The Definitive Guide to Cushion Cut Diamonds

The cushion cut diamond is arguably the trickiest diamond shape to navigate. This is because there are different types of cushion cut diamonds. Regardless, they are true treasures in the diamond world and are considered some of the most recognizable vintage diamonds. If you’re interested in learning about the cushion cuts tangled terminology, pros and cons, and pricing, then read on!

Pros and Cons of Cushion Cut Diamonds
Expert Tips for Buying a Cushion Cut Diamond
Antique Cushion Cut Diamonds
Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Cushion Cut Diamonds?

A diamond is considered cushion cut when it has a rectangular or square shape with rounded edges. These diamonds are aptly named as they can resemble a pillow or cushion shape. Cushion cut diamonds tend to have a greater surface area, allowing more light to pass through them, resulting in high levels of fire and brilliance. 

Cushion cut diamonds come in numerous styles varying in their shape, silhouette, and facetting pattern. Understanding the different types of cushion cut diamonds is vital, as a lack of clarity on the topic tends to be the biggest negative when purchasing one. What’s more, having a decent understanding of this will yield one of the cushion cut’s most beneficial qualities; it is flexible in regards to personal preference.

What Are the Different Styles of Cushion Cut Diamonds?

The different styles of cushion cut diamonds include old mine, antique, brilliant, modified brilliant, modified crushed ice, and modified hybrid. Cushion cuts are widely considered the most confusing diamond due to the numerous styles and nuanced differences. 

Old mine cushion cuts, cushion brilliants, and antique cushion cuts in particular are often used interchangeably however, they do have subtle differences.

1. Old Mine Cushion Cut

Old mine cushion cuts are the earliest form of the cushion cut and are characterized by a smaller table facet, large culet, and high crown. There is an emphasis on fire and the cut has a warm feel with colorful flashes of light and less intense white sparkle.

• These were hand-cut, mostly pre-1940s, and lacked strict standardization
• Earliest form of the cushion cut
• Antique version of today’s modern cushion
• A bit squarish and round
• Chunky facets
• Has a large culet (a flat extra facet at the point or bottom of the diamond)
• Smaller table facet
• High crown with a steep angle

2. Antique Cushion Cut

Antique cushion cuts are arguably the most appealing style, bridging the gap between the old mine cushion cut and the more modern cushion cut styles.

• Similar to old mine cushion cuts
• This is a more general term used to refer to old mine cuts as well as early cushion brilliants
• Indication of an older style usually cut before the 20th century

3. Cushion Brilliant

Cushion brilliants are a classic evolution of the traditional cut that presents a significant step towards modern cutting techniques, optimizing for more brilliance and fire.

• Similar to old mine cushion cuts
• The faceting pattern is closer to that of a modern brilliant cut
• Tends to have greater fire and brilliance than old mine cuts because it has more facets
• Cushion cut with a brilliant faceting pattern

4. Cushion Modified Brilliant

Cushion modified brilliants can differ from the standard modern cushion cuts in very small, technical, ways. The significance of this modern style is simply the fact that there is some difference from the standard cushion brilliant.

• A cushion brilliant with any sort of modification e.g. an extra facet or different alignment of facets
• A modern evolution of the cushion brilliant which generally comes in one of two sub-styles; crushed ice or hybrid.

5. Cushion Modified Brilliant “Crushed Ice”

Cushion modified brilliants with the “crushed ice” style are characterized by a more sparkly and splintery look thanks to the larger quantity of small facets.

• As opposed to the chunky facets of antique and old mine cushion cut diamonds, the “crushed ice” style has many little facets giving the stone a glittery look and a ton of sparkle.
• Not all cushion modified brilliants are necessarily crushed ice, however, all crushed ice cushions are considered to be cushion modified brilliants.

6. Cushion Modified Brilliant “Hybrid”

Cushion modified brilliants with the “hybrid” style aim to bring together the best of the other modern styles and provide a middle-of-the-road option. 

