In the late 19th century, cushion cut diamonds were the “rage”, and just about every diamond was cut in the cushion style. They remained popular into the early 20th century, also. Then interest in them faded for a long time, as other diamond cuts were used by many jewelers to make diamonds have more sparkle. But in the last few years, many women have discovered the beauty of antique cushion cut diamond engagement rings and are seeking them out as fast as they can.
The unique look of a cushion cut diamond comes from its shape, and the way light is dispersed within the diamond. Oddly enough, they are definitely not as fiery or sparkly as a brilliant cut diamond is, but they do have more brilliance, which gives them a stunning glow. They are mostly square shaped, with soft rounded corners. The most prominent feature of a cushion cut though, is its puffy, rounded top. They appear to be cushy and soft, like a cushion, and that is how they got their name. Often set in rose gold, antique cushion cut diamond engagement rings are often paired with rose colored wedding rings as a result.
Most cushion cut diamond engagement rings will cost more than a comparably- sized brilliant cut diamond engagement ring. The reason for this is because cushion cuts employ the use of larger facets. Those large facets let in more light, and make any flaws in the stone more easily seen. So, any diamond used in a cushion cut ring has to be of superior quality, with few, if any, flaws. Of course, the better quality any diamond is, the more expensive it will be.
As a general rule, older cushion cut diamond rings have six prongs. Long ago, that many prongs were needed to safely set the ring; today, modern tools and techniques allow cushion cut diamonds to be set with only 4 prongs, one on each corner. Some people may assess the age of a ring by the number of prongs it has, and sometimes this is correct. However, it is possible to set a new ring with six prongs to make it look older, so be aware of that fact while you shop.
Antique cushion cut diamond engagement rings are certainly very popular these days, and they are expensive, that is for sure. But arming yourself with a little knowledge about them before you shop will help ensure that you find the perfect engagement ring for you!