Cut – The Gemmologist Handbook

A cut, selected according to the optical and physical properties of the stone, can highlight optical effects, brilliance and hide defects – flaws or inclusions. It can hinder or, on the contrary, facilitate the identification of the stone.

What is a cut?

A cut is the giving of form to a stone by covering it with facets – symmetrical planes. The cut consists of the proportions, i.e. the dimensions of the individual parts of the stone, and the finish – the number of facets and their symmetry. Facets can be divided into historic, standard, and modern and fancy. Historical cuts are rarely in use today, standard cuts are cuts that are very often duplicated and have a long tradition, while modern and fancy cuts are individual inventions that are often created for unique pieces. 

What types of cuts do we have?

Among the types of cut, we can distinguish:

• cabochon cut,
• facet cut, which includes diamond, facet, rosette, cross, or emerald cut,
• fancy cut, which may include heart, marquise, or drop cuts,
• mixed cut.