The cushion cut is the shape that customers describe as "square but sparkly." It has rounded corners and a square-to-rectangular outline, and it carries either a brilliant facet pattern or a modified "crushed ice" pattern that scatters light like a broken window. In moissanite, cushion cuts read warm and substantial, and they are the fancy shape we recommend to new buyers who are nervous about ordering unseen, because they are the most forgiving of the group.
Brilliant cushion versus crushed ice
Two facet patterns are sold under the cushion name, and they look different enough that a customer can be disappointed if you do not specify.
- Brilliant cushion: closer to a rounded square brilliant. Clear, defined flashes of fire. The customer who likes round sparkle but wants a square outline lands here.
- Crushed ice cushion: smaller, denser facets. Scatters light into a soft, milky-bright glow rather than distinct flashes. Trending on bridal Pinterest; reads modern and a little bit vintage at the same time.
At HOLYCOME we stock both and label them clearly on the spec sheet. If a retailer orders cushion without specifying, we default to brilliant cushion, which is the safer mainstream seller.
Proportions
Cushions run from near-square (1.00:1 to 1.05:1) to squarish-rectangular (1.15:1). Near-square is the stronger seller for rings; the 1.10:1 version reads more elegant on pendants. Depth matters on a cushion: too shallow and it windows, too deep and it looks small for its mm size. We stock depths between 60 and 68 percent of the width.
Face-up size and wholesale price
| Dimensions (mm) | Shape | Diamond equivalent | Wholesale band (USD, D-F VVS1, GRA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x4 | square | ~0.3 ct | $10 - $18 |
| 5x5 | square | ~0.5 ct | $18 - $30 |
| 6x6 | square | ~1.0 ct | $35 - $55 |
| 7x7 | square | ~1.5 ct | $55 - $85 |
| 8x8 | square | ~2.5 ct | $85 - $135 |
| 9x9 | square | ~3.5 ct | $140 - $210 |
| 6x8 | rectangular | ~1.2 ct | $40 - $65 |
Setting tips
The rounded corners mean cushion cuts take prongs at the four corners and along the sides. A halo is the natural setting: a thin pavé halo around a 6x6 cushion reads like an 8x8 stone and is one of the best-performing bridal SKUs we supply. Bezel settings work well on cushions because the rounded outline fills the bezel cleanly. We avoid sharp-cornered settings; the cushion's soft edges want a soft setting.
Metal pairs
Cushion moissanite has a natural warmth that pairs beautifully with rose gold. That combination, rose gold band plus D-F cushion, has been our fastest-growing cushion order since 2023. Yellow gold gives a vintage, Art Deco-adjacent feel. White gold and platinum keep it modern and bridal. Unlike the emerald cut, the cushion does not look stark in any metal, which is part of why it is easy to stock.
Who buys cushions
Customers who want something between a round and a square. Customers who liked the look of an emerald cut but found it too quiet. Customers buying halo engagement rings. Cushions also sell well as stud earrings in 5x5 and 6x6 sizes, because the rounded corners sit flush in a basket setting.
Durability
The rounded corners chip far less readily than the sharp corners of an emerald or princess, which is a real durability advantage. At 9.25 Mohs the stone wears well. We still specify medium girdles; extremely thin girdles on cushions crack under prong pressure. Cushions set in halos need the halo pavé checked periodically, because a loose side stone is the most common repair, not a damaged center.
Stocking logic
For a retailer opening a fancy-shape line, cushions are the second shape to add after rounds. They move in the 6x6 and 7x7 sizes fastest. Keep a small float of crushed-ice cushions in 6x6 because that pattern skews younger and trends upward every quarter.
Why cushions are easy to stock blind
Of all the fancy shapes, the cushion is the one we least expect to be returned. The rounded corners chip less readily than princess or emerald corners, the brilliant facet pattern hides minor proportion inconsistencies, and the warm face-up tone reads consistently across light sources. That forgiveness matters for a buyer ordering without seeing the stone. If a retailer is adding a second fancy shape after rounds, cushions are the lowest-risk choice: the failure modes that sink oval, marquise and emerald stock are largely absent here.
One practical note: when a customer asks to compare a cushion and a princess side by side, the cushion almost always reads softer and warmer under store lighting, while the princess reads sharper. Letting the customer make that comparison in person closes more sales than describing the difference on a product page.
The current cushion range is in the loose stone catalog under Cushion Cut.