Should I go for the cushion?

[kimmo416]

So here is my situation, I apologize if it's long. I've been lurking on here for months, and I'm hoping I can find some good advice from all you knowledgeable folks. I am very confused about whether I should keep my current ring or change it.

Right now I have VVS2 F 1.02 ct princess cut diamond in a platinum halo setting. We got the ring without doing any extensive research on cut, and once I got the diamond home, I realized it wasn't cut great. The depth is 70.5 and the table is 76. Not good for a princess, however to my untrained eye it is very sparkly and not lifeless. It does concern me that it isn't cut well, but what concerns me even more is that after doing diamond research I realized cushions do something to my heart that princesses don't.

I am considering switching to a cushion center stone, but the problem is, I LOVE the setting I have now and I would have to return the setting and diamond together. The ring is from Costco, so they don't sell separate center stones and settings. My ideal ring would be the same setting with a 1 ct cushion. I have a tight budget and I don't know if I could create a similar setting and get a center stone to my liking within the budget. For example, James Allen has some nice stones, but I don't like their default halo setting.

I am very color sensitive, and I would want a center stone G or higher - I can absolutely tell a difference with H and below, and one of the things I love about my ring now is how icy white it is. It's important for my boyfriend that it has a high clarity, so I would want a clarity of VS2 or higher. I would like to stay around $6000 for the entire ring but could go to $6500 if I had to. I don't want to go smaller than my original diamond, which measures 5.59 x 5.78 mm. Spread is just as important as sparkle to me, and I've noticed that many cushions in my price range have a larger spread, but I was curious whether my eye would even pick up on a .3 average mm difference?

I'm beginning to wonder if I should just keep my original ring and try to get cushions out of my head. Is approximately $4000 for a stone to my liking with a $2000 custom platinum setting totally impossible? If you guys think I should try to go for it, could you provide any stone recommendations? I'm open to any vendor, I'm just concerned with the more expensive ones that I won't have the budget for the setting. Thanks for listening

 

[kimmo416]

Btw, here is my original ring, in case seeing the setting helps.

 

[JulieN]

You can do it if sell your current ring.

Difficult on your current budget.

Due to the rounded corners of a cushion, you probably need to be looking at 6mm+ cushions to preserve the size relative to your current stone. I was looking for another poster and I could not break 6 mm without going to I color.

 

[kimmo416]

Thanks for the quick reply Julie. That's kind of what I was afraid of. The budget listed includes returning the original ring, which we paid $5700 + tax for. Boyfriend is fresh out of grad school, so money is tight. We can only go a little higher than what we originally paid, which is why total max budget is $6500.

 

[Niel]

if you dont love it and have the opportunity to change it do it. What kind of cushion do you like? antique? or more modern?

For what its worth i think you could get a 1ct plus with a halo setting. for around 6500 but i wouldnt go custum and i probably would go down to gold. Personally.

 

[kimmo416]

if you dont love it and have the opportunity to change it do it. What kind of cushion do you like? antique? or more modern?

For what its worth i think you could get a 1ct plus with a halo setting. for around 6500 but i wouldnt go custum and i probably would go down to gold. Personally.

I like antique, but I'm open to modern as long as it's not a super crushed ice look. I like defined faceting. I prefer slightly rectangular (1.1 to 1.2 ratio), but am open to square.

 

[JulieN]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

 

[maccers]

if you dont love it and have the opportunity to change it do it. What kind of cushion do you like? antique? or more modern?

For what its worth i think you could get a 1ct plus with a halo setting. for around 6500 but i wouldnt go custum and i probably would go down to gold. Personally.

I like antique, but I'm open to modern as long as it's not a super crushed ice look. I like defined faceting. I prefer slightly rectangular (1.1 to 1.2 ratio), but am open to square.

Would you consider buying a preloved stone? Your money would go much farther. A place to start: http://jewelsbyericagrace.com/loose_antique_and_estate_diamonds

Also there's diamondbistro and loupetroop websites.

