Engagement Rings
Cushion Cut Engagement Rings: Two Very Different Stones, One Name
βCushionβ covers more variation than any other shape. Knowing which one you are buying is the whole job.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat Β· Updated 30 August 2026
Short answer
Two quite different stones share the name. A crushed ice cushion has many small facets producing a shimmering, granular sparkle. A chunky or antique-style cushion has fewer, larger facets producing broad distinct flashes. They look nothing alike, and a listing will rarely tell you which it is. Cushions also come square or elongated, which changes the ring entirely. Ask for the faceting style, the length-to-width ratio, and video β in that order.
Cushion is the least standardised shape in common use. Two stones with identical carat, colour and clarity can be visually unrelated, because βcushionβ describes an outline β a square or rectangle with rounded corners β and says nothing at all about what happens inside it.
Crushed ice vs chunky
The single most important distinction, and the one almost no listing states.
| Crushed ice | Chunky / antique | |
|---|---|---|
| Faceting | Many small facets under the table | Few large facets |
| Sparkle character | Shimmering, granular, busy | Broad, distinct, slower flashes |
| Hides inclusions | Very well | Poorly β buy cleaner |
| In moissanite | Maximum rainbow fire | Calmer; reads closer to diamond |
| Character | Modern, glittery | Antique, romantic, candlelit |
For moissanite specifically, this choice matters more than anywhere else. Moissanite disperses light about 2.4 times more strongly than diamond, and crushed-ice faceting scatters that dispersion across dozens of tiny facets β producing a lot of coloured fire. A chunky antique-style cushion does the opposite: fewer, larger facets return broader flashes with less rainbow scatter. So if you want a cushion moissanite that reads calm and diamond-like, ask for chunky faceting. If you want the fire, crushed ice gives you the most of it of any shape. This one decision changes the stone more than a colour grade ever will.
Square or elongated?
The second variable, and it changes the ring as much as the faceting does.
- 1.00 β 1.05 β true square cushion. Compact, substantial, classic. Reads smaller per carat than most shapes because weight sits in depth.
- 1.10 β 1.20 β slightly rectangular. Softens the square without reading as elongated.
- 1.25 β 1.40 β the elongated cushion. Currently the most requested version, because it lengthens the finger and reads larger for the weight.
- Above 1.40 β quite narrow; starts to compete with radiant and emerald outlines.
An elongated cushion at 1.30 and a square cushion at 1.00 are, practically, different purchases. Always get the ratio or both millimetre dimensions.
Corners, and why cushions are durable
Good news for once. A cushionβs rounded corners are its main structural advantage β there are no sharp points to chip, unlike a princess, and no thin tip like a pear or marquise.
This makes cushions among the more forgiving shapes for daily wear, and it means the setting has fewer obligations. Prongs at the corners are still sensible, but they are holding rather than protecting.
Clarity: it depends on the faceting
A rare case where the right clarity advice changes with the stoneβs cut style.
Crushed ice: the busy faceting hides inclusions extremely well. SI1 is frequently eye-clean, and buying up to VVS is money spent on nothing visible.
Chunky antique-style: larger facets mean larger clear windows into the stone. Treat it more like a step cut β VS2 as a sensible floor, and ask where the inclusions sit.
What to ask before ordering
- Crushed ice or chunky? If the seller does not know, they have not looked at the stone.
- Both dimensions in millimetres, so you can work out the ratio.
- Video, moving, in ordinary light. A still tells you almost nothing about a cushion.
- How square the corners actually are β some βcushionsβ are nearly rounded, others nearly square.
- Profile height, since cushions carry weight in depth and can sit taller than expected.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crushed ice cushion cut?
One faceted with many small facets beneath the table, producing a shimmering granular sparkle rather than broad distinct flashes. It hides inclusions very well, so lower clarity grades are often eye-clean. The alternative is a chunky or antique-style cushion, with fewer large facets and a calmer, more defined character.
Which cushion faceting is best for moissanite?
Chunky antique-style faceting if you want the stone to read calm and diamond-like, because fewer, larger facets scatter less of moissaniteβs strong dispersion. Crushed ice if you want maximum rainbow fire β it produces more of it than any other shape. This choice affects the stoneβs appearance more than a colour grade does.
What is the difference between a cushion and an elongated cushion?
The length-to-width ratio. Around 1.00 to 1.05 is a true square cushion; 1.25 to 1.40 is the elongated version, which lengthens the finger and reads larger for the same carat weight. Both are sold simply as βcushionβ, so always ask for the ratio or both millimetre dimensions.
Are cushion cut stones durable?
Among the more forgiving shapes, yes. Rounded corners mean there are no sharp points to chip as on a princess, and no thin tip as on a pear or marquise. Corner prongs are sensible for holding the stone, but they are not protecting a vulnerable point the way they must on other fancy shapes.
Tell us crushed ice or chunky.
It is the question that decides what your cushion actually looks like β and we will send video of the stone either way.
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