Gemstones have been admired and coveted for their rarity, beauty, and symbolism since ancient times. The art of gemstone cutting has come a long way since then, with advances in technology and techniques creating a wide range of gemstone cuts and shapes. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the most popular gemstone cuts and shapes out there today.
The Round Cut
The round cut is the most popular and beloved cut of all time. It is the standard for diamond cutting and accounts for up to 75% of all stones. Its popularity is due to its perfect symmetry, brilliance and fire. The round cut is mainly used to showcase clear and diamond-colored gemstones, like white sapphires, diamonds, and cubic zirconia.
The Princess Cut
The princess cut is a square or rectangular cut with pointed corners. It is popular for engagement rings and other jewelry because it provides a high degree of brilliance and fire, especially for colored stones. Princess cut diamonds are considered to be of exceptional quality and are in high demand. This cut is also great for showing off sapphires, rubies or emeralds.
The Cushion Cut
The cushion cut is a rounded square or rectangular cut with rounded corners. It's a classic cut and was popular in the early 20th century. It has become increasingly popular in recent years as more people have come to appreciate its vintage charm. The cushion cut is a great choice for fancy color diamonds, sapphires or rubies, as well as for white diamonds.
The Oval Cut
The oval cut has an elongated and elegant shape, making it a popular choice for engagement rings and pendants. It has an even distribution of light, which gives it a great sparkle. This cut works best with clear and translucent stones, like diamonds and white sapphires.
The Emerald Cut
The emerald cut is a rectangular or square cut with truncated corners. It is known for its large table that highlights the clarity of the gemstone. The emerald cut demands high quality, and it is often chosen for emeralds, diamonds, and other precious stones. The emerald cut is also an excellent choice for elongating the finger and creating an illusion of space.
The Marquise Cut
The marquise cut is an oval with pointed ends, similar to the shape of a football. It's a cut that is favored by those who love vintage jewelry. It's also an excellent choice for those who want to create an illusion of a larger diamond. The marquise cut works best with white diamonds or clear stones.
The Pear Cut
The pear cut is a hybrid of the round and the marquise cuts. It is shaped like a teardrop or a pear, with one pointed end and one rounded end. The pear cut is a popular choice for engagement rings because of its unique shape. It's also great for creating long earrings or pendants. This cut is suitable for clear diamonds, sapphires, rubies or emeralds
The Heart Cut
The heart cut is, as the name suggests, a heart-shaped cut. It is a delicate and feminine cut that is popular for engagement rings and pendants. There are different types of heart cuts, ranging from wider to taller. The heart cut is usually reserved for clear diamonds, like white sapphires and whit topaze, but can also work well with beryls and Rubellite
The Cabochon Cut
The cabochon cut is a flat or slightly domed cut, popular for opaque stones like opals, moonstones, and turquoise. The cut highlights the color and texture of the stone, rather than the brilliance and sparkle of the faceted cuts. Cabochons have a smooth surface that is sometimes polished, sometimes not – that provides a comfortable touch and peace in the jewelry piece.
Introduction to Gemstone Cuts and Shapes
The art of gemstone cutting has been around for millennia. Initially, stones were generally polished to create a smooth surface as the ancients didn't have the tools or the technology to cut into stones. Over time, technicians developed techniques that could cut into stones to create angles, helping bring out their brilliance and beauty. For thousands of years, everything from raw gemstones to expertly cut stones has been used to create jewelry.
Today, there are hundreds of different cuts, and each one has a unique name and style. It is essential to know the basic terminology and characteristics of gemstone cuts and shapes to ensure that you invest your money wisely.
Cutting Techniques
Gemstone cutting involves the shaping and polishing of stones into various shapes or cuts. Different techniques are used to create different shapes, and each technique requires different equipment and skills. Here are some popular cutting techniques:
- Point cutting involves cutting a stone into a pointed shape. It's mostly used in fancy or rough stones.
- Faceted cutting is the most common and popular technique. It is used to create a flat surface in the stone's top and multiple facets on the sides to produce the greatest proportion of angles around the stone, which significantly enhances its beauty.
- Cabochon cutting is used to create a smooth, slightly domed surface to show off the stone's color and texture.
About Gemstone Cuts and Shapes
The type of cut you choose will significantly impact the color, clarity, and brilliance of the stone. According to Gem Rock Auctions, the cut's quality is such an important determining factor in the stone's value, that often the quality of the cut – rather than the quality of the stone – determines its cost.
It's important to know that different cuts work better with different types of gemstones. For example, clear, transparent gems look best when faceted, like diamonds, while opaque stones look best in cabochon cuts, like opals and turquoise.
The skill and precision of the gemstone cutter are also factors that influence how a gemstone appears as they face the challenge of cutting each piece to its ideal proportion. The size, shape, and angle of each face must be cut to the precise configuration, and every element must work together in harmony to achieve the ideal light performance.
FAQs
What is the most popular gemstone cut?
The round cut is the most popular gemstone cut for diamonds. It's also the go-to cut for white sapphires and cubic zirconia.
What is the most expensive gemstone cut?
The most expensive gemstone cut is the 'Brilliant cut,' also known as the eight-cut or 57-facet cut. It is a round cut with 32 facets on the top and 24 on the bottom, designed to maximize the diamond's brilliance and rainbow sparkle.
Can you have any gemstone cut into any shape?
Yes and no! Some cuts and shapes work better with some types of gemstones than others. For example, while any diamond can be cut in a round shape, not all gemstones can handle a complex cut, such as the princess or emerald cut.
What is a cabochon cut, and what makes it unique?
The cabochon cut is when the gemstone is shaped into a smooth curve rather than cut to sparkle. Cabochon designs feature the dome-shaped polished area on the top of the stone and a flat-back, which is ideal for enhancing the gemstone's color, quality and is perfect for creating calming jewelry.
In conclusion, gemstones come in different cuts and shapes. Each gemstone's beauty is brought out with the right cutting technique. If you're in the market for a precious stone, it's important to know the different cuts and shapes available, and what works best for your specific gemstone. With this guide, you should be able to make an informed buying decision and select the perfect gemstone.