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Why PS rocks - More questions about Cushions,

C

coffeetown

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
37
Last week I posted this thread: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/newbie-surprising-gf-please-help-me-find-the-right-setting.154455/page-2']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/newbie-surprising-gf-please-help-me-find-the-right-setting.154455/page-2[/URL] and was about to purchase a $3,600 diamond. I was focused on the setting and figured that a cushion was a cushion. I have to say thank you to all the beautiful ladies (and gents) who schooled me.. even if they had to repeat themselves ;)

I have now decided to increase my budget to $4,700 (for the ring and setting) I am most likely going to purchase the setting that one of you nice folks posted (only $895 + 10% off) Now I am planning on spending around $3,700 on the loose stone itself. We can upgrade the setting by the end of a year, it will be her Birthday or Christmas present.

I have also learned that I should stay away from Cushion Brilliant Modified and stick with a Cushion Brilliant, correct? and that I need an ASET picture. I have also decided to be open to dropping carat size to .90 instead of 1.0 (although that would be nice)
I am also alright and open to an H, I, or J color instead of a G and above as long as it's a quality stone and still looks nice.

I still have the following questions, so if you kind folks could appease me a bit more, I will owe my sanity to you. The good thing is that I have moved back the proposal back to mid-late February, so I have a little bit of time to get this all together

1) Could you help me out and point me to some specific stones within my price range?
2) Which main vendors should I stick with? when I am looking at various sites and searching how can I make sure not to waste time looking at Cushion Modified, etc?
3) if a vendor has not posted an ASET image, should I bother asking them or just assume that they don't provide one?
4) what are the main imperfections listed and shown on the plot of the certification that I should stay away from? cloudy? feathers? etc?
5) Which are the cushions that are the best quality? I know some look liked crushed ice... what are the names and acronyms exactly? i've seen so many OCM, OM, CB, CBM, etc. etc. could I get a quick break down and also a little grade to the side of what's best to "worst" ?? and I use the "worst" lightly just because I am a bit brain dead right now... so please excuse me.
6) is my budget realistic? please be brutal and give it to me straight, let me know where I need to compromise and any other advice you have.
7) and Finally, now that I am getting a setting at one place and the loose stone elsewhere, what do I do exactly? look for a jeweler in the Seattle area (where i'll be in the next few weeks) and have both sent to me and take it in to a regular dealer? I don't understand this process at all and thus it worries me the most

you are all amazing, I can't stay it enough. If I had not come here I would have made such an asinine mistake.
 
athenaworth|1294014086|2812672 said:
I'm not sure if you've seen the August Vintage Cut, but here's a good one that will hit your magic one carat mark: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7806/
Click to expand...

I like that a lot, nice price too. But I am just worried about the color. I don't know how warm/yellowish an L actually ends up being. I've never seen one in person. is it very noticeable?
 
The great thing about GOG (the vendor) is that he will make videos for you. The picture doesn't look that yellow but a video would be really helpful. I hear he's supposed to get new stock soon too.
 
Mark at Engagement Rings Direct has been very helpful to a lot of folks purchasing cushions. Look him up and give him a call. I'm sure Mark speaks the cushion lingo very well and can guide you against the crushed ice look.

I think that each stone has to be evaluated on its own so there are really no hard and fast rules about which inclusions to avoid. The vendors can though on a case by case basis go through various stones that they can suggest to you.

I really did like the cushion from BGD, GOG has some really nice stones, and Mark seems to be the king of cushions. I would suggest that you give one or all of them a call.

I think your budget is very doable - which setting are you getting?
 
MissGotRocks|1294017209|2812714 said:
I think your budget is very doable - which setting are you getting?
Click to expand...

I just went over my budget for the next few months, and went ahead and pushed the budget up again to an even $5,000. We're also buying a home in the Seattle area by the end of the summer. So the more we save on some random setting that we're going to upgrade anyway, the more we can make sure she gets a nice rock.

I like this setting: http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/engagement-rings/diamond-engagement-ring/Lauren-Cushion-Frame-Halo-Setting-with-Comfort-Fit-Shank-%28.22-ctw.%29-182.htm

and this one too: http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/engagement-rings/diamond-engagement-ring/Charlotte-Diamond-Solitaire-with-Halo-Setting-%28.17-ctw.%29-116.htm

I still can't get anyone to break down the process of getting the rock in one place and the setting at a different place. how does that process work?
 
