The cushion cut diamond shape has gained a huge amount of popularity over the last few years, both thanks to its elegant design and its relatively low cost compared to a round cut diamond ring. In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about buying cushion cut diamond jewelry, from cut to color, clarity, and quality advice.
What is a Cushion Cut Diamond?
A cushion cut diamond is a combination of a more modern and round brilliant cut pattern diamond with a classic, old mine facet pattern diamond cut. This type of diamond typically has a soft square or even rectangular shape, all with curved edges.
Simply put, a cushion cut diamond combines a square cut with rounded corners, giving it an appearance similar to a pillow. This is where the “cushion cut” name comes from.
The price of a cushion cut diamond is typically significantly less than the cost of a round brilliant diamond. However, due to increasing popularity of cushion cut diamond rings, these prices may vary and rise significantly.
Cusion Cut Diamonds – Pros
- High level of brilliance and fire (reflects white and colored light well)
- Unique shape for a more personalized engagement ring
- Very durable due to rounded edges
- Combines classic fashion with modern flair
- Less expensive per carat than Round Cut diamonds
- Rising in popularity
Cusion Cut Diamonds – Cons
- Retains color better than other shapes (we recommend an H grade or better)
- Open table means imperfections can be easier to see (we recommend an SI1 or SI2 clarity grade)
- Referred to by a number of terms which can confuse the buyer (i.e. modified cushion, classic cushion, chunky cushion)
Cushion Cut Diamond Color
Although H diamonds aren’t completely colorless, they are “near colorless” and only have a very slight yellow tint. Almost no one will notice this difference, especially if the diamond is set in rose or yellow gold.
Also, an H diamond color is a good value option. It’s also one of the more popular choices thanks to its balanced pricing. You’ll notice a significant price jump between each color grade, with H falling somewhere in the middle.
Cushion Cut Diamond Clarity
Because cushion cuts have a large open table, it might be difficult to find a nice eye clean SI2 diamond. This means you might have to compromise and end up paying a bit extra for a higher clarity stone.
Cut Parameters for Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Depth: Under 70%
- Table: Under 70%
- Polish/Symmetry: Good, Very Good, or Excellent
- Length/Width Ratio: Whatever you like!
The length and width ratio refer to the proportionate length and width of the diamond and also is a good determinant of how the diamond will look when it is looked at from a face-up view. It is also a good indicator of how big or small the stone will appear to look.
Polish is a grade noted on the lab certificate. It refers to how fine of a polished has been applied to the facets of the diamond. This generally has a minimal impact on the price and look of the diamond.
Symmetry is also a less important grade on the diamond certificate. It refers to how symmetrical the facets of the diamond have been laid out by the cutter. Both Symmetry and Polish should always have a minimum grade of “Very Good.”
Additionally, when you begin to examine the carat of a cushion cut diamond, you will also find that there may be significant differences in the price points due to the emphasis of the carat weight.
The carat weight of a diamond is simply the measurement of how much the diamond actually weighs. The price points begin to go up with increased weights because a larger diamond is typically more sought after for a diamond engagement ring, for example, and is more desirable than a smaller diamond and therefore comes at a higher cost.
Would you like help finding the right cushion cut diamond? Contact us and let us know what your budget is and we’ll send you some personalized recommendations.
We can also help answer any questions you may have regarding the 4C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
