Five Reasons Not to Buy a Cushion Cut Diamond

Why are Cushion Cut Diamonds so Difficult to Buy?

Buying a cushion cut diamond is a bit like buying a mattress. Hear me out. Sure, you could buy a mattress online, and it shows up at your door, sleep savior it was meant to be. Right? Wrong. Because really, there’s no standard. What’s too soft for one person is too hard for another. And guess what—it’s pretty much the same with the cushion cut — despite their growing popularity over the last decade.

Cushion cut diamonds don’t even have an official cut grade. They’re so unique. No two are alike—and I know what you’re thinking here. Aren’t no two diamonds alike? Sure, but cushion cut diamonds are a whole different story. Despite having some of the best fire (those colored flashes of light some diamonds are rocking) in the game, from length-to-width ratios to faceting patterns to corner shapes, there’s so much variety in how cushion diamonds are cut that there’s no meaningful way to know without seeing it if it’s the one for you. Or really, if it’s even that pretty.

Cushion Cut Diamonds Come in Every Shape, Size, and Ratio

First, the basics. Evolved from old mine cuts, today’s modern cushions come in endless variations on this slightly squared shape with rounded corners. Some are more “pillowy”, while some have straighter sides. Some have wide, deliciously rounded corners, while some have a tighter, sharper turn around the bend, and then there’s one kind you definitely don’t want to buy. This endless variation can create an entirely different look from one stone to the next, making it literally impossible to know what it looks like without seeing it with your own two eyes. And even harder to perfectly fit the halo engagement ring styles that are uber popular today.

Pro tip — if you’re purchasing a cushion cut diamond, make sure the setting is designed for your specific diamond, and not retrofitted to something ill-fitting and pre-made. Cushion engagement rings are meant to be one of a kind.

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Cushion Cut Diamonds Don’t Have Standardized Faceting Patterns

On top of all these shape differences, cushion cut diamonds have a facet issue. See, a diamond’s surface is made up of a lot of tiny little planes—known as facets—that each has the potential to change the pattern of light return of a diamond. Now, certain diamond shapes, especially the round brilliant cut, have standardized faceting patterns that are pretty dependable. But not cushions, despite having been around even longer than the modern round brilliant cut!

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Vintage Cushion Cut Diamond Darlings

We get it, cushion cut engagement rings are kind of romantic. And they’ve been around for hundreds of years, so the prospect of finding an antique one seems pretty good. But just like your perfect partner, a good antique cushion cut can be hard to find. See, older cushion cuts don’t subscribe to modern ideals. You’ll often find them in lower color grades (and honestly, cushions are a major offender when it comes to retaining color and we don’t recommend anything below a G or H), and with a lot less symmetrical faceting, which means the light return might be meh. Also, they could even look like they have a giant black hole smack dab in the middle. Which is really just a large culet, something antique cushions are kind of known for. And no one wants that.

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Cushion Cut Diamond Video Fails

Knowing all of the above, our last reason for not insisting on a cushion cut diamond is that sometimes modern conveniences just fail us. Despite the cushion’s endless variables and modifications, you’ll find them bucketed online as, simply, “cushion.” Not helpful. That means you get the pleasure of digging through each and every grading report yourself, checking for cut specifications and ratios and real-time images to make sure there are no surprises except the proposal itself. 

All in all, it’s easy to fall for a combination of factors that just doesn’t exist, and you could spend an eternity shuffling through every website in town for the perfect cushion engagement ring. We’d rather you spent an eternity just being in love!

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How to a Buy Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring, if You Must

We think cushion cut diamonds are best purchased by working with an expert who can help you find one that’s exactly what you’re looking for. But if you’re going to give it a shot going alone, you can start by throwing the four Cs out the window. Though try not to break anything.

Then, figure out what you like. Modern or antique (and by the way, lab grown diamonds can be custom cut like an antique cushion or old mine cut). What shape? Elongated, square, something in between? Take a look at a few modified versus brilliant cuts. What’s your sparkle type? Do you dig that crushed ice look? Or prefer a more defined, chunky pattern? Then think about cut, color, and clarity—in that order. Finally check out our definitive guide to purchasing this tricky shape.

And remember, every cushion engagement ring is a bit different when it comes to clarity. Those with a crushed ice look might hide lower clarity better, while those with large, open facets will show off their stuff. As for cut, because there are so many variations, try looking for a depth percentage under 70%, and a table under 70% for best results.

And lastly, if you find a cushion cut diamond you like, grab it. Because you’ll never find one just like it again!