Cushion Cut Diamond are also known as Pillow or Candlelight Cut. As long as diamonds are an important part of our society as tokens of love, loyalty, and prosperity, jewelers will set their hearts on discovering new ways to cut gems to make them look most exquisite.
This is why there are so many options today like round, emerald, radiant, pear, each with a special charm that can be admired for centuries to come.
What is a Cushion Cut Diamond?
The Cushion Cut Diamond is rectangular or square with rounded corners, providing a softer, smoother aesthetic. The cut of the cushion is one of the most diverse types available. It has a variety of facet structures varying from 58 to 64 facets.
They are a perfect alternative to round diamonds – providing shimmer and brilliance, paired with a soft, unique form at a lower price.
The cushion-cut also has a versatile shape. It comes in a range of cuts and ratios, lending itself to a whole host of complex and motivating designs. It’s no wonder that people all over the world wear cushion cut engagement rings.
While not as dazzling as round cuts, the cushion cuts have large facets that allow better isolation of white light from spectral colors.
The cut of the cushion can be described as a cross between the old-mine cut and the modern oval shape. As the methods and cutting styles have changed over the years, many variants in the cushion cut have been created, such as the Cushion Modified Brilliant, which may have an extra row of facets on the pavilion that modify the appearance of the diamond.
History of Cushion Diamonds:
While the cushion cut can be considered as new and modern, the origin of this elegant diamond dates back to the nineteenth century. Before it became the cushion cut ladies know and enjoy today, this form was known as the mine cut, a square diamond with rounded corners. The mine-cut was named as such after the Brazilian diamond mines.
They later became known as the old mines after they were discovered in South Africa.
The distinguishing features of an old-mine cut diamond are the squashed shape with a high crown (upper part), a small table, a deep pavilion (lower part), and a large culet. Diamond cutting was a slow and complicated operation, and the equipment available at the time was limited to diamond cutters.
It was necessary to save time and money by keeping as much weight as possible from rough diamonds.
For an old mine cut, the crown of the diamond (upper part) is higher, and the pavilion (lower part) is lower than today’s standards. In comparison, the bright-faceted shapes of light are markedly different from modern-cut diamonds.
So, did the cushion cuts intrigue you so far? Are you now considering buying the Cushion diamonds? Here are some things that you should know when getting your hands on the beautiful jewel.
Things to Know About the Cushion-cut:
The Cushion Cut Diamonds have a long tradition. Still considered a classic, this old favorite never goes out of style. However, it’s also one of the most confounding cuts, so it is significant to learn more about these diamonds before you buy one.
Cushion-cut Diamonds come in different types and colors. To select the perfect Cushion Cut Diamond for you, you need to learn about their types and colors. Below we have listed the best options available to you.
Types of Cushion Cuts:
Cushion cut diamonds are one of the oldest forms that have been the test of time for decades. They are known for their classic soft and feminine pillow shape and have developed into several different facet designs. The four cushion cuts used in engagement rings are brilliant-cut, old mine, crushed ice, and hybrid.
Brilliant Cut:
The Brilliant Cut Cushions are the cuts with the most outstanding brilliance and optimize the light return of the diamond. Compared to the other cushion cuts, cushion-brilliances appear greater in diameter because of their carat weight, and their brilliance looks very similar to a sparkling round diamond.
As the machinery for cutting diamonds improved, the dazzling cushion was born after the old mine.
Old Mine:
Old Mine Cushions, with the oldest faceted cut cushion design, are considered to have chunky, and geometrical facets. This cut dates back to the 1700s and is distinguished by a high crown, a deep pavilion, and a wider culet.
Cushion Modified “Crushed Ice”:
Crushed Ice is one of the newer and developed cuts for the cushion cut. The shortened star facets make this cut different. They resemble the arms of a star. When they are shortened, the diamond has the crushed ice look. They are also heavy-bottomed and look smaller when compared to brilliant or hybrid of the same size.
Cushion Modified “Hybrid”:
This is the most recent developed cut. It is known as a Hybrid cut because it combines the style of brilliant-cut and crushed ice cushion facet pattern. In this diamond, there are four-star facets that will touch the girdle of the stone. The hybrid cut is much large for its carat size, more like the cushion-brilliant.
