Cushion cut diamonds are pillowy cuts of diamond that reflect lots of color and light. This romantic diamond cut gets its name because the rounded edges of the diamond give it a cushion or pillow-like appearance.
History:
Cushion cut diamonds have a rich history dating back to the early 1800s. Before round brilliant diamonds were invented, cushion cut diamonds were all the rage. They have a very similar appearance to an “Old mine cut” which may be why some bride consider them a vintage look today.
The old mine cut, originating in the 1700s, was the predominant diamond cut until the late 19th century. This cut was named after the diamond mines in Brazil, as it was frequently used to maximize the shape of rough diamonds from this region. Following the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, the Brazilian mines were referred to as the old mines, and the name “old mine cut” was born!
Cushion cut diamonds are a more elegant version of an old mine, with soft rounded corners, on a square or rectangular body. Typically cushion cut diamonds will have four or eight kite-shaped facets between the girdle and the culet. Some cushions may also feature extra facets on the crown or pavilion, and these cuts are known as a modified cushion cut brilliant.
Cut:
Modern day cushion cut diamonds are thought to be a hybrid between a round brilliant and a square princess cut diamond. But unlike each of those cuts, cushions have a very unique dispersion of “fire”, which means their sparkles are full of color. If you’re a big fan of colorful sparkle, (or you just never want to be bored at work again) then a cushion cut diamond might just be for you!
Compared to a round brilliant diamond, a cushion cut diamond is deeper with less visibility from its table, so you’ll want to prioritize carat weight if you want your stone to look its size. While there is no exact cut grading on a cushion cut diamond, there are a few things that can help you find the perfect diamond for you. The first, is always simply to look at the stone in natural light, and determine if you like the overall shape and sparkle of the stone.
Next, look for symmetry. A cushion cut diamond should be symmetrical wether it’s square or elongated, without bulging corners or sides.
Finally, while there is no cut and dry recommendation for depth, we recommend sticking to a depth of 64-69% to get a sparkly stone that shows it's carat weight well from the top. Again, the best way to know if you like the look the look of a cushion cut diamond won't necessarily be by it's measurements, but by how you like the overall look!
Ratio:
A sqaure cushion cut diamond is 1:1 while an elongated cushion cut diamond is usually between 1.15 and 1.2.
Cushion cut diamond can be square, or rectangular. The rectangular version of a cushion cut diamond is call an “elongated cushion” and can come in a variety of ratios.
A square cushion cut diamond should have a ration of about 1.00 to 1.05. Elongated cushions generally have a ratio between 1.15 and 1.2. The closer to 1.00, or 1.20 you get, the more pronounced the square or rectangular shape will be. Most cushions are cut in a square, so an elongated cushion, especially closer to 1.2, will be harder to find. These harder to find gemstones also be more expensive, depending on their carat, color clarity.
Color:
While cushions, like most fancy shapes, show a lot of warmth and color, the benefit of a cushion cut diamond is that it’s colorful sparkle helps to hide those yellow tones. If setting your cushion cut diamond in a white gold or platinum setting, stick with a color grade D through G to avoid any noticeable yellow. With a yellow or rose gold setting, you can go as low as J as long as you like the look of the stone! Remember, color is always a matter of personal preference.
Clarity:
Notice in the figure above that the VVS1 is super clear, ad the SI1, which is further down the clarity scale, is still eye clean.
With all their sparkle and shine, you can get a cushion cut diamond with a clarity as low as SI1 and still expect to see an eye-clean stone! Always be sure that you check the diamond for large or dark inclusions, and work with a diamond specialist to help you know what types of inclusions are noticeable to the naked eye when set in an engagement ring.
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