Cushion Engagement Rings: The Complete Guide
This cut is the old-world romantic, the shape for someone who wants a warm, candlelit glow rather than a sharp, pinpoint flash. This guide covers why buyers choose it, what it costs, whether it really looks smaller than round, and which of our 7 styles fit different budgets, plus every question we get asked before someone buys one.
Cushion: The Old-World Romantic
Choose this cut if the personality behind the proposal is romantic and detail-loving rather than sharp and modern. Its rounded corners and broader facets give it a softer, more diffused sparkle, closer to candlelight than a spotlight, which suits someone who's drawn to warmth and old-world charm over hard, contemporary lines. It's the cut for a wearer who'd rather a ring feel storied than perfectly polished.
It sits between round and emerald on the sparkle spectrum, brighter and more brilliant than a step cut, softer and less pointed than a round brilliant.
What makes this cut sparkle
This cut typically has 58 to 64 facets, larger and fewer than a round brilliant's, which is exactly why the light it returns feels broader and softer rather than a constant, sharp shimmer. Rounded corners replace round's continuous curve with gentle, pillow-like edges, which is where the name comes from. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), this shape belongs to the broader family of fancy cuts, which trade some of round's precise light return for a distinctive silhouette.
Crushed ice vs chunky facets, what to look for
Within this cut you'll see two broad facet styles. A chunky pattern uses larger, fewer facets that produce big, bold flashes of light, closer to the look of antique cushion cuts. A crushed ice pattern uses smaller, more numerous facets that scatter light into a sparkly, textured shimmer with less visible flash but more overall brilliance. Neither is objectively better, it's a style preference: chunky reads as more vintage and dramatic, crushed ice reads as more modern and sparkly. Ask which facet pattern a specific stone uses before you buy if this distinction matters to you.
Clarity considerations for this cut
Because the facets are larger than a round brilliant's, this shape can show inclusions slightly more readily than round, though it hides them better than a step cut like emerald. It sits in the middle of the clarity-visibility spectrum: not as forgiving as round, not as demanding as emerald. A clarity grade that would look perfectly clean in a round stone may occasionally show very minor inclusions here, so it's worth a closer look before buying at the lower end of the clarity scale.
Does cushion look smaller than round
Not smaller, but it can look more compact, since this cut is typically cut deeper than a round brilliant of the same carat weight, which puts more of the stone's mass below the surface rather than spread across the top. The visible face-up size ends up close to a round stone of the same weight, but it's worth trying a specific stone in person if maximum face-up size is your priority.
How much does this shape cost
This shape typically sits close to round in price per carat, sometimes slightly less, since it uses the rough diamond a little more efficiently than a perfectly circular cut. Setting style still moves the price the most: a plain four-prong solitaire is the most affordable way to wear it, while a halo adds cost through extra stones and labour.
How it compares to round and other shapes
Compared with round, this cut trades some sparkle for a softer, warmer glow and rounded rather than continuous edges. Compared with princess, it has gentle corners instead of sharp points, making it a lower-maintenance choice for daily wear. For the full side by side breakdown across all eight cuts we carry, see our Engagement Ring Shape Guide.
Who this shape suits best
It suits romantics with an eye for detail, people who want a ring that feels like it carries history even when it's brand new, and anyone who prefers a warm, glowing sparkle over a sharp, pinpoint flash. If maximum brilliance matters more to you than that softer glow, a round cut from our Round Engagement Rings guide may suit better.
What carat weight looks like on the hand
A 1 carat stone in this cut typically measures around 6.3mm by 6.3mm for a square silhouette, close to a round brilliant's 6.4mm diameter at the same weight. An elongated cushion silhouette, like the long cushion style in our collection, stretches a little further across the finger for the same carat weight, giving a subtly different visual effect from the classic square version.
Shop the styles
7 of our pieces in this cut, from plain solitaires to an elongated silhouette and a halo setting, are below. Every stone is a genuine lab grown diamond in 14K gold.
Browse the full cushion collection
Choosing the right setting for you
A four-prong setting is the classic way to wear this shape, showing off the full rounded silhouette. A halo setting adds a ring of smaller diamonds to boost brilliance, useful if you want more sparkle without sacrificing the soft, romantic character of the cut. A cathedral shank, which raises the centre stone slightly, is a common pairing that adds a vintage-leaning profile.
Every stone in this collection is a genuine lab grown diamond, chemically and optically identical to a mined one. Your choice of shape doesn't change that, it only changes the silhouette and how the light returns.
Caring for your ring after you buy it
The rounded corners of this shape are less vulnerable than a sharp-cornered cut like princess, but a prong setting still benefits from an occasional check. For the full routine, see our guide on how to care for your engagement ring.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cushion cut diamond? It's a square or rectangular diamond shape with rounded corners and larger facets than a round brilliant, producing a softer, broader flash of light often compared to candlelight.
How many facets does a cushion cut diamond have? A cushion cut typically has between 58 and 64 facets, fewer and larger than a round brilliant's, which is why its sparkle reads as broader and softer rather than a constant shimmer.
What's the difference between crushed ice and chunky cushion cuts? Chunky cuts use larger, fewer facets for bold, vintage-leaning flashes of light. Crushed ice cuts use smaller, more numerous facets for a sparkly, textured shimmer. It's a style preference rather than a quality difference.
Do cushion cut diamonds look smaller than round? Not smaller exactly, but they can look slightly more compact, since cushion cuts are often cut a little deeper, putting more of the stone's weight below the surface rather than spread across the visible top.
Is cushion cut a good choice for an engagement ring? Yes, especially for buyers who want a softer, more romantic sparkle than round and don't mind a slightly less brilliant flash in exchange for that warmer glow.
Does cushion cut cost more or less than round? It typically sits close to round in price per carat, sometimes marginally less, since it uses the rough diamond a little more efficiently than a circular cut.
Can I get this shape in rose or white gold? Yes, every setting in this collection is available in Lucira's 14K gold options, so your choice of shape doesn't limit which metal tone you choose.
Is a cushion cut engagement ring right for you
If you want a softer, warmer sparkle than round, gentle rounded corners instead of sharp lines, and a cut with genuine old-world character, this is the shape to choose. Explore the full collection below, or head back to our Engagement Ring Shape Guide to compare it against the other seven shapes.
