Cushion cut engagement rings glow with broad, lively flashes that invite the eye and feel instantly romantic. Their rounded corners soften a square outline, so the diamond looks like a tiny pillow resting on the finger, hence the name “cushion.” Different settings and facet styles let a cushion cut diamond read as vintage or lean into a crisp, modern mood, giving you options instead of limits. This versatile diamond has been popular for centuries, and for good reason.
What Is a Cushion Cut Diamond?
A cushion cut diamond blends a square outline with rounded corners, so it looks like a tiny pillow. This is the oldest cut shape for diamonds. More than a century ago, this cut dominated jewelry designs. Even today, it accounts for about ten percent of diamond sales, proving its lasting appeal.
The cushion cut we know today descends from the old mine cut, a style common from the 1700s through the late 1800s. Old mine diamonds were square or squarish, carried a high crown, small table, deep pavilion, and large culet, all meant to preserve as much rough weight as possible- they roughly follow the shape of the raw diamond crystal with little waste, and were easier to cut with the era’s limited tools. Importantly, old mine diamonds’ sparkle looks different from modern stones with bigger flashes of rainbow light as opposed to the bright white brilliance of modern diamonds.
Modern cushion brilliants keep the square or slightly rectangular outline of their Old Mine ancestors with curved sides and rounded corners. They usually have four or eight kite-shaped main facets between girdle and culet. When cutters add extra crown or pavilion facets, the stone is called a modified cushion brilliant.
Square vs. Elongated Cushion Cuts
Shape ratio affects both style and size for cushion cut diamonds. A square cushion keeps its length and width nearly equal, offering balanced symmetry. An elongated cushion cut stretches toward a rectangle, often around a 1.20 ratio. Because more carat weight shows face-up, elongated cushions look larger across the finger than square stones of equal weight. Often, people feel the longer outline also makes fingers appear slimmer.
Cushion Facet Styles Explained
In the timeline of cushion cut diamonds, first came the old mine cushion. Large facets and a deeper pavilion give it bold flashes of light. Next, cutters refined the cushion brilliant, which brightened the gem while keeping gentle curves. Finally, the cushion modified brilliant introduced extra rows of facets for more sparkle.
“Crushed ice” is a cut-related phenomena, but it is not the type of technical term described you could find on a diamond’s certificate. “Crushed ice” cushions are significantly more affordable than their classically cut counterparts, but this is definitely a case of you-get-what-you-pay-for. Working with an educated jeweler can help you avoid inferior cut styles.
There’s an important note about modified brilliants, however. Some of these gems display a “crushed ice” look, where many small reflections replace broad flashes. Others stay closer to classic cushions. Because looks vary, always view stones in person. Diagrams and comparison photos live on Secrete’s page, Understanding Diamond Cut.
Perfect for Fancy Color Diamonds
Secrete designed this gorgeous engagement ring featuring a fancy yellow cushion cut diamond center stone accented by white diamonds. The elongated cushion cut highlights the beautiful color of the center stone.
The cushion cut holds more body color face-up than a round brilliant, so it pairs beautifully with pink, yellow, or blue diamonds. GIA notes, “Cushion cut diamonds, both antique and modern, have curved sides and rounded corners… In addition, this style is well suited to fancy color diamonds.” When you want color to shine, a GIA cushion cut diamond is a smart choice.
Celebrity and Historic Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
Pop culture keeps cushions in the spotlight. Meghan Markle’s ring features three cushion diamonds, setting a modern trend. Liam Hemsworth gave Miley Cyrus a nineteenth-century, three-and-a-half-carat cushion in engraved yellow gold. Molly Sims chose a halo, while Kim Kardashian once wore a fifteen-carat cushion solitaire.
History offers its own glamour. At Washington DC’s Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, you can admire the Napoleon Diamond Necklace. The piece includes twenty-eight old mine cushions among two hundred thirty-four diamonds, totaling about two hundred sixty-three carats. Napoleon gifted the necklace to Empress Marie-Louise in 1811, and its soft flashes still draw crowds.
The beautiful Napoleon diamond necklace features 234 diamonds including 28 old mine cut (cushion cut) diamonds, with a total carat weight over 10.4 ct. You can visit it right here in Washington, DC at the Museum of Natural History. Photo credit.
Buying Guide For Cushion Cut Engagement Ring Diamonds
Check symmetry. Sides and corners should mirror each other to keep the outline balanced.
Inspect the girdle. On a cushion cut diamond, girdle thickness is not uniform; the corners tend to be thicker while the areas between them are thinner. If the thinner sections are very thin, they can chip. Ask your jeweler about the dimensions of each diamond you’re considering. Even fragile stones can be set to protect thin edges, but if you want a particular setting style, it’s best to know up front.
Set your sparkle expectations. Cushion cuts do not always mimic the pinpoint fire of a round brilliant. Some offer broad, dramatic flashes; others glitter softly. The only way to judge is to view several stones side by side.
Read the report. Every cushion cut diamond should come with a trusted grading report from GIA or another reputable lab. A GIA cushion cut diamond report lists facet style, color, clarity, and fluorescence, letting you compare stones on equal footing. If you’re considering an antique stone, it may not have a lab report, but you can always have it professionally evaluated so you know what you’re getting.
Work with experts. Secrete Fine Jewelry can help you custom create the cushion cut diamond engagement ring of your dreams. When a stone captures your heart, contact us to design a setting that protects and flatters it.
Ready to shop for Cushion Cut Engagement Rings?
Cushion cut engagement rings bridge past and present with timeless beauty. Whether you prefer a square pillow or an elongated cushion cut, a colorless diamond or a colorful fancy diamond, this shape offers endless variety. Visit Secrete Fine Jewelry in Washington DC or Bethesda, explore a tray of dazzling cushions, and let the one that whispers “forever” become yours.
