Cushion Cut Diamonds

Cushion Cut Diamond

Introduction:

As the name suggests, this cut diamond, when viewed from the top, resembles a pillowcase. The shape is a square/rectangle whose edges have been rounded to give it smooth corners appealing to the eye and touch.

This cut diamond has become more popular over recent decades. The new innovations in diamond cutting techniques have made it possible to modify this cut and enhance its brilliance. Typically, the cushion cut diamond has about 58 facets, but more can be added to give it more scintillation or “the crushed ice” effect.

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Summary:

A cushion cut diamond resembles a pillowcase shape when viewed from the top. It is a square/rectangle with rounded corners.

 

The cut grade of a cushion cut diamond is determined by either:

  1. Table – The topmost flat surface of a diamond. A cut grade is determined by measuring the length of the table divided by the diameter of the girdle. A quality grade has a table ratio of less than 70%.

 

  1. The girdle – This is the outer most edge of the diamond that gives it its shape. The girdle is classified as either thin, slightly thin, thick, or extremely thick. An extremely thick girdle adds more weight to the diamond while an extremely thin one makes the diamond susceptible to chipping. The girdle can be polished, bruted or faceted. Since it’s mostly not visible when engraved on a piece of jewelry, its effect on the cut grade is minimal.

 

  1. The depth – The depth is the height of the diamond from top to bottom. To determine the cut grade, the depth is divided by the width of the diamond’s girdle plane. A cushion cut diamond with a small depth percentage is preferred as it increases the size of the diamond when viewed from the top.

 

  1. The Culet – The furthest point at the bottom of the diamond. It may be pointed or faceted. A pointed culet is preferable as less light is let out to escape. Cushion cut diamonds have a large table hence the need to retain most of the light so it can be reflected back.

 

The cut grade

The cushion-cut has been in existence for more than 200 years. It was the most popular cut shape for diamonds in its first century of existence. Due to its modified cut shape with extra facets on the pavilion, this cut shape reflects light differently than other cuts. That notwithstanding, it provides a unique brilliance, although diminished, that espouses extra fire than the rest of cuts.

With an enlarged table, a diminished culet, and improved cut angles, this cut diamond wins the heart of many jewelry enthusiasts. Five aspects are used to determine the cut grade of the cushion cut diamond. These include:

  1. Table
  2. Girdle
  3. Depth
  4. Culet

 

1: The Table

The Table

The table is the uppermost flat surface of the diamond. Most of the light reflected by the diamond passes through this area. It runs parallel to the girdle plane. The cut grade using the table is determined by measuring the length of the table divided by the diameter of the girdle and expressed as a percentage. Basically, the larger the table percentage, the lesser the crown height.

This means, with a large table, ceteris paribus, the diamond will be shallower and wider, therefore appearing larger to the observer. If the size is the main determinant for you when buying your diamond, keep that in mind.

Additionally, a large table means that the diamond reflects off more light making the diamond more brilliant. However, such a diamond will have less fire as the light doesn’t get refracted and broken down into a myriad of colors because of the smaller facets in a large table.

 

2: The Girdle

The Girdle

The girdle is the outer edge of the diamond where the table and the pavilion meet. The girdle gives the diamond its shape. For example, a cushion cut diamond means that the girdle is shaped like a cushion (a rounded square/rectangle).

The girdle can be faceted, smooth, or bruted. A faceted girdle basically has extra facets around the edge, while a smooth girdle has no facets. A bruted girdle has not been polished. But the girdle is rarely seen when the diamond is engraved in a piece of jewelry.

However, how wide or thin the girdle is determining the cut grade of the diamond. The Gemological Institute of America classifies the girdle as either thin, medium, or thick with variations of each. The most preferred classification is within the range of slightly thin to thick. However, the girdle has little effect on the overall cut grade

A thick girdle only adds carat weight of the diamond. However, the size of the diamond when viewed from the top is not impacted, hence size does not increase with an increase in girdle width.

A rule of thumb is to avoid both extremely thin and extremely thick-girdled diamonds. An extremely thin girdle is susceptible to chipping especially when set on a ring due to the rough handling associated with rings. However, on earrings or pendants, the diamond will be safer. The extremely thick girdle will unnecessarily add carat weight with zero increase on the visible size of the diamond.

