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Q&A: Looking for Cushion Cut for $4-5K Budget for WG/Pt Setting with Baguette Sidestones

By Mike Fried,

Hi, I’m shopping around for a loose diamond in the $5,000 price range. Based on your positive reviews, I have considered James Allen. My specifications are 1.10 to 1.20 carats. H or I color and VS2. Can you please help me find a diamond with these specifications? I would like a clean stone and a very good cut.

Your help is very much appreciated.

I’d be happy to make some recommendations and guide you through the process. What shape diamond and what type of setting are you considering?

Let me know and I’d be happy to send you some suggestions.

Thanks for responding to my email.

I am currently looking for a cushion loose diamond in the $4,500-$5,000 price range. I am planning to get either white gold or a platinum setting with tapered baguette on each side. You have great information on your site and it’s been extremely helpful to me. I understand that the cushion shape retains the color much more than other styles. I would like to buy an ideal cut diamond, VS2/SI1 with F, E or D color. I’ve been working with a nice associate at James Allen and just yesterday I put the following four diamonds (please see below) on hold. I would really appreciate your guidance and professional opinion so I can buy the right diamond.

I look forward to hearing from you.

1.12 Carat F-SI1 – Cut Cushion Diamond / Item #: 1530956 / Price: $4,450

Specifications for Item #: 1530956

Shape: Cushion

Carat Weight: 1.12

Cut: Excellent

Color: F

Clarity: SI1

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 69.7%

Table: 61%

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Very Good

Girdle: Slightly thick to very thick

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 5.99*5.61*3.91

Ratio: 1.07

__________________________________________________________________________________________

1.03 Carat E-VS2 – Cut Cushion Diamond / Item #: 1513940/ Price: $4,530

Specifications for Item #: 1513940

Shape: Cushion

Carat Weight: 1.03

Cut: Excellent

Color: E

Clarity: VS2

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 66.4%

Table: 62%

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Very Good

Girdle: Thin to slightly thick

Culet:

Fluorescence: Medium blue

Measurements: 6.33*5.41*3.59

Ratio: 1.17

_________________________________________

1.09 Carat F-SI2 – Cut Cushion Diamond /Price: $4,600 / Item #: 1363441

Specifications for Item #: 1363441

Shape: Cushion

Carat Weight: 1.09

Cut: Excellent

Color: F

Clarity: SI2

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 61.5%

Table: 64%

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Very Good

Girdle: Slightly thick to very thick

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 6.37*5.51*3.39

Ratio: 1.16

__________________

1.05 Carat E-VS2 – Cut Cushion Diamond / Price: $5,180 / Item #: 1509967

Specifications for Item #: 1509967

Shape: Cushion

Carat Weight: 1.05

Cut: Excellent

Color: E

Clarity: VS2

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 68.5%

Table: 61%

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Very Good

Girdle: Medium to very thick

Culet:

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 6.05*5.55*3.80

Ratio: 1.09

I’m sorry, but I was under the weather last week.

I like both of the E VS2s. I would go with the 1.05 but both are great.

Hope you’re feeling better. Thank you so much for your kind help and sound advice.

I will definitely go with the 1.05 E VS2 as you have suggested.

Sounds great. Let me know how it looks when it arrives

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free International Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisals
  • One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
  • Free ring inscriptions
  • Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Best-in-class packaging
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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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
  • Free Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
  • One free resizing within the first year of purchase
  • High quality images of about half of their diamonds
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
  • Best in class fulfillment
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