Cushion Cut Diamonds

Also known as a ‘pillow cut’, the Cushion Cut’s ample rounded form makes it seem like the stone has been folded into shape rather than cut.

Cushion Cut Diamond (Top View)

Cushion Cut Diamond (Side View)

SOFTLY ROMANTIC

 It’s a period style that has wooed diamond lovers and hopeless romantics for well over a century, although until recently you’d be more likely to find it at an antiques auction than a jewellery store.

Gorgeous and velvety with just the right amount of lovely thrown in, the Cushion Cut diamond has an antique look that whisks you away and plumps you right down in the middle of a Jane Austen novel. Take note men: this is the diamond Mr Darcy would buy.

We Say

The Cushion Cut diamond has large facets that make it easy to detect inclusions and traces of colour so go for a stone with the highest colour and clarity grades your budget will allow.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND GRADING

With its large facets, rectangular outline, rounded corners and curved sides, the Cushion Cut falls somewhere between an Oval shape diamond and a mine cut (a simple cut with large facets popular in the 19th Century). 

The Cushion Cut diamond is renowned for its remarkable powers of light dispersion (known as fire), which splits light into the colours of the rainbow.

Cushion Cut Diamond (Top View)

Cushion Cut Diamond (Side View)

The Cushion Cut typically has 57 facets but the specific cutting style used for Cushion Cut diamonds can actually vary quite a lot. You’ll find ‘Antique Cushion Cuts’, ‘Cushion Brilliant’ and ‘Modified Cushion Brilliant’ amongst others. Antique style cushions tend to have larger facets which create broad flashes of fire, whilst modified brilliants have smaller facets for a ‘crushed ice’ look that displays smaller bursts of fire. You can find out the cutting style of a diamond from its grading certificate.

Shop loose Cushion cut diamonds

GRADING

Currently, there aren’t any universally accepted standards for grading the cut of Cushion Cut diamonds so certifying laboratories don’t do it. Instead, it’s down to individual retailers to evaluate the quality of the cut for this shapes. 

We've developed our own criteria to provide consistent cut grading for all the Cushion Cut diamonds we offer. These take into account factors such as table and depth percentage, polish and symmetry, and length to width ratio.

Refer to the table below to see how we grade Cushion Cut diamonds.

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

The Cushion Cut was first developed in the 19th Century, where it was given the name ‘Candlelight Cut’ because of the beautiful way it reflected the domestic lighting of the time. Since then, it has undergone several incarnations but has retained its characteristic pillow shape throughout.

STYLE GUIDE

Cushion Carys Diamond Ring in 18K Rose Gold

Diamond Set Cushion Bijou Diamond Ring in Platinum

Shop Cushion diamond rings

A Cushion Cut diamond is ideal if you’re looking for a special diamond that’s a little bit out of the ordinary. It’s perfect for the romantic at heart and those who love antiques browsing, historical novels, and cuddling up in front of an open fire.

With the choice of a square or rectangular outline, the Cushion Cut is one of those rare shapes that flatters all finger types. If your fingers are short, opting for a longer stone will help to make them appear longer. 

Length to Width Ratio

There are absolutely no hard and fast rules when it comes to the ideal ratio for a Cushion Cut so it comes down to what you find most appealing.

For a square outline, look for a length to width ratio between 1.00 and 1.05, and if you prefer a more rectangular shape, you’ll need a length to width ratio upwards of 1.15.

Setting

Wear in a yellow gold solitaire setting for a beautiful antique feel or frame with tiny micro-pavé diamonds for a look that’s more modern and sparkling.