Why are cushions less expensive than rounds?

[lizzardxoxo]

Is it a function of resale value? Supply and demand? Quality?

I'm considering a 3.5 G/VS2 cushion and a 3.01 G/VS2 round and the price is significantly different.

 

[Gypsy]

Several reasons. Primary among them: diamond rough crystals are octahedrons. So cutting a square shape out of them results in less weight lost of the rough. Rounds waste a lot of rough. Well cut rounds waste even more. Also for cushions there are no proportion and light performance standards in general like there are for rounds so cutters can still achieve a great lab report and can cut for weight retention whereas you can't do that as much with rounds. If you'll notice the AGS0 cushions at BGD, GOG and VC cost per carat very similar to a round. Why? Because precision cutting for performance is expensive as it waste rough, no matter what the shape.

A 3 carat cushion is also smaller than a 3 carat round in terms of spread (by quite a bit). So, yes they weigh the same but while the cushion is heavier the round looks larger. This is something the market takes into account as well. Most cushions are complete duds when it comes to performance, FYI.

Demand is also a factor.

 

[lizzardxoxo]

Gypsy - that is interesting, yet it makes perfect sense. I currently own a 1.74 brilliant, round, F colored, VS2 with very minimal inclusions. The stone appears bigger because of the excellent color, cut and clarity, but I'm now at a point where I want a larger stone, without giving up the color, cut and clarity. I've started poking around with cushions (totally new to me) and while many appear beautiful, I couldn't help but wonder why the cost was so much less.

Thanks for your always helpful and educational input!

 

[Gypsy]

I am good with cushions. If you want I can search for you. You should be fine with G color, FYI.

 

[lizzardxoxo]

I am good with cushions. If you want I can search for you. You should be fine with G color, FYI.

Really? That would be amazing and greatly appreciated. *hugs*

 

[Gypsy]

Budget again?

 

[lizzardxoxo]

$50k max

 

[Gypsy]

Ok.

 

[Gypsy]

First and foremost, cushions are nothing like rounds. A three carat well cut round will face up, very predictably, at 9.3mm. With cushions, for various reasons (cutting for weight retention and because there are so many different facet patterns that require different proportions), the spread on a three carat cushion can vary from 8.2-8.8mm spread. So with cushions you don't compare weight. You compare spread. Okay?

Didn't find any cushions in the 3.2-4 carat range that I would advise to buy in budget. This is the only stone I found, in budget that would be worth the expenditure.

https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C301-719529392 And it doesn't compare in terms of size to a 3 carat round, as you can tell.

This one could also be lovely, depending on the ASET (you would have to ask for one):
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C301-821Z23095
And this one has potential too:
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C301-7619Z2739


These could also be nice, depending on the ASET:
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C301-7619Z2739
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C320-023819217

And that's even with expanding your spec range and pushing your budget.

Any chance you are in Northern California?

Large stones are few as is. Add to that well cut... the pool of possibilities gets very tight.


Outside your already generous budget there is this beauty:
https://enchanteddiamonds.com/diamonds/view/C422-390749345 but I am not sure the slight tint would bother you, and it's a big stone for a color that you aren't going to be comfortable with.

Double your budget is this stunner:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/3.58-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-1038329 Ultimate fantasy stone here.

So in this case, since you want a large look and higher color, it might be best if you to stick to rounds.

 

[lizzardxoxo]

Thank you very much, Gypsy. I appreciate you taking the time to send me some stones. Didn't realize how difficult it would be to find a quality cushion that fits my size/quality expectations for $50k. For that reason, I am probably going to stick with a ~3 carat round.

The search continues!


Lizzardxoxo

 

[wildcat03]

I did just want to point out one thing with regards to the size of the cushion Gypsy posted. If you find the area of the top of the cushion, it should be somewhere around 69 square mm (a little bit smaller, though, since the corners are rounded). A 9.3 mm round stone has a face up area of just under 68 square mm. So, they actually DO face up pretty close in this case. However, I think often the overall face up size is best appreciated in terms of finger coverage (width) and obviously the round stone will beat the cushion in this particular measurement every time.