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Gem cuts

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OCT, 2023

Gem cuts

There are three basic components, regardless of the gem cut being used: the crown, pavilion, and table facet. A gem's brilliance is influenced by the other facets and the ratio of the crown to pavilion. The facets on an emerald cut with a round, brilliant, or rectangular shape have the same names and occupy the same relative positions on the gem. The cutter uses a set of tables to determine the proper face angles for each type of material. The refractive index determines the angles at which the facets are cut. These angles are those for diamonds. The standard ratio of the crown to the pavilion is one to three, though this can change depending on the crown's angle.

What are the Gem Cuts?

Many different gem cuts are used to bring out the beauty and value of a gemstone. In addition, these gem cuts can vary according to the use of gemstones.

Brilliant Cut

Brilliant cuts enhance brilliance. They are also applied to colored stones to intensify, cover up, and even out patchy color. Their facets are roughly triangular or kite-shaped, and they are cut vertically from crown to pavilion. As long as the facets are triangular, the stone's actual shape can be any of round, oval, pendeloque, or even freeform.

Cabochon

Cabochons are gems that have a flat back and a dome-shaped top. In relation to the stone's outline dimensions, the dome itself can be flat or tall. The high dome is used to draw attention to certain stones' unique optical characteristics, such as asterism, iridescence, or the cat's-eye effect. The dome is typically shallower when a gem's basic structure includes color or pattern in order to best display the color or pattern. In terms of their outlines, cabochons can take almost any form.

Step Cut

Step cuts are designed to bring out a stone's color, but as a result, they typically generate less sparkle. These cuts have large flat planes with rectangular facets that mimic stairs. The emerald cut, which was initially created to protect expensive emerald rough, is the step cut that is used the most frequently. Because it removes any potentially susceptible sharp corners, this cut is excellent for brittle stones.

Mixed Cut

To maximize a stone's dimensions and aesthetic qualities, mixed cuts blend brilliant and step-cut facets. This brings out the brilliance and color of colorful stones. The crown or pavilion both display the step-cut faces. Any outline can be used for a mixed cut as long as the crown and pavilion show distinct cuts.

Fancy Cuts

Fancy cuts are cuts with interesting facets and contours. Hearts, free-form shapes with erratic outlines, kites, scissor, and pendeloque cuts, as well as shapes with peculiar faceting, such as those where the facets form flat planes to produce a zigzag or checkerboard pattern, are among these. The marquise cut can be seen in gemstones that have been shaped into long, pointed ovals.

Carving

Carving, in general, refers to the molding of a rough gemstone into a three-dimensional object. It can take many different forms and is a very talented lapidary technique. These can be intaglios, or relief carvings, in which the subject is carved directly into the gem; cameos, in which a subject or scene is raised over a background of a different hue; or even complete, three-dimensional figures, birds, and animals.

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