Cushion Cut diamonds have been around for nearly 200 years. These diamonds have rounded corners, which creates a pillow-shaped outline – hence the name “cushion” cut. They come as either a rectangle or square, and the facet size varies from small to large. How nicely a cushion cut diamond is cut will dramatically affect its brilliance.  

Since Tolkosky’s research in the 1920’s, refinements have been made to the cushion cut over time. This includes shrinking the culet, enlarging the table and improving cut angles. Today it is considered the third most popular cut after round brilliant and princess cuts.

Examples of Cushion Cut Diamonds

3 Important Tips When Choosing A Cushion Cut Diamond

Hi, I’m Vanessa – master diamond setter and author of bestselling book, The Perfect Custom Engagement Ring. I create MANY cushion cut rings, and one of my specialties is choosing the best looking cushion cut diamond within a client’s budget. Every cushion shape & faceting structure is unique – That’s one of the best parts of choosing a cushion cut diamond! Your future wife is one-of-a-kind, so her engagement ring should also be one-of-a-kind. Below are 3 important tips you must know when choosing a Cushion Cut Diamond for Your Perfect Custom Engagement Ring.

Tip 1: The Certificate Doesn’t Grade “Most Beautiful”

Certificates are only ONE component of a diamond. Unfortunately for you, certificates don’t offer a “Most Beautiful” grade. And unlike Round diamonds, cushion diamonds don’t even have an official “cut grade” since the shape and facets style of a cushion cut are so subjective. Some people prefer the large chunky facets, others like the smaller crushed ice facets. When it comes to Round, it’s easier to be a bit more scientific on what’s considered “most brilliant,” but not with Cushions. That’s one of the reasons they’re so cool – when you find a gorgeous one, it’s really special!

Cut

Table ratio (width of table facet divided by diamond width) and total depth ratio (depth divided by diamond width) for a good cushion cut diamond is generally around 56 percent and above. In terms of culet (small area at the bottom of a diamond’s pavilion), it should be nonexistent to small. You should also avoid diamonds that have extremely thin or extremely thick girdles. This is because an extremely thin girdle is more susceptible to chipping, and a thicker girdle will add weight (and cost) to a diamond. It’s also worth mentioning that the large facets of the cushion cut make inclusions and blemishes more visible than with other cuts. Keep this in mind when making your selection.

This particular diamond shape really isn’t one you should buy online from a large database. You need to see it in person or on video before purchasing it. That’s why it’s important to work 1-on-1 with a jeweler whom you trust to make a selection for you based on the brilliance and beauty of each individual diamond. Two diamonds certified by the same laboratory with similar carat weight & specs rarely look the same. Grading Labs such a GIA or EGL make no comment on brilliance or value, yet these are two important considerations when investing in a diamond. This is exactly why you can’t choose a Cushion cut diamond based on the certificate alone.

When purchasing from a large Diamond List online, you don’t buy a diamond you buy a grade report – The diamond just happens to be mailed along with the report. Those companies are simply middlemen and do not have possession of those diamonds on the list. In fact, customer service reps with large online Diamond lists will never even see the diamond you purchase (sight unseen) before you receive it. Would you marry someone based solely upon their height, weight, or hair and eye color? Of course not. It doesn’t give you a complete overall view of what to expect.

Tip 2: Choose Your Favorite Cushion Cut Shape

The classic cushion cut diamond is shaped like a square with rounded circles. It generally has a length-to-width ratio of 1.00. However, the most popular shape is a slight rectangle with a length-to-width ratio between 1.1 and 1.2. If you’re looking for settings that are a bit more classic and elegant, you may want to go with a plain solitaire setting (a plain ring band with a single diamond). If you prefer more unique ring settings, you might like a pavé setting (accent diamonds set closely together in the band). Another option is a halo setting (smaller diamonds that encircle the center stone).

Either shape of a cushion cut works well for engagement ring designs – simply choose the ratio you prefer best. Below are a couple of video examples of both the square and rectangular shapes:

SQUARE Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

RECTANGULAR Double Halo Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

Tip 3: SI vs. VS Clarity Grades

One thing I would suggest is that you consider SI clarity diamonds in addition to VS clarity. I wouldn’t suggest this if you were picking a stone blindly off an internet list based solely on the certificate, but if someone is personally choosing a selection of diamonds for you (like here at VNJ) we would select only the very best SI options. Inclusions come in a variety of shapes and colors and if we’re able to find one where the inclusion is white, or can be hidden by a prong, or it’s barely perceptible to the naked eye, you would be able to get a bigger size while still staying within budget.

Certification grades given to diamonds are not an exact science, they are simply guidelines. That’s why I source from different places to get you the highest value for your dollar. Prices vary based on several factors such as where we get them from, what’s currently most popular, how much they were originally bought for, etc, but I always stick to my client’s budget.

The certificate is only a piece of paper – she doesn’t wear the paper on her finger, she wears the diamond. I’ve never heard of anyone asking a woman, “Ooh, is that a D, VVS, with xy depth & xy width?” No, they simply gush over how sparkly it is. If they ask anything specific, it’s what the carat size is. I know it can be confusing for clients since diamond pricing with relation to their grades has so many variables, however my job is to make it easy for you by doing all the hard work sifting through dozens of options to provide you with an awesome selection to choose from. It almost seems too easy on your part, right?