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A cushion brilliant uses a standard brilliant facet arrangement — around 58 facets — on the pillow-shaped cushion outline, producing large, bright flashes. A cushion modified brilliant adds extra facet rows to the crown and pavilion (often 61–70+ facets total), breaking those same flashes into smaller, denser sparkle. Same outline, different internal geometry, different light signature. Guru Diam stocks both within a 382-piece cushion inventory, CVD-grown and IGI-certified.
Both stones look nearly identical from across the room. The difference shows up under close inspection and direct light, and it's the single most common technical question buyers have once they've settled on cushion as the outline.
What actually separates the two cuts
Direct answer: facet count and arrangement, not outline. Both cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant share the same square-to-rectangular, rounded-corner silhouette — the outline alone won't tell you which one you're looking at. The difference is in the crown and pavilion: a standard cushion brilliant uses the classic brilliant-cut facet count and pattern, while a modified brilliant adds extra facet rows — sometimes called "double cushion" faceting in the trade — splitting each standard facet into two or more smaller ones.
How that changes light performance
More facets means more, smaller reflective surfaces, which changes the character of the sparkle without necessarily changing total brightness. A cushion brilliant throws larger, slower flashes — a "broad flash" look, sometimes closer to the softer light pattern people associate with antique cuts, though it's still a fully modern brilliant cut, not an antique one. A cushion modified brilliant throws smaller, more numerous flashes — a "crushed ice" or dense-sparkle look that reads as more active movement under light, especially in daylight or under multiple light sources. Neither is objectively better; they're different visual signatures, and the right choice depends entirely on what look the client is after.
Modified brilliant faceting also does practical work: the extra facet rows help break up the "bowtie" effect — a dark shadow that can appear across the center of some cushion and elongated shapes — more effectively than a standard brilliant pattern does at certain proportions. That's a real, functional reason a cutter might recommend modified faceting on a particular rough shape, independent of stylistic preference.
Side-by-side comparison
| Spec | Cushion Brilliant | Cushion Modified Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Outline | Square-to-rectangular, rounded corners | Same |
| Facet count | ~58 (standard brilliant pattern) | ~61–70+ (extra crown/pavilion rows) |
| Flash size | Larger, fewer flashes | Smaller, denser flashes |
| Overall look | "Broad flash," classic pillow sparkle | "Crushed ice," dense scintillation |
| Bowtie resistance | Standard | Often improved |
| Common client request | "Classic cushion sparkle" | "Maximum sparkle," "sparklier cushion" |
| Guru Diam stock depth | Highest-volume cushion type | Real, meaningful stock, smaller than standard brilliant |
Which one to spec
If a client asks for "cushion" without further description, cushion brilliant is the safe default — it's the more common stone and the one most buyers picture when they say the word. If a client specifically describes wanting maximum sparkle, a busier or more "sparkly" look, or uses phrases like "crushed ice," spec cushion modified brilliant. For elongated outlines specifically, see our elongated cushion cut guide — elongation and facet pattern are independent choices that combine, so an elongated stone can be cut as either a standard or modified brilliant.
Sourcing both types wholesale
Guru Diam carries both cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant within our 382-piece cushion inventory, CVD-grown, IGI-certified as standard, GIA available on request, from our New York Diamond District desk (36 West 47th Street, Suite 601A) and our Los Angeles office (607 South Hill Street). For the full spec table and current on-hand range across the whole cushion category, see our cushion cut wholesale sourcing guide.
Ready to buy? Open a verified wholesale account at /signup and book time with a gemologist at /book-appointment.
FAQ
What's the difference between a cushion brilliant and a cushion modified brilliant? Facet count and pattern. A cushion brilliant uses a standard brilliant facet arrangement (around 58 facets); a cushion modified brilliant adds extra facet rows to the crown and pavilion (often 61–70+ facets), producing smaller, denser sparkle instead of the larger flashes of a standard brilliant.
Which cushion cut sparkles more? Cushion modified brilliant produces more numerous, smaller flashes — often described as "crushed ice" sparkle — while cushion brilliant produces fewer, larger flashes. Neither is more or less bright overall; the difference is in flash size and pattern, not total light return.
Does modified brilliant faceting fix the "bowtie" effect on a cushion diamond? It often helps. The extra facet rows in a modified brilliant break up the dark shadow across the stone's center more effectively than standard brilliant faceting at certain proportions, though bowtie visibility also depends on the individual stone's cut proportions.
Is a cushion modified brilliant the same as an antique cushion? No. Both cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant are modern faceting styles. Antique cushion refers to a different, historical faceting character — higher crown, open culet, fewer and larger hand-cut-style facets. See our antique cushion vs. Old Mine Cut guide for that distinction.
Are both cushion types available lab-grown and certified? Yes. Guru Diam stocks cushion brilliant and cushion modified brilliant as CVD-grown, IGI-certified inventory as standard, with GIA certification available on request.
