366945
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.52-carat-g-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-375977 It looks like it has a bowtie though.
http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.50-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-sku-365945 I like this one.



Please remember to compare spread (dimensions) not carat weight when comparing cushions for size.

 

[mswaves]

Thank you! I forgot to mention, the diamond doesn't have to be James Allen. I have looked at white flash and GOG.
I can see the difference in sparkle right away with the stones you found.

Late last night I started thinking about ovals. I've never been a huge fan, but after searching have seen quite a few lovely settings.

I have a bigger finger 8.5 long so 1.5 with good face up is my priority while still trying to get a decent color and clarity.

 

[mswaves]

Oh and yeah the dimensions and face are what I've been comparing for a lot of cushions. It's on reason we purchased the original stone-the face up was beating out many other stones of higher caret weight.

 

[mswaves]

Alright! So Julie from James Allen (very helpful and nice) sent me the ASET for my current stone plus one I picked. The other one has been requested (I wanted the ASET to my stone so I only picked 2 others to compare)

My current stone



http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.51-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-sku-282775

 

[Niel]

That 1.51 aset you posted is great.

 

[mswaves]

Thanks for your input. My first ring (from previous marriage) was an emerald cut, so I guess when I look at cushions (be it a lower or higher quality cut) I still see a lot of sparkle.

It's been really interesting looking at various ASET images online.

 

[Gypsy]

Where is the 3rd one?

 

[Gypsy]

The 1.5 carat is a very nice stone.

Your stone-- did preform a bit better than I was expecting but that faceting under the table is mushy and showing some leakage. That said, it is very common to have that for that type of faceting.

Did the gemologist get to compare the two head to head? If so what were his thoughts?

 

[mswaves]

Where is the 3rd one?

They are going to order from the gemologist. Since they had 2 on file, I can actually pick 3 to have ASETs for but all together get to look at 5 ASETs if I really want to.

It's going to be difficult (for me) to find a stone with that L/W that the current one has. (although the 1.52 G comes close!)
We still have until January to return the stone if we wish. I have read JA shipped stones to their Frederick, Maryland store for viewing - which I live only 20 minutes from..so I may ask about that option before returning/picking 1 new stone and going through the whole process.