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Q&A: Help Finding a Cushion Cut Diamond for Around $6,000 Budget

By Mike Fried,

The diamonds you selected are eye-clean, but I’m not able to tell how brilliant they will be without seeing the GIA report as well. That’s where the cut parameters are listed. Do you think you could ask for the certs and forward them to me? Then I’ll be able to give you well-informed feedback.

Thank you for responding to my message. Attached are the 3 GIA certs from James Allen. Please let me know what you think. On the certs under additional comments, it states clouds are not shown. Does that mean these diamonds are cloudy but just not represented in the picture on the cert?

Great, thanks for the certs.

I absolutely love the cut on these two:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.20-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-6359787?a_aid=dmnd1357

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.21-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3712522?a_aid=dmnd1357
They’ll have a lot of brilliance and fire.

Clouds are not shown means that they are not marked on the clarity plot. This is not an issue on VS+ diamonds, only on SIs.

Thank you for your response. What is the reason you chose the 2 you mentioned but not the third one I sent. To me, they are relatively similar, so just want to know what specifically you are looking at when evaluating a diamond to differentiate the 2 you like vs the third.

The third one is also a nice diamond, but the depth % of 68 is on the upper edge of what we recommend (69%). The first two diamonds have slightly lower depth %, that’s why I liked them more.

I noticed that the girdle is different between these diamonds. How does this affect the look of the diamond and is there a girdle that is recommended?

The girdle thickness is good. As long as it’s not Extremely thick (which affects the actual size) or Extremely thin (which can have an effect on the diamond’s integrity), you don’t have to worry. Whether a girdle is faceted, bruted, or polished usually has no impact on the appearance or value of the diamond.

Great, thank you so much for answering all my questions.

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What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
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  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
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