All About the Cushion Cut

Hello my friends and welcome back to the #RequiemReportBlog! If you are a lover of cushion cut diamonds you are going to want to hang around for this one.

Today I am going to break down the differences between the ‘cushion brilliant cut’ and the ‘cushion modified brilliant cut’. Have no idea what I’m talking about? Not to worry, you’re about to!

So- when you are shopping for a cushion cut diamond, one thing you want to pay attention to is whether the cut of that diamond is described as being ‘Cushion Brilliant’ or ‘Cushion Modified Brilliant’. These two cuts are similar, but they do produce a different sort of look… and the difference is in the faceting pattern. So let me elaborate!

Cushion brilliants have a very similar faceting pattern to round brilliant cut diamonds, meaning they have triangular or kite shaped facets that radiate from the center of the diamond out toward the girdle. So in short, cushion brilliant cuts have a similar look to the round brilliant cut, they just have that ‘pillow like’ or ‘cushion-y’ shape that many of you love! As a side note, cushion brilliant cuts tend to be harder to find; and therefore, can be more expensive.

This image shows the star-like faceting pattern of a Cushion Brilliant Cut. Image from princessbridediamonds.com

Next, let’s chat about cushion modified brilliant cuts. These diamonds have a bit of a different look…. they still have that pillow-like, cushion shape, but the style of faceting is quite different. If you have ever heard the term ‘crushed ice’ in regards to a diamond, that term refers to a modified brilliant! This type of cushion cut has an extra row of facets just beneath the girdle, which creates that ‘crushed ice’ look. To me, the modified brilliants just have less of a discernable faceting pattern. This is not at all a negative thing- they are certainly still vibrant and sparkly, they just have almost more of a ‘broken glass’ sort of look in comparison to cushion brilliants, which have a crisp, clear, star-like pattern that is easily identifiable. One is not better than the other, it is just completely personal preference!

This image shows two examples of a Cushion Modified Brilliant Cut. This faceting pattern creates the “crushed ice” look. Image from princessbridediamonds.com

Now- just to make things more difficult for you, there are many cutters out there who will create somewhat of a hybrid of these two cuts. If you buy a hybrid type of cushion cut, the description of that diamond will still be ‘cushion modified brilliant’. This is because if the cut is not exactly the cushion brilliant faceting pattern, there is no official name to call it a ‘hybrid’, so they just label it as a modified brilliant. But you can get diamonds that are labeled ‘cushion modified brilliant’, that don’t have nearly as much of that ‘crushed ice’ look, because it’s a hybrid cut! This is just another reason that I always recommend against buying a diamond based just off of it’s description or cert… it’s always a good idea to get a professionals eyes on it, or your own, if possible!

Here are two of the many examples that exist of “Hybrid” Cushion Cuts. Image from princessbridediamonds.com

So if you are a lover of cushion cut diamonds like myself, keep all of this information in mind when deciding which style you want. As always, if you have any questions or comments do noy hesitate to reach out! And if you’re ready to get the search started for your perfect cushion cut, you can schedule a phone consultation here to get started. See you next time!