Q&A: Help Finding a Cushion Cut Diamond For a Petite Pavé With a $20k Total Budget

Hello there,

Looking for some help, very much appreciated. Been looking online for quite a long time now, having difficulties finding things in my search range.

My criteria:
1. Budget, including ring is 20K. Aiming for 2.0 carats (1.90 – 2.20 ct.).
2. Cushion cut and she likes more rectangular than square.
3. Sent me the Tiffany Novo as the ring she wants to mimic. (Do you think it’s better to go to a local jeweler for a custom ring?)

I am trying to find the best overall diamond, that will have the best fire and brilliance. I just want it to be completely eye clean. I get confused reading online, especially for cushion, regarding color (some say only do F) and clarity. (Will VS2 work?)

I also keep searching for a depth and table between 61 – 67 as the internet says that is the best. None of the diamonds I can find have a slim girdle. I don’t know how much these things matter.

Thanks for the help.

Thanks.

A few comments / questions for you…

1. That first ring does look very similar, thank you.

2. With all the different things I have been reading / researching online, it has said to stick with F color or better for cushion cuts. I am also not very good with colors (colorblind), so do those two diamonds have hints of color in them? Does it make the diamond / ring look not as good? I never had put in H in my search before. I just want it to look as good, shiny, sparkly as possible.

3. The second diamond has much more defined features / black areas, while the first is more crushed ice? Which one is better for the sparkling, bling look lol?

4. She was commenting more on cushions that looked a little more rectangular and I read online that is a l/w ratio of between 1.10 -1.25 for the best. Thoughts on this? Anything like that out there you could recommend?

I do like the second option, but on the GIA report, it has so many characteristics right in the middle. You definitely can’t see this with your eye?

Sorry for all the questions.

……

Also, I forgot to mention she wants a platinum ring. Don’t know if that makes a difference in color.

This one looks very good…

Another question for you.

I have been filtering polish / symmetry by excellent for both, as I want the fire / brilliance / sparkle to be very good. Is there a noticeable difference between excellent and very good?

……

Also, using a criteria search based on your feedback, what do you think about this one?

Compared to the last one you just sent me?
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.08-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2842693?a_aid=dmnd1357

I am still searching, had another comparison for you if you don’t mind. I am definitely going to choose from James Allen using this email, so please tell me what else I need to do to make sure you get your referral.

So we were just recently watching two cushion cuts next to each other video and she commented she liked the chunkier look more than crushed-iced, which gave me pause. So looking for your opinion between these two plus an overall opinion of the second link.

The one you previously looked at and said go for it:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.08-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2842693?a_aid=dmnd1357

or this:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.01-carat-g-color-vs1-clarity-sku-3005262?a_aid=dmnd1357

Yes, I did put it on hold. It was 17.8K.

Do you think they will both perform the same? Even though the 2nd one’s facets are different?

So you don’t think there’s a big difference in terms of crushed ice vs. the two of them?

Also, it will be going into something like this, if it matters:
www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/pave/platinum-petite-pave-engagement-ring-item-56283?a_aid=dmnd1357

……

I see it has a little bit of a different facet pattern than the first.

……

So an update, the newest one I showed you, they just wrote and said it was actually sold yesterday. So we still have the one which I found that you like a lot:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.08-carat-g-color-vs2-clarity-sku-2842693?a_aid=dmnd1357

Or she found another one, what are your thoughts?

www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.01-carat-h-color-vs1-clarity-sku-36127?a_aid=dmnd1357

……

She also suggested another one:
www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.00-carat-h-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-3020190?a_aid=dmnd1357

Thanks.

The third one, 3000402, I don’t think it will work because she wants it slightly rectangular.

If you had to pick one of the two diamonds, in your expert opinion, which would you select? Of course I would enjoy saving 2K between the 15.5 and 17.2, but price doesn’t really matter to me. I want to pick the one that would look and perform the best in a petite pave setting.

It seems the more expensive one has better characteristics (color, symmetry), the only thing I keep staring at in the 360 are those little inclusions I have attached. Do you think you could see those with the naked eye?

Thanks for all your help. I did buy that one today with this email address.

Thanks!