When you're deciding between a cushion cut diamond and a princess cut diamond, it might feel like you're faced with two very different kinds of beauty. Both are gorgeous, both are timeless, but they exude different personalities. The cushion cut is softer and romantic with its curves and vintage charm, while the princess cut is loud with its sharp angles and modern, geometric brilliance.
Regardless if you're shopping for an engagement ring or a fine jewelry piece, knowing those key differences in sparkle, durability, and appearance will allow you to pick the diamond shape that is best suited to your personal style. In this guide, we will explore the two shapes side-by-side and figure out what is best for you.
What Is a Diamond Shape?
When you're comparing cushion cut and princess cut diamonds, it's important to keep in mind that the primary distinction is what we refer to as diamond shape, which is the outline or overall shape of the diamond when looking at it from above.
Diamond shape has a huge influence in helping define the personality of a ring. The softer curves of a cushion cut give off a romantic and vintage vibe, whereas the sharp, clean lines of the princess cut feel fresh and bold. Shape is all about style preference, and how the diamond looks on the finger—it does not influence light performance by itself.
When people refer to diamond cut, they are talking about how well the diamond's facets are in proportion and polish and how effectively it reflects light. Cut and shape are two different but complementary things that make a diamond unique and beautiful. Both cushion and princess cut diamonds can be cut to reflect significant sparkle; it's really just a case of which shape appeals to you.
What Is a Cushion Cut Diamond?
The cushion cut diamond is loved and adored for its beautiful shape that resembles a soft pillow edge shape, along with its larger facets. The cushion cut brings together the romantic feel of antique diamonds and a contemporary cut and style that creates a brilliant appearance. If you love vintage-inspired and elegant, then cushion cut is a great option.
Cushion cuts can vary in style — some have a more elongated rectangular shape, while others are closer to a square outline. Cushion cuts are loved for their warm romantic glow, and sparkle, as their sparkle is often described as “crushed ice,” since the facets act like a prism to emit the "dancing" light effect.
The cushion cut diamond has been a traditional shape for engagement rings for over 100 years. It has continued to be popular amongst those who want a classic and sophisticated look with a vintage glam touch!
What Is a Princess Cut Diamond?
A princess cut diamond is one of the most popular modern diamond shapes, instantly recognizable by its sharp, square or slightly rectangular outline with pointed corners. The princess cut is designed for maximum brilliance, featuring a series of intricate facets arranged in a way that creates exceptional sparkle, rivaling even the round brilliant cut.
The princess cut has an admirably modern and sharp clean edged look, which makes it favorable for people that want a more contemporary look. Its crisp edges and symmetrical design also make it a favorite for minimalist solitaires and chic, channel-set engagement rings.
This cut is perfect for anyone who loves a bold, striking look with a luxurious shimmer that stands out from traditional rounded shapes.
Cushion Cut vs Princess Cut: What’s the Difference?
At first, cushion and princess cut diamonds may appear nearly identical in terms of size and sparkle, but the shape, style, and personality couldn’t be more different. Below, we delve into the specific differences in detail.
Shape and Overall Appearance
Cushion cuts are soft and rounded at the corners and while they have a pillow-like outline that gives an appearance of vintage romance, princess cuts have sharp, pointed corners and a perfectly square (or slightly rectangular) shape that is modern and sleek.
Brilliance and Sparkle
Both shapes are cut for brilliance, but they sparkle differently. Princess cuts have a extreme reflective brilliance and they are known for their intense, fiery brilliance from being cut in a brilliant-style faceting way, so they will really earn attention from anyone who sees it. Cushion cuts are still sparkly, but they have a softer, subdued "crushed ice" or chunky facet look for people like a vintage, romantic feel.
Durability and Setting Security
Princess cuts possess delicate pointed corners that are susceptible to chipping if unprotected. It is best to set them in prong settings with V-shaped prongs to accentuate the edges. Cushion cuts, meanwhile, have rounded corners that offer more durability and are suitable for those that live an active lifestyle.
Face-Up Size and Finger Coverage
The princess cut is typically a little larger face-up since its shape is square, maximizing the surface area. And while the cushion cut may look slightly smaller in comparison, its rounded edges give it some charm on the wearer's finger, making it wonderful for vintage settings.
Price and Value
In most cases cushion cuts are more affordable, as they retain more rough diamond during the cutting process. The princess cut does tend to be a little more expensive than cushion cuts, but are not as expensive as round brilliants. The cost discrepancy comes from the waste of cutting the princess cut.
Ideal Settings
- Cushion cuts look excellent in vintage-inspired halos, romantic solitaires, and antique-style settings.
Princess cuts are beautiful in modern solitaires, streamline bezel settings, and geometric-channel set designs.
Which Should You Choose?
When deciding between a cushion cut and a princess cut diamond, it ultimately comes down to personal style, lifestyle, and what matters most to you in a diamond. The best way to narrow down a diamond is to consider the following:
Consider Your Style
- If you love classic romance and a soft, vintage-inspired look, a cushion cut might be perfect.
