When grading and appraising gemstones, cut may not be as important as the other C's like color, clarity, and carat weight, but it is definitely an influencing factor when it comes to the gemstones overall grace. To fittingly value the cut of a given gemstone, you must not only study its face-up view or the surface or top belief but study it from all alternative angles as well. An excellent cut can lower the loss on carat weight but enhance its looks to breathtaking proportions at the same time.Cuts Used on Gemstones
Brilliant Cuts A brilliant-cut gemstone generally has three flat polished surfaces per facet. They are positioned in such a way to reflect the ideal light from the gemstone. Gemstone cutters also make sure that the angles will intensify the brilliance of the gemstone. These cuts are more than often used for diamonds and transparent gemstones.
Diverse facets will have one or more shapes like stars, hearts, kites, and lozenges. Variations of the brilliant cut comprehend the naivet‚ or boat-shaped marquise, per-shaped pendeloque, and oval shape. Oval shapes are suitable for gemstones with lower carat weight because they can make them seem bigger.
The most distinguished variety of all is the full-cut round brilliant. It has fifty-eight facets, presently the highest count for brilliant cut gemstones. The single brilliant cut, however, has seventeen to eighteen facets. For gemstones used in earrings and pendants, the briolette variety is mostly used to provide it with circular cross-section teardrop shapes. Brilliant cuts with triangular dimensions are known as trilliants although square brilliant cuts are also called princess cuts.
Step Cuts Another fashionable cut for a gemstone is the step or trap cut. Step cuts are ideally used for colored gemstones since they possess four-sided table facets and girdles as well as parallel quadrilateral facets. The word step cut was used for the reason that this gemstone cut bears similarities with a staircase. Step cuts have consequently fewer facets than brilliant cuts.
One well-known variety of a step cut is the baguette. It is rectangular in shape but has square corners. Emerald cuts are also quite fashionable. Its name was derived from its persistent use with emeralds. Emerald cuts does the job of getting rid of the corners and form an octagonal shape. Clipping off the corners protect delicate gemstones like emeralds and render easy the setting of gemstones at the same time. Other fashionable varieties for step cuts are window, table, radiant, and oval.
The best supremacy of step cuts is its ability to enhance a gemstone's color, design the color richer and appearing to have originated straight form the belly of the gemstone.
Mixed Cuts Mixed cuts for gemstones are prevalently combinations of brilliant and step cuts. The crown or top portion of a gemstone will look like a brilliant cut even though the pavilion or bottom portion of a gemstone will receive a step cut. Sometimes, the two cuts will appear side by side. Mixed cuts are characterized by their rounded outlines too. Very many transparent gemstones like rubies and sapphires are often cut this way. Gemstones with mixed cuts are also most often set in prongs.
Varieties for mixed cuts include but are not limited to cushion, zircut, pear or teardrop, and oval.
Cabochon Cuts A gemstone with a cabochon cut will present itself rounded on top and flat on the bottom. Sometimes, gemstones will only appear in this cut. Height of a gemstones dome having a cabochon cut varies. The name comes from the French term used for bald heads. Cabochon cuts are the simplest to manufacture, and that's why you'll often see them used on affordable gemstones and those that will not benefit from faceting.
Fancy Cuts Any other cut besides those mentioned above is many times referred to as fancy. A checkerboard cut, for example, will have a blend of a large table facet on top and a mixed cut. A rose cut will have the look of a round girdle outline, flat base, dome-shaped crown, and facets of a brilliant cut.
When judging the cut of a gemstone, evaluate it face up. See if the gemstone displays uniform color disposition and radiates light in the ideal possible way. Gemstones cut with huge windows are unappealing. Lastly, recheck all other angles and measure if the cut took both carat weight and looks into consideration.
