Buying a piece of jewelry fitted with a diamond used to be a fairly simple procedure, but today, more and more shapes and cut variants are introduced to the public; thus making it much harder to determine which diamond to opt for when buying an important piece of jewelry, such as an engagement ring or a wedding anniversary gift. The cut variant of the diamond being purchased is often considered very important since it has a significant impact on how the diamond looks on the piece of jewelry it is fitted into.
Amongst all the various cuts and shapes in which a diamond can be purchased in, the cushion cut has quickly gained in popularity, especially over the last few years. Millions of people are now opting for a cushion cut diamond when buying these gemstones lose, or as part of jewelry. Cushion cuts have become extremely popular in engagement rings and in many other types of jewelry. There are, however, some facts that people should know about before buying a cushion cut diamond, which we will discuss in this post.
The Cushion Cut Diamond
While the brilliant round cut is often considered the original diamond shape when it comes to choosing a cut to be fitted into a piece of jewelry, the cushion cut is becoming increasingly popular amongst people who are looking to buy diamond jewelry – and even amongst those who wish to purchase loose diamonds. The cushion cut has numerous properties that makes it stand out amongst many other cut options that people can choose from, and can be purchased at a relatively affordable price in many cases since some quality factors can be opted for at a reduced level without experiences a less significant jewelry when it comes to the visual appearance of the diamond (to the naked eye).
The color grade of a cushion cut is often considered one of the most important factors that affect its visual quality and appearance. Since these diamonds tend to retain color better than many other diamond cuts, it is important not to opt for a color grade lower than an H. A color grade from I to Z may result in yellow hues being visible to the naked eye.
In addition to the color grade, the clarity rating of a cushion cut diamond should also be considered important since the open table at the top of a cushion cut diamond often tend to be larger than most other diamond cuts. For this reason, it is recommended to opt for a clarity rating of at least SI1 – a higher clarity rating will obviously result in a better quality diamond.
The cut parameters should also be considered when opting for a cushion cut diamond. It is recommended to opt for a depth percentage and table percentage that is less than 70%. The polish and symmetry scores should be at least Good, but a Very Good or an Excellent rating would mean a better quality diamond. When it comes to the Length to Width ratio of a cushion cut diamond, no specific recommendations are made since this is up to the customer and should not have any significant impact on how the diamond looks to the naked eye.
Conclusion
The cushion cut diamond shape has become very popular in modern times, offering an immense level of beauty and brilliance, but also, at the same time, offering a person the ability to opt for a diamond with lower qualities in regards to certain properties without necessarily sacrificing the beauty of the final product. In this guide, we have taken a look at the minimum qualities to prefer when buying a cushion cut, as well as which particular options to consider most important with this particular diamond shape.
About Kevin Lee
Kevin Lee is a former tech advisor who cut his teeth in Silicon Valley. He now spends his time sharing his passion for investing in diamonds and jewelry. You can reach Kevin for any comments by using the contact form on this site. Don't forget to sign up for his free "Investing 101 Guide" by clicking on the button at the top right of this website.