Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help?!

[Karstin]

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new here, and I've been poking around a bit. My boyfriend is going to purchase a cushion cut diamond for an engagement ring, and I'm wondering if anyone has advice on sellers. We've found what appear to be some really good deals at Peled Diamonds. Does anyone have experience with them?

We're hoping for something in the .8 to 1-carat range, but it's definitely difficult to see what a good price would be for such a diamond. (We're thinking D-F color, very good cut, at least a VS2 clarity.) Suggestions? Advice?

Thanks in advance!

Karstin

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

Welcome Karstin! You came to a great place for advice! There is a ton to learn about diamonds. But in this case, there is one place that has the best cushions and you can really start your search and education there!

Not sure what style cushion you want, but these antique cushions are my favorites. They are cut for excellent light return and are just wonderful quality. I'd encourage you to consider going lower than F color because you will find the D-F stones to be quite a bit higher. G and H is still near colorless while I and J are slightly more tinted.

This is the full list of stones they have at the moment:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamondResults.php?shape=16&optSym=128&inHouse=3&resultsColumns=268435535

Here are a few examples (but knowing your budget would help me do better recommendations!):

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8624/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7138/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8626/

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8726/ (this is a K which could work in an antique style setting)

As you can see, there is quite a price range! It might also help to look through a thread with these stones set into rings.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-avc-avoec-diamonds.123446/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-avc-avoec-diamonds.123446/[/URL]

 

[Karstin]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

Oh, wow. These are truly spectacular, but they also make me think we can't afford a nice quality stone. .75 carats seems kind of small on my finger, but we're definitely not going to spend over $4500 max. Sigh...

Yeah, we definitely don't have the budget for most of these stones. I'm hoping to find something more in the $3,000-$4,000 range. (I'm still trying to get comfortable with spending money on a wedding at all. Don't think I'd do much convincing that we should spend $7,000 on just one stone. Ha!) I love that first one's shape (with the pink colors flashing). Just lovely!

I'm hoping for a really thin, very plain platinum band, but some of those settings are incredible.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

Karstin, you are VERY wise to go with a simple setting for now and put all your money into the diamond. Diamonds are high right now unfortunately. One bonus with Good Old Gold is that they give 100% of your purchase price towards future upgrades. So if you bought a .7 now and in 5 years you wanted to go to 1 ct., you could get every penny you paid on this stone toward the cost of the new one. I'll do some more looking tomorrow. But it is hard to go to lesser cut stones after seeing these!

 

[slg47]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

have you seen diamond colors in person? you might be OK with G-H-I color and an eye-clean SI1. (or if you prefer higher color/clarity that is fine too...but I would definitely look in person!)

this video explains the different types of cushions and can help you narrow down your preferences...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O7H8E_MYRM

some other options

modern cushions
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4270/
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4921/

request ASET if interested
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281210.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281594.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1281245.asp

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

This is a gorgeous stone:

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8583/

and so is this

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/8582/

 

[Karstin]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

Thanks, everyone! (Those vintage cuts are to die for!)

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

Ask if the culet is centered on the stone (and on the table) and get an ideal scope: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1360137.asp?gid=GAN&pid=k244266&pname=VigLink

 

[tyty333]

Re: Trying to make a smart purchase for a cushion cut...help

checked out old world diamond for you...they dont have much in the higher color range. This is a K which will show some tint but
its a nice size.

http://www.oldworlddiamonds.com/detail.php?ID=307&SHAPE=C