Cushion Cut Diamond – Color Guide:
While cut quality is the most significant thing about a diamond’s beauty, you’ll also want to think about the diamond’s color grade. Cushion shapes show more color than a round-brilliant, but their brilliance and dispersion do help to cover the color.
The color of the diamond is all about something you can’t see. Diamonds are valued for how near they approach colorlessness – the less color they are, the greater their worth. (Except for fancy colored diamonds, such as pink and blue, which fall beyond this color range.) Most of the diamonds found in jewelry shops vary from colorless to near-colorless, with occasional traces of yellow or brown.
The industrial standard for the color-grading of diamonds is GIA’s color-grading scale, shown above.
The scale starts with the letter D, which is colorless, and progresses with a growing presence of color to the letter Z, or light yellow or brown. Each type of letter has a specifically defined spectrum of color appearance.
Diamonds are color-graded by contrasting them to stones of known color under controlled illumination and correct viewing conditions.
Color Chart:
| ct. (carat total weight) | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
| < 0.50 ct. | D-G | H-I | J-K | L-M | >M |
| 0.51-1.0 ct. | D-F | G | H-I | J-K | >K |
| 1.0-2.0 ct. | D-F | D-F | G-H | I-J | >J |
| > 2.0 ct. | D-F | D-F | G | H-I | >I |
| Fluoro | None | Faint – Med | Strong | Very Strong | Very Strong |
For the cushion-cut diamond set in a very metal ring, persist with a color grade of H or higher. If you have a decent budget, you’ll drop to an I or perhaps some J color diamonds and still have a white look.
In rose gold and yellow gold rings, I and J color diamonds will provide you with an improved price point and can still appear white. K color cushions will have a small tint, which might work well for vintage styles.
Cushion Cut Diamond – Clarity Guide:
Evaluating clarity in cushion cut diamonds is subjective. GIA provides excellent help with their clarity grades. Still, it is important to know that every customer will have a novel standard for clarity. Some are also perfectly comfortable with an inclusion as long as they cannot easily see it.
Others may enforce a more technically flawless appearance. The clarity chart below provides a general guide for evaluating clarity in cushion cut diamonds.
Clarity Scale:
Diamond Clarity refers to the Lack of Inclusion and Blemish.
The GIA Diamond Clarity Scale has six levels, some of which are split, for a total of 11 specific grades.
- Flawless (FL): No inclusions or blemishes noticeable under 10x magnification
- Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions evident below 10x magnification
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): Inclusions so small that a professional grader can’t see under 10x magnification.
- Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): Inclusions are detected with an effort of less than 10x magnification but can be characterized as minor.
- Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Inclusions are visible below 10x magnification.
- Included (I1, I2, and I3): Inclusions are apparent below 10x magnification, which may impair clarity and brilliance.
Clarity Chart:
| ct. (carat total weight) | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
| < .50 ct. | FL – VS2 | SI1 – SI2 | I1 | I2 | > I2 |
| .51-1.0 ct. | FL – VS1 | VS2 – SI1 | SI2 | I1 – I2 | > I2 |
| 1.0-2.0 ct. | FL – VVS2 | VS1 – VS2 | SI1 – SI2 | I1 | > I1 |
| > 2.0 ct. | FL – VVS2 | VS1 – VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | > SI2 |
Cushion-Cut VS Emerald Cut
The Emerald Cut diamond celebrates an extended, rectangular-shaped sculpted step cut, with linear trend facets, usually placed parallel to the stone. To improve cohesion and avoid cracks, the corners of the Emerald Cut diamond are normally cropped.
There is a significant contrast between the cushion cut diamond and the emerald cut diamond. The cushion-cut reflects more on the spark and the brightness of the stone. However, the emerald cut relies more on the luster and transparency of the stone. By knowing the variations, you’ll be in a much better place to pick the right stone for you.
It is the greater number of facets that makes the cushion cut brilliant. If you’re looking for extreme sparkle and shine in a gem, the cushion cut is your best option. However, if you want a more delicate design that gives you an unforgettable lust, you should go for an emerald cut.