I would focus on the diamond first. The diamond vendor may have something similar to what you want. It may be a bit more difficult for you to buy a ready to wear setting as you are looking at halos and there is no way you can buy or give them the dimensions of your stone without first having bought it. I wouldn't jump out and buy a setting before I knew what stone I was going to end up with.

These vendors are amazing and have some outstanding products and ideas to offer. Find that diamond first - start there!

Your enthusiasm is exciting - I just know you're going to end up with a gorgeous ring!
 
MissGotRocks|1294020752|2812766 said:
I would focus on the diamond first. The diamond vendor may have something similar to what you want. It may be a bit more difficult for you to buy a ready to wear setting as you are looking at halos and there is no way you can buy or give them the dimensions of your stone without first having bought it. I wouldn't jump out and buy a setting before I knew what stone I was going to end up with.

These vendors are amazing and have some outstanding products and ideas to offer. Find that diamond first - start there!

Your enthusiasm is exciting - I just know you're going to end up with a gorgeous ring!
Click to expand...

I think you're right, I was just a bit put off about contacting any vendors or asking for something custom because it just seems like that would be so much more expensive. I am so surprised by myself and my enthusiasm about this too. Mainly because I came here in search of a Harry Winston replica setting and left feeling a bit stupid because of how little I knew about diamonds and also feeling a lot more confidant about what I want to buy.

I think she would be very surprised by the time I am spending on this site. She's always telling me that I am too analytical and don't show my emotions. When I first began to look at rings I was just going to Robbins Brothers and was planning on ordering something online, but the more I spoke to her about it I realized how much this actually means to both of us. She is in medical school and although she's very feminine/girly she does not like to wear a lot of jewelry. She really likes necklaces and dainty little things, but she never wears any rings. I remember taking her to some jewelry stores and although she tried on various rings she would always come back to the halo pave cushions.. all 2mm small thin bands and her eyes would brigthen up. I've never seen her like that, because she acts like she's not that kind of girl to be into jewelry and is very political and acts very intellectual about all matters, at one point she event told me that she wanted a Moissanite or lab created diamond due to the environmental and political reasons that come with diamonds. she kept insisting that she didn't want a diamond but eventually admit there was something very sweet about them and how the earth forms them. lol

I guess I just finally realized that this is most likely going to one of her staple pieces of jewelry, and that means a lot to me. She's going to be my wife and have our children one day, and even typing this all out makes it even more meaningful. I don't have a lot of money right now, I am finishing my PhD, but I want this to be as perfect as possible. I figure the least I can do is to make sure it's best quality for what I am able to afford.

wow, I just realized that my brother and friends would laugh at me if they read everything that I just wrote. Thank god for the internet and the anonymity that comes with it.
 
They may laugh but if they are totally honest, they may have had some of these thoughts and feelings as well.

In my day, the internet did not exist and finding this wealth of information wasn't possible. We've all come here with more questions than knowledge and it is a great learning tool. I wish we would have had this when buying the first ring - the next several may never have been necessary! I encourage you to use it and the vendors to your fullest advantage. We'll be seeing pictures of this finished ring one day and it will be amazing!

I think you'll also be pleasantly surprised when you contact some of these vendors. I can appreciate you not wanting to waste their time but I think you'll find they are the answer to your prayers so to speak. Don't be shy and don't hesitate to reach out to them. They're more than willing to help and are very good at what they do.

My hope for you is that in twenty years you will have that same glowing heart for your lady. You wear it well!
 
Coffeetown,

I highly recommend working with Good Old Gold. They provide a lot of information on their diamonds, and pride themselves on choosing diamonds that provide the highest level of light performance. I have not been lucky enough to receive a diamond from them, yet, but will absolutely choose a diamond from them for my own engagement ring.

Both diamonds suggested to you are from Good Old Gold. The August Vintage Cushion is a cut that is reminiscent of antique cushions. They have big, bold flashes of light.

Square Cushion Hearts and Arrows diamonds are more reminiscent of Round Hearts and Arrows. They have more, smaller flashes of light. They are more modern.
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/6372/

Check out this SCHA and the video on that page. It compares a Round H&A, and SCHA, and an AVC.

If you have a chance, hop on over to the GOG site and check out some of their inventory. IMHO, they would provide the easiest, most hassle free diamond buying experience.
 
GOG also has a setting called the "Perfect Halo". If you are interested in working with them, give them a call tomorrow and inquire about the price. I did not see it listed on their website. I do think the setting you have picked is exquisite and perfect for your budget now, especially if you are planning on upgrading within the next year.

Here are a few contenders of which you might ask Jonathan to take a video.

