Diamond cut: cushion
Introducing the captivating charm and multidimensional brilliance of cushion cut diamonds, renowned for their classic appeal and unique blend of vintage elegance and modern sophistication.
History
The cushion-cut diamond has a rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was initially known as the ”old mine cut.” Its name reflects the resemblance of its shape to a pillow, with softly rounded corners and larger facets designed to enhance the stone’s brilliance. The cushion cut rose to prominence during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, prized for its romantic appeal and ability to sparkle even in candlelight. Over time, advancements in diamond cutting techniques have refined the cushion cut, ensuring its enduring popularity as a classic and versatile choice for engagement rings and fine jewelry.
The Concierge recommendation…
Color
When choosing a cushion-cut diamond, it is important to consider the stone's color since they do not reflect light, as well as brilliant-cut diamonds. To ensure you make the best choice, we recommend selecting a stone based on its Carat weight. If your stone is 1 Carat or more, choose F or a higher grade. For smaller stones, opt for G or higher. Keep in mind that larger stones tend to exhibit more color, so for bigger stones, the better the color.
Clarity
Since the cushion-cut diamond has rounded corners and large open spaces, we recommend choosing a diamond with a high clarity grade since it is easier to see inclusions. Try to choose a stone with VS1-VS2-clarity for stones below 1 Carat and VVS-clarity for bigger stones
Cut
When choosing a cushion cut diamond, decide if you prefer a rectangular or square shape. For a square diamond, look for a ratio of 1-1.05, while a ratio of 1.15 and above will result in a more rectangular shape. Square diamonds are rarer. For cushion cut diamonds, look for a depth of 61-67% and a table of 61-67% for the best visual experience.
Different cushion cut diamonds
The cushion cut diamond is unique in the sense that it can vary significantly between different types of cuts. This is because there are several ways to cut its pavilion, which is the lower part of the diamond. The original cut, which is known as "Cushion Brilliant," is similar to the round brilliant cut. It is cut like a star at the bottom, which makes it very clear and distinct in appearance. However, it has less lustre and sparkle compared to the round Brilliant cut.
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The second cutting style is called “Cushion Modified Brilliant,” which is a variant of the classic cushion cut. This cut reminds of a flower on the bottom because the facets do not reach all the way out to the edges of the diamond. This makes the diamond look like crushed ice and is not as clear as the classic cushion cut. Many prefer the look of crushed ice because od the maximal sparkling effect and its lower price compared to the Cushion Brilliant
The third style of brilliant cut is called “Cushion Modified Brilliant Hybrid.” This is also a variation of the original cushion cut but with more clarity. It has the same structure as the “Cushion Brilliant” but with additional facets, which allows the diamond to have more sparkle and greater visual clarity.
Cushion cut diamonds size chart
| MM | CARAT WEIGHT |
|---|---|
| 4.20 | 0.40 |
| 4.90 | 0.50 |
| 5.25 | 0.75 |
| 5.50 | 0.90 |
| 6.00 | 1.25 |
| 6.50 | 1.50 |
| 7.00 | 2.00 |
| 7.50 | 2.50 |
| 8.00 | 3.00 |
| 8.50 | 3.50 |
| 9.00 | 4.00 |
| 9.50 | 5.00 |
| 10.00 | 5.70 |
Cushion cut diamonds - cut guide
| EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BORD % | 61 - 67 | 58 - 60 Eller 68 - 70 |
56 - 57 Eller 71 |
54 - 55 Eller 72 - 73 |
< 54 Eller >73 |
| DJUP % | 61 - 67 | 58 - 60.9 Eller 67.1 - 70 |
56 - 57.9 Eller 70.1 - 71 |
54 - 55.9 Eller 71.1 - 73 |
< 54 Eller >73 |
| RONDIST | Very Thin - Slightly Thick |
Very Thin - Slightly Thick |
Very Thin Till Thick |
Very Thin Till Very Thick |
Ex. Thin Till Ex. Thick |
| KULLETT | None | Very Small | Small | Medium | >Medium |
| RATIO | 1.00 - 1.03 | 1.00 - 1.03 | 1.04 - 1.05 | 1.06 - 1.08 | >1.08 |
| EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQUARE | 1.00 - 1.03 | 1.00 - 1.03 | 1.04 - 1.05 | 1.06 - 1.08 | >1.08 |
| RECTANGLE | 1.15 - 1.20 | 1.10 - 1.14 Eller 1.21 - 1.30 |
1.10 - 1.14 Eller 1.21 - 1.30 |
1.08 - 1.09 Eller 1.31 - 1.50 |
< 1.08 Eller >1.50 |