What is a Cushion Cut Diamond?
If you are not familiar with it yet, cushion cut engagement rings are one of the more popular cuts for a diamond. Also known as a pillow-cut , it has rounded corners and larger facets which makes it resemble a cushion or pillow.. The overall shape can be square, or rectangular with a wide range of proportions to choose from. Another term for it is candlelight cut, as the large facets meant the brilliance was better under candlelight. The romantic aspect of candlelight dinners and engagements, make this perfect for engagement rings.
Shopping for an Engagement Ring
If you shop in a well established store, then the incidence of getting something of poor quality will be lesser; but you can expect the prices to be higher as well. You might also want to ask other couples where they got theirs and have them share their experiences. It may be best to have someone who knows how to appraise jewelry tag along, so salespersons cannot draw you in with technical lingo, or even pull a fast one on you. You might also want to make yourself familiar with terms commonly used in the jewelry market.
Here’s a small run down of terms you need to be familiar with:
Cut – The design of the diamond itself. This should not be confused with shape, which is just the overall from of the diamond. The cut has more to do with the facets on the diamond. It is also a measure of how good the diamond cutter was in designing, cutting and polishing the stone. The style of the facets can add to the diamond’s brilliance as these controls how the light is dispersed. Cuts are appraised but there is a degree of subjectivity to the rating. Ratings are graded as Fair, Good, Very Good and Ideal.
Clarity – Pretty much a self-explanatory term, it describes how clear the diamond is. Thie is not limited to cloudiness of the stone but also take into account visible inclusions, such as black spots, etc. When choosing diamonds, a good standard is a SI1 or SI2. This stands for Slight Inclusions, and these are not visible to the naked eye. These inclusions can only be seen under 10 x magnifications. The prices for S1 or S2 are still reasonable.
Carat – Simply put, this is the weight of the diamond. Let’s not get too technical on this as there are standards to the measurement anyway.
Color – Lower quality diamonds can cast a faint yellow or brownish hue. Of course, the more colorless the diamond is, the higher its value. This is graded from D-Z. D-F are still considered colorless.
All of these determine the price of the diamond. It may be hard to check the diamond for these characteristics if it is already mounted on the ring, so make sure the store gives you the option of looking at the stone before placing it on the ring.
Cushion Cut Engagement Ring Price Ranges
When looking at the prices, make sure you choose which of the characteristics mentioned you can compromise. For example: you can choose a larger stone, with better clarity, but then choose a faint yellow diamond whose cut maybe not that good. For people on a budget, a common point of compromise is the size of the diamond. Just take note that the cushion-cut is more suited to diamonds with a weight of 1 carat or higher as producing this on smaller sizes can be difficult.
The price of course will vary depending on the cushion cut engagement ring setting. Here’s a price range for diamonds in carats, with a standard cut (good), color (D) and clarity (SI2).
.25 ct. and below = $300 – $400
.50 ct = $950 – $1050
.75 ct = $2100 – $2200
1ct = $3400 – $3500
1.5 ct = $8300 – $8500
As a last note, remember to visit multiple stores so you get a good benchmark for the prices!
_____________________________________________________
