Should I grab this 2.5ct antique cushion? :)

[Scottie21]

Alright friends, I found a much better stone after talking with Chris more at ERD. This one is a 2.53ct VS2 i color. It's a little more 'edgy' than some of the antique cushions but I do like that it has bigger facets compared to others. In looking at GIA standards it appears to be cut 'very good', but I'm guessing it's as usual - has to be seen in person. I was offered this stone for $21k. Thoughts?

Link to AGS report: http://screencast.com/t/ACe68c08N6

video of stone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V_sbE3sr1w&feature=c4-overview&list=UUCT1hf2Iqrhhv3NeUyyKn4Q

photo an aset attached as well.

For what it's worth - Thank you so much to everyone that contributed to my last thread, your suggestions were awesome and it has helped a ton. I met with Grace from JBEG today and she was great; had two very pretty stones that were OEC but my concern is just that they aren't going to be 'firey' enough for me. I want something that just sparkles from across the room! Thanks in advance for all your help, you guys are awesome!

Best,
Jason

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hi, well, that stone has a very pretty shape. I am not sure it has as much red as I would prefer in the ASET (especially in the center), but you might find it okay. I need to say a couple of things about your expectations, though. Fire in a diamond is dependent on the lighting entering the diamond. Whether it can be seen sparkling across the room is a different thing. An ideal cut round brilliant will probably be easier to see sparking across the room than an antique style cushion. There are ideal cut (newly cut) antique cushions that are graded for light performance, but you'll pay a more for those. Most cushions are a little more subtle than an ideal cut round as far as sparkle goes in most lighting.

I'll go look now at the other thread with the other stone. For future reference, it would have been good to post them both in the same thread as it would make it simpler for people to compare the stones.

Okay, so it is a double post, it appears. Click 'report concern' on the other post and have the moderator delete that one.

 

[Scottie21]

Hi, well, that stone has a very pretty shape. I am not sure it has as much red as I would prefer in the ASET (especially in the center), but you might find it okay. I need to say a couple of things about your expectations, though. Fire in a diamond is dependent on the lighting entering the diamond. Whether it can be seen sparkling across the room is a different thing. An ideal cut round brilliant will probably be easier to see sparking across the room than an antique style cushion. There are ideal cut (newly cut) antique cushions that are graded for light performance, but you'll pay a more for those. Most cushions are a little more subtle than an ideal cut round as far as sparkle goes in most lighting.

I'll go look now at the other thread with the other stone. For future reference, it would have been good to post them both in the same thread as it would make it simpler for people to compare the stones.

Okay, so it is a double post, it appears. Click 'report concern' on the other post and have the moderator delete that one.

I totally understand what you mean. I've actually been considering an ideal cut round as well but it's really hard to go that route as I love the chunky facets of the older cuts. Hoping to find a combination I guess and make it look good all the way around!

The other thread I had was a very similar stone but was SI1 and has a visible inclusion right in the middle. This one looks much better from what I can tell, just wondering if it's worth it or if maybe I should be looking at round stones given my preference.

Thanks!

 

[LLJsmom]

If you're considering an ideal cut round, and want the shape of a cushion, have you considered GOG's Brellia, a cushion shape with hearts and arrows like a round?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Has she given you any indication of what she likes? Because people do have very strong preferences, and it is really important to know what she loves the most before spending a huge amount of money on a diamond that she hopefully will wear for the next 50 years.

 

[Scottie21]

If you're considering an ideal cut round, and want the shape of a cushion, have you considered GOG's Brellia, a cushion shape with hearts and arrows like a round?

I haven't but I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

Has she given you any indication of what she likes? Because people do have very strong preferences, and it is really important to know what she loves the most before spending a huge amount of money on a diamond that she hopefully will wear for the next 50 years.

Haha I hope so too! I know she likes both Round and Cushion. I have been looking at rings all over on the forum and have seen stunning versions of both in halos so it's super hard to choose!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, it can be very hard to choose! If you know you want a halo setting, that is at least one important thing decided! I usually find the settings harder to choose than the diamond! But we do have some outstanding halo setting makers to recommend! There are both antique style cushions and ideal cut rounds in halos all over the forum. I think the antique cushions are more unique, so that would probably be my personal preference.

 

[arkieb1]

I think we need to understand how you define and see "fire" in a diamond. The JBEG stones you saw probably have a lot of fire, they just have a different scintillation pattern to what your eye likes to see which I assume is the big bold chunky flashes of a antique cushion cut.

 

[Scottie21]

I think we need to understand how you define and see "fire" in a diamond. The JBEG stones you saw probably have a lot of fire, they just have a different scintillation pattern to what your eye likes to see which I assume is the big bold chunky flashes of a antique cushion cut.

Don't get me wrong, the JBEG stones were very beautiful and they are definitely still an option for me. My concern is just that since they were cut that long ago (and cut is the most important of the 4cs!) that they would be outperformed by a modern day equivalent. I love the idea of the older stones, the story and the charm, I just think that ultimately a slightly more recent cut will be what I'm looking for.

Any thoughts on the stone above that I posted?

Thanks

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I realize that this stone is smaller, but this is the kind of light return I want to see on a newly cut antique cushion. See the red in the center? It certainly is large enough to make a nice halo ring, though.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8214/

another (but over your budget) just to show you that you can get cushions with great light performance

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9197/

Here is another one that is not top of the line , but I think it has a little better center than the one you are looking at.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8188/

 

[msop04]

Has she given you any indication of what she likes? Because people do have very strong preferences, and it is really important to know what she loves the most before spending a huge amount of money on a diamond that she hopefully will wear for the next 50 years.

Haha I hope so too! I know she likes both Round and Cushion. I have been looking at rings all over on the forum and have seen stunning versions of both in halos so it's super hard to choose!

Have you considered a MRB in a cushion shaped halo? It gives the illusion of a cushion shape, but with the awesome optics of a round? Also, rounds usually face up larger than most cushions.

 

[msop04]

...of course, I'm a little biased.

 

[Scottie21]

I'm getting ready to wire the funds for this stone tomorrow, would really love some more input from you all as to whether or not it's a good value for me!

 

[fanofhardrock]

Highly recommend ERD based on recent experience with them.
Don't be nervous with them.
More on that soon - I hope!

 

[04diamond<3]

I'm getting ready to wire the funds for this stone tomorrow, would really love some more input from you all as to whether or not it's a good value for me!

It's definitely a beautiful stone, but you need to see it for yourself. I'd go ahead and get it, and see what you think of it in person. Worst case, they can find you a better stone.