Cushion Cut Engagement Rings: Vintage Charm Meets Modern Luxury
The cushion cut is one of the oldest diamond shapes in existence, and one of the most enduringly popular. With its soft, pillow-like corners and large, chunky facets, it produces a different kind of sparkle to modern brilliant cuts: deeper, more dramatic flashes of colour rather than bright white brilliance. If you're drawn to vintage jewellery, the cushion cut is worth a close look.
A brief history
Cushion cuts evolved from the old mine cut of the 18th and 19th centuries. Old mine cuts were hand-cut using candlelight as a guide, which is why they were designed to produce dramatic colour flashes rather than white light. They were optimised for a different light environment than the electric lighting of today.
Modern cushion cuts retain the rounded square or rectangular shape and the larger facets of their predecessors, but have been re-engineered to perform in contemporary settings.
Cushion brilliant vs cushion modified
When shopping for cushion cuts you'll encounter two main styles: cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant. The difference is in the facet pattern beneath the girdle. Cushion modified brilliants often have an extra row of facets that creates a crushed-ice effect, many small sparkling points of light rather than larger, distinct flashes. Cushion brilliants have larger facets and produce the more classic, chunky sparkle.
Which you prefer is entirely personal. Some people love the crushed-ice effect, others find it less satisfying than the bold flashes of a cushion brilliant. Seeing both in person, or in high-quality video, makes a real difference.
Choosing a cushion cut
For a square cushion, look for a length-to-width ratio close to 1.00:1. For a more rectangular cushion, 1.10:1 to 1.20:1 is common. Cushion cuts look good in both minimal solitaire settings and more elaborate halo or pavé designs. The halo in particular was practically made for the cushion shape.
At Una Diamond we can design a custom ring around the cushion cut of your choice. Learn more about the design process, or browse our existing collection of engagement rings.
Explore Una Diamond's Vintage-Inspired Styles
Una Diamond doesn't currently offer a cushion cut, but these vintage-adjacent styles may appeal:
- The Valencia, art deco emerald cut with tapered baguettes
- Browse vintage-inspired rings
- Or explore our most popular shapes: oval cut, solitaire, emerald cut