Are you searching for a distinctive diamond item to enhance your jewellery collection? A cushion cut diamond ring might just be the thing for you! This ring formerly known as “old mine cut” blends old jewelry culture with modern techniques to create a square cut ring with rounded corners, quite similar to a pillow.
This diamond ring has been popular for centuries for its distinctive appearance and shape, going through various changes over the 20th and 21st centuries to improve cut angles and shrink the diamond culet.
Popular amongst couples as an engagement ring, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of the cushion cut diamond and how it can captivate the hearts of modern couples and diamond enthusiasts alike.
History and Origins of Cushion Cut Diamonds
The cushion cut came from the “Old Mine Cut,” a style that was majorly used in Brazil during the 18th and 19th centuries when Brazil was a hot spot for most of the world’s diamond mining.
The style was popular at the time amongst Brazilian stonecutters because it maximized the carat weight of the rough diamond crystals found in their mines.
The Old Mine Cut is characterized by its square shape with rounded corners and 58 facets. Over time, the cushion cut underwent refinements, with modern versions featuring 64 facets and a more precise and symmetrical design.
The cut was so widely adored for its beautiful appearance and carat retention that the majority of vintage diamond pieces you see now from the nineteenth century were an earlier form of the cushion cut.
With improvements in diamond-cutting technology, tools, and expertise, the quality and design of the cuts are also enhanced. The contemporary cushion cut evolved from the antique mine cut and also drew influence from various lesser-known cuts such as the table, Peruzzi, and candlelight cuts.
From these advancements emerged the contemporary cushion cut diamond, which blends traditional cushion cut designs with features of the round brilliant diamond, resulting in a distinctly beautiful gemstone.
Analyzing The Quality of The Cushion Cut Diamond
Cut
A diamond’s cut is arguably the most important factor in determining its value. The cut determines how light interacts with the diamond, influencing its brilliance (sparkle), fire (rainbow flashes), and scintillation (patterns of light and dark).
Cushion cuts are cut in a rectangular manner with corners that are rounded but slightly pointed. Most classic versions sport a slight rectangle of around 1.10-1.20 length to width ratio.
Modern cushion cuts often exhibit more precise faceting and symmetry, while antique cushions have a softer, more relaxed look. The modern style cushion cuts are classified into two categories -standard and modified- that have facets that fall in the range of 58-64 facets.
Color
The shape of cushion cut diamonds allows these gems to maximize and show more colors than other diamond shapes. A cushion cut diamond ring is an ideal choice because the shape enhances the brilliance of the stone.
The color grades of cushion cuts typically range from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown), but many buyers tend to go for warmer tones around G-H over the more colorless diamonds.
This is because these ranges enhance the brilliance of the stone and pair well with white gold or platinum settings, as per the diamond jewelry seen on sites like Best Brilliance for example.
Clarity
Like with most diamonds, cushion cuts display characteristics like inclusions and blemishes that reduce visibility. Ideally you want to go for a diamond with minimal inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye.
Carat
Cushion cut diamonds are oftentimes cut larger than other diamond shapes. Carat is most often associated with value, and so you should keep this in mind when looking for a cushion cut diamond to suit your budget.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Cushion Cut
Advantages
- The cushion-cut diamond is considered a very brilliant and fiery diamond; it reflects white light well into a mesmerizing display of rainbow flashes.
- Because the stone has rounded corners, the risk of chipping, common in other forms of diamond shapes, is minimal, and therefore the cushion-cut diamond is considered to be a very tough gemstone.
- The diverse number of cushion cut diamonds available means that a more significant selection of less expensive stones will likely be available, making it a more affordable option.
Cons
- One characteristic present in most cushion cut diamonds is the “bow-tie effect” – it is a darker appearance across the stone’s centre. The extent of this will, however, depend on how the diamond has been cut.
- Square cushion cuts are very easy to find, but finding a high-quality, more rectangular cushion cut requires both the right expertise and patience.
How to Find the Perfect Cushion Cut: Timeless Elegance
The cushion cut diamond is a staple of timeless elegance. Its inimitable mix of classic sophistication and modern brilliance cements its status as a spellbinding choice for anyone after something truly breathtaking, especially for an engagement ring.
From its earliest historical uses through to its modern versions, the cushion cut offers some interesting variations through which to meet personal tastes and preferences.
Equipped with the knowledge of the cut details, consideration of the 4Cs, and careful in-person examination, you’re sure to find that perfect cushion cut diamond that will mark the special occasion you’re celebrating.