Cushion Diamonds 101: Old Mine vs Crushed Ice vs Regular vs Portuguese

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    By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio, Toronto · Updated September 27, 2026

    Short answer: A cushion can be cut four ways. An old mine cushion has large facets and bigger windows, and gives big pops of light, which is why it is also called a candlelight diamond. A crushed ice cushion has tons of tiny facets with no set pattern and throws back the most sparkle in direct sunlight. A regular brilliant cushion has a change in faceting in the middle with brilliant faceting above and below. A Portuguese cushion has a triangular, flower-like facet pattern.

    Know this before you buy a cushion. The outline is the same in all four. The sparkle is not.

    Old mine, crushed ice, regular and Portuguese cushions. Watch on Instagram

    What is an old mine cushion?

    An antique style cushion with a small table, a tall crown and large, chunky facets. The bigger facets mean bigger windows and big, slow pops of light. That glow is why it is also called a candlelight diamond. See one of our old mine cushion builds.

    What is a crushed ice cushion?

    A cushion with tons and tons of tiny facets and no clear symmetry to the pattern. Instead of big flashes you get a glittery, broken-glass sparkle across the whole stone. In direct sunlight it puts out more sparkle than any of the other cuts here.

    What is a regular brilliant cushion?

    The traditional cushion. You can see a change in faceting in the middle of the stone, and you still get brilliant faceting at the top and bottom. It is the most common cushion and the easiest to find.

    What is a Portuguese cut cushion?

    A cushion with extra rows of triangular facets, which gives a pattern that still looks like a flower. We built one with a very elongated ratio, and on the finger it throws back a lot of sparkle. More in our Portuguese cut guide.

    How do the four compare?

    Cut Facets Sparkle Feel
    Old mine Large, chunky Big, slow pops of light Antique, candlelight
    Crushed ice Many tiny, no symmetry Glittery, strongest in sunlight Modern, icy
    Regular brilliant Brilliant, change in the middle Classic flashes Traditional
    Portuguese Extra rows of triangles Floral, kaleidoscope Vintage

    Square or elongated?

    Any of these can be cut square or elongated. An elongated cushion looks bigger for its carat and slims the finger. If you are deciding between an elongated cushion and a radiant, read this comparison.

    Want to see all four cushions on video?

    A free 30 minute video call with Clint or Karina. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.

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    Questions we get about this

    What is an old mine cushion diamond?

    An antique style cushion with a small table, tall crown and large facets. It gives big pops of light and is also called a candlelight diamond.

    What is a crushed ice cushion?

    A cushion with many tiny facets and no set pattern. It gives a glittery sparkle that is strongest in direct sunlight.

    Which cushion cut sparkles the most?

    In direct sunlight, crushed ice. Old mine gives bigger, slower flashes instead of glitter.

    Is a Portuguese cushion the same as an old mine?

    No. An old mine has large, chunky facets. A Portuguese cut adds extra rows of small triangular facets for a floral pattern.

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