Cushion Cut Diamond
By Jared James ยท Last updated 21 May 2026
Quick answer
A cushion cut diamond has a square or rectangular outline with soft, rounded corners, and depending on the facet pattern it can look antique, modern, chunky or crushed ice. Many buyers find themselves choosing between a true square cushion at a ratio close to 1.00 and an elongated cushion somewhere around 1.15 to 1.30, so it helps to decide the sparkle style and the outline you want first, then compare colour, depth and setting from there.
Shape at a glance
| Detail | Typical detail | Buying note |
|---|---|---|
| Facet pattern | Brilliant or modified brilliant, with soft corners. | The facet style changes the look dramatically, anywhere from broad chunky flashes to a fine crushed ice sparkle. |
| Typical ratio | Around 1.00 to 1.10 for square cushions and 1.15 to 1.30 for rectangular cushions. | Settle on the outline before you compare grades, because a square cushion and a rectangular one feel quite different on the hand. |
| Sparkle | Can show strong fire, soft brilliance or a crushed ice texture. | Video really matters here, because the report cannot tell you whether you will like the facet pattern. |
| Best for | Halos, vintage-inspired rings, solitaires and soft-edged designs. | Choose cushion when you want a warm, soft outline rather than sharp, defined corners. |
What is a Cushion Cut Diamond?
A cushion cut diamond combines a square or rectangular outline with rounded, pillow-soft corners, which is where the name comes from. The shape has a lovely old-cut feel to it, though modern cushions are cut in several different ways.
Some cushions show broad, chunky flashes of light, while others show a crushed ice pattern made up of many small, glittering reflections, and neither one is automatically better. The right cushion is simply the one you like watching in motion.
What to check before choosing
Crushed ice or brilliant cushion cut?
Work out whether you prefer broad, chunky flashes or a crushed ice texture made up of many tiny reflections, because this single decision changes the look of the ring far more than a small difference in colour or clarity grade. Always compare videos of the exact stone before you commit.
Best colour grade for a cushion cut diamond
Cushions tend to hold a little warmth in the corners, especially in larger stones, so H or better is a safe starting point in platinum or white gold. A yellow or rose gold setting is more forgiving and lets you drop a grade comfortably.
Square or elongated cushion cut?
A square cushion sits around a 1.00 to 1.10 ratio and reads compact and traditional, while an elongated cushion at 1.15 to 1.30 reads longer on the finger and faces up larger for the same carat weight. Compare the millimetre measurements rather than just the carat number, because a deep cushion can look smaller than you expect.
Settings that suit this shape
- A halo traces the softened outline neatly and can make a cushion look noticeably more substantial.
- A simple 4-prong setting keeps the shape soft and clean, with very little metal in the way.
- Vintage details like milgrain and delicate side stones suit cushions well, since the shape already carries a romantic, old-world feel.
Who does cushion cut suit?
Cushion cut suits anyone who wants a softer diamond shape with a bit of personality. It comes into its own when the setting leans romantic, vintage or detailed.
Watch for
- Crushed ice sparkle is a personal taste, so see it moving in a video before you choose.
- A deep cushion can face up smaller than its carat weight suggests.
- Body colour can be a little more noticeable than it is in a round brilliant.
Watch: before you buy a cushion cut diamond
A quick walkthrough of what to weigh up before you choose a cushion cut diamond.
Other diamond shapes
- #01
Round
If you want the most sparkle and the easiest stones to compare, the round brilliant is the shape to reach for. It is also the only common diamond shape that comes with a proper cut grade, so settle on cut quality first and then choose colour and clarity grades that still look clean and bright once the stone is set.
- #02
Oval
An oval diamond gives you a larger, more lengthening look than a round diamond of a similar weight, and it keeps the bright sparkle pattern of a brilliant cut. There is no single cut grade that tells you whether an oval is a good one, so the things to look at are the bow tie, the length-to-width ratio, the shape of the shoulders and how evenly the two ends mirror each other.