• You may come across this term; all it means is that the facet patterns will represent a combination of cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant.
• On GIA reports these will simply appear as “cushion modified brilliant”

There are many facetting patterns, but there are also a variety of silhouettes. The more modern cushion cuts tend to be more square (standard) or slightly more elongated. The former are in a 1.0 to 1.1 length-to-width ratio, whereas elongated cushion cuts have a 1.15 to 1.3 length-to-width ratio.

Pros and Cons of Cushion Cut Diamonds

While cushion cuts have maintained a strong place among the most popular diamonds for multiple centuries, there are bound to be some potential drawbacks. The key to understanding this diamond is to attain a holistic view of it; the positives as well as the negatives.

Pros of Cushion Cut Diamonds

There are clear reasons that the cushion cut has remained such a popular choice after so many years. The following are what we consider the strongest factors.

• High level of dispersion due to the cut, resulting in significant fire.
• Excellent brilliance due to proportions and faceting.
• Rounded corners reduce the chances of chipping and snagging.
• It is popular, meaning you will have no shortage of options.
• Less expensive than brilliant round cut diamonds.
• They have never gone out of style in the 200 years they’ve been available.

Cons of Cushion Cut Diamonds

No diamond shape is without its flaws and downsides. Below, we’ve compiled the most important reasons you may think twice about the cushion cut.

• Deeper cut resulting in a smaller top face area to carat ratio than most other shapes.
• The open table may make imperfections more visible.
• Highly varied and complex cut in regards to terminology and styles.
• High-quality elongated cushion cuts are not as common as their square counterparts.
• The lack of uniformity across cushion cuts can make it difficult to compare them.

How Much Does a Cushion Cut Diamond Cost?

Like any other diamond, the cost of cushion cuts is primarily determined by the 4Cs; carat, cut, clarity, and color. What’s more, cushion cuts in particular have a large combination of various silhouettes and faceting patterns, resulting in a variety of styles ranging in price.

The pricing of a 1-carat cushion cut can range from $3,600 for a SI1 clarity stone with J color, all the way up to $10,300 for a VVS1 with D color. 

The table below breaks down the approximate cost of a square cushion cut diamond of G color and VS2 clarity at varying carats as of January 2025.

Expert Tip: Elongated cushion cuts are rarer than their square counterparts, and this will be reflected in their pricing. You can expect to see a price increase of 5-15% or even more depending on the degree of elongation.

Expert Tips for Buying a Cushion Cut Diamond

When purchasing any diamond, you should take great care in making an informed decision as there are many nuanced factors to consider. You should always aim to get the best bang for your buck by balancing the 4Cs with price and style. When it comes to cushion cut diamonds, the need to be well-informed is emphasized due to its confusing nature.

Here are 8 expert tips you should keep in mind when shopping for a cushion cut diamond.

1. Don’t fall for the lab-grown hype.

The simple fact is that if you want your diamond to be valuable, then you want to avoid lab-grown diamonds as they will become worthless in the second-hand market once you’ve purchased them. Cushion cuts have evergreen appeal and are only rising in popularity; protect the value of your purchase by buying natural.

2. Take your time.

If you’ve made any important or expensive purchases in the past, then you’ll know that taking your time pays off. Don’t be afraid to shop around and consider your options. Take an opportunity to see what’s out there and learn more about diamonds as well as your and your loved ones’ preferences. If you decide not to settle or make an impulse decision, it will pay off once you find the cushion cut with the perfect style and price.

3. Cut above the rest.

Any diamond expert will tell you that the 4Cs (cut, clarity, color, carat) are the most crucial factors in any diamond purchase. Balancing these based on your personal preferences and budget is key whether we are talking about cushion cuts or not. When it comes to cushion cuts specifically, however, we feel that cut should get some extra emphasis. The cut directly impacts a diamond’s brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

What’s more, there are a variety of cutting styles, each with its own unique look and feel- the quality of the cut strongly influences the overall look of the diamond and how well-executed the intended style is. Finally, a cushion cut with a poor cut will suffer greatly as any flaws will be accentuated due to the typically large table.

