Comparison of cushion cuts

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I have been collecting a number of square cushion cuts as prices have dropped. They cover a range of colors and cutting styles in similar sizes, a pair at ~5.6 mm and 5 between 4.3 - 4.6 mm. I’m planning to set them soon, and sharing this comparison of loose cushions in case others find this interesting/helpful.

https://imgur.com/a/ZNcFtYp

The photo is a screenshot of the video in case it doesn’t load. GIA calls all of them “Cushion Modified Brilliant”. I consider the bigger and smaller one in the middle to be H&A cushions. I consider the top and bottom brilliant cushions and the other 2 crushed ice cushions.

I find crushed ice cushions to photograph really poorly. My phone camera can’t seem to capture all the tiny glittery facets. In person the crushed ice cushions look like buckets of glitter under the table.

From left to right, top to bottom:

1. 0.841 D VS1 / 0.82 E SI1 Strong Blue

0.841 D VS1 Brian Gavin Premium Lab Grown Cushion Diamond

Brian Gavin Diamonds

www.briangavindiamonds.com

0.82 E SI1 Brian Gavin Blue Cushion

Brian Gavin Diamonds

www.briangavindiamonds.com

I don’t remember which one is in the video, and cannot tell them apart without a loupe or UV light. They perform similar to H&A rounds only with a square cushion outline.

2. 0.45 Fancy Light Pinkish Brown VS1 Strong Blue

0.45 Carat Fancy Light Pinkish Brown-VS1 Cushion Cut Diamond

This cushion cut 0.45 carat Fancy Light Pinkish Brown color vs1 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.bluenile.com

Minimal leakage with big flashy facets.

3. 0.52 Fancy Brownish Yellow VVS2 Faint

Loupe360

loupe360.com

The ASET doesn’t look mushy in person. There is a good distribution of colors of tiny defined facets under the table that my phone camera can’t capture.

4. 0.51 J VS2 Strong Blue

https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/17003530

A less precisely cut H&A cushion with facet arrangement/patterning different from the BG cushions. The slight leakage under the table is not noticeable in person.

5. 0.53 Fancy Intense Yellow I1 Faint

Loupe360

loupe360.com

The clear I1 inclusions blend in very well with the faceting. It looks completely eye clean. The ASET doesn’t look mushy in person. There is a good distribution of colors of tiny defined facets under the table that my phone camera can’t capture.

6. 0.42 Fancy Yellow SI1 Strong Yellow

0.42 Carat Fancy Yellow-SI1 Cushion Modified Cut Diamond

This cushion modified cut 0.42 carat Fancy Yellow color si1 clarity has a diamond grading report from GIA

www.bluenile.com

GIA gives it only fair symmetry, but it looks well cut with minimal leakage and a good distribution of colors in the ASET.

I’m having trouble uploading videos at the moment. I’ll add more comparison photos/videos later.

 

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First up are the H&A cushions. The D color CVD grown is in the middle in the videos and photos. The E color and the J color are natural and have strong blue fluorescence. The J color has stronger phosphorescence than the E color.

The bigger D and E are ~5.6 mm and the smaller J is ~4.6 mm. The D and E look like twins in person. I cannot tell them apart without a loupe or UV light.

The J looks visibly more tinted from the side, but not noticeably different in color face up. It looks just a touch creamier/softer/warmer.

The bigger BG H&A cushions look like H&A rounds with square cushion outlines. The smaller BN H&A cushion has a different faceting pattern that makes the corners look more rounded and gives off different light play. I think it’s more suitable if you are looking for a well cut cushion that’s more different from a round H&A.

https://imgur.com/a/GBcpPax

 

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Next we have the smaller cushions in order of fancy intense yellow, fancy yellow, J, fancy light pinkish brown, and fancy brownish yellow.

The faint fluorescence in the fancy intense yellow and fancy brownish yellow don’t appear to have much impact on visible color.

The strong yellow fluorescence on the fancy yellow looks green in UV light, and makes the fancy yellow look greenish in sunlight. The strong blue fluorescence on the fancy light pinkish brown makes it look less pink in sunlight. The strong fluorescence combined with internal graining in these cushions make them appear slightly milky/glowy in sunlight.

The H&A cushion in the middle has the slimmest tallest pavilion, compared to the fatter shorter pavilions of the crushed ice cushions at the top and bottom. The face up color of the crushed ice cushions look consistent with the color visible from the side. The face up color of the others all look slightly lighter than the color visible from the side.

https://imgur.com/a/eGlU1go

 

[RunningwithScissors]

These are so cool! How interesting to see them side by side.

Are you planning on making a jewelry piece with them, or keeping them as a loose stone collection?

Do you have a favorite?

 

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Planning a 5 stone band with the smaller cushions, and a 3 stone ring with a colored stone with the bigger pair as sides.

I think the fancy intense yellow is my favorite of the bunch. The color pops a bit more than the others, the cut has minimal leakage and tilt windowing, the inclusions are well hidden in the faceting, and the I1 grading keeps it wallet friendly.

 

[Presto]

These are so cool! How interesting to see them side by side.

Agreed. Thanks for sharing!