Never compromise on the cut quality on either the cushion cut or the emerald cut. It gives the diamond its elegance and beauty. The cut quality guarantees that the light entering the emerald cut is reflecting and it does not result in a black area.
This can be very noticeable and adversely impact the design of the stone. You can save a lot by making an emerald cut. This is because, during the diamond cutting process, less of the rough is lost relative to the cut of the cushion.
Cushion-Cut VS Round Brilliant Diamonds:
There are a lot of ways that make a cushion cut diamond way more attractive and precious than the round brilliant diamonds. There is always some confusion while getting these two, as they have quite a similar outlook when it comes to their shine. Here are a few specs of these two types of diamonds:
- Cushion cut diamonds have a broader top than the rounded brilliant ones.
- Cushion cut diamonds have huge surfaces that make them look bigger.
- Cushion cut diamonds are 25% less expensive than the round brilliant diamonds.
- Round brilliant diamond loses a lot of material while shaping, but cushion cut loses less material while transitioning.
- The cushion cut is a more unique shape than the regular round one.
- Cushion cut diamonds are trendier these days than round brilliant diamonds.
- Cushion cuts are a modern version of antique diamonds.
- Cushion cut diamonds have variable ratios. They range from 1:1 to rectangular ones, and round cuts are simply round.
- The cushion-cut diamonds are known as “crushed ice” as they have been shaped like that but the round cut has a regular look of a round shape.
Conclusively, we can say that cushion-cut diamonds have a unique outlook, which makes them more special than the round cut.
Cushion-Cut VS Radiant Cut Diamonds:
Cushion cut and radiant cut are quite similar since they both have cuts and huge facets. You might be misguided that they both are the same thing, but some technical differences make one inimitable than the other. Here are a few differences between these two types.
- Cushion cut diamond have rounded edges while radiant cut has chamfered edges of 45 degrees which make their outlook different.
- Both these types have huge facets but cushion cut has 58 facets with imperfections and radiant cut diamond has 70 facets.
- They both are rectangular shapes with intricate designs and different ratios of a rectangle.
- Generally, cushion cut diamonds have a ratio ranging from 1 – 1.09, while radiant cut has different ranges of ratios.
- Cushion cuts are less reflective, and radiant cuts are more reflective.
- Cushion cut diamonds show imperfections, and radiant cut diamond conceals them.
- Cushion cuts are comparatively less bright than radiant cut as radiant cut possesses more facets than the cushion cut diamond.
- The prices of both these diamonds are comparable.
Hence, we can state that radiant cut, due to its huge facets give off a more vibrant look, and since their price is comparable so the radiant cut will be a better option.
Cushion-Cut VS Princess Cut Diamonds:
These two types are quite trendy ones with varying structures and specifications. They have their pros and cons, which we will see in detail below.
- Cushion-cut diamonds have soft rounded edges. Meanwhile, princess cut diamonds have specific geometric edges.
- Cushion cut diamonds have a romantic look, while the princess cut has a modern and formal outlook.
- The cushion cut is more expensive than the princess cut as there is a lot of material loss while shaping a cushion cut diamond.
- Due to its geometric shape of the diamond, the surface area of a princess cut is much larger than a cushion-cut diamond.
- The cushion-cut has an immense sparkle due to its 58 facets.
- Cushion cut diamonds are versatile as they come in different ratios and have a wide variety. Meanwhile, princess cuts have similar ratios due to their geometric cutting.
- Cushion cut diamonds appear bigger than the princess cut as they are cut deeper with sharp edges that fill their corners. So if there are 2-carat princess-cut and cushion-cut diamonds, they will be 6.9- 7.2mm and 7-7.3mm in range simultaneously.
They both have their pros and cons, but if you are looking for something reasonable, then princess cut would be a better option.
Are Cushion Cut Diamonds Expensive?
We have discussed cushion cut, emerald cut, princess cut, round brilliant, and radiant cut diamonds. It is pretty much clear by now that what each of these types possesses and how they are related to cushion-cut diamonds. Now if you want to know if you can afford cushion-cut diamonds or not, then we have got a guide for you.
