Cut (gems)

When a gemstone is desired to be used in jewelry, it is cut depending on the size and shape of the rough stone, as well as the desired piece of jewelry to be made. As a rule of thumb, a cut gemstone will reduce the mass (described in the carat) by about 50 percent.

There are several techniques available to work with gemstones; among them are sawing, grinding, sanding, lapping, polishing, grilling, and tumbling. The diamond cut planning stage is a complex process that requires the cutter to work with unique rough stones. Very often, the location of the inclusions in a rough stone will determine the type of shape to which a diamond may be cut. Most diamonds are cut to retain weight for economic reasons instead of maximizing brilliance.^[1]

Types of cuts

Cut emeralds

Princess cut diamond set in a ring

A list of cuts:

• Antwerp rose cut
• Asscher cut
• Baguette cut
• Barion cut
• brilliant cut
• Briolette cut
• Cabochon
• Cushion or old mine cut
• Double Dutch rose cut
• emerald
• Flanders cut
• Heart brilliant
• King brilliant
• Kite brilliant
• Lozenge cut
• magna brilliant
• marquise or navette cut
• mogul cut
• obus cut
• oval brilliant
• pear or drop brilliant
• pendeloque cut
• princess cut
• radiant cut
• rose or rosette cut
• round brilliant
• single or eight cut
• step cut
• square emerald
• star brilliant
• trapezoid or trapeze cut
• trilliant or trillion or triangle cut
• brazilliant cut

See also

• Cut Styles

References

1. "Why Aren’t All Diamonds Cut to Ideal Proportions". Online Diamond Buying Guide. Retrieved 7 January 2011.

External links