- If you prefer clean lines, modern elegance, and bold sparkle, the princess cut is the way to go.
Lifestyle Factors
- Cushion cuts being rounded will offer you more protection for an active lifestyle or if you'd like a ring with slightly lower maintenance.
- Princess cuts have sharp corners and require extra protection, so they are better suited for rock lovers that don't mind taking extra care of their ring.
Budget vs. Brilliance vs. Size
- Cushion cuts are generally more budget-friendly; giving you a larger carat size for the same price.
- Princess cuts will give you maximum brilliance and fire, at an extra cost.
- Want the biggest face-up look? Princess cuts will appear larger when set than cushions of equal carat weight.
Personal Preference
Ultimately, the "best" choice is one that feels right to you. Consider how each cut complements your finger shape, the setting style you love, and the overall look you want to achieve—whether that’s soft romance or sleek modern elegance.
Why Choose Lab Grown Diamonds for Either Cut?
No matter whether you love the romance of a cushion cut, the boldness of a princess cut, or both, lab grown diamonds only make those choices better.
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds, with the same chemical, hardness and sparkle as mined diamonds, it is just created in a controlled lab environment. This means you can get a higher quality diamond (cut, colour, clarity) or a bigger carat size for the same price - and this can be a huge perk with shapes like cushion or princess cuts, which are often at their best when they are larger.
Ethically and sustainably, lab grown diamonds are also better, as they are screened for harms of mining practices on communities or ecosystems. For couples who care about style, value and ethical consumption, lab grown diamonds are the ideal option for either cut.
Shop Cushion Cut and Princess Cut Diamonds
At Lucenjuri we believe that your engagement ring should embody your love story as well as your values. If you are attracted to the romantic, soft curves of a cushion cut or the modern, clean lines of a princess cut, our collection of lab grown diamond engagement rings will give you the enhanced sparkle, beauty and value.
Each diamond is ethically grown, IGI or GIA certified, and hand-selected for superior cut, brilliance and clarity. And because they are lab-grown, you're getting more carats for less money, making it easier for you to choose the perfect ring that reflects both your characteristics and your budget.
Explore our Cushion and Princess Cut Engagement Rings Today – and discover the brilliance of a Lucenjuri diamond.
Cushion Cut vs Princess Cut FAQs
What’s the main difference between cushion cut and princess cut diamonds?
They're both different in shape and faceting style. A cushion cut diamond is more rounded with large facets and offers a vintage, romantic look. A princess cut diamond is square or rectangular and has a modern, geometric look with sharp corners.
Is a cushion cut more expensive than a princess cut?
Typically, cushion shaped diamonds are priced somewhat lower than princess shaped diamonds of equal 4Cs (carat, color, cut and clarity). This is because cushion cuts retain more rough diamond at cutting compared to princess cuts which often have more rough wastage, therefore cushioning cuts will be less expensive to manufacture.
Which diamond shape looks bigger on the finger?
Princess cut diamonds tend to look slightly larger because of their square shape and full corner-to-corner spread. However, elongated cushion cuts can also maximize coverage on the finger and sometimes have appearance of being larger than a standard cushion cut shape.
Which diamond shape sparkles more?
Because of the brilliant faceting, princess cut diamonds have a sharper, more brilliant sparkle. Conversely, cushion cuts, can have a softer, more romantic sparkle and can appear "crushed ice" or have an antique glow depending on their faceting style. In other words, both are brilliant cuts, but their light performance has a different character.
Which is more durable for daily wear?
Cushion cuts are typically more durable than princess cuts, particularly when it comes to everyday wear. The rounded corners on the cushion cut are less likely to chip. Princess cuts have pointed corners, like most square shapes, they need protective settings (bezel or prong guards) to ensure durability for day after day wear.
What does a princess cut diamond look like?
A princess cut diamond is a square or rectangular diamond. It has sharp, 90-degree corners and many brilliant style facets. It has a clean, modern appearance that makes it one of the most frequently selected cuts for contemporary engagement rings.
What is an elongated cushion cut diamond?
An elongated cushion cut diamond is a cushion diamond, described as having a rectangular shape and a longer length-to-width ratio, which means they cover more finger. They are usually longer than standard cushion shapes, typically look bigger than cushion shape, and have a cool modern meets vintage vibe.
What is the best setting for a cushion cut diamond?
Halo settings perfectly accent cushion cut diamonds, as the halo adds sparkle to the setting and gives the cushion diamond a larger look. Solitaires settings highlight the romance of the cushion cut's curves, while vintage inspired settings help keep the antique appeal of the cushion cut diamond.
What is the best setting for a princess cut diamond?
Princess cuts look great in solitaire and channel setting, which highlight the clean lines of the princess' design. Halo settings add drama and protect the sharp corners, while modern bezel settings give a sleek, contemporary finish.
