The most popular style of diamond cut is the brilliant cut seen very commonly at jewellery boutiques and online stores. Any style of diamond cut other than the round brilliant or single cut is called a fancy cut, or a fancy shape diamond. To name a few, the marquise, emerald, oval, baguette, heart shape, pear shape, kite, triangle, and trilliant cuts are the most preferred styles of diamond shapes by jewellery enthusiasts.

The spectacular cushion cut diamond was one of the most favoured diamond shape until the early 20th century and its classic look has once again resurfaced in multiple jewellery trend forecasts in recent years making it one of the most sought-after styles for wedding and engagement rings. For instance, the Hope Diamond, one of the world’s most famous diamonds–is a 45.54ct cushion cut.

True to its name, a cushion cut diamond is a combination of a square cut paired with rounded corners that resemble a pillow. This unique cut is made up of of 58 facets, all of which reflect and disperse light optimally giving it a brilliant and dynamic appearance. Generally found in a square shape this type can also be found in slightly elongated rectangular shapes and exclusively stands out because of its affordable price as compared to round and brilliant cut diamonds.

The cushion cut is also a trending and versatile shape today lending itself to a wide spectrum of fashion forward and à la mode designs in the jewellery industry. It’s not surprising to see women all over the world adorn themselves in cushion cut jewels to stand out of the crowd.

The diamond clarity grade of this type of cut is largely dependent on one’s personal preference. When diamonds are formed deep within the earth, they develop individual clarity characteristics and slight irregularities not visible by the naked eye. Depending on the size, quantity, placement, tone or colour of these characteristics a diamond is classified and categorised. Some people may be entirely comfortable with a diamond that features many clarity characteristics, while others may insist on a technically flawless appearance with over 10x magnification. Clarity is more likely to be masked by the facet structure of cushions which ultimately makes this type an affordable and pocket-friendly option for manifold diamond lovers.

When it comes to the diamond ring prices or colour of a cushion cut stone, one needs to be very introspective. Cushion and radiant cuts retain their colour stronger than any other shape. These shapes are on the opposite end of the spectrum from rounds, which are the best at concealing their shades. This is mainly the reason why the fancy colour diamond market is loaded with cushions and radiants and why round fancy coloured diamonds are extremely rare to find. The cushion cut styles look best when set on a bed of white-gold or platinum when compared to rose or yellow gold.