 

[Niel]

if you arent looking for antique heres a cute one
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.04-carat-F-color-VVS2-clarity-sku-127434

plus platinum halo (applying a ps wire discount would help reduce the $)
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-cushion-center-item-6824

they have another halo that looks similar to your setting, but you would have to go 14k gold

 

[Niel]

also your options would open up if you would be willing to go plain shank halo. cheaper now and later you can add a blingy wedding band (or one on each side!! )

 

[kimmo416]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

I love this one and saw it when you posted it on someone else's thread. I actually showed it to my bf earlier and he balked that for that price it wasn't even 1 ct. I tried to explain it faced up like a 1 ct and was a great cut, but he wasn't hearing it. For some reason, he's very focused on what the appraisal value will be, and wary of diamonds that will appraise for less than what we have. To me, this doesn't make sense, but he's the one footing the bill so...

 

[kimmo416]

if you arent looking for antique heres a cute one
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.04-carat-F-color-VVS2-clarity-sku-127434

plus platinum halo (applying a ps wire discount would help reduce the $)
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-cushion-center-item-6824

they have another halo that looks similar to your setting, but you would have to go 14k gold

I LOVE that diamond!It is more expensive than what I was budgeting for a diamond, but maybe I can make it work...

 

[Niel]

if you arent looking for antique heres a cute one
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.04-carat-F-color-VVS2-clarity-sku-127434

plus platinum halo (applying a ps wire discount would help reduce the $)
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/engagement-rings/halo/platinum-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-cushion-center-item-6824

they have another halo that looks similar to your setting, but you would have to go 14k gold

I LOVE that diamond!It is more expensive than what I was budgeting for a diamond, but maybe I can make it work...

I know you were looking for more around 4k for the stone, BUT, there are halo setting you can get that would keep you in your budget, even with a stone that price ( and again itll be cheaper if you ask for a PS discount and pay by wire)

ETA, personally I think a plain shank halo isnt a terrible thing it consider. Like i said you can ad as many diamond bands you want in future years, and also i think it makes the rings look like two separate entities, verses just a whole lot of pave. Plus plain shank halos have a way of looking both like halos AND solitaires at the same time, trendy but still a bit more classic.

heres one I particularly love, and with a discount on that diamond would probably put you at 6500 (still keeping that plat)
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/halo-french-set-diamond-engagement-ring-in-platinum/5049

 

[kimmo416]

I know you were looking for more around 4k for the stone, BUT, there are halo setting you can get that would keep you in your budget, even with a stone that price ( and again itll be cheaper if you ask for a PS discount and pay by wire)

ETA, personally I think a plain shank halo isnt a terrible thing it consider. Like i said you can ad as many diamond bands you want in future years, and also i think it makes the rings look like two separate entities, verses just a whole lot of pave. Plus plain shank halos have a way of looking both like halos AND solitaires at the same time, trendy but still a bit more classic.

heres one I particularly love, and with a discount on that diamond would probably put you at 6500 (still keeping that plat)
http://www.ritani.com/engagement-rings/halo-french-set-diamond-engagement-ring-in-platinum/5049

That is quite lovely. How difficult of a process would it be to use a setting not from James Allen, like that Ritani? I had always heard you should try to get a setting from where you get the diamond, and I just am not a fan of the JA settings.

 

[Niel]

it is a little more work but it can be done. My ring is a pear i got online and the setting is a ritani I purchased though a B&M store. Its not all that difficult though it is more time consuming. Usually they dont charge you extra to set an outside stone because you are buying the setting though them. If you go though a B&M store though i would just say "I have this diamond i need a setting", dont tell them from where. Some stores get weird about online vendors.

You might have to pay to insure the stone while its being set. I didnt have to though

Also, you might even be able to have JA mail the stone right to Ritani. Ive had people i was getting a setting but not a stone though tell me they would be fine with it, but neither JA or Ritani was the vendor i am talking about. But never hurts to ask, you know?