 

3: The depth

The depth

The depth of the diamond is the height of the diamond from the table down to the culet. This depth is measured in millimeters and is mostly expressed as a percentage of the depth of the diamond to its width.

The depth of the diamond is calculated by dividing the length from the table to the culet with the width of the girdle plane. So for instance, if the depth is 3 mm and the width is 4.5 mm, the depth percentage will be 66.7%.

A small depth percentage means that the diamond is short and wide when viewed from the top making the diamond appear larger.

 

4: The Culet

The Culet

The culet is the furthest point at the bottom of a diamond. It may be a single point or a small facet. The culet is classified from none, small, slightly small, medium, large, slightly large and extremely large by the GIA.

A small culet is preferred as this means that more light will be reflected back through the table. A large culet will let most of the light pass through creating an inclusion or a dead area in the diamond which reduces the brilliance of the diamond. That notwithstanding, it’s quite rare to find a diamond with a large culet. In any case, its size is mostly negligible. However, to refine your selection, check for the culet size.

 

ExcellentVery goodGoodFairPoor
Table %53-6356-57.9

Or

64-65

51

Or

66-68

50

Or

69-70

<50
Depth %58 – 6256 – 57.9

or

62.1 – 66

53 – 55.9

or

66.1 – 71

50 – 52.9

or

71.1 – 74

< 50

or

> 74

GirdleVery Thin – Slightly Thick

 

Very Thin

to

Thick

Very Thin

to

Very Thick

Ex. Thin

to

Ex. Thick

CuletNone

 

 

Very SmallSmallMedium> Medium
L/W ratio1.35 – 1.501.30 – 1.34

or

1.51 – 1.55

1.25 – 1.29

or

1.56 – 1.60

1.20 – 1.24

or

1.61 – 1.65

> 1.20

or

< 1.65

 

The Color

Using color to determine the quality of a cushion cut diamond is highly subjective. It highly depends on the tastes and preferences of buyers. However, the cool color grades of D-F are preferred by most buyers than the warmer colors of G-H. They are willing to pay a premium for this D-F color grade. This drives up the price for these color grades due to the law of demand and supply. However, in a world where the color of the diamond is less significant, the color grading will have little effect on the price as the actual colors are hard to perceive.

 

The Clarity

The clarity of the cushion cut diamond is also another subjective quality of the cut grade. Each buyer has their own preferences of clarity of the diamond. While some are comfortable with a hard-to-see inclusion, others may prefer a completely flawless appearance. The GIA provides an excellent assessment of clarity. Here’s a table to help determine that.

 

The Carat Weight

The carat is the main measurement of a diamond’s weight. One unit of a carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. In fact, this is the most prominent factor considered by most buyers when buying a cushion cut diamond. In most instances, the larger the carat weight, the higher the price of the diamond.

 

Large diamonds with large carat weights are rare to find. This is because the process involved in cutting a diamond is daunting and usually results in a diminished diamond size. This makes the price of the diamond to shoot exponentially as the carat weight increases.

 

However, carat weight shouldn’t be the main factor considered when buying a diamond. This is because the brilliance of a diamond is determined by the cut grade and not the diamond’s size. In fact, most of the larger diamonds have poor cut grades indicating the paradoxical need of the diamond cutter to maximize profits while minimizing the polishing of the diamond.

 

You’re better off finding a perfect cut grade diamond with a lower carat weight than a large carat diamond with poor cut grade. The carat weight also determines other factors such as the color and clarity of the diamond. A large diamond may have poor color grade but can easily get away with it due to its large size.

 

Tips to consider when buying a cushion cut diamond

 

  1. Size of the table

The cushion cut diamond is a unique shape that has grown into popularity in recent decades. The shape combined with its large surface area makes this cut diamond ideal for more jewelry lovers.

 

When looking to buy a cushion-cut diamond, the table ratio should be a major factor to consider. The table, which is the uppermost surface, determines how brilliant the diamond will appear. A large table ratio, that is, the ratio of the length of the table to the diameter of the girdle plane is preferred since it allows more light to pass through. This gives the diamond extra brilliance. A large table ratio also means that the diamond appears larger when viewed from the top giving the illusion that it has more carat weight. This is one of the main advantages of the cushion cut diamond.

