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.