 

[JulieN]

I think you should go for it if you and he are open your options and compromise. Size might be a little smaller, setting might not be platinum, maybe not G+ VS2+, budget might need to go up, etc. KWIM?

 

[ariel144]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

I would return the princess cut ring and get a cushion.

I highly suggest this .86 E VS1 on JA. The faceting is phenomenal and faces up larger than the princess cut you have. If you set it E/W where the length (6.2mm) is going across your finger it gives a lot more coverage.

Here the thread with the ASET image:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/antique-style-cushion.185565/page-3#post-3401126#p3401126']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/antique-style-cushion.185565/page-3#post-3401126#p3401126[/URL]

I think at JA you can get a similar setting and stay within budget.

 

[ariel144]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

I love this one and saw it when you posted it on someone else's thread. I actually showed it to my bf earlier and he balked that for that price it wasn't even 1 ct. I tried to explain it faced up like a 1 ct and was a great cut, but he wasn't hearing it. For some reason, he's very focused on what the appraisal value will be, and wary of diamonds that will appraise for less than what we have. To me, this doesn't make sense, but he's the one footing the bill so...

Too bad he is so uninformed. Carat = weight of the stone and not the face up size. You can actually have a 2c stone that is way too deep and faces up like a 1.5c stone and pay way too much just because it weighs 2 carats.

"But sweetie ...this is the stone I love and want...PLEASE may I get this one?"

the best deals in diamonds are the ones that face up larger than their weight and are very well cut, as you know. This is especially important on a limited budget.

Have you checked GOG lately?

 

[kimmo416]

I think you should go for it if you and he are open your options and compromise. Size might be a little smaller, setting might not be platinum, maybe not G+ VS2+, budget might need to go up, etc. KWIM?

Yeah, I'm seeing I will probably have to compromise on the setting, which I would rather do than compromise on the diamond.

Too bad he is so uninformed. Carat = weight of the stone and not the face up size. You can actually have a 2c stone that is way too deep and faces up like a 1.5c stone and pay way too much just because it weighs 2 carats.

"But sweetie ...this is the stone I love and want...PLEASE may I get this one?"

the best deals in diamonds are the ones that face up larger than their weight and are very well cut, as you know. This is especially important on a limited budget.

Have you checked GOG lately?

I agree with what you're saying. Maybe I can work on him. GOG appears to be way out of my price range, from what I saw on their website.


Do you guys see any other diamonds I should ask JA about besides the .86 E and 1.04 F?

 

[Niel]

less than 6mm but I think is nice if you are looking for a 3rd for getting asets
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.02-carat-D-color-VS2-clarity-sku-25993

 

[kimmo416]

I'm getting the ASET for the VVS2 F! I'll post it when I get it. Hopefully it's good! I still haven't ruled out the VS1 E, but the F is my top choice if the ASET checks out. Thanks for all the help!

 

[kalima]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

I'll have to strongly disagree with you.

#1 This stone will look smaller due to the lack of brightness especially along the edges.(See the ASET) Mostly Green/Black along the UGFs.
#2 One must pay a premium for E color and VS1 clarity both of which are a questionable choice for someone on a budget.

I agree its a pretty photograph showing large virtual facets but that is certainly no way to judge a stone's light performance.

I have to agree with Kimmo's boyfriend I would not be so hot on this stone. 1ct stone would hold its value much more than this one.
The market doesn't pay attention to cut nearly as much people around here and in this case the cut is NOT excellent and would not command such a premium.

 

[Niel]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

I'll have to strongly disagree with you.

#1 This stone will look smaller due to the lack of brightness especially along the edges.(See the ASET) Mostly Green/Black along the UGFs.
#2 One must pay a premium for E color and VS1 clarity both of which are a questionable choice for someone on a budget.

I agree its a pretty photograph showing large virtual facets but that is certainly no way to judge a stone's light performance.

