What does cushion cut mean? Well, you may have heard of it referred to as "antique cut". It is a style of cutting gemstones into a basically square shape, but with rounded corners. They are said to be called cushion cut because, well, they're shaped like a stuffed cushion, with the round edges resembling the puffy appearance of the cushion. They are an alternative to emerald cut, oval cut, and princess cut gems, incorporating elements of all 3 of those cutting styles.

Cushion cuts were popular during the Victorian era, and are not so common amongst contemporary rings. But for couples with an appreciation for antique and vintage styles, a cushion cut engagement ring might be a great choice.

There are some things to be aware of when considering cushion cut engagement rings. A cushion cut diamond has about 60 facets, which is about 20 fewer than most modern rings, which causes the stone's sparkle to be less striking. The also often have a large cutlet area, but this can cause a shadow within the stone. And with their smaller number of facets, flaws in the stone will be more noticeable, so it's important to check for flaws. These are a few things to be aware of. But if antique style has more meaning to you than precise physical beauty, by all means buy cushion engagement rings.

It is difficult to find cushion cut rings in modern jewelry stores, but couples have some options. Perhaps the best option is to buy a loose stone and have it mounted. Loose cushion cut stones are not as hard to find as rings with cushion cut stones already mounted. Another option is to hunt for true antique or vintage cushion cute engagement rings, either at pawnshops, inheritance, or estate sales. Just be careful not to get scammed with fake stones!