- #03
Emerald Cut
An emerald cut diamond is a step cut, which means it has long, open facets and neatly clipped corners, and it gives you a rectangular outline with broad flashes of light rather than the fast glitter of a brilliant cut. Clarity, colour and ratio all show up more clearly here than in other shapes, so most buyers start at VS1 or VS2 clarity, G colour or better, and a length-to-width ratio somewhere between 1.40 and 1.55 for a balanced, classic look.
- #04
Marquise
A marquise diamond is a long brilliant-cut shape with two gently pointed tips, and it gives you one of the largest face-up looks you can get for the carat weight, so it always makes a statement. The trade-off is that it needs excellent symmetry, a bow tie you can live with and tips that are properly protected, so choose it when you want length, drama and presence.
- #05
Pear
A pear shaped diamond, sometimes called a teardrop diamond, has one rounded end and one gently pointed tip. The things worth checking are the length-to-width ratio, which most buyers like somewhere between 1.50 and 1.70, the point alignment, the bow tie effect through the centre, and the prongs that keep the tip protected. Choose pear if you want an elongated shape with a little more softness than a marquise.
- #06
Princess Cut
A princess cut diamond is a square brilliant cut with sharp, uncut corners and plenty of sparkle. It is often called a square diamond, and it is a popular modern alternative to a round brilliant that usually costs a little less per carat. The one practical catch is that the sharp corners need protecting from chips, so look for V-prongs or a bezel, and keep an eye on face-up size, symmetry and colour near the edges.
- #07
Radiant Cut
A radiant cut diamond pairs a square or rectangular outline with cropped corners and brilliant-style facets. It gives more sparkle than an emerald cut and has softer corners than a princess cut, so it suits anyone who wants geometry without giving up brightness. The first thing to decide is whether you want a square radiant at a ratio close to 1.00 or an elongated one at 1.15 to 1.35, and from there you can check the centre brightness and the facet pattern.
- #08
Asscher
An asscher cut diamond is a square step cut with cropped corners and long, parallel facets that draw the eye down into the stone, giving the deep, concentric hall of mirrors look the shape is known for. It is essentially a square version of the emerald cut, so the same things matter most: clarity sits on show through the open facets, body colour can be visible, and you want a ratio close to square at around 1.00 to 1.05.
- #09
Old Mine
An old mine cut diamond is an antique cushion-shaped cut, hand-cut from roughly the early 1700s through to the late 1800s, long before electric light and modern faceting. It has a soft, squarish outline, a tall crown, a small table and a large open culet that shows as a little circle in the centre, and it was cut to glow under candlelight rather than to throw out the bright sparkle of a modern brilliant. No two are quite alike, so each stone is judged on its own.
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View cushion cut ringsFrequently asked questions
- What is a cushion cut diamond?
- A cushion cut diamond has a square or rectangular outline with rounded, pillow-soft corners. It can be cut as a chunky old-style brilliant or with fine crushed ice faceting, so the exact stone matters far more than the name printed on the report.
- What is an elongated cushion cut diamond?
- An elongated cushion is a cushion cut with a longer outline, usually a length-to-width ratio between 1.15 and 1.30. It faces up larger on the finger than a square cushion of the same carat weight and tends to read as more modern.
- What is a crushed ice cushion cut diamond?
- Crushed ice describes a facet pattern with many small, irregular reflections that look a little like shattered glass or, fittingly, crushed ice. Some buyers love the texture, while others prefer the broader, chunkier flashes of an old-style cushion brilliant.
- What is the difference between a cushion cut and a princess cut?
- A cushion cut has softened, rounded corners and a facet style that varies from stone to stone. A princess cut has sharp, exposed corners and a more uniform square brilliant pattern, so it reads crisper and more geometric.
- What is the difference between a cushion cut and a round diamond?
- A round brilliant is a circular shape built for maximum sparkle, and it is the only common shape with a formal cut grade. A cushion is square or rectangular with rounded corners and a softer, more romantic look, and it usually costs a little less per carat.
- Are cushion cut diamonds good for engagement rings?
- Yes. Cushion cuts are hard-wearing for daily wear and especially flattering in halo, vintage and three-stone engagement rings, where the soft outline really carries the design.
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