Essential Tips For Buying A Cushion Cut Diamond

Of the ten most popular diamond shapes, the cushion cut is also one of the most popular styles among today’s brides and celebrities.

This antique, romantic design originated in the 18th century, and was centered around large open facets that emphasize the stone’s color and clarity. Traditionally, cushion-cut diamonds had tall crowns, deep pavilions, wide facets and a very large culet.

Related: The Anatomy of A Diamond

You’ll find most of these cuts in jewelry from the Georgian (1714-1837) and Victorian era (1837-1901), where they reflected the soft glow of candlelight.

As electricity came into homes and businesses, the specific allure of cushion cut diamonds faded, but they’ve recently come back into style. Today, cushion cut diamonds appeal to both modern and vintage-loving brides, and look exceptional on their own as a solitaire, or within a halo.

If you’re looking to buy a cushion cut diamond engagement ring, or you’re simply interested in learning more, see below for the answers to our frequently asked questions about cushion cut diamonds.

 1. What is a cushion-cut diamond? What is a cushion-cut ring?

A cushion-cut diamond is a blend of the modern round brilliant-cut pattern and the old mine cut silhouette. It has a soft square or rectangular shape with curved angles, much like a pillow. A cushion cut ring is an engagement ring or a fashion ring that features a cushion cut diamond.

2. Do cushion cut diamonds look larger?

The apparent size of any diamond comes down to its carat weight distribution and the size of its facets. A cushion cut diamond has larger facets than a round diamond, making it appear slightly bigger when viewed from the top; however, it will not sparkle quite as much as a round cut.

3. Are cushion cut diamonds less expensive than round cut diamonds?

The prices for cushion cuts are about 25 to 50% lower than round brilliant diamonds. However, prices have been rising due to the growing popularity of the cut.

4. How popular are cushion diamonds?

In the first century of its existence, the cushion cut was the most popular diamond shape, much like round diamonds today.

Today, cushion cut diamonds are the second most popular diamond shape after round. They’re often used in diamond engagement rings with halo settings. Because of how well they retain vibrant color, this shape is the most popular for fancy colored diamonds.

5. How do you buy a cushion-cut diamond?

The standards for cushion cut diamonds vary more than most other shapes. As with all diamonds, personal taste should be your deciding factor above all else.

Ratio Affects Appearance

First, identify your ideal ratio. While the classic cushion cut diamond is a square, there are also rectangular cushion cut diamonds with a larger length-to-width ratio.

For the optimal length-to-width ratio of a square cushion, we suggest a diamond between 1.00 and 1.09 times as long as it is wide. For a more rectangular cushion, opt for a diamond between 1.15 and 1.5 times as long as it is wide. The most popular shape is a slight rectangle with a length between 1.10 – 1.20 times the width.

Notice the differences between these cushion diamonds:

Color: We recommend a color grade of H or better.

Clarity: For the best value, stick with an SI1 clarity grade or better. Cushion cuts have a large open table, which means that it may be difficult to find an eye-clean SI2.

Carat: Measurements vary from one carat weight to the next. Focus on finding a diamond with the right measurements (length x width) within the carat weight range you desire.

6. What is a good quality cushion cut diamond?

The best quality cushion cut diamonds are those that have a cut grade of Very Good as well as a well-proportioned length to width ratio, as noted above. Along with the cut grade, focus on polish and symmetry grades that are both Excellent. These two characteristics will help maximize the faceting sparkle of a Very Good cut stone.

7. What is a good depth for a cushion cut diamond?

For the best depth in a cushion cut diamond, try to stick to a depth percentage under 70% and a table percentage under 70%.

8. How many facets does a cushion diamond have?

Cushion-cut diamonds traditionally have 58 facets, though the number can vary. Cushion diamonds have similar facet arrangements to round brilliant cut diamonds.

9. Why are there so many colored cushion cut diamonds?

Cushion diamonds retain color more than most shapes, which is why there are so many in the color diamond market. The increased depth and table of a cushion cut stone allow for maximum brilliance of the color when natural light hits it. If your bride-to-be has her eyes set on a colored diamond engagement ring, go with a cushion cut.

10. How much does a 2-carat cushion diamond cost?

A 2 carat cushion cut diamond costs between $8,000 and $29,000, depending on cut, color, and clarity. Explore our inventory of two-carat cushion cut diamonds.

The cushion cut is a beautiful choice that has regained popularity over the last decade. Better still, when it comes to engagement rings, cushion diamonds have built-in romance, inspired by heirloom treasures from the past.

For a ring as worthy of passing on to future generations, search our selection of cushion-cut diamond engagement rings.