DIAMONDS
08 October 2026
Cushion Cut Engagement Ring: Square or Elongated
A cushion cut engagement ring comes square or elongated. See sizes in mm per carat, the ratio to choose, claws or bezel, and when to pick another shape.
A cushion cut engagement ring holds a diamond with rounded corners and gently curved sides, like a small pillow, and it comes two ways: square, with length and width almost equal, or elongated, a softly rounded rectangle. Choose square for a compact, vintage look, or elongated, from about 1.15 times as long as wide, for a stone that lengthens the finger. A square cushion faces up a little smaller than a round of the same weight, so choose between them on character, and have the corners protected.
At a glance
- A 1 ct square cushion measures about 6.0 mm each way in our designer, against 6.5 mm for a round and 7.7 × 5.7 mm for an oval.
- Divide length by width: near 1.00 is square, from about 1.15 it reads as elongated, and 1.25 is clearly so. The stone in our Cushion Halo Pavé Ring is about 1.54.
- A GIA report gives a cushion no cut grade, although some IGI reports do: judge the sparkle by eye and read the measurements, polish and symmetry.
- Rounded corners chip less readily than sharp ones, but GIA warns that a very thin girdle is vulnerable: cover each corner, or choose a bezel.
What a cushion cut is
The cushion descends from the old mine cut of the 1700s, which GIA says stayed the leading cut until the late 19th century. GIA describes a modern cushion brilliant as square or squarish-rectangular, with curved sides and rounded or pointed corners. It is cut as a brilliant, but GIA advises against expecting a round's sparkle: a cushion has a pattern of its own, so see the stone itself.
The facets come in two styles, and the report states the cutting style. GIA notes that a cushion is sometimes modified with extra facets on the crown or pavilion. In the trade, a plain cushion brilliant shows larger, bolder flashes and a modified one finer pieces of light, the look jewellers call crushed ice. Neither is better, so look at one of each. Our diamond shapes guide compares all eight shapes.
Square or elongated: read the ratio
Divide the stone's length by its width; a grading report gives both. The bands below are a rule of thumb, not a grading standard.
| Length ÷ width | What you see | At 1 ct |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.05 | Square, the classic pillow | 6.0 × 6.0 mm |
| About 1.15 | Elongated, subtly | 6.4 × 5.6 mm |
| About 1.25 | Clearly elongated | 6.7 × 5.4 mm |
| About 1.40 | Long and slim, less common | 7.1 × 5.1 mm |
| About 1.55 | Very long and less common, like our Cushion Halo Pavé Ring | 7.5 × 4.8 mm |
The first row is our designer's square cushion; the others keep its footprint, length times width, and stretch it. That is our arithmetic, not a trade standard, and a real stone varies. Retailer guides put most elongated cushions between about 1.15 and 1.30, so a stone near 1.40 or 1.55 is harder to find: ask whether one is available before you fall for the outline.
Square suits a long, slim finger and vintage taste. Elongated lengthens the finger as an oval does, which flatters shorter or broader hands. Our Cushion Halo Pavé Ring's 1.54 is long and slim; nearer 1.2 or 1.3 would look fuller, as in our Cushion Octagon Halo Pavé Ring at about 1.23.
How big a cushion looks per carat
Carat is weight, and a cushion holds more of it in depth, so it faces up smaller than a round. These are our designer's sizes; our diamond size chart covers all eight shapes, oval included.
| Carat | Square cushion | Round |
|---|---|---|
| 0.50 ct | 4.8 mm | 5.2 mm |
| 1.00 ct | 6.0 mm | 6.5 mm |
| 2.00 ct | 7.6 mm | 8.2 mm |
| 3.00 ct | 8.7 mm | 9.4 mm |
On a UAE size 52 finger, about 16.5 mm across, a 1 ct square cushion covers about 36% of the width, against 39% for a round, and an elongated one at 1.25 about 33%. Compare millimetres, not carats.
Why a halo suits a cushion
A halo frames the soft corners so the outline reads as one clean rounded shape, and it adds presence without a heavier centre stone. Our Cushion Halo Pavé Ring has a cushion of about 7.62 × 4.95 mm in four claws, with 36 small round diamonds, 0.4 ct together, forming the halo and the pavé down the band. It comes in 18K white, yellow or rose gold. Each stone you choose has its own report, so check its millimetres. Our halo engagement ring guide covers the other halo styles.
Set it beside the Oval Halo Pavé Ring. Both centre stones are long, 1.54 for the Cushion Halo Pavé Ring and 1.44 for the oval, so the outline is the difference: straight sides and rounded corners against one unbroken curve.
