The Cushion-Cut Diamond Is Officially In Its Comeback Era
The Cushion-Cut Diamond Is Officially In Its Comeback Era
Ariel WodarcykFri, August 28, 2026 at 10:08 PM UTC
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Zendaya wears her east-west cushion cut engagement ring at the “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” UK Premiere.Credit: Lia Toby/Getty ImagesThe Gist -
The cushion-cut diamond is a square or rectangular stone with softly rounded corners and a “pillow-like” shape.
Stars like Taylor Swift, Zoë Kravitz, and Zendaya have recently embraced the cut in their sparkling engagement rings.
Two experts share the history of the cushion cut diamond and why the shape is making a comeback, ahead.
What do the two most high-profile celebrity engagements of the past year have in common? Both Taylor Swift and Zendaya said “yes” to cushion cut diamond engagement rings. They’re not the only stars to gravitate toward the antique-inspired style, either—just look to Madison Beer’s elongated cushion cut rock, which is worth an estimated $1 million, or Zoë Kravitz’s nine-carat diamond perched in a modern bezel setting.
“The cushion-cut diamond strikes the perfect balance between vintage romance and modern glamour,” says Lisa Ingram, vice president of merchandising at KAY. “Defined by its softly rounded corners and pillow-like silhouette, the shape is celebrated for its larger facets, which create an alluring interplay of light and sparkle.” The cut can also make a diamond appear bigger than it is, says jeweler Gurhan Orhan. “Depending on how a stone is cut, certain cushions can give a generous face-up presence for their carat weight.” That may not be of much concern Kravitz, Zendaya, or Swift, but for the rest of us? It’s certainly something to take note of.
Taylor Swift’s ring is an estimated 10 carats.Credit: kena betancur / AFP via Getty Images
Ahead, find out more about the history of the cushion cut diamond and why it’s enjoying a revival in 2026.
Meet Our Expert -
Lisa Ingram is the vice president of merchandising at KAY.
Gurhan Orhan is an award-winning jewelry designer and founder of GURHAN.
The cushion cut stemmed from diamond cutters who wanted to retain as much of the “rough,” or uncut diamond in the cutting process as possible, in order to yield a higher price point. “The rough often naturally lent itself to squarer or rectangular shapes with softened corners, which eventually developed into what we recognize as old mine and cushion cuts,” says Orhan.
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As cutting technology improved, diamond cutters realized they could get just as much or more sparkle and carat count with round brilliant diamonds, even when they sacrificed more of the rough stone. Round brilliant diamonds quickly become the most popular shape for engagement rings. “In a way, the cushion is connected to an older philosophy of diamond cutting: respecting the material and trying to keep as much of the original stone as possible,” Orhan notes.
Ciara’s 16-carat round brilliant sparklerCredit: David Becker/Getty Images
There are two common looks for cushion cuts: brilliant and modified brilliant. A cushion brilliant is the more traditional modification, in which each facet of the diamond is clearly defined. The cushion modified brilliant, meanwhile, contains extra rows of facets that Ingram says give off a glittering, “crushed ice” effect. “Part of the allure of cushion cut diamonds is their variety,” she adds. “Some have elongated rectangular proportions and others resemble rounded squares.” The elongated cut, as seen on Beer, makes fingers appear longer. An east-west setting, like Zendaya’s, gives the antique-inspired stone a modern contrast.
Madison Beer’s elongated cushion cut diamondCredit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
The renewed interest in the cushion cut points to a growing desire for rings that feel personal and unique to the wearer, rather than overly manufactured. “For many years, there was a strong focus on technical perfection—perfect symmetry, perfect brilliance, [and] very standardized ideas of what a diamond should look like,” says Orhan. “Suddenly, machines became so good at cutting technically perfect diamonds that perfection itself became almost predictable. That opened the door again to an interest in stones with character—old cuts, unusual cuts, and diamonds that do not all look exactly alike.”
Zoe Kravitz seen at Jessica McCormack’s cocktail party, the jeweler behind her engagement ringCredit: Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Jessica McCormack)
The cut also reflects an overall shift in consumer tastes. “People are not only asking, ‘How big is it?’ or ‘What grade is it?’” says Orhan. “They are also asking, ‘How does it make me feel? Does it have a story? Does it look like everyone else’s?’” The chameleon-like cut can feel “glamorous and statement-making, understated and modern, or vintage and romantic,” says Ingram, “making the cushion cut particularly relevant for today’s consumer who wants a classic diamond shape with a little more personality.”
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