There is definite increase in the Cushion cut diamond’s popularity. A year ago we would get one request in two or three months. In the past month it has increase to one to two a week. That is certainly an noticeable increase in demand.

The cushion cut diamond satisfies the preference of wanting a different shape other than a round brilliant diamond. Up to now the other most popular fancy shaped diamond was the Princess cut. The Cushion cut seems to be coming into its own. Perhaps its appeal is that it is softer looking with its rounded corners and slightly curved sides. The continuing retro ring style popularity helps to support the interest for the Cushion cut as it is perceived as a past era cut style.

The look of the cushion is somewhat a cross between a Princess cut and a round brilliant. If cut well it can be quite brilliant and beautiful. Customers can choose a slight rectangular shape to a square one. As it is with most fancy shaped diamonds there is no cut grade to confirm its brilliance and those that have a longer length to width ratio will lose some light return no matter how well it is cut. In saying that though, a well cut longer diamond will still look better than a poorly cut round diamond. Our proprietary Diamond Photoscope helps our customer define actual light loss and light return in any shape diamond and helps in the process of finding the most brilliant diamond regardless
of shape.

  
Cushion cut diamonds

Cost for the Cushion cut is about 30 % less than an ideal cut round, which appeals to a lot of customers. The Cushion cut will look smaller for the same weight since they are generally cut a little deeper making the physical dimensions of length and width a bit smaller when compared side by side to a normally cut round brilliant.

There is also a perfectly cut ideal cushion brilliant called a Brellia, an extremely limited production item. It is confirmed as an ideal cut fancy shape if it is sent to AGS since they have the criteria to grade square cut shaped diamonds. It also portrays the hearts and arrow images when placed under the Firescope. Its cost hovers around an ideal cut round
brilliant.

   
Brellia examples

Cushion cut diamonds, as mentioned, portrays a kind of antique mystique and lends itself nicely to enhancing the retro look that has been popular in the past few years. Every designer now has a line of these styles that can be adapted to mounting the Cushion. It is not to say that the cushion looks good only in the antique styles but can look just as beautiful in the setting that appeals to you.

   
Cushion cut settings

So, if being different is your natural inclination and the cushion shape fits your personality then it may be quite a match especially since it does not cost as much as a round. If this sounds good to you then consider the possibilities.

Mahalo,
Russell Oshita
The Diamond Specialists Inc.

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