Perry Chen or Jonathan from GOG?

[luckygirl333]

I am looking for the "perfect" chunky cushion...

I would love to hear your thoughts on and experiences with working with Perry and/or Jonathan.

 

[antelope1]

It depends.

If you want an AVC, GOG is the only place to get it. If you want a generic chunky cushion, GOG does not carry them on their website. Perry (or Mark @ ERD across the street) seem to have the best prices around for generic chunky cushions. It's not to say that a "generic" chunky cushion is the same as an AVC, but they can look similar and have similar facet patterns. A "generic" cushion is not branded as the AVC is, of course.

If you plan on getting a Leon Mege setting, I'd go with Perry as the setting time is faster for vertically integrated orders. I have heard that LM does not like setting AVCs, there are threads on this.

If you plan on upgrading, I'd probably go with GOG because you get 100% of your purchase price toward another diamond. I'm not sure what Perry's upgrade policy is (and I think most people go to Leon for their forever rings, so perhaps it has not come up?).

Most importantly, you need to find a vendor who will listen to you and work with you (including your budget requirements). Have you tried calling each of them to feel them out? What do you mean by "perfect"?

 

[luckygirl333]

For this diamond perfect means:

Eye clean

Superior cut

? Color...I have not been able to find even a single well cut cushion locally, so I cannot figure out what color will make me happy. (I recently saw a 3 carat J princess cut that was so unattractive I wouldn't have worn it if it were free! But the cut was really horrible. I think the warmer stones in the AVC thread are beautiful in the posted photos, but I don't know what I would prefer in person.

? Size..8-10mm, almost square or square. Might be ok with a little smaller. Honestly, I am not 100% sure about size. There is a point at which it would feel too big for me, but I am not sure what that is...

Budget...well, I thought I could do this project for $20k...$15k for the stone and $5k for the setting. I think maybe the 2 carat+ stones I was seeing at that price point were junk, so I don't know. I'd rather spend $15k than $20, my husband would rather I spend $5k, but he also wants me to have the ring that will make me happy. This needs to be a forever ring though. I CAN spend more than $20k, but I think it would take a phenomenal deal to get me to go over $25k for the stone.

I like the AVCs...what does Leon have against them? (Oh, and Jonathan does have some unbranded cushions in stock as well.)

 

[slg47]

what kind of setting do you want?

It really depends on what you are looking for. Leon can source you a beautiful unbranded chunky cushion but won't provide ASET or anything like that. GOG can source AVCs and other unbranded cushions and will give you images/ASET/really every piece of information available.

 

[luckygirl333]

Setting:

Very thin pave band
Double claw prongs
Stone set as low as humanly possible while still allowing ring to sit flush with band. (Maybe kind of like this? http://www.langantiques.com//images/external/10/1224110508_10-3-2298c.jpg)

 

[slg47]

yeah I think Leon would be good for that type of setting (although it may be less than 5k...youd have to get a quote from him).

 

[antelope1]

For a forever setting like that, I would definitely pay for a Leon setting.

I'm trying to find the threads, but I think some people have said that Leon views GOG as a competitor (for diamond sourcing) and won't set AVCs. Some people have given Leon AVCs and just not told him where they came from (e.g., dropped them off rather than shipping them from GOG directly). This is just what I have read on PS, though. Maybe the truth is different, who knows.

There is definitely a trust element when it comes to buying diamonds using ASET vs buying from a vendor who is doing visual selection. If you have time, I suggest taking a trip to NYC and checking out both vendors. Given your budget, $1k (basically, RT airfare from anywhere in the US to NYC + hotel for 2 days for 2 people) seems like a good investment for your own peace of mind down the road.

If you decide to go to NY, I'd call ahead and make sure both are in that day, and both have suitable stock (say 3 choices) that are in your color and clarity specs.