Your site has been a tremendous help to me. I am sure others are as grateful for your unbiased advice as I am.
I am hoping you can recommend a few cushion cut diamonds in the $13-17k range. I am looking for a stone that is 2-2.3 carats and is cut close to a 1:1 ratio. I would be willing to sacrifice some clarity and color for a larger stone, but of course want something that is eye-clean. The diamond will be set in a halo.
I really appreciate any recommendations you are able to make. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
I wouldn’t drop below I SI1. I would recommend these two:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1520587.asp
I would ask James Allen’s gemologist to inspect it and ensure its eye-clean.
Or you can stretch your budget and go with this one:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1524532.asp
Thank you for the response and the recommendations. In addition to the stones you picked out, what do you think about the following?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1519309.asp
Is this stone eye clean based on what you can tell from the James Allen site?
I appreciate your help!
I don’t think its eye-clean. If you look at the bottom left quadrant, you can see greyish inclusions. Those will be very apparent in natural lighting.
If I wanted to stretch my budget a bit, which of the following stones would you recommend?
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1511418.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1524532.asp
If you wouldn’t recommend either of these stones, can you suggest a cushion cut for a budget of about $20k?
Thanks for your help!
I would go with an H color for a cushion cut. Cushions ‘trap’ color the most out of any diamond so you want to be sure that the diamond doesn’t have a yellow tint. You are best off sticking with H+.
Thanks for the response. You had initially recommended this stone to me:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1524532.asp
However, it is an I color stone. Obviously I do not want the diamond to have a noticeable yellow tint, but will the color actually stand out except for when the diamond is placed beside another stone with D, E, F, or G color?
I am more concerned about the stone being “eye clean” and free of any major inclusions.
Thanks for your advice.
Sorry for my ‘half an email.’ Sometimes I get backed up on all the emails and my brain can freeze up and I don’t explain my thought process.
I liked the cut better on the original I color, which will help in terms of brilliance. Since the diamond is more rectangular, the true depth percentage was actually significantly better than the 2.60 (. The better cut will help compensate for the color. On top of that, it was significantly cheaper. I wouldn’t recommend going with the lower color, and slightly worse cut of the 2.60ct especially since its more expensive.
I would stick with the 2.51 or the 2.27 (which has the advantage of the color upgrade). I wouldn’t bother going higher than H for sure.
I really appreciate all of your feedback thus far. I am starting to narrow down my choices and would like your opinion on just two more diamonds:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1528252.asp
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1528253.asp
If neither of these stones really stands out to you, can you recommend one or two more cushion cut diamonds in the range of 2-2.6 carats with a ratio relatively close to 1:1? My preferred budget is $14-18k, however, I would go higher if the right diamond presents itself.
Thanks again for all of your help and I look forward to hearing back from you.
I really like the 2.10. Its a very nice diamond and I think its a winner.
Once again, thank you for your feedback. Everything you have told me so far has been extremely helpful during this process. I do have one final diamond that I would like your feedback on. Please take a look at the following:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1527900.asp
This is the same stone at 20x magnification:
https://www.jamesallen.com/DiamPics/NR3735-51pic.jpg
One of the James Allen gemologists has assured me that this stone is “eye clean” despite the inclusions visible at 20x magnification.
What are your thoughts on this diamond?
I look forward to hearing back from you!
That is a very pretty diamond. It is very well cut.
Thank you for the feedback Mike.
The one characteristic of this diamond that is still causing me hesitation is the I color grade . Do you think the color will be an issue if I’m planning to set the stone in a halo (meaning the contrast with the smaller diamonds)?
Here is the stone again:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1527900.asp
This is the same stone at 20x magnification:
https://www.jamesallen.com/DiamPics/NR3735-51pic.jpg
Is there a different cushion cut diamond you would recommend for a $14k – $17k budget?
I think you are fine with the I color. That said, you seemed to be very concerned about it, and ‘piece of mind’ may make it worth it to spend extra. Personally, I really like the diamond you are looking at, but this is a good option as well:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1532508.asp
I am following-up to say thank you for helping me select the absolute perfect diamond for my fiance’s engagement ring. Your advice and feedback was invaluable throughout the entire process. I am able to sleep peacefully knowing that I made an informed and educated choice.
I have attached a couple of photos of the finished product, which my fiance is head-over-heels about. I purchased the following cushion cut diamond (2.24 carat, ideal cut, I color, VS2) through James Allen:
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Cushion-Diamond-1527900.asp
This is the same stone at 20x magnification:
https://www.jamesallen.com/DiamPics/NR3735-51pic.jpg
I also had James Allen create a custom setting, which is 18k white gold, split-shank, halo pave 0.78ctw.
Again, thank you for all of your help. You really made the entire process much less daunting.
Thanks for writing and letting us know. I’m delighted that you were pleased with our help.
We wish you and your partner a life of happiness and fulfillment.
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