Diamond Carat with Loupe and Gia Certificate | Lisa Robin

Diamond Guides

About Cushion Cut Diamonds

Cushion cut diamonds are named after their shape, which is square or rectangular with rounded edges, resembling a pillow. Learn about the cut's inspiration and the reason for their fire.

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About Cushion Cut Diamonds

Cushion cut diamonds are named after their shape, which is square or rectangular with rounded edges, resembling a pillow. Considered a modified brilliant cut, they may not be as brilliant as round cut diamonds, but they have a higher fire, which means they display more bright colors when viewed from different angles. Cushion cut diamonds are a contemporary take on the Old Mine Cut, which was the most popular round diamond cut in the early 1900s, giving them a vintage appearance compared to round diamonds.

The appeal of cushion cut diamonds is timeless and classic, with soft, rounded edges that are unmatched by any other shape. Additionally, they boast the highest dispersion or fire among all other cuts. If you appreciate the colorful flashes of light that diamonds emit, then a cushion-cut diamond engagement ring will be a precious possession for you. However, cushions have a slight drawback. They are deeper cuts, resulting in a smaller face-up size compared to most shapes. Therefore, you may want to consider purchasing a stone with a slightly larger carat weight.

Cushion Cut Diamond

Certain cushion cut diamonds possess a crushed ice or broken glass-like appearance, with indistinct back facets and a multitude of tiny reflections that create a sparkling effect.

If you're searching for the finest cut, you might be interested in cushion-cut diamonds that display Hearts and Arrows. Although these cushions have exceptional performance, cushion-cut diamonds lacking the hearts-and-arrows pattern can also exhibit excellent performance. Additionally, only "chunky" cushions will exhibit this design.

About Diamond Cuts

Diamond Shapes Cushion Cut Diamond | Lisa Robin

HOW DOES PAVILION DEPTH AFFECT A DIAMOND’S CUT?

Pavilion depth is measured from the bottom of the girdle to the culet. The pavilion depth that's too shallow or too deep will allow light to escape from the side or bottom of the stone. Light will be directed through the crown of a well-cut diamond.

About Diamond Color

About Diamond Cut: Anatomy of a Diamond | Lisa Robin

Cushion Cut Three Stone Engagement Ring with Cushion Cut Eternity Band | Lisa Robin

Custom Engagement Ring Design Sketching | Lisa Robin

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DIAMOND CUT AND REFLECTION

Knowing how light behaves inside a diamond helps us understand diamond cuts. There are three main ways to classify diamond sparkle.

Dispersion, or fire, separates colored light into its full spectrum. While white light enters and exits through the table, flashes of color are visible when the light is emitted from the center. This is done through the crown.

Brilliance. The amount of white light emitted and reflected out of a diamond determines its brilliance. Diamonds absorb natural light, then split it into the full spectrum of colors thanks to their wide top table. As the light bounces back and reflects within the diamond, it is projected upwards and leaves the table as pure white light.

Scintillation. A diamond's scintillation refers to how light bounces off its facets when moved, creating a glistening and twinkling effect. Light will emanate from diamonds when they are well cut, creating the mesmerizing sparkle we all love.

WHY IS DIAMOND CUT IMPORTANT?

An Excellent diamond cut will enhance the appearance of other qualities of the stone, like the color and clarity grade. It can even make a diamond appear larger. When a diamond is cut to an Excellent (GIA) or Ideal (IGI) grade, the polish and proportions of the stone will produce brilliance, fire and scintillation that work together in harmony, creating a charmingly sparkly diamond.

Anna Cluster Diamond Engagement Ring with Cushion Cut Diamond | Lisa Robin

The Anna

The nature-inspired design of the Anna engagement ring exudes elegance and modern luxury.

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Allison Cushion Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring in yellow Gold | Lisa Robin

The Allison Solitaire

A diamond solitaire is the quintessential engagement ring, and our Allison solitaire is a beautiful and timeless style.

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Ari Pave Side Stone Engagement Ring in Rose Gold with Cushion Cut Diamond | Lisa Robin

The Ari

With a stunning three rows of pavé diamonds on the band, the Ari is a true showstopper of an engagement ring.

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How does the sparkle of an oval diamond compare?

An oval or oval modified brilliant has beautiful brilliance that’s similar to a round diamond. The oval is seen most frequently cut in the standard 58 facet brilliant pattern, but can have a varying number of pavilion main facets.

Which Diamond cut looks the biggest?

Due to their higher sparkle, brilliant cut diamonds can appear larger than step cut diamonds. The spread of the table makes some brilliant cut shapes appear larger than others; marquise, oval, and pear diamonds appear larger than other diamond shapes of the same carat weight.

Which diamond shape is the rarest?

It is more difficult to find some diamond shapes than others. The demand for asscher diamonds and radiant diamonds is much lower than for other diamond shapes, making them rarer than most diamond cuts. They are followed closely by marquise and hearts.

About Diamond Shapes

What diamond shape is the most popular?

Due to many of the reasons already stated, the round brilliant diamond continues to be the most popular diamond shape in the United States. Followed by oval diamonds, pear diamonds, emerald cut diamonds, and cushion cut diamonds.