How to Pick the Best Elongated Cushion Cut

What is an Elongated Cushion Cut?

An Elongated Cushion Cut is shaped like a rectangular pillow. Whereas many Cushion Cut gems are somewhat square, what makes an Elongated Cushion Cut different is its extraordinarily long length-to-width ratio (more on that below!). In other words, an Elongated Cushion Cut is tall and skinny! Elongated Cushion Cuts are typically brilliant cut gemstones, meaning that they give off a lot of sparkle.

Are elongated cushion diamonds rare?

The longer the cushion, the rarer the diamond! Diamonds that are only a little elongated, around 1.10 and below, are common. Stones between 1.11 and 1.18 are rarer, while stones above 1.19 are pretty hard to come by. So, if you’re looking for a really elongated stone, make sure to build in some time for your search!

What are the Best Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Ring Stones?

The best gemstones for an Elongated Cushion Engagement Ring are Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Spinel, and Garnet. These gems are the best choice for an Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Ring because they are durable and naturally grow in long crystals. What’s great about choosing a long-crystal gem for your Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Ring is that they will be less expensive (less waste during cutting) and you’ll have a better selection of stones to choose from.

How Do I Pick the Best Elongated Cushion Cut?

Step 1: Size

Size

This may sound crazy, but the way you get what you really want is to slap a ruler on your finger! Because an Elongated Cushion Cut is really a look, you likely have an idea of what shape and size you’re going for. So, measure it out. Jewelers use millimeters when they measure gemstones. Use a ruler to find the length and width you want. This will also inform what gemstone is best for you (some crystals form bigger than others)!

What is Length-to-Width Ratio?

Length-to-Width Ratio is a helpful measurement calculation which allows you to pick how plump or skinny your Elongated Cushion Cut is. To calculate a Length-to-Width Ratio, simply divide the gemstone’s width by its length. So, a Length-to-Width Ratio of 1.0 is perfectly square. On the other hand, bigger Length-to-Width Ratios will appear long and skinny. The defining feature of an Elongated Cushion Cut is that it’s, you guessed it, long. So, in order to get the look, you’ll want to choose a long Length-to-Width Ratio (think 1.15+ for diamonds and 1.4+ for gemstones).

Step 2: Color & Gemstone

The next step is choosing your color and gemstone. The size and shape you chose will help you with this selection!

Colorless Elongated Cushions

Those looking for a traditional colorless Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Ring should check out these Diamonds and also consider White Sapphire and Moissanite. When looking for an Elongated Cushion Diamond, look for length-to-width ratios of 1.19 and above. Be warned, you will not likely find a cushion cut Diamond with a length-to-width ratio longer than 1.25 due to Diamond crystal shape. Natural White Sapphires longer than 1.4 are also rare. However, Lab White Sapphire, Moissanite, and Lab Diamonds can be grown and cut to very long lengths! So, if you have a long, elegant shape in mind, we can happily custom cut it for you.

Sneaky Trick: We know we always tell you to look for “Excellent” cut quality in our Diamonds. This one’s a special exception, though. Leave that part out for this round. The search engine will think these stones are “too long” and filter them out!

Blue Elongated Cushions

Those looking for a regal blue Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Ring should look at Blue Sapphire and Blue Spinel (read here about the difference between these two stones). Because Sapphire and Spinel grow in nice long crystals, Elongated Cushion cuts are pretty common! Those looking for a larger stone will like the value that comes with Spinel. However, those looking for a deeper blue will likely find Sapphire more to their liking. Both Sapphire and Spinel are available in Lab-created versions, too.

Pink Elongated Cushions

Pretty pink Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Rings may be made from Pink Sapphire or Pink Spinel. As with their blue cousins, couples looking for a larger stone will find a better value in Pink Spinel. However, Sapphire tends to be a purer pink and a harder gem. So, the choice is up to you! Again, both of these gems are available in Lab versions.

Red Elongated Cushions

Finally, those looking for a passionate red Elongated Cushion Cut Engagement Ring should consider Ruby, Red Spinel, and Garnet. Garnet is by far the most affordable of these options, with large stones often available under $1,000. Next comes Spinel, with large stones and more durability. Ruby is the rarest and most precious of these gems, and so commands the highest prices.

3. Cut Quality

Two really important things to look for in a high-quality Elongated Cushion Cut are facet symmetry and lack of bow-tie effect. Another thing to look out for is whether your stone is modern or antique.

Facet Symmetry

Because Elongated Cushion Cuts are extra long (and often not considered “Excellent cut” for this reason), paying attention to the quality of its faceting is really important. This is because gemstones that fall outside of “Excellent” standard are often imperfect. But, as you can see, not always! You just chose a really special shape. “Facet symmetry” means that the little cuts all over your stone mirror each other from left to right. So, when looking for an Elongated Cushion Cut, draw an imaginary line down the center of your stone. Do they look like mirror halves? Bingo! If they look kinda haphazard, pass on it.

Antique Stones

Another thing to consider is whether the stone you’re purchasing has an antique cut or a traditional cut. There are a significant amount of Elongated Cushion diamonds out there that were faceted way before we really knew about how to maximize brilliance. In other words, while antique Elongated Cushions have a charm all their own (I adore them) they do not give off as much brilliance as modern Elongated Cushions. A quick way to look for this is a large culet (the bottom facet). If a stone has a large culet and less symmetrical facets, you’re looking at an antique stone!

Uneven Light Return

Because you’re choosing such a long stone, some gems will exhibit uneven light return. What I mean by that is the gem will be brighter in the center or on the ends, instead of being bright throughout. Don’t let uneven light return ruin your stone! Instead, look for even sparkle and light return in your Elongated Cushion Cut.

Can You Help Me Choose a Perfect Elongated Cushion Cut?

I sure can! My name is Corinne, and I’m obsessed with them. Send me a note here, or email me here! Tell me everything you are looking for, or ask me any questions!