The exceptions to this are of course antique cushion cuts. By their very identity, a “poor cut” is an indicator of authenticity rather than a lack of quality. Antique collectors know very well that these diamonds were hand-cut often by candlelight and for candle-list environments. Holding antique cushion cuts to modern-day cutting standards is not fair and undermines an aspect of their natural charm and appeal.

4. Avoid Color K and Below 

Although cut is particularly important for cushion cuts, that doesn’t mean you should neglect the other 3Cs. As stated in the previous point, the key is to find a balance. Generally, it isn’t bad advice to be flexible on color and clarity however, when it comes to cushion cuts, color is another particularly noteworthy factor.

More than just about any other diamond, cushion cuts show more color. If you’re considering a platinum or white gold setting, then we recommend a color grade of G or better. The reasonable limit in our eyes is K color as this will look too yellow for most.

5. Avoid Clarity SI2 and Below

The next of the 4Cs we urge you to consider is clarity. Although arguably not as important as cut and color, a cushion cut with a low clarity grade can be problematic due to the large table. This flat top-facing facet makes the flaws of the diamond a lot more noticeable. For this reason, we recommend avoiding cushion cuts with a clarity of SI2 or lower.

6. Negotiate With Your Jeweler

We find this to be one of the most underrated tips in purchasing any sort of diamond because it is very effective yet many people are unaware that it’s even an option. Yes, negotiating with your jeweler is something we recommend everyone does, so our tip to you is to understand how to do this well and keep in mind that it is an accepted practice.

7. Consider Off Carats

Another easy and very effective tip that can apply to any diamond purchase is to buy diamonds just below the carat and half-carat. You can save a lot of money by avoiding thresholds in which the price per carat increases. For example, buying a 0.99-carat diamond rather than a 1.00-carat diamond or buying a 1.49-carat diamond instead of a 1.50-carat diamond.

8. Avoid Hybrid Cuts

Finally, we recommend avoiding “hybrid” cuts. Not as bad as a lab-grown diamond, but with a similar pitfall; hybrid cuts are very much a niche and therefore will be difficult to sell in the future should you choose to do so. Strictly from a value standpoint, hybrid cuts are not nearly as good a choice as the other styles.

Antique Cushion Cut Diamonds 

If you aren’t familiar with all the different types of cushion cut diamonds, then finding the perfect one can be especially challenging. While personal preference certainly factors in, we generally recommend seeking out antique cushion cut diamonds.

Old Mine vs. Antique Cushion Cut Diamonds

The conversation surrounding cushion cuts can get a bit messy because of overlapping and unclear terminology, and while “old mine” and “antique cushion cut” are commonly used interchangeably, that is not exactly correct.

Old mine diamonds are considered to be antique cushion, but not all antique cushions are considered to be old mine. Likewise, antique cushions may fall under the cushion brilliant or cushion modified brilliant categories although they also may not.

In other words, old mine cuts are a strict subset of antique cushion cuts, while cushion brilliants and modified cushion brilliants can be considered antique cushion cuts but can also be modern.

Old Mine

Old mine cuts are antique cushion cuts, but what exactly certifies a diamond to be considered “old mine”?

Old mine diamonds are characterized by chunkier faceting patterns, a smaller table facet, the presence of a culet, and a steep crown angle. The culet is the extra facet at the diamond’s tip and the crown angle is the angle from the table to the girdle.

For a diamond to truly be an old mine, very specific measurements must be present such as the table percentage being under 53 and there being 58 facets (including the culet). If a diamond fails to meet a particular measurement but retains the other characteristics, it can still be considered an antique cushion cut

Antique cushion cuts must have a culet, chunky facets, and a smaller table. Often times they can fall under the cushion brilliant category, but may also be cushion modified brilliant if the faceting pattern differs from the classic brilliant faceting pattern. The important detail to keep in mind is that a diamond may fall outside the old mine, cushion brilliant, and modified cushion brilliant categories and still be considered an antique cushion cut.

