« More Women Are Buying Luxury Watches | Main | Odimo.com In Financial trouble »
Loose Cushion Cut Diamond: What Is It?
The Cushion Cut is a generic name for the Old Mine Cut developed before the turn of the century; these days the name" cushion" is often used for colored stones cut in this shape.
A Cushion Cut is a square or squarish-rectangular cut with rounded corners and 58 brilliant-style facets that resemble a pillow shape, hence the name.
A hundred years ago, when Cushion Cuts were first developed, diamonds were not cleaved into two pieces of rough, as they are today; they were ground down as a single stone and the resulting polished was lumpy and thick. Cushion Cuts have very thin girdles and bigger culets than today's full-cut diamonds.
Designers are requesting Cushion Cuts with big culets, but, in general, the smaller the culet, the better the stone. Older Cushion Cuts return light in blocky patterns; newly cut ones return light in needlelike patterns.
MARKETS AND MARKETING
Cushion Cut diamonds are popular in matching pairs. They are especially being used in larger-carat earrings and also as a center stone in rings. Cushion Cuts first became popular again about ten years ago, and their popularity has increased as designers and antique dealers continue to use them.
Cushion Cuts offer a lot of weight at a moderate price. Larger Cushion Cut diamonds sell for about 30 percent less than full-cuts of the same weight, while smaller cuts sell for about the same. A 1-carat G/VS Cushion Cut stone will sell from $2,800 to $3,800. Two-carat and up stones sell in the $3,500 to $5,000 per carat range. The most popular sizes are .75 to 1.5 carats. The availability of 2-carats and up is a problem because of the high demand for larger stones, both by estate and antique dealers for replacement or repair and by manufacturers.
Look for good clarity and color. Because Cushion Cuts have very thin girdles, girdles on older ones are often chipped. Look for Cushion Cuts that are symmetrical; off-shape ones are difficult to use. Look for a medium culet that is not too heavy, unless you have a special reason to use this cut with a big culet. Pick a mounting that's appropriate for the softer reflections and refractions of a Cushion Cut. Old Mine Cuts were traditionally set in yellow gold or silver with a patina or oxidation; therefore, they look better set in matte metals rather than highly polished ones.
Comments
I have just recently come into the possesion of a white gold ring set with two mine cut diamonds and four chips. It had to be cut off of my husbands g-grandmother and I have just left it at a jewler to be repaired.Do you think I am wasting my money. The jewler seemed to think it was worth fixing . He is charging me $100 plus 50 more for a chip. Please give me some imput,
Posted by: dorothy Gray on August 15, 2006 9:58 PM
I'd say you're getting a great deal. For $150.00 you will have a beautiful diamond ring.
Ask the jeweler to check the inside of the ring shank and note if there is a stamp indicating the caratage of the gold composition, e.g.; 14 KT, 18 KT. There may not be as this comes from your husband's great-grandmother and probably prior to the legal requirement to have ring material composition disclosed.
If there is no such stamp, see if your jeweler can test it and let you know what it is.
Would also strongly recommend that you get this ring appraised by a knowledgeable Jewelry Appraiser so that you know it's correct market value and thereby get it properly insured. The cost for this is nominal and well worth it.
Look for an appraiser that is NAJA (National Association for Jewelry Appraisers)accredited. Google "Naja" and you'll see who is located in your area. Appraisers that are affiliated with the Jewelry Judge Network are also well-worth looking into.
Good Luck.
Posted by: Barry Gutwein on August 16, 2006 6:08 AM
Dorothy,
I'd say go for it.
This amount of money sounds reasonable for this type of repair job and the end result will be a beautifully restored ring of real monetary and sentimental value.
Best of luck!
Posted by: Judah on August 16, 2006 11:01 AM
Hoping someone out there might have an answer for me. Just received a beautiful anniversary ring 18ct gold with diamonds. I wore it for several days prior to taking it in for sizing and had no issues with the ring. After the sizing down the ring started displaying pitting and dents on the edges and surface of the band - after only a few hours wearing time. Am doing nothing that puts my hand in contact with metals that could be hitting it, and again, nothing odd happened to it prior to the sizing when I was wearing it. The jeweler say there is nothing wrong with the ring and it has to be something I am doing to it. In the meantime I have put another 18ct gold band on the same hand - with no ill effects - does anyone have any ideas?
Posted by: Nancy on August 31, 2006 5:11 PM
Nancy;
Sounds like the re-sizing of your ring brought forth some porosity which characterizes itself in the manner you describe. Not a big deal. It can be permanenetly removed with laser technique.
Ask your jeweler about this.
Posted by: Barry Gutwein on August 31, 2006 5:19 PM
I am looking at rings for my emgagement right now. I don't want a flasy ring, but I want something different. I am really drawn to the cushion cut for its shape, but it sounds like the cut doesn't not create much brillance. Would this be a bad buy considering the progress of modern day cutting abilities? I was thinking of getting about a 1 carat center stone with a simple pave setting. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Kelly on November 10, 2007 6:21 PM
Hi Kelly,
Make sure you choose a stone that has excellent clarity - cushion stones have larger facets, which do not reflect natural light as brilliantly as stones with smaller facets. Good luck!
Posted by: Nikki on December 5, 2007 3:34 PM