Picking out an engagement ring that you will wear for a long time is a very big decision, in more ways than one. There are so many types of rings available, it just gets downright confusing when you go to actually buy one. One type of stone cut you may have heard of is a “cushion cut”. Cushion cut engagement rings have recently enjoyed a surge of popularity, but very few people know much about them. Read on to find out what you should know about them before you buy.
Cushion cut engagement rings have been around for a long time. Cushion cut diamond engagement rings were popular in the latter part of the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s, also. The cut brings to mind the shape of a plump pillow, hence the name “cushion cut”. They are often found in vintage and one of a kind jewelry collections, and they have a soft, antique look to them. If fact, the infamous Hope Diamond shown below is a cushion cut stone.
If you love anything antique or vintage looking, then a cushion cut engagement ring will be right up your alley, like the one pictured below from Amazon:
Some Things You Didn’t Know about Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Cushion cut diamond engagement rings have 58-60 facets. That is about 20 fewer than most diamond cuts, and so there is less “fire and sparkle” than some other cuts have. When comparing a cushion cut vs princess cut for instance, which can have up to 144 facets, you can see that a cushion cut diamond has far fewer facets. A cushion cut features rounded corners and larger facets, and they tend to have more brilliance than other cuts because of those larger facets.
- More brilliance combined with less fire and sparkle is what gives antique cushion cut engagement rings that softer, more vintage look. Cushion cuts, like other diamonds, also have a “culet” at the bottom of the stone, which is a small flat facet that creates depth and helps prevent the bottom point of the diamond from being chipped, but sometimes will cast shadows within the stone, making it look less brilliant. Keep that in mind when buying. Ask your jeweler how well the culet was made, and if it is affecting the ring’s brilliance. The culet should be rated very small or small on a cushion cut because if it is any larger than that, it may appear to be an inclusion in the diamond.
- Clarity in a cushion cut diamond engagement ring is especially important. The stone’s larger facet planes will make even the smallest flaws visible, sometimes even to the naked eye. Color is also very important for a cushion cut stone. A well cut cushion cut diamond can still be extremely brilliant even with traces of yellow color, but generally the less color in a cushion cut diamond, the more brilliance it will have.
- Cushion cuts usually look best if they are done as solitaires, so that the eye is drawn to that stone first. If accent stones are used, it is best that they are subtle, perhaps channel set on the sides of the rings shank, so as not to detract from the unique beauty of the central stone. The shape of cushion cut solitaire engagement rings ranges from square to rectangular.
- Newer cushion cuts are usually more square because modern lapidary techniques allow for more precise cutting of symmetrical square shapes. Many antique cushion cut engagement rings have as many as eight prongs, but that isn’t recommended anymore. A four prong setting is usually used now, so that the stone is very secure, yet the unique shape of the cushion cut isn’t hidden.
Does Your Cushion Cut Engagement Ring Have to be a Diamond Ring?
As you can see, cushion cut engagement rings do not need to be restricted to cushion cut diamonds. There are many gorgeous gemstone varieties available, like this cushion cut aquamarine ring:
The style shown above, a cushion cut halo ring, is very popular. The “halo’ of diamonds around the cushion cut stone is stunning, and provides a bit more sparkle, which perfectly complements the cushion cut stone’s brilliance. Obviously, a cushion cut halo setting will add to the price of the ring due to the added diamonds, but many times the added cost is well worth it, for the beauty and style that the diamonds add to the overall look of the ring.
Many beautiful gemstones such as emeralds, sapphires, topaz and even cubic zirconia stones can be cut into cushion cut rings. That’s great news for all of you gals out there who love these cushion cuts as well as colored stones. Just as a quick note, imitation and synthetic stones can also be used, so always be on the lookout for those in case what you really want are genuine stones. For instance, most of the cushion cut emerald ring examples I found on Amazon are “synthetic” or “created” emeralds. It is perfectly alright to buy these synthetic stones, (and sometimes they are a godsend for those of us on a tight budget!) but just make sure you know what you’re getting when you shop.
About Cushion Cut Engagement Ring Prices
All antique cushion cut diamond engagement rings are going to be pricey, so definitely do some price comparisons before you buy. Even new cushion cut diamonds are pricey. As mentioned above, most cushion cut rings are done as solitaires which have to be fairly large to show off the larger planes of the facets. You can expect prices of 1 carat and larger cushion cut engagement rings to start from around $3000 and go up from there for good (yet not great) quality cushion cut diamond rings, and from 1/2 carat up to 1 carat in size start around $1500. Very good quality cushion cut diamond engagement rings start around $10,000 and go up from there, depending on the size and clarity of the stone.
Good quality vintage rings will probably start in the low $10,000’s and go up from there, so be prepared for sticker shock if you are looking to go with an antique cushion cut diamond engagement ring. That said, there are some very nice cushion cut cubic zirconia rings that are available, as well as cushion cut sapphire rings, topaz rings, etc., so do check those out if you love cushion cuts but are on a budget.
A good quality cushion cut engagement ring will certainly be an investment, but if you do your research and find a reputable dealer, you will be rewarded with an absolutely gorgeous ring. If you love all things vintage, and would like to have a ring that expresses that part of your personality, a cushion cut engagement ring will be just the thing for you!
Happy Shopping!
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