CUSHION CUT DIAMONDS: THE BUYING GUIDE
In this guide, you will discover the advantages and disadvantages of the cushion diamond and how it compares to round brilliant and princess cuts. You will then learn to judge the quality of a diamond cushion cut to choose the one that will best suit your engagement ring.
Advantages and disadvantages of an engagement ring with a cushion diamond
The cushions have a timeless and classic appeal, with soft and rounded edges that no other shape can compete with. They are also the sizes with the most dispersion, or fires. If you love these colorful light fires coming from a diamond, you will cherish a cushion cut diamond engagement ring.
Yet, cushions have a downside. Being one of the deepest cuts, they have a smaller table than most shapes. This means that you may be looking for a stone with a slightly larger carat weight.
CUSHION CUT DIAMOND VS ROUND CUT DIAMOND
While round diamonds have the most brilliance or return of white light, cushion cut diamonds can have more fire than rounds (although rounds have a lot of fire).
However, the major advantage of choosing a cushion cut diamond is its price. Like other fancy shapes, choosing a cushion over a round can save you more than 25%.
Cushion cut diamond Vs princess cut diamond
The most important factor in choosing a diamond shape is style. Either you like it, or you don't. Cushions are perfect for halos and vintage styles, while the sharp edges of princess cut diamonds give them a modern and geometric appearance.
The cushion will appear slightly smaller than the princess cut diamond. Indeed, your eye automatically looks at the longest length, from corner to corner. Since cushion cut diamonds have rounded corners, they appear smaller..
Standard pillows and modified pillows
In the 1920s, a new modified cushion entered the market, with an additional row of facets under the girdle. Thus, when you do a search, you may see the description "modified cushion". It is still a cushion cut diamond.
The fact that the diamond has a standard or modified cushion cut does not directly impact its beauty or performance. Both types can have excellent or mediocre performance.
"Chunky" and "Crushed Ice"
When searching for your perfect cushion, you will notice that there are two different "styles" for a cushion cut diamond. Some will allow you to see the back facets and bright reflections in large flashes. These are called "Chunky" cushions.
Some cushion cut diamonds have an appearance similar to crushed ice or broken glass. Here, the back facets are not distinct. Instead, you will see a sparkling effect of many small reflections. These are called "Crushed Ice" cushions.
This is the biggest aesthetic concern for a cushion cut diamond. Take the time to browse through the images and examine the performance of these examples to help you decide which one suits you best.
LENGTH / WIDTH RATIO
Another major aesthetic decision in a cushion cut diamond is whether you prefer a square or rectangular shape. While most available diamonds are square, rectangles have the advantage of appearing larger for their carat weight
Elongated cushion cut diamonds are less common than square shapes and, therefore, more difficult to find in high quality.
Depth and table
For the ideal cushion diamond, limit your search to diamonds with a depth percentage and table percentage less than 70%. Check the videos and photos of your diamond to ensure that it is aesthetically pleasing to you.
Hearts and arrows
If you are looking for the best possible cut, you may be attracted to cushion cut diamonds with hearts and arrows. Although these cushions perform excellently, cushion cut diamonds without the hearts and arrows pattern can also perform brilliantly. Moreover, only "chunky" cushions will show this effect. If you prefer the "Crushed Ice", you will not get the hearts and arrows effect.
Ideal color for cushion cut diamonds
Although the quality of the cut is the most important factor in the beauty of a diamond, you will also want to take into account the color shade of the diamond. Cushion shapes show more color than a round brilliant, but their brilliance and dispersion help to mask the color.
For a cushion cut diamond set in a white gold engagement ring, opt for a color shade of H or higher. If you are on a budget, you can switch to an I or even J colored diamond while still maintaining a white appearance.
You can afford to choose a shade below (I or J) when the setting of your ring is in rose or yellow gold. Indeed, on these settings, an I or J colored diamond will always appear white. K colored cushions will have a slight tint, which can work well for vintage styles.
Purity of cushion cut diamonds
Visible imperfections can spoil the appearance of a cushion cut diamond. However, the brilliance of a cushion will mask imperfections well. For the best price, stick to VS2 and SI1 clarity grades. If you're on a budget, many SI2 clarity cushion cut diamonds will appear clean to the naked eye. Even some I1 diamonds will be perfectly clear.
For SI1 and SI2 diamonds, look closely at the diamond and make sure the imperfections are not large, dark, and in the center of the stone. These are the most visible. If you're unsure whether your cushion will be clean, examine the diamond with your diamond dealer. They can help you determine whether the imperfections will be visible or will impact the diamond's brilliance.
Where to buy a cushion cut diamond engagement ring
With cushion cut diamonds, it is essential to review the images and videos to ensure that your diamond meets your standards. There is no way to tell from a quality report if the diamond has a "Chunky" or "Crushed ice" appearance.
The Celinni allows you to view your diamond online at 360 °, giving you an enlightened idea of the diamond's appearance and performance.
We have a large database of diamonds allowing you to combine them with our custom solitaire ring settings.
If you can't find your stone, our diamond dealers are at your disposal to help you find the perfect diamond. With their advice, you can create your dream ring.
