My gf and I looked at a few diamonds in person, and she liked this one the best. After doing some reading online, including your guide to cushion cut diamonds, I think that diamond is cut according to the “hearts and arrows” pattern. Does that seem right to you?
While we liked that one, we wanted to go for something bigger — probably in the 1.75 to 2 carat range, and possibly also lab-grown, so that we could get something of higher quality for the cost.
I’ve been using your site to find candidates, and wanted to get your opinion on a few options:
1) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.72-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-15293641This one looks to me like it’s also hearts and arrows, and its table and girdle are in the range you recommend, but it’s at the low end of the size range I was going for.
2) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.76-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-15293637Similar to #1 (also looks like hearts and arrows), and slightly larger, but its table (64%) is just outside your recommended range (59-63%).
3) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.01-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-13501579I think the pattern on this one is not hearts and arrows, though it seems close. Would you agree? And this one’s on the high side of my range, but I’d rather be too high than too low. Table and depth are in range.
Of those, I’m currently leaning towards #3. (I do wish that it were a true hearts and arrows cut, but I’m not sure how much that matters if it has good “light performance” otherwise.)
What do you think? Also open to any other suggestions you have as well. Thanks!
Also apologies on those URLs running right up against the text. There was supposed to be some whitespace that didn’t come through. Lemme try posting the links again:
1) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.72-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-15293641
2) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/1.76-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-15293637
3) https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut/2.01-carat-d-color-vvs2-clarity-sku-13501579
Looks like Ritani has a number of hearts and arrows stones in the range I’m looking for. Not sure how to choose among these options:
Yes, the Shane Co diamond is an H&A pattern.
Of the JA diamonds, the 2.01 D VVS2 isn’t a H&A cushion – the facets aren’t as clean as the 1.7ct diamonds. I wouldn’t worry about a 1% table difference (that’s just a guide), so of the JA diamonds I would pick between the 1.72 or 1.76.
However, I think the ones you found at Ritani offer a better value. They have the same H&A appearance as the first two JA diamonds, but are significantly less and match your desired carat range. I would pick between option 4 and option 6 based on their prices, depending on if you really need to hit 2ct.
All makes sense. Thank you!
Looks like a link I meant to include didn’t come through. My “this one” text in the first sentence is supposed to link to this: https://www.shaneco.com/loose-diamonds-and-gems/loose-diamonds/cushion-cut-natural-diamond/p/22G0PDA