A survey shows the average prices of these diamonds based on the Benchmark carat values that are 0.5, 0.7, 1, 1.2, 1.5, and 2. The prices of each of these, along with the diamond type are described below.
| Shape | 0.5C | 0.7C | 1C | 1.2C | 1.5C | 2C |
| Emerald cut | $1023 | $2110 | $4476 | $6221 | $9571 | $23513 |
| Radiant cut | $1134 | $2097 | $4443 | $6615 | $10082 | $21709 |
| Cushion cut | $1214 | $2060 | $4229 | $5782 | $9100 | $19746 |
| Princess cut | $1284 | $2188 | $4799 | $6794 | $10570 | $20450 |
| Round | $1749 | $2924 | $7291 | $9237 | $13661 | $26683 |
The diamond types are arranged from lowest to highest prices and are surveyed from legitimate sources. Emerald is the cheapest among all, and the round brilliant cut is the most expensive one. If we compare all these diamond cuts, the cushion cut lies in the middle and is a mediocre range diamond.
The Best Setting for Cushion Cut Diamond:
There are many setting techniques for cushion-cut diamonds, but the best among them are four-prong settings. This is an absolute setting that holds the diamond together and protects its cuts and edges. This setting protects the diamond by enveloping it in a way that does not block light or reflect. This setting will not act as a hindrance and will enhance the brilliance of the diamond.
There are other types of settings, as well. These include the six-prong settings and double claw prongs, which hold the larger cuts and rectangular shapes coherently but even for those larger cuts four-prong setting is enough to secure the diamond.
The setting techniques help in securing the diamond in a safer environment. They are the precautionary measures taken to prevent the diamond from scratching or wearing off from the edges. If a diamond is left without any setting, it is likely that its edges will worn out and lose their shape.
A cushion-cut diamond has 58 facets with intricate cuts at different points. So, it requires high maintenance. A setting is done to increase its life and durability.
How to Buy a Cushion Cut Diamond?
There are some aspects of a cushion cut diamond that you must keep in mind while shopping or you are going to face a loss. Diamonds are expensive, and if you fail to get the right quality of them, then it is a shame. The clarity, color, and cuttings are a few parameters to check for the best diamonds.
Color:
Discoloration is a common process of diamonds – especially cushion cut. So you should go for an H color or even better quality than this one.
Clarity:
The clarity of diamonds is an important decision to make the optimum clarity that is SI1 is good enough. But a clarity above that, which includes SI2, is better.
Cutting:
For a finished and smooth cut, you should go for a 70% or deeper cut that will make the diamond look appealing and symmetrical to your eyes. Cushion cut diamonds tend to look rough if they are not crystal clear or less deep than this desired value.
What to Look for in a Cushion Cut Diamond?
There are many features of a cushion cut diamond that make it stand out. This is because it has a long history of glory and fame among the people. However, you might get tricked while buying one. Therefore, you should look out for the following features.
- Cushion cut diamonds are extremely brilliant, with the light flashing from every end.
- It has rounded edges with about 58 facets that make it look fancy.
- If you love something eye-catchy and glamorous, then this is the one with full dazzling sides.
- The size of this diamond looks a bit smaller but the elegance of this diamond tops them all.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for something special, fancy, and expensive for your fiancé on your engagement day, then nothing could beat an ostentatious yet graceful engagement ring.
Diamond rings have been a trend for ages. People fall for their extravagance and adore them. For this sole purpose, we have brought a complete guide full of the pros and cons of each type of diamond with loads of variety and innumerable cut types.
It is surely a challenging choice to opt for the best-suited diamonds with the longest durability. But one can surely sort this situation by following our guide.
For instance, if you are looking for something less expensive, then an emerald cut is the one for you. If you love more cuts with geometry, then a princess cut is for you. If you like the high facets of a diamond, the cushion cut and the radiant cut are the best ones to show up your glam in a trendy way.
After all, the only thing diamond does is shine, so make sure you get the right one with a long-lasting shine and utmost elegance.