 

  1. Carat weight

A carat is a unit of measurement for diamond’s weight. One carat is equal to 0.2 grams. The carat is used because diamonds are usually small in sizes are have very small weights making using grams as a unit of measurement impractical.

 

When buying your cushion cut diamond, don’t put too much emphasis on the carat weight. While a large carat weight may mean that the diamond is large, it makes not mean that it has the best quality. In fact, the surface area of the diamond visible should be a better determinant. A large carat cushion cut may have a long depth raising its price but a small visible surface area that will leave it looking small.

 

However, if you can dig deeper your pocket, large carat weight is preferable depending on the cut grade to give you maximum brilliance and fanciness for your piece of jewelry. Go big or go home.

 

  1. Price

Do not be duped into believing a highly-priced diamond translates to high quality. Always check for the cut grade and the GIA recommendations to determine the best quality diamond. Some dealers may raise the price to give the illusion of a quality cut grade diamond especially if you’re not conversant with cut grades. On the other hand, avoid the lowly priced diamonds as they may have poor cut grade quality or maybe fake.

 

In fact, it is advisable to purchase your diamonds from a trustworthy dealer with good reviews and recommendations. Don’t go to an unscrupulous dealer simply because they have lavish discounts but cannot guarantee quality.

 

  1. Clarity

The beauty of the diamond is in its brilliance. A diamond’s fluorescence is the ability to produce a bluish light when placed under ultra-violet light. Fluorescent diamonds with larger carat weight are desirable as they produce more brilliance and shiny light, unlike less fluorescent diamonds.

 

That said, ensure that the fluorescence is not extreme as it reduces the quality of the diamond. Keep in mind that it can be hard to detect fluorescence in daylight, so let your dealer test that for you. However, the fluorescence of a diamond is factored in its color grade. A color grade of D-F has more fluorescence than G-H.

 

  1. Type of Jewelry

Cushion cut diamonds are best suited for diamonds, necklaces, pendants, etc. A necklace will most probably look good with a diamond with a large table to give it a larger surface area. Earrings do not need heavy diamonds or else they’ll become uncomfortable. Other cut grade factors play a role in this as well. For rings, try and ensure that the girdle surface is not extremely thin to avoid chipping.

 

Additional information on Cushion Cut Diamonds

  • It has 58 facets but this number can vary depending on the preference of the buyer. The facet arrangement is similar to that of round brilliant cut diamonds.
  • A cushion cut diamond has larger facets making it appear bigger when viewed from the top. However, it has less sparkle than a round cut diamond.
  • The cushion cut is lowly priced than round cut diamonds up to 50%. However, with their demand and popularity rising in recent times, they may just catch up.
  • They’re the second most popular cut diamond shape after the round cut.
  • They’re often used in engagement rings because of how well they retain color and shimmer.
  • For the best quality of cushion cut diamond, try to stick to a depth percentage of less than 70%.
  • A 2-carat cushion cut can cost between $8,000 and $29,000 depending on other factors.

 

Why buy a Cushion Cut Diamond?

 

  1. They’re boisterous with color

The shape of a cushion cut diamond allows it to retain more color. This gives the diamond a characteristically unique fluorescence making the diamond quite attractive and different from the rest.

 

  1. They’re cheaper

Compared to brilliant round cut diamonds, cushion cut diamonds are cheaper and also larger. The shape of the cut allows it to appear bigger when viewed from the top giving the illusion of a higher carat. That notwithstanding, their overall price rate per carat is lower compared to a round cut diamond, much of it being due to its diminished brilliance and shape.

 

  1. Perfect for engagement rings

A cushion cut diamond sits perfectly on a ring and is perfect for an engagement ring. Its ability to retain color also makes it attractive and unique. Its large surface area also gives the illusion of a larger diamond giving the illusion of a higher carat weight.

 

  1. Unique brilliance

Unlike round cut diamonds, cushion cut diamonds exude less brilliance but with more color and shimmer making them appear fiery. The ability of the diamond to break down light into different colors gives it a beautiful allure, unlike the round brilliant cut diamonds. While most people may prefer brilliant diamonds, it doesn’t hurt to stand out from the crowd with a less shiny but beautiful diamond around your neck.