The cost of a halo is upkeep: hand cream and sand settle between small stones, so clean weekly with warm water, washing-up liquid and a soft toothbrush, never an ultrasonic cleaner. A halo can hold a straight wedding band slightly apart, which a contoured band closes (see our wedding band guide), and diamonds down the band can limit resizing, so settle the size first. More in our settings guide.
Claws or bezel: protect the corners
GIA says a cushion's girdle, the thin edge around the stone, is thicker at the corners than between them, but can chip if it is extremely thin, and suggests considering a bezel, a rim of metal around the stone, rather than claws. A bezel protects most and hides a little of the outline; four claws, one at each corner as on our Cushion Halo Pavé Ring, show more of the stone. Either way, ask how each corner is covered before you approve the ring. Our bezel versus prong setting guide compares what each protects and what each exposes.
Bring the ring in once a year for a check of the claws and a complimentary clean. Our warranty repairs manufacturing defects in settings free of charge, but it excludes wear and accidental damage. Between visits, our guide explains how to check a diamond ring for a loose claw at home.
Judging a cushion on a GIA report
GIA gives an overall cut grade only to round brilliants. A cushion gets polish and symmetry grades instead, and the report lists length, width and depth in millimetres, so the checking is yours. IGI, which reports on most lab grown stones, grades cut on some fancy shapes, so a lab grown cushion may carry one: treat it as one input and still check polish, symmetry and the outline. Our IGI and GIA reports guide shows where each figure sits.
- Read polish and symmetry. GIA's scale runs from Excellent to Poor; aim for Excellent or Very Good. Our diamond cut grade guide explains what polish and symmetry measure on any shape.
- Check the outline. The long sides should match and the four corners be rounded alike.
- Watch it move. Tilt the stone, or ask for a video in daylight and shop light, ideally in its setting: you want life across the whole face, not a dull patch.
When a cushion cut is not the right choice
A cushion is not the right choice if size, certainty or easy care comes first.
- Biggest look for the weight. An oval is longer: 7.7 × 5.7 mm at 1 ct, against 6.0 mm for a square cushion.
- Buying by grade. A round brilliant is the one shape whose cut GIA grades; on a GIA cushion report you rely on your eye and the measurements.
- Least upkeep. A halo and a pavé band hold many small stones to clean and check. If you love the shape but not the care, set the cushion as a solitaire, with a claw over each corner.
Cushion cut rings to see
The Cushion Halo Pavé Ring is made to order in sizes 46 to 62, and we confirm the price on WhatsApp, during opening hours, for the metal and diamonds you choose. The Cushion Octagon Halo Pavé Ring, whose diamond halo is octagon-shaped, is made to order in the same sizes; its page says Price on request, so ask us on WhatsApp. The Oval Halo Pavé Ring is made to order in the same sizes, and we confirm its price for the metal and diamonds you choose. Made-to-order pieces are final sale, so settle shape, size and metal first. To start from a square cushion, open a 1 ct cushion halo in white gold in the designer.
Cushion Halo Pavé RingCushion, 7.62 × 4.95 mm · 18K gold
Cushion Octagon Halo Pavé RingCushion, 6.44 × 5.25 mm · 18K gold
Oval Halo Pavé RingOval, 8.26 × 5.72 mm · 18K goldQuestions people ask
What is the difference between a cushion cut and an elongated cushion cut?
The ratio of length to width. A square cushion is almost as wide as it is long, about 1.00 to 1.05, while an elongated one is a rounded rectangle, from about 1.15 upwards. The soft corners are the same, but the elongated stone lengthens the finger.
Does a cushion cut look smaller than a round?
A square one does, slightly: 6.0 mm each way at 1 ct in our designer, against 6.5 mm for a round. An elongated cushion looks longer along the finger.
Is a cushion cut diamond likely to chip?
Not especially: a cushion's rounded corners chip less readily than sharp ones. GIA notes that a very thin girdle is vulnerable, so cover each corner with a claw or choose a bezel, and have the setting checked once a year.
Is a halo or a solitaire better for a cushion cut?
It depends on the upkeep you want: a halo frames the soft corners and adds presence, while a solitaire shows the stone most plainly and needs the least cleaning.
How much does a cushion cut engagement ring cost in Dubai?
It depends on the stone's weight, grades and origin, lab grown or natural, on the setting and on the 18K gold, so we quote each design rather than publish a range. Our engagement ring cost guide explains what moves the price; send your design on WhatsApp for a quote.
At Mazimo. Design the ring on a hand at true size in our ring designer and send it to us on WhatsApp for the price, or book a time to see stones and settings at Al Manal Center, Deira, a few minutes' walk from the Gold Souk. Every diamond ring we make to order is 18K gold, hallmarked in Dubai, and delivered insured across the UAE at no charge.
