Cushion cut
A square or rectangular diamond with rounded corners, like a pillow.
Easily confused with
How to read it
GIA describes the cushion as a square or rectangular outline with rounded corners, often described as a cross between a round and a princess. It comes in two main styles: brilliant cushions with larger facets, and modified cushions with extra facets that give a “crushed ice” look, as radiants do.
Also searched as: cushion cut diamond, cushion diamond, pillow cut.
Grades describe a stone as a grading laboratory saw it. This page explains the grading scales; it doesn’t grade or value any stone.
Cushion or princess?
The outline tells them apart: a cushion’s corners are rounded, a princess’s are pointed. GIA describes the cushion as a cross between a round and a princess.
Read next
- Next in Diamond gradingOval cutAn elongated round diamond, cut with brilliant-style facets.
- The same shape in Acura dashboard symbolsAcura Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) indicatorAcura’s Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) indicator comes on when there is a problem with RDM or when the system has shut itself off. RDM is the Acura system that warns, steers and sometimes brakes when the car is about to cross detected lane markings or leave the road.
More diamond grading
The same shape elsewhere
Browse symbols drawn with lines or squares and rectangles.
Sources
- Guide to Diamond Engagement Ring Shapes (GIA 4Cs), Gemological Institute of America
- The History of Cushion Cut Diamonds (International Gem Society), International Gem Society
- The Diamond (Cattelle, 1911), W. R. Cattelle, The Diamond, John Lane Company, 1911, Internet Archive (scan)
Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. How we research
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