Soft Corners, Maximum Romance
The cushion cut — named for its pillow-like shape — combines a square or rectangular outline with rounded corners and larger facets that produce a romantic, warm sparkle. It bridges the gap between modern brilliance and vintage charm, making it one of the most emotionally appealing diamond shapes available.
What Is a Cushion Cut
- Shape: Square or rectangular with softly rounded corners and sides, creating a pillow or cushion shape. The gentle curves give it a warmer, more romantic feel than the sharp geometry of princess or emerald cuts
- Facets: Typically 58 facets in a modified brilliant pattern. The larger facets produce broader flashes of light compared to the pinpoint sparkle of a round brilliant
- Light behavior: Cushion cuts produce a distinctive pattern called chunky sparkle — larger, broader flashes of brilliance and fire. The light plays across the diamond in dramatic, sweeping patterns rather than tiny points
Cushion Brilliant vs Cushion Modified Brilliant
- Cushion brilliant: Facet pattern closely resembles a round brilliant viewed from above. Produces larger, more defined light flashes. The traditional cushion look with bold, dramatic sparkle
- Cushion modified brilliant: An extra row of facets below the girdle creates a crushed-ice appearance — many tiny sparkle points rather than broad flashes. More contemporary look, can sometimes appear less organized
- Recommendation: Cushion brilliant is generally preferred by diamond enthusiasts for its bold, distinctive light pattern. Cushion modified has a more diamond-like look from a distance. Both are beautiful — it is personal preference
What to Look For
- Length-to-width ratio: 1.00-1.05 for square cushion (most popular). 1.10-1.20 for slightly rectangular. 1.20+ for distinctly rectangular. Square cushions are the most traditional
- Color: Cushion cuts tend to retain body color slightly more than round brilliants. G-H is recommended for white appearance. For yellow or rose gold settings, I-J works beautifully
- Clarity: VS2 is the sweet spot. The brilliant faceting hides inclusions reasonably well. For cushion modified (crushed-ice), you can sometimes go to SI1
- Depth: 61-68% is the acceptable range. Shallower depths (61-64%) produce better face-up size
Why Cushion Cuts Are Special
- Vintage romance: The cushion cut was the dominant diamond shape before the 20th century. Choosing one connects you to centuries of diamond history and old-world elegance
- Warm sparkle: The larger facets and rounded shape create a warmer, more romantic sparkle compared to the sharp, crisp sparkle of modern cuts
- Price advantage: Cushion cuts are typically 20-30% less expensive per carat than comparable round brilliants. Combined with lab-grown pricing, this creates excellent value