Elongated cushion: crushed ice or brilliant?

Ami, Founder
Updated November 2026 · 3 min read
Two elongated cushion lab grown diamond rings side by side, a crushed ice cut on the left and a brilliant cut on the right

Quick answer

Elongated cushion diamonds come in two sparkle styles. Crushed ice shows many tiny sparkles, like crushed ice in a glass. Brilliant, also called chunky or antique style, shows fewer and bigger flashes with a clear facet pattern. The certificate does not reliably tell you which one you have, so you have to judge it by eye. Most of our elongated cushions are crushed ice, which also tends to show a fainter bow tie.

What is an elongated cushion?

It is a rectangle with rounded corners and curved sides, like a pillow, and it is longer than it is wide. It sits between an oval and a radiant: softer than a radiant, but less round than an oval.

What is crushed ice?

A crushed ice cushion has an extra row of small facets underneath. They break the light into many small sparkles across the whole stone. It looks soft and glittery, and all those small sparkles hide small inclusions well.

What is brilliant, or chunky?

A brilliant cushion has fewer, larger facets. It gives bigger flashes of light with darker areas between them. You can see a clear facet pattern, a bit like an old mine cut. The larger facets let you see deeper into the stone, so clarity matters more. These stones are also harder to find.

A crushed ice and a brilliant elongated cushion diamond side by side

Side by side

Crushed ice Brilliant (chunky)
Sparkle Many tiny pinpoint sparkles Fewer, bigger flashes
Look Soft and glittery Antique style, clear facet pattern
Small inclusions Well hidden Easier to see, so choose higher clarity
Bow tie Usually fainter Can be easier to see
How easy to find Most common Rarer

Does the certificate tell you which one it is?

Not in a way you can trust. A report may say "Cushion Brilliant" or "Cushion Modified Brilliant". Many jewelers connect "modified" with crushed ice, but that is not a safe rule. Labs do not describe the sparkle style. The only way to know is to look at the stone. That is why we pick every stone ourselves.

Which one shows less bow tie?

In our experience, crushed ice. All those small sparkles break up the dark band in the middle. Every long stone still shows some bow tie under strong direct light. Our oval bow tie guide explains why.

Which should you choose?

  • Crushed ice if you love glitter and want a fainter bow tie.
  • Brilliant if you love big flashes and the old mine cut look, and you are happy to pay for higher clarity.

How it works at Next Diamonds

Most of our elongated cushion engagement rings are set with crushed ice stones, hand picked for a faint bow tie. If you want a brilliant (chunky) cushion, place your order and contact us right after. We will find the stone for you before we make your ring.

Questions people ask

Is crushed ice lower quality than brilliant?

No. It is a cutting style, not a grade. Both can be very well made.

Can I see crushed ice in photos?

Often, yes. You see many small sparkles across the stone. But photos and videos change with the light, so it is easier to judge in person.

Is an elongated cushion the same as a radiant?

No. A radiant has cut corners and straighter sides. A cushion has rounded corners and softer sides.

What shape should I look for?

The one you love. Most of our elongated cushions are about 1.40 to 1.45 times longer than they are wide. A longer cushion looks slimmer on the finger, and a wider one looks closer to a square.

Crushed ice cushionsMost of our elongated cushions are crushed ice, hand picked for a faint bow tie.

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