When it comes to buying a stone-studded ring, something as simple as choosing the right gem cut can fill you with indecision. People often go with the classic round diamond cut right off the bat to avoid confusion, but for someone that likes to deliberate over their options, there are two exceedingly beautiful cuts to consider besides that: the princess cut and the cushion cut.
The Cushion Cut
Formerly called the “old mine cut”, this shape imparts a softer look to the stone, which is why it was later dubbed “cushion”. Devised in the 1800’s, this cut stayed the most commonly used diamond shape until the round cut took over in the 20th Century. Today, it is appreciated for the antique feel it brings to rings and necklaces.
Pros and Cons
- Cushion cut diamonds have rounded-off edges, making them perfect for rendering highly original jewelry designs. In other words, it will always be more unique the princess and round cuts.
- As a downside, gemstones fashioned in this cut appear smaller than those of the same weight done in the round or princess cut. That means you would need a bigger stone to make your ring look comparably large.
The Princess Cut
Where the cushion cut exudes an antique feel, everything about the princess screams “modern”. In place of softened edges, this cut carries distinctly pointed corners, alongside a highly geometric appearance. It was once called the “profile cut”, and also the “square modified brilliant” because it resembled the round cut in some aspects.
Pros and Cons
- The princess cut is definitely a good choice for someone in search of a sleek, modern-looking diamond. With its sharper edges, it delivers the appearance of a larger stone, which also looks more lavish than other cuts could manage.
- Princess cuts contain greater fire, and are better at obscuring internal blemishes, which would otherwise mar the beauty of the diamond. A princess cut works best when the stone is set as a solitaire, or as part of a halo design.
The problem with the princess cut is that it opens up the stone to higher risk of damage, owing to the pointed corners. All gemstones are vulnerable at least to some sense, but a princess cut stone is rendered even more so because of its characteristic shape. This means the setting has to be selected carefully, and with an eye towards minimizing chances of the bumps.