1.00 J SI1 $4003--August Vintage Cushion http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7742/
0.99 K SI1 $3917--August Vintage Cushion http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7703/
0.93 J VS1 $4229--August Vintage Cushion http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7741/
0.91 I VS2 $3885--SCHA http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7909/

In my opinion, all of these are beautiful diamonds. The folks at GOG will be honest about how the coloring of these diamonds will look in a halo.

Again, I highly suggest giving them a call/e-mail.
 
A J SI1 is what I like to call "the sweet spot" you get the most bang for your buck, and I've personally owned a J SI1 AVC from GOG. It didn't show any yellow and was beautiful. I'll see if I can find the thread on it.


I second Jonathan at GOG, he's great to work with and will find you a beautiful ring in your budget.


Here is a video of the J SI1 that I bought.
http://www.vimeo.com/5099423

Here is a my old thread
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/she-s-here-gog-new-chunky-cushion-t118333.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/show-me-the-ring/she-s-here-gog-new-chunky-cushion-t118333.html[/URL]

As far as the setting goes, Jonathan I'm sure has something that will make your heart sing. Another option is to get a plan setting (used and get polished) and just use that for now. Jonathan has MANY beautiful settings that I'm sure he can find something in your budget.

Good luck!
 
It's important to note that if you go with a warmer stone (some I, J, K, etc.) in a halo, you will see more of a contrast (a warmth) between the center and the tiny melee. In a solitaire, not as much, but it is something to consider with your choice of setting.

Many people around here really like and will push for the more antique look of the Js, Ks, Ls, etc. but since 'white' diamonds are the "norm," I'd strongly suggest getting your girlfriend's opinion before going down that path.
 
E B|1294070875|2813174 said:
It's important to note that if you go with a warmer stone (some I, J, K, etc.) in a halo, you will see more of a contrast (a warmth) between the center and the tiny melee. In a solitaire, not as much, but it is something to consider with your choice of setting.

Many people around here really like and will push for the more antique look of the Js, Ks, Ls, etc. but since 'white' diamonds are the "norm," I'd strongly suggest getting your girlfriend's opinion before going down that path.
Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know about this, that's a real a really good point. I don't know your first time but you've been a great help to me on this thread and the other one. I know that she does not mind a hint of warmth but nothing that distinctly makes the stone looks yellow/greener than the stones next to it. I was thinking that the lowest I should go to is an I, what do you think?
 
1) Could you help me out and point me to some specific stones within my price range? what exactly are you looking for? (what type of cushion? modern...antique...etc...)

2) Which main vendors should I stick with? when I am looking at various sites and searching how can I make sure not to waste time looking at Cushion Modified, etc? cushion modified isn't BAD, you really need to evaluate each stone on a case by case basis.

3) if a vendor has not posted an ASET image, should I bother asking them or just assume that they don't provide one? some vendors only provide ASET on request, like James Allen (lets you request up to three) and I think ERD only supplies on request also

4) what are the main imperfections listed and shown on the plot of the certification that I should stay away from? cloudy? feathers? etc? clouds do not necessarily mean a cloudy appearance. there is a good article on feathers, most do not pose durability risk but you can check with vendor. I would advise going with a vendor who can advise you if the diamond is eye-clean to your specs or not

5) Which are the cushions that are the best quality? I know some look liked crushed ice... what are the names and acronyms exactly? i've seen so many OCM, OM, CB, CBM, etc. etc. could I get a quick break down and also a little grade to the side of what's best to "worst" ?? and I use the "worst" lightly just because I am a bit brain dead right now... so please excuse me depends on what look you are looking for. have you seen this video? http://vimeo.com/7579666 i wouldn't call a OMC (old mine cut) better or worse than a CB (cushion brilliant) but they have different appearances (especially within cushion brilliant-see the video!)

6) is my budget realistic? please be brutal and give it to me straight, let me know where I need to compromise and any other advice you have. yes I think so but it depends on what you are looking for. perhaps contact ERD or GOG, they have sourced cushions for PSers and can probably help you find something. another option would be to look on JA for stones that fit your specs/budget and narrow it down to three to request ASET images. BGD also has a modern style cushion

7) and Finally, now that I am getting a setting at one place and the loose stone elsewhere, what do I do exactly? look for a jeweler in the Seattle area (where i'll be in the next few weeks) and have both sent to me and take it in to a regular dealer? I don't understand this process at all and thus it worries me the most this is totally fine, I bought my diamond locally and sent it to BGD to have it set. Either get the stone shipped to you if you want an appraisal or get it shipped directly to the vendor doing the setting and make sure an insurance policy is in place during the setting process if you want the stone to be covered
 
I've been looking for a Cushion Brilliant also. What I've been doing is going through each vendors database and going through all the cushion cuts in my specs and reading each report to see if it is a Cushion Brilliant. Wish there was an easier way to find Cushion Brilliant diamonds. I found 2 that I like on WF. Now I'm having one of them brought in to evaluate. It's a 1.06 I VS1 for around $3600.

