EMERALD VS CUSHION CUT DIAMOND:
Emerald Diamond Cut
Setting Style: Emerald cuts look fantastic in elegant tapered baguette style settings. Emerald cuts go well with solitaire and simple pave settings, and are perfect for three stone settings.
Advantages:
Look for:
- Depth: 60% to 69% (under 65% is relatively hard to find) you don’t need any built-up depth to maintain brilliance, you should go as low as possible in terms of depth
- Table: 61% to 67%
- Girdle thin to slightly thick.
- The classic emerald cut diamond has a length to width ratio of around 1.50
- VS2 Clarity for the best value
- Color D-F
- suited for diamonds which have the superior clarity and color
Disadvantage:
- This shape highlights the clarity of a diamond. If you choose an emerald-cut diamond with a lower clarity grade, such as SI, be sure to review the clarity plot on the diamond certificate to judge the visibility of the inclusions.
- Overlap between a Classic Asscher-cut and Square Emerald shape, you should go for Asscher-Cut diamond.
Cushion Diamond Cut
Advantages:
- If you’re looking for a halo setting, the cushion cut works especially well and is extremely popular. G-H-I color is good
- Cushion cuts combine the energy of a round brilliant with the symmetry of a radiant cut.
- Option to choose from crushed ice diamond cut (shattered glass) or antique cushion cut (chunky)
- Cushion cut diamonds tend to be about 25% less expensive than their round cut.
Look for:
- Table width percentage between 55% - 65%
- Depth percentage between 61%-68%
- GIA or AGS grading report
- Thick girdle and bezel setting