The beauty of the gemstones we admire so much in
jewellery doesn’t only depend on the gems themselves, which, when taken out of the earth, display an irregular appearance,
covered in impurities and imperfections. It is the
age-old art of gemstone cutting, or lapidary, that transforms the raw minerals into unforgettable pieces. Expert lapidaries shape and smooth the gem in the
exact way to bring out their
signature
brilliance, shine and colour.
Cut gemstones have geometric faces or facets, distributed in two areas known as the crown —the top part—, and the pavilion —the bottom area—. The shape and distribution of each facet is what gives each piece its unique character.
Today we will explain the most common types of cuts.
1. Round or brilliant cut
This particular cut is round and has 58 facets. It is the most classic cut used for diamonds, given that it optimises their capacity to disperse light and it achieves an unmatched shine.
2. Fantasy cut
These cuts are created with a facet distribution that is quite similar to that of the brilliant cut, although its shape is not round.
The oval cut is, essentially, an elongated version of the brilliant cut. It is a symmetrical and uniform cut with 56 facets that makes the gemstone look bigger. The oval shape also defines the marquise cut, although in this
case the ends are pointed. According to legend, this cut gets its name from the King Louis XV of France, who created it especially for his mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour.
The exquisite light show offered by its 58 facets is a singular feature of the pear cut. It has a conical shape similar to the fruit and it is a very commonly used cut as an alternative to the brilliant cut. The heart cut, for its part,
is generally used in luxury pieces, since it requires big stones as well as immense skill. Besides the romantic implications of such a shape, its 59 facets radiate light from the centre towards the outside, giving it a majestic look.
Within the square shapes, the princess cut stands our particularly, since it displays 76 facets, and in some occasions, it achieves a greater shine than the traditional brilliant cut. The cushion cut, one of the oldest designs,
has rounded corners and 58 facets of a larger size than usual.
3. Step cuts
In this type of pieces, the facets have the shape of long, parallel trapezes with a resulting distribution that reminds us of the shape of a staircase.
A design that has a long tradition and history is the emerald cut, used mainly on the gemstone of the same name. It can be recognised for its rectangular shape with cropped corners, ranging between 50 and 58 facets.
It is an extremely demanding cut, given that, because of its shape, any defect that might be present in the stone becomes evident very easily. The baguette cut, which gets its name from its resemblance to the typical French loaf of bread,
is elongated and has 14 facets that enhance the shine and add a strong character to the piece.
As we can see, the chosen cut for each gemstone is a
show of the character and exclusivity of the piece. At Relojería Alemana you will be able to admire the different gemstone and diamond cuts from our fine jewellery collection.
Visit us at our
shops in Mallorca and get best expert advice.