What I've found is that Cushion Brilliant are hard to find and do not post the link of the stone on here. I made the mistake of doing that and one of the stones I wanted to buy are gone.
 
nflor001|1294081305|2813305 said:
I've been looking for a Cushion Brilliant also. What I've been doing is going through each vendors database and going through all the cushion cuts in my specs and reading each report to see if it is a Cushion Brilliant. Wish there was an easier way to find Cushion Brilliant diamonds. I found 2 that I like on WF. Now I'm having one of them brought in to evaluate. It's a 1.06 I VS1 for around $3600.

What I've found is that Cushion Brilliant are hard to find and do not post the link of the stone on here. I made the mistake of doing that and one of the stones I wanted to buy are gone.
Click to expand...

This is good to know
 
slg47|1294080759|2813301 said:
what exactly are you looking for? (what type of cushion? modern...antique...etc...)
Click to expand...

I honestly still can't tell them apart

slg47|1294080759|2813301 said:
depends on what look you are looking for. have you seen this video? http://vimeo.com/7579666 i wouldn't call a OMC (old mine cut) better or worse than a CB (cushion brilliant) but they have different appearances (especially within cushion brilliant-see the video!)
Click to expand...

Yes I have, and also a few others. From what I have learned the Cushion Brilliant has a culet + larger facets, correct? and the Cushion modified has more smaller ones? and there's an additional one (vintage? old mine?) that's "chunky" but I have no idea what that means either. Again, this all sounds like a foreign language to me. So do the plot lines that most of you refer to. I have also used the term "modern" thrown in there and I don't know if that means the same thing as "modified" so yeah... very confusing. I wish I could see a basic breakdown of "XYZ name" = "XYZ shape" = "XYZ" plot/facets = "XYZ" look. but I guess that's my novice way of looking at it.
 
coffeetown|1294087973|2813382 said:
slg47|1294080759|2813301 said:
what exactly are you looking for? (what type of cushion? modern...antique...etc...)
Click to expand...

I honestly still can't tell them apart

at 6 minutes on the video Jon shows modern vs vintage facet structures, this might help. or, do you have a picture of a ring that you really like?

slg47|1294080759|2813301 said:
depends on what look you are looking for. have you seen this video? http://vimeo.com/7579666 i wouldn't call a OMC (old mine cut) better or worse than a CB (cushion brilliant) but they have different appearances (especially within cushion brilliant-see the video!)
Click to expand...

Yes I have, and also a few others. From what I have learned the Cushion Brilliant has a culet + larger facets, correct? and the Cushion modified has more smaller ones? and there's an additional one (vintage? old mine?) that's "chunky" but I have no idea what that means either. Again, this all sounds like a foreign language to me. So do the plot lines that most of you refer to. I have also used the term "modern" thrown in there and I don't know if that means the same thing as "modified" so yeah... very confusing. I wish I could see a basic breakdown of "XYZ name" = "XYZ shape" = "XYZ" plot/facets = "XYZ" look. but I guess that's my novice way of looking at it.
Click to expand...

I think this exists somewhere, I will try to find it.

ETA here is an article with the plot diagrams.
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/new_gia_and_agsl_naming_conventions_cushion_cut_diamonds
Unfortunately you CANNOT tell how the cushion will look just from the plot/facet diagram as the video illustrates, that is why we recommend working with a vendor who can provide you with pics and preferably ASET images as well to assess light return. I'd start contacting vendors, tell them what you are looking for, and see what they come up with.
 
vintagelover229|1294092134|2813457 said:
coffeetown:
Please check out these links, they will be very educational for you. However if all this stuff is confusing, you can really simplify things by calling a vendor, giving them your budget and tell them what setting you want and let them work their magic for you.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/ShapeTutorials/Cushion/

A video comparison of different cushion cut types

http://www.vimeo.com/album/44206
Click to expand...

Thanks to both of you for the links and info above, I've already contacted someone from GOG and a few other vendors that you folks gave me. I contacted them first thing this morning ;)
 
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