Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, or...

[FVierra27]

Hey Guys and Gals,

New here. In the process of selecting a diamond for an engagement ring. I am sort of on overload at this point and would like some help.

I am going to get a cushion cut stone at 1.0 ct, F-G color, VS Clarity. My question is who's cushion is best? I have seen the Brian Gavin Hearts and Arrows, Blue Nile Signature, and Brellia's. I can't find much info on the "FireCushion" but videos looked nice. Is there one I am missing?

Does anyone have suggestions? Insight?

Appreciate the help!

Freddie

 

[JDDN]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

Try Good Old Gold. If you don't see one you like on their website, call and tell them what you're looking for.

 

[FVierra27]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

Try Good Old Gold. If you don't see one you like on their website, call and tell them what you're looking for.

Thank you. I will give them a shot!

 

[solgen]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

There's a variety of cushion cuts so you need to find whatever patterning appeals to you then go from there.

 

[TXTrojan90]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

So ironically, I've been in your exact same boat over the past month with searching for cushions with similar specs. Based on countless hours of research and forum review here, I'd say the consensus is that BG's H&A cushions are the best out there. I've heard Blue Nile's signature is also very nice. Sounds like you have a decent budget for the stone, as based on my research of these and others...a stone with those grades will run you close to 10k.

I'd also take a look at Mark T's signature cushion @ Brilliantly Engaged. I'm working with them now and decided on one of their X factor cushions which still have very good to excellent light return, but not ideal 0(AGS standards). You may consider looking at those as well, as you may be able to get into the 1.2CT size or larger at this price point. Mark is very renowned here on Pricescope(literally not one bad thing anyone has said about their diamonds or settings). They are also much more reasonable from a price point.

Ex) I have a 1.03 E/VS2 X factor on hold that runs about half the price of ones you listed.

Also look at Victor Canera who also has branded cushions. They are very expensive.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions.

 

[FVierra27]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

So ironically, I've been in your exact same boat over the past month with searching for cushions with similar specs. Based on countless hours of research and forum review here, I'd say the consensus is that BG's H&A cushions are the best out there. I've heard Blue Nile's signature is also very nice. Sounds like you have a decent budget for the stone, as based on my research of these and others...a stone with those grades will run you close to 10k.

I'd also take a look at Mark T's signature cushion @ Brilliantly Engaged. I'm working with them now and decided on one of their X factor cushions which still have very good to excellent light return, but not ideal 0(AGS standards). You may consider looking at those as well, as you may be able to get into the 1.2CT size or larger at this price point. Mark is very renowned here on Pricescope(literally not one bad thing anyone has said about their diamonds or settings). They are also much more reasonable from a price point.

Ex) I have a 1.03 E/VS2 X factor on hold that runs about half the price of ones you listed.

Also look at Victor Canera who also has branded cushions. They are very expensive.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions.

That's what I've been seeing as well. The BG's H&A seems to have the best/most feedback. I didn't see much available from BE X Factor but maybe I will try to give them a call.

10k is the very top of the budget but would like to stay below.

The search continues...

Thank you!

Freddie

 

[TXTrojan90]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

Freddie,

I just wanted to add one more comment. In addition to the X factors(4 main facets in an x-shape), i'd look at 8-pointers which are more of the cushion brilliant variety.

So, if we were talking about AGS grading terms for light performance....all of the H&A cushions will have Ideal 0....which is superb, but the premium they carry with them is significant.

Now, if you look at a normal 8-pointer or X-factor cut cushion, you'd probably see a grading of around 1-2 on the AGS light performance scale(this is just an assumption). Now, you got to ask yourself....how many people out there will notice the brilliance between an AGS 0 or AGS 1/2? I'd say not too many. You also need to understand that those H&A cushions are so precisely cut, that they do not "face-up" well and look smaller due to the dimensions. You'll need to get into the 1.2 CT range to face up larger than 6mm.

So it's really all about cost/benefit. The H&A's are magnificent, but do I feel they warrant a 2X premium? Honestly, no. However, as you can tell from the prices they command, they are getting that amount of money for them.

So, with your budget on stone alone, you can make your money stretch and get a bigger diamond by not going down the H&A route. Possibly get a better setting. Just a suggestion.

Best of luck!

 

[Rhino]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

Hi TXTrojan,

I'd greatly encourage you to view what AGS 0, 1, 2 etc. look like alongside of each other. I've been studying these very things for years and you'd be surprised how appearances can vary from one grade to the next and even within the ideal grade itself.

Regards,
Rhino

 

[TXTrojan90]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

Rhino,

I'm not sure I mentioned in my reply, but I was purely referring to what the average consumer can tell from those grades. You have much more expertise than I, but I believe you are stating that the average consumer CAN tell between an AGS 0 and AGS 1. I'll tell you that I can't, but I haven't looked at 100s or 1000s of diamonds.

Beyond that, is that extra light return worth the substantial premium in $ per/carat? I'd assume that is in the eye-of-the-beholder, but it simply wasn't for me. Mind you, I didn't have a huge budget for a center stone. To someone with 20-50K to spend on an engagement ring, that premium may not matter as much.

Regardless, I appreciate your input and expertise in these forums. I can tell you first-hand that your responses in certain forum posts helped guide me in my search. So, thank you!

 

[Rhino]

Re: Which Cushion is best? Brian Gavin, Blue Nile, Bellia, o

Rhino,

I'm not sure I mentioned in my reply, but I was purely referring to what the average consumer can tell from those grades. You have much more expertise than I, but I believe you are stating that the average consumer CAN tell between an AGS 0 and AGS 1. I'll tell you that I can't, but I haven't looked at 100s or 1000s of diamonds.

Beyond that, is that extra light return worth the substantial premium in $ per/carat? I'd assume that is in the eye-of-the-beholder, but it simply wasn't for me. Mind you, I didn't have a huge budget for a center stone. To someone with 20-50K to spend on an engagement ring, that premium may not matter as much.

Regardless, I appreciate your input and expertise in these forums. I can tell you first-hand that your responses in certain forum posts helped guide me in my search. So, thank you!

Hey TX,

Thanks for the kind words and glad I was able to be of some help. In round brilliant cuts I'd agree as there are some cases where AGS 0 and AGS 1 can be tough to visual differences. This is not the case with fancy shapes however. The span is much broader and much easier to see the differences even within the Ideal grade itself. I have a video published showing AGS 0, 1 and 2 for princess cuts and the visuals are easy for even the least educated layman to determine. Regardless of whether a budget is 20-50k or 2-3k the visual differences are there.

On this topic however there are fancy shapes, like cushions that do not carry a premium yet can have ideal optics but those would have to be cherry picked as opposed to just buying off a virtual list that doesn't show the necessary data. These are generally going to be cushion modified which adds extra weight onto the pavilion thus reducing the waste of rough as well as the cost. In the world of diamonds there's always more than one way to skin the cat so to speak.

Kind regards,
Rhino