I have to agree with Kimmo's boyfriend I would not be so hot on this stone. 1ct stone would hold its value much more than this one.
The market doesn't pay attention to cut nearly as much people around here and in this case the cut is NOT excellent and would not command such a premium.

I actually quite like the cut. And sense the OP is color sensitive and her bf doesn't want to go lower than vs you can't go much lower in clarity

 

[kalima]

Ariel and I have been pimping this stone for a few weeks... no takers yet: http://jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/0.86-carat-E-color-VS1-clarity-sku-163923

The cut is excellent, and high color/clarity like you want.

I love this one and saw it when you posted it on someone else's thread. I actually showed it to my bf earlier and he balked that for that price it wasn't even 1 ct. I tried to explain it faced up like a 1 ct and was a great cut, but he wasn't hearing it. For some reason, he's very focused on what the appraisal value will be, and wary of diamonds that will appraise for less than what we have. To me, this doesn't make sense, but he's the one footing the bill so...

Too bad he is so uninformed. Carat = weight of the stone and not the face up size. You can actually have a 2c stone that is way too deep and faces up like a 1.5c stone and pay way too much just because it weighs 2 carats.

Perhaps when it comes to appraisal and resale value he has the right idea. With experience you may find diamonds that look smaller than there weight are not discounted enough, and those that look larger than their weight do not fetch quite the premium you would expect. Cutters are very smart they know how to maximize the sale value of the rough they have to work with.

"But sweetie ...this is the stone I love and want...PLEASE may I get this one?"
the best deals in diamonds are the ones that face up larger than their weight and are very well cut, as you know.

That is rarely the case where one can find both, there are always tradeoffs. Shallow crown diamonds that faceup the largest are rarely top performers. Even diamonds with moderate crowns that faceup a bit larger are rarely "very well cut" to the strictest of standards such as AGS 0 for light performance. I don't really know how you define "very well cut" but it would most likely not be how I define "very well cut" or how an objective lab would do so, its very subjective and hard to benchmark.

 

[heididdl]

I love the JA 1.04 stone and the halo that the girls recommended for you. I agree to return the Costco ring. Regarding insurance apparaisal that is all it is .....So that if something happens to the ring it can be replaced to the exact specs of the lost of stolen ring. In most cases the insurance company will be doing the replacement so as long as you have th GIA certification and your photo of the setting it doesn't matter if the appraisal s market value is off they must replace what you have.

 

[kalima]

What I would want to know the most about the F VVS stone is the four arrowheads in the middle of the stone do they stay dark all the time or flash on and off. Tell them how close you will be looking at your stone and have the gemologist look at the stone at that distance and ask him about any areas that say dark.

Also if you are doing a halo the E VS1 issue of less light return around the edges is less important, it won't look smallerwith the halo and since the melee will be bright the edges are less important for a halo I'd say its an acceptable flaw.

ERD also has two antique style cushions in and around your budget I'd ask them as well for options.

 

[kimmo416]

What I would want to know the most about the F VVS stone is the four arrowheads in the middle of the stone do they stay dark all the time or flash on and off. Tell them how close you will be looking at your stone and have the gemologist look at the stone at that distance and ask him about any areas that say dark.

Also if you are doing a halo the E VS1 issue of less light return around the edges is less important, it won't look smallerwith the halo and since the melee will be bright the edges are less important for a halo I'd say its an acceptable flaw.

ERD also has two antique style cushions in and around your budget I'd ask them as well for options.

Thanks for that advice. I'll make sure to look into it. When you say arrowheads are you referring to the X that goes through the center?

 

[Niel]

always good to ask but i think it will be ok

 

[kimmo416]

I see what you are saying. I'll check on those. Thanks!

 

[JulieN]

one more for you, kimmo: http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.00-carat-d-color-vs1-clarity-sku-128553

I think I like this the best out of the ones that have been posted, seems to fit your specs: size and shape for you, 1 ct D VS1 for your bf