reasonable budget for 2 ct cushion

[agapitor]

Well something must be in the air because I just got a call from my friend and told me he is planning on proposing to his girlfriend in the near future. He knew I just got my ring so thought I would have some wisdom to impart on him. Unfortunately, his gf would like a cushion (another one) and I know nothing about cushions other than they make beautiful rings. His budget is 10K for diamond and setting and he would like the stone to be about 2ct. I thought this is a bit unrealistic given what I spent on mine.. but I may be totally off base here... Thoughts? Oh.. he is ok with an eye clean clarity and as long as the color isn't too warm.

 

[SB621]

I'm by no means an expert on cushions or diamonds but I think 10k for a 2ct diamond is unrealistic in those parameters. He will either have to go for a warmer stone or a smaller cut. I think they have a few choices at ERD and GOG for 1.5ct for around 10-12k.

 

[SB621]

This is probably lower in color then he wants to go but I just love this cushion from JbEG.
1.87ct Loose Antique Cushion Cut Diamond, GIA
Price is $10,150

 

[Sniven]

Well something must be in the air because I just got a call from my friend and told me he is planning on proposing to his girlfriend in the near future. He knew I just got my ring so thought I would have some wisdom to impart on him. Unfortunately, his gf would like a cushion (another one) and I know nothing about cushions other than they make beautiful rings. His budget is 10K for diamond and setting and he would like the stone to be about 2ct. I thought this is a bit unrealistic given what I spent on mine.. but I may be totally off base here... Thoughts? Oh.. he is ok with an eye clean clarity and as long as the color isn't too warm.

How elaborate does he want the setting to be?

http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-1981181-1.91-carat-Cushion-diamond-F-color-SI1-Clarity.aspx?cid=DiamPS

leaves him $419 for the setting

 

[antelope1]

Totally unrealistic. Better shoot for the 1.5 ct range.

 

[megumic]

Yep, definitely needs more loot, especially if he is going to do it right. Personally, I'd take the smaller rock for a higher quality -- but so would everyone else on PS. If she's not a diamond connoisseur/snob/nutjob like all of us, quality may matter less to her.

 

[iota15]

I think he and his lady love will have to define what "isn't too warm" for them. He may also have to settle for eye cleaniness, except for a speck on the corner or something like that. Having just searched for 2 ct cushions, he's going to have a difficult/near impossible time finding a beautiful H/I, eyeclean for the most part stone at that price. With a solitaire setting, something around 1.8 is more realistic. 1.5 ct, if he wants a more elaborate setting.

She might prefer a much lower color (in which case, lucky him). However, it's going to be very difficult, or near impossible to find one that meets that budget if she has more "traditional" taste for an ering...

And If he did find one, I would advise him to look hard at why it cost so little. There might be a good reason (divorcee looking to get rid of it) - or integrity problems, ugly inclusions, or a true "lower color/clarity" than what the "certificate" says, sparkle-less (ugly) cut, etc.

 

[stepcutnut]

I would have him give David at Diamonds by Lauren a call, he seems to find some fantastic deals on some really lovely cushion cuts!!!

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

I would have him give David at Diamonds by Lauren a call, he seems to find some fantastic deals on some really lovely cushion cuts!!!

Internet diamond vendors especially ones who advertise on pricescope work on small margins. 3 - 15% is quite common from a drop shipper. In house inventory is often sold at 5 - 25% margin.

There are not "fantastic deals" to be found better than these. This board and its vendors are all competing for an extremely competitive market with very agressive shoppers. When someone says a non PS vendor offers some "fantastic deals" it makes me cringe a little bit.

Confusing an apple with an orange so it appears as a deal is just wrong. Any customer seeing what they think is a deal on rounds and especially on fancy shapes should have a loud alarm go off in their head and ask themself:

What is different about this "deal" and diamond from the others that cost much more?

I highly doubt DBL has a smaller margin than the high volume advertising vendors here, the exact opposite is much more likely and I've seen several examples where this is the case.

Vendors who sell "one off" or niche diamonds are aware that consumers can't readily find comparables and they have a little more flexibility in setting their own price.

 

[agapitor]

thanks for confirming my suspicion everyone. I will pass this on to my dear friend. His SO has very tiny fingers so I would imagine even something around the 1.5ct range would look massive on her.

 

[antelope1]

And he could halo if she really wants the finger coverage.