Learn About The Cushion Cut Diamond

A diamond cut is always going to be a big part of what makes any given diamond stand out. The cut is important and is part of the 4 C’s that determine a diamond’s overall desirability: cut, clarity, color and carat weight. A cushion cut diamond is one option you have today that appeals to many people. Let’s learn a little bit about this particular diamond cut and find out what makes it so popular. We will also take a look at what your options are if you believe this cut is right for you.

The cushion cut can best be described as a square or rectangular shape that has rounded corners and fifty eight facets. The overall shape of a cushion cut diamond reminds the viewer of a cushion or pillow and this is where the name comes from. While a round brilliant cut diamond is going to disperse more light entering a diamond, the cushion cut is often considered to be next best at doing this and that makes it quite popular. This is actually the way that diamonds have been cut in bygone eras and if you look at many older gems you will see that this is the way they look. The reason you will most likely not want an older cushion diamond is because they had a thinner girdle than would be seen now and this causes them to chip easily. For this reason, a newer stone is preferable if you are choosing this cut.

You may have heard of the cushion cut referred to as the Old Mine cut. This is actually a slightly different cut than the cushion cut, being older and usually made during a time when cutting tools were not as advanced as they are today. The patterns of these older cushion cut diamonds are more blocky and this look appeals to some, but today’s cushion cut diamond is superior in many ways. The symmetry of the facets is better and this highlights the cut’s natural ability to throw off light. The classic shape of the cushion cut look is preferred by many who like the way that antique diamonds look. Many of these buyers are looking to find an alternative to an estate sale diamond and a modern cushion cut can give them exactly that. Oval and Princess cut shapes are popular among diamond lovers and this gives the cushion cut some popularity due to its similarity to those two types of cuts. It is, however, the subtlety that is most often said to be what makes this cut so attractive to people. The fact that they can have a brilliant, shining diamond without drawing too much attention to it impresses them.

Modern fans of the cushion cut diamond tend to want this kind of gem set as a solitaire. It does well without needing the accompaniment of other stones and a 4 prong setting will generally work just fine with it. This particular type of setting also allows for ideal viewing of the diamond so that it can be fully appreciated for all its beautiful qualities. Generally, if the stone is to be accented then those accents will be set in channels so that they are merely highlighting the diamond itself, but plenty of people do not choose the accents and prefer the diamond to be entirely on its own.

While they are not as common with jewelry stores as they once were, they are still available. You may have to do a little bit of shopping around, though, and even have a custom ring made for you. Those who want this vintage look will find that a custom ring is worth shopping for, but it is not the road that everyone wants to take. You may even want to consider using an older antique diamond. An older stone can be mounted on a newer ring. Keep in mind too that you can get colored diamonds featuring this cut if you want and there are plenty of other options to make it uniquely yours. The cushion cut diamond may not be the most popular cut, but there are still a lot of people that love it.