My budget was $4,000 for a stone. I was set on round brilliant until a jeweler suggested I compare cushion cut side by side.
The comparison at $4K:
• Round brilliant: GIA 1ct G-VS2, 6.5mm — $3,890
• Cushion cut: GIA 1.5ct G-VS2, 6.5 × 6.8mm — $3,720
A 1.5ct cushion at the price of a 1ct round, with a similar face-up footprint. The soft corners of the cushion made it look romantic and different from every other engagement ring I had seen.
I bought the cushion. Here is the 6-month honest report.
THE GOOD:
• The "crushed ice" sparkle pattern of a cushion is genuinely different from a round — it scatters light in a soft, romantic way rather than the sharp brilliance of a round
• Nobody else in my social circle has a cushion cut — it is a consistent conversation piece
• The soft corners feel safer than sharp princess corners for daily wear
• 1.5ct on a size 6 finger has beautiful finger coverage
THE THING NOBODY WARNED ME ABOUT:
• Cushion cuts vary wildly in appearance. "Cushion brilliant" and "cushion modified brilliant" are different facet structures that look completely different face-up. I did not know this before buying.
• My stone is cushion modified brilliant — crushed ice pattern. Some buyers want this; some hate it and want larger facets.
• If you are buying a cushion: ask specifically which facet structure you are getting and view a 360° video before committing.
Overall: I love this ring. The 6 months have only made me more certain I made the right choice. But do your cushion research — it is a more complex shape than it first appears.
The cushion brilliant vs cushion modified brilliant distinction is genuinely confusing and undersold by most retailers. Cushion brilliant has larger, chunkier facets with a more traditional look. Cushion modified has a smaller, "crushed ice" facet pattern that looks almost like scattered glitter. They are radically different in person. If you are buying a cushion online: request confirmation of the facet structure and view 360° video specifically for the pattern.