Written by S. Thompson | Posted in Jewelry |

When you finally decide to take the plunge and get married, you will definitely want to get a cushion cut engagement ring. They are so beautiful, and are very popular these days. What things should you know about them?

Often found in vintage collections, cushion cut diamonds have been around for a long time. Their heyday was in the late 1800′s and the early 1900′s. Recently, growing interest in vintage and antique jewelry has revived the cushion cut engagement ring’s popularity. They are rounded at the top, which gives them a softer look than most diamonds have. A good cushion cut diamond engagement ring has about 60 facets on the stone, which gives it that much softer look, in addition to the round plump shape it has. The stone will be more brilliant, instead of sparkly. The corners on a cushion cut ring are also rounded, to enhance the soft look.

Very high clarity and very little color are basic characteristics that a diamond should have if it will be a cushion cut. The reason for this is because the facets are much larger due to the fact that there are less of them. Any flaws or color in a cushion cut diamond ring will be very apparent, and will take away from the general look and value of it. Most vintage cushion cut engagement rings that are found have six or more prongs. It was thought that more prongs kept the stone safer, and more secure. Modern methods have improved ring designs, however, and usually you will find only 4 prongs on a new cushion cut ring. Solitaires are very popular for this type of stone cut because they are so unique that it is a shame to take any of the focus off of the central stone with other smaller stones.

You will most definitely need to “shop around,” as they say, for a cushion cut engagement ring because they are not cheap. The larger stone size and high clarity required of cushion cuts is the main reason why they are expensive. Look around and don’t get discouraged though, because there are good deals to be had on this type of ring. I have seen some gorgeous cubic zirconia rings that are cushion cut if you just can’t afford the real thing right away.

Do your due diligence, take your time and ask lots of questions while you shop for a cushion cut engagement ring. There is nothing like the soft, romantic look of a cushion cut diamond.

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