A buyer in Seattle ordered a parcel of cushion moissanites at VVS and paid a 35% premium over VS. When the stones came back from the setter, three of the twelve had visible dark inclusions face-up. The VVS grade on the certificate had not translated to an eye-clean stone because the cushion's chunky facets focused light straight through the center, magnifying the inclusion the way a lens does. The buyer reorders now at VS for cushions and saves the VVS premium for rounds.
Cushion cut moissanite is the third-best-selling fancy shape behind round and oval. Its soft corners and crushed-ice sparkle read as vintage and romantic, which is why bridal accounts love it. But cushion clarity grading works differently than round clarity grading, and wholesalers who buy to the round system overpay.
Why cushion hides and exposes inclusions
A cushion cut has rounded corners, a square or rectangular outline, and a modified brilliant pavilion. The two common facet styles are "chunky" (broader facets, more mirror-like reflection) and "crushed ice" (many small facets, more scattered sparkle). We cover the style split in chunky vs crushed ice.
The clarity consequence is this: a chunky cushion acts like a window. Light goes straight through the center, and any inclusion in the table zone is magnified and visible at arm's length. A crushed-ice cushion scatters light across many small facets, and inclusions in the table zone are camouflaged by the sparkle. The GIA clarity scale was designed for diamond rounds, and cushion buyers should adjust for the facet style rather than buy the grade at face value.
Which clarity grade to stock
For crushed-ice cushions, VS1 and VS2 are eye-clean on 90% of stones at 6.5 mm and below. You can stock VS and sell them as "eye-clean" without a VVS premium. For chunky cushions, you want VVS1 or VVS2, because the window facet exposes anything below that.
The millimeter threshold matters. Below 6x6 mm, inclusions are harder to see at any grade, and SI1 is acceptable in studs or small pendants. Above 7x7 mm, the larger window exposes more, and you should step up one clarity grade. Our bulk parcel grading checklist walks through the bench inspection order, and cushion price per carat shows how clarity moves the wholesale price.
Where inclusions hide on a cushion
When inspecting a cushion parcel, look at three zones: (1) the table center — any dark inclusion here is visible and should be rejected; (2) under the crown facets near the girdle — inclusions here are usually hidden by the facet junction; (3) the pavilion — inclusions on the pavilion are visible through the table only on a chunky cushion. A VS cushion with an inclusion under a crown facet is a better buy than a VVS cushion with an inclusion in the table center.
The wholesale pricing consequence is worth stating plainly. Because cushion clarity is facet-style dependent, you should not buy cushion stones off a single clarity chart. A VS2 chunky cushion at 7x7 mm may need to be upgraded to VVS2 before it is eye-clean, while a VS1 crushed-ice cushion at 6x6 mm will sell fine as-is. Inspect each parcel under the same lighting you use in the store, and grade the stones yourself rather than relying on the GRA clarity line alone. We walk through the bench order in bulk parcel grading checklist. For boutiques, the practical takeaway is to buy crushed-ice cushions at VS and chunky cushions at VVS, and to always inspect face-up at 25 cm before you accept a parcel. That one habit avoids most cushion clarity returns.
Is VVS worth the premium on cushion moissanite?
Only for chunky cushions at 7x7 mm and above. For crushed-ice cushions at 6x6 mm and below, VS is eye-clean and the VVS premium is wasted.
How do I check if a cushion is eye-clean on the bench?
View the stone face-up at 25 cm under normal daylight. If you can see a dark dot without magnification, it is not eye-clean. A 10x loupe is for detail, not for the eye-clean test.
Do cushion moissanites always come with clarity grades on the GRA?
Yes. GRA certificates list color, clarity, cut, and carat. Treat the clarity grade as a starting point and verify on the bench; see bulk GRA verification.
Does cushion clarity matter more in white gold or yellow gold?
White gold and platinum contrast more with the stone, so inclusions show more. Yellow gold softens the contrast and hides minor inclusions better. Stock higher clarity for white-gold settings.
Order from HOLYCOME. We stock cushion moissanite in both chunky and crushed-ice styles, 5x5 to 8x8 mm, graded for eye-clean on the bench before shipment. Apply for a wholesale account and request the current cushion price list — minimum order 20 stones, mixed clarity grades allowed.
