Cushion Cut Diamonds at Diamond Exchange Online
A cushion cut diamond combines an older, old mine facet pattern diamond cut with a more contemporary, round brilliant cut pattern. This kind of diamond often has curved edges and a soft square or even rectangular shape.
To put it simply, a cushion cut diamond combines a square cut with rounded corners to give it a pillow-like appearance. This is where the term “cushion cut” originated.
Diamonds with a cushion cut are the ideal fusion of traditional and contemporary design. It’s a classic cut with contemporary appeal and a past that almost saw it go out of style. A cushion cut diamond is one of the most well-known in the world, and this cutting design has triumphantly returned to popularity.
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Cushion Diamond Cut Parameters
When it comes to the limitations of the stone, there aren’t any particular hard and fast standards that must be followed, just like with the other soft-sided fancy shapes. You cannot determine whether a stone is a “crushed-ice” style cushion or an “antique” style cushion from the certificate.
There is no information about the corners’ roundness on the certificate; some cushions are almost square, and others are almost round. Therefore, it is essential that you only deal with sellers who provide crystal-clear magnified pictures of their inventory if you’re looking to purchase a cushion-cut diamond.
The following specifications for cushion-cut diamonds are advised:
- Depth: 70% or less
- Table: Less than 70%
- Polish/Symmetry: Excellent, Very Good, or Good
- Ratio of length to width: Choose what you prefer!
Different Styles of Cuts
The form of contemporary cushion-cut diamonds is square or squarish-rectangular. They are distinguished by their rounded or slightly pointed corners and curved sides. Although most frequently seen in their squarer form similar to a princess cut diamond, with a length-to-width ratio of between 1.00 and 1.05, cushion cuts also come in more traditional appearances with ratios closer to 1.10 and more uncommon cushion cuts with ratios between 1.20 and 1.30, which take on an elongated rectangular shape.
It’s common knowledge that cushion cuts come in a variety of cutting methods. Modern cushions have between 58 and 64 facets and can be divided into two primary categories: standard and customized.
Standard Cushion Cut Diamond
The old mine cut of a diamond is most comparable to the conventional cushion cut, which has a romantic, timeless shape and an antique atmosphere. It exhibits larger, chunkier facets, a smaller table, and occasionally more rounded sides. Less than 1% of all cushion diamond supply comes in the form of the typical cushion cut, which is extremely rare.
Modified Cushion Cut Diamond
The modified cushion cut diamond adopts characteristics that are similar to those of the brilliant round cut. It is referred to as a modified cushion brilliant cut for this reason. This cut displays a splintery appearance and features an additional row of facets.
Cushion Cut Diamond Color
More color will be visible in cushion cut diamonds than in almost any other diamond shape. To optimize the illusion of color, this is one of the key justifications for cutting so many colorful diamonds into a cushion. For this reason, if you’re setting in platinum or white gold, it’s advised to keep with a color grade of G or greater. The additional warmth of the metal will work nicely down to an I or J hue if the setting is made of yellow or rose gold.
A decent value alternative is a diamond of the H color. It’s also one of the more well-liked options because it balances out in price when compared to the color of a genuine diamond. Each color grade has a noticeable price difference, with H falling somewhat in the middle.
H diamonds are “near-colorless” and only have a very tiny yellow hue, despite the fact that they are not quite colorless. This distinction will almost certainly go unnoticed, particularly if the diamond is set in rose or yellow gold.
Intriguingly, some think that because the cushion cut was created using candlelight rather than electricity, it ended up keeping more color. The majority of the antique cushion cut stones are warm-toned in color because candlelight obscures color.
Cushion Cut Diamond Clarity
A cushion cut can be a little challenging in terms of diamond clarity. The first thing to consider is whether you want to get a crushed-ice cushion or an “antique” cushion. The reason is simply that inclusions are typically very well hidden by the crushed-ice appearance, which applies to all diamond shapes.
The only way to determine the cushion look of the diamond you’re buying is to see a picture of it, so it goes without saying that you’ll be able to check the clarity as well. Consequently, as always, aim for the lowest clarity that is still eye-clean.
The majority of VS2 and some SI1 cushion cut diamonds will be eye clean, with any inclusions being concealed by the diamond’s brightness and scintillation.
Modern cushion cut diamonds sparkle a lot because they are faceted in a brilliant cutting style. This is highly beneficial for a clear-looking diamond because inclusions are present in practically all diamonds. The diamond must be visually inspected, and as always, the bigger the stone, the more likely it is that inclusions will be visible.
How Many Carats Do You Want?
The highly popular cushion cut is fairly common and comes in many different carat weights. Additionally, there will be a lot of variation in terms of length to breadth ratio and proportions. Compared to square-shaped diamonds, cushion cut diamonds are manufactured far less frequently. Because of this, high-quality examples of the elongated cushion cut will be more difficult to find.
The carat size of the elongated cushion cut diamond will likewise seem larger than the square cushion variations. This is brought on by the stone’s increased surface area as a result of its proportions. When using cushion cuts, it’s crucial to keep in mind that two stones with similar or even identical carat weights may appear to be quite different in size.
The cushion cut is more versatile than other diamond shapes. The dimensions, shapes, and sizes of each cushion cut diamond can vary significantly depending on how the cutter chooses the proportions for each unique stone. Therefore, seeing these diamonds in person is always beneficial.
Choosing an Ideal Cushion Cut Diamond
While understanding all the words related to cushion cuts is crucial, your preferences for the appearance of your perfect cushion cut diamond should be clear in your mind. The length-to-width ratio and facet style are the two factors that will have the largest influence on the diamond’s appearance.
The most common cushion cut diamond shape is unquestionably one with a square ratio. The diamond will have a beautiful balancing effect on long and slender fingers the more equally sized it is in length and width. Although more uncommon, longer length to breadth ratios is nevertheless possible to find. These will make bigger and fuller hands appear longer.
Pros and Cons of Cushion Cut Diamonds
The cushion cut diamond, which is regarded as a “fancy shape” diamond, has become very popular lately for a good reason:
Pros:
- The cushion cut diamond reflects both white and colored light beautifully due to its tremendous brilliance and fire.
- It’s a particularly tough gemstone because of the cut’s rounded edges.
- Since it’s a popular cut, there will probably be a wider selection of stones available for selection.
- Less expensive per carat than diamonds with a brilliant round cut.
Cons:
- Like the emerald cut, its open table gives a good glimpse of the stone’s flaws.
- It will display a yellow tint at a higher level on the grading scale since it will maintain color better than other forms.
- The terminology used to describe this single cut, such as pillow cut, modified cushion cut, classic cushion, chunky cushion, crushed ice, and more, can be confusing.
- Although square cushion cuts are frequently found, it will take some time to locate a high-quality, more rectangular cushion cut.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cushion Cut Diamond
What is a cushion cut diamond, exactly?
What appears larger, the cushion or the radiant?
Depending on the diamond you choose, the radiant cut will appear longer but thinner compared to an elongated cushion, which tends to be slightly wider.criptionWhat Does a 2 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond Cost?
What is a Cushion Cut Diamond's Facet Count?
Where can you buy cushion cut diamonds?
Where can I sell cushion cut diamonds?
Final Thoughts
Over the span of the past ten years, there has been a discernible rise in demand for cushion cuts, which are a fantastic option. They are particularly well-liked in halo situations. When compared to round diamonds, cushion cut diamonds are still fairly dazzling. However, they also frequently have more fire because of their greater aspects. The bright fire of a cushion cut diamond is adored by many individuals.
