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CUSHION-CUT DIAMOND : Efficient Brilliance of Square Diamond

Conspicuous among the fancy brilliants is the cushion-cut diamond. Not round but squarish, the cushion diamond is not only an effective gem, but is efficient as well. There is little wonder indeed how the biggest of polished diamonds in the world comes in the shape of this square diamond.

Cushion Cut Diamond
Pattern of the cushion shape

Efficiency of the Square Brilliant

This square diamond is a modified version of the round brilliant. The former’s shape exhibits nearly the same superior brightness of the round gem, yet is more efficient than the latter. This is because the least costly shape for a fancy gem is square.

Since the natural outline of the octahedral crystal comes in this shape, a square brilliant leads to minimal waste in rough material. It is by following the crystal’s natural outline that the cushion-cut diamond obtains a squarish girdle.

On account of such a shape, this variety of the brilliant initially went by the name ‘square brilliant.’  Later on, the rounded corners of the square brilliant, being reminiscent of the soft cushion, gave this shape the descriptive name ‘cushion cut.’

Old Mine Cut
The Old Mine pattern

Cushion-Cut Diamond vs. the Old Mine-Cut

In essence, the cushion cut is simply a refined version of the Old Mine cut, both being square brilliants. Still, the two are quite different from each other. With respect to their origins, it is the Old Mine that gave birth to the round brilliant, while the round pattern, by taking a squarish outline, developed into the cushion cut. What particularly distinguished the latter from the Old Mine were the proportions. Compared to the latter, the younger square brilliant has a thinner crown, as well as a broader table.

Parts of the best of diamond cuts, the brilliant
The brilliant pattern

Facets of the Cushion-Cut Diamond

Though typically occurring as a square brilliant, this pattern can be elongated in one direction. The elongated cushion-cut diamond accordingly takes on a rectangular outline.

Cushion diamonds also vary in the number of facets and their arrangement. For instance, the early example of the square brilliant, the Cullinan IV, had 66 facets, after the main facets of the pavilion doubled in number. Indeed, though today’s version of this shape traditionally has the same number of facets as its round counterpart — namely, 58 — the square brilliant in fact has much diversity in this respect, with the pattern on the underside varying widely.

As regards the culet, while that of the Cullinan IV resembled the elongated bottom facet of a step cut,  the culet of today’s square brilliant is normally small, if not altogether inexistent, leaving nothing but a point at the bottom of the gem.

Cullinan IV Diamond
The famous cushion-shaped Cullinan IV

Popularity of the Cushion-Cut Diamond

This square diamond is a popular alternative to the round brilliant. The Cullinan IV, in particular, became even more famous as Queen Elizabeth II wore the large gem on her brooch. Moreover, the biggest of polished diamonds in the world, the Golden Jubilee, comes in this shape.

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Parts of the best of diamond cuts, the brilliant

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