Antique Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Rings
There’s something about an antique cushion cut diamond that stops you in your tracks. It doesn’t sparkle the way a modern brilliant does - it glows.
Big, soft flashes of light that shift as you move your hand. It’s the way diamonds looked before machines took over the cutting process, when every facet was placed by hand, and every stone had its own personality.
If you’ve been drawn to these diamonds, you probably already feel it. They’re not for everyone and that’s part of the appeal.
What Makes an Antique Cushion Cut Different
The antique cushion cut also called the old mine cut, was the most popular diamond shape for nearly 200 years, from the 1700s through the early 1900s. It has a square-ish outline with softly rounded corners (which is where the “pillow” or “cushion” name comes from), a small table, a high crown, and a large, open culet you can often see with the naked eye.
Compared to a modern cushion cut, the facet pattern is chunkier and more spread out. Instead of intense, pinpoint sparkle, you get broad, rolling flashes of light - sometimes described as a “candlelight” effect. It’s warmer, more romantic, and unmistakably handmade.
No two antique cushion cuts are exactly alike. Each one carries the mark of the cutter who shaped it, often over a century ago.
How We Source Them
Genuine antique elongated cushion cut diamonds aren't sitting in a catalogue somewhere. They're rare, and finding a good one takes patience and connections. And if you love the old mine cut aesthetic but want a lab-grown option, those are highly sought after and even harder to come by.
Lab-grown old mine cuts are gaining popularity, but very few suppliers cut them well, so sourcing a good one takes the same level of care and specificity.
We source antique cushion-cut diamonds through specialist dealers, both in Australia and internationally, and work with a small number of trusted cutters for lab-grown old mine cuts. We're particular about what we present to you, we look for stones with good symmetry (for an antique cut), a lively light return, and that unmistakable character that makes old mine cuts so special. Whether natural or lab-grown, the standard is the same.
When we find stones that meet our criteria, we'll walk you through the options and explain what makes each one different. If you're comparing an antique cushion with a modern cut, or weighing up a natural stone against a lab-grown alternative, we can show you both side by side so you can see the difference for yourself.
DESIGN YOUR OWN RING
Designing Around an Antique Diamond
An antique cushion-cut diamond calls for a setting that respects its character. That might be a clean, minimal solitaire that lets the stone do the talking. Or a vintage-inspired design with a Georgian button back setting that leans into the era the diamond comes from.
We design and handcraft engagement rings in Melbourne, so every ring is built around the specific diamond you choose. The setting, the proportions, the metal, everything is tailored to make your stone look its absolute best.
Is an Antique Elongated Cushion Cut Right for You?
If you love the idea of a diamond with history and character, one that doesn't look like every other ring on Instagram, an antique cushion cut might be exactly what you're looking for. And if the look is what draws you but you'd prefer lab-grown, that's an option too. They suit people who are drawn to warmth over intensity, individuality over perfection, and stones that feel like they have a story.
Not sure yet? That's completely fine. Get in touch, and we'll talk you through it. We can show you antique cushion cuts alongside other shapes so you can see what feels right.