Why Are Antique Cushion Cuts Superior?

Antique cushion cut diamonds are particularly special and undoubtedly stand in a class of their own. So what makes them superior to modern cushion cuts?

Crafted in the 18th to early 20th centuries, these magnificent stones are special by nature as they were traditionally cut by hand. The hand-crafted character of these diamonds is an irreplaceable quality; the same level of value and interest cannot be replicated by modern cutting techniques.

What’s more, antique cushion cut diamonds evoke a sense of romance and historical significance. This, again, is a quality with which modern cushion cuts can not compare or compete.

Finally, antique cushion cuts also appeal to the pragmatist who may not necessarily value the stone’s historical essence or distinct hand-crafted nature. Unlike the sharp brilliance of modern cushion cuts, these stones tend to feature a softer, more delicate play of the light. Additionally, antique cushion cuts tend to mask color more effectively than their modern counterparts, which is an excellent trait since color is a major factor in a diamond’s overall price and beauty.

The simple and clear fact is that antique cushion cuts are favored by collectors, enthusiasts, and investors alike. 

How to Identify a Cushion Cut Diamond

Cushion cut diamonds have a rounded square or rectangle shape and tend to have larger facets than most other diamonds. While the number, shape, and arrangement of facets can vary, the cushion cut is most easily identified by its “pillowy” shape. Although the precise details of cushion cuts can vary widely, there are some technical aspects to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cushion Cut Diamonds Expensive?

As is the case with any other type of diamond, the price largely hinges on the 4Cs; carat, color, clarity, and cut. Using the round brilliant diamond as a benchmark, cushion cuts are generally less expensive per carat because more of the rough diamond is preserved during the cutting process.

Are Cushion Cut Diamonds Common?

Yes, cushion cut diamonds are quite common and have been gaining popularity. The round brilliant is still more common, but cushion cuts remain a top choice, especially for engagement rings.

How Do Cushion Cut and Princess Cut Diamonds Compare? 

The most apparent difference between the two cuts is that cushions have rounded corners, while princesses pointed corners. They share a similarity in overall shape as they both have a square or rectangular face. Additionally, princess cuts have a more modern and geometric look (as opposed to the cushion cuts’ softer and romantic/vintage look and feel), are more vulnerable to chipping due to their pointed corners, and typically cost more.

How Many Facets Do Cushion Cut Diamonds Have?

Traditional cushion cuts typically have 58 facets, while modified cushion cuts can have 57 to 64. Facets play a vital role in the brilliance and fire of a cushion cut diamond.

What Is the Cushion Cut Diamond Table?

The cushion cut diamond’s table is its largest facet and can be seen on the top of the diamond. Typically the ideal table for cushion cut diamonds is approximately 55%-67% of the diamond’s total width. The table is a crucial element as it impacts the overall appearance and affects how well light will enter the diamond, reflect off other facets, and return as brilliance or fire.

What Are the Dimensions of a Cushion Cut Diamond?

The dimensions of a square 1-carat cushion cut diamond are typically about 5.83mm by 5.83mm by 3.73mm. The dimensions of a cushion cut diamond depend on its carat and can vary slightly. Typically the length-to-width ratio is between 1.00 and 1.10 for square-shaped cushion cuts, while elongated cushion cuts will have a length-to-width ratio between approximately 1.15 and 1.3.

Does a Cushion Modified Brilliant Have a Crushed Ice Faceting Pattern?

No. Crushed ice cushion cuts have a glittery look due to their smaller and more plentiful facets as opposed to the chunkier faceting pattern of an antique cushion cut. Not all cushion modified brilliants will be cushion crushed ice, however, all cushion crushed ice will be cushion modified brilliant.