Cushion Shape Diamonds

The cushion is a cushion-style shape with rounded corners. The term is frequently used for fancy colored stones manufactured in this shape.

The cushion shape used to be called Old Mine Cut before the turn of the century, when it was one of the most popular diamond cuts. From 1830 and up to the XX century it was the only diamond cut. Many of the Old Mine Cuts were made with steep crown and pavilion facets as well as a culet and a rather small table. As a rule, this cut had an insufficient girdle thickness, often resulting in chipping, and larger culet. It was around 1913 when Tolkowsky manufactured modern round brilliant with the angles welded into the cushion cut.

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Older and modern cushion cuts are practically the same, with the later having better symmetry, polish and proportions. While modern cut diamonds reflect light in needlelike tracery, the older cut ones return light in tressera way. In addition newer cushion cut diamonds have smaller culets.

The famous exposure of a 2.07 carat cushion shape ring from Harry Watson resulted in drastic increase in demand for this renowned elegant diamond shape. It has become very popular over the recent ten years, with the demand for it increasing dramatically as designers continue to use the cushion cut.

Returning to the culet features, it is important to note that the culet should be graded in accordance with its visualization to the eye. A diamond behaves as a window if opposing facets are parallel, and this is exactly what happens if the culet is too big, because the culet is parallel to the table. The result is that you can see whatever is under the diamond. The color of your skin is quite noticeable through this hole. However, if there is white metal under the culet it may be rather unnoticeable because it produces sparkling light. A culet of a medium size is often invisible to the unaided eye, but even slightly larger one becomes well-noticeable.

Modern cushion cut stones have 58 facets and are usually made with three main facet patterns including two Cushion Brilliants and a Modified Cushion Brilliant with an extra facets` line below the girdle.

The ratio of the cushion cut is a matter of personal taste and it may range from almost square (length to width ratio 1.05 or less) to very rectangular (length to width ratio 1.3 or more). However, the classic cushion shape ratio is between 1.10 and 1.20.

Like other fancy shaped diamonds, cushion-shaped one may have a “bow tie” defect. This is a dark cloud in the center of the diamond resembling the shape of a man`s bow. It occurs when the angles are poorly-proportioned. This defect leads to the lack of brilliance.

The cushion cuts have less brilliance as compared with round diamonds, but they are more dispersive (white light is separated into spectral colors). The fire and brilliance of a diamond depend to a great extent on the skills of the jeweler to fashion the facets. But there exist some typical features, such as exceptional sparkling of the Modified Cushion Brilliants and so on.

Being classically brilliant and sparkling, cushion cut diamonds are perfect choice for every style of engagement ring from the antique settings to the temporary pave settings.