Gems Cut
Types of Cuts for Gemstones
There is no general rule which can be applied to the various cuts. However, three groups or types of cut can be named: Faceted cut, plain cut, and mixed cut.
The faceted cut is practically applied only to transparent stones. The number of small even facets gives the gem higher luster and often a better play of color. Most facet cuts are built on two basic types, the brilliant cut and the trap or emerald cut. The plain cut can be leveled en cabochon (domed). This is suitable for agates and other opaque stones. In mixed cuts, the upper part is level and the lower part is faceted, or vice versa.
Brilliant-Full cut or Round-Brilliant cut This cut has been specially developed for the diamond. The word "brilliant" alone refers to a diamond, whereas, in the case of other gems, the mineral name should be given.. i.e... Round brilliant-cut sapphire. This cut has at least 32 facets, plus the table on the upper part, and 24 facets on the lower part. When there are less, it is called a "Round" cut". Eight cut This cut is also usually for the diamond, normally diamonds that are too small for a full cut. This cut has 8 facets on the upper and lower parts as well as the table on the upper.
Rose Cut and Half Dutch Rose Are facet cuts without a table or pavilion that vary in the number and positioning of facets. These are old cuts not normally used today since they do not produce much brilliance.
Step Cut A simple type of facet cut, specially used for colored stones, but also occasionally for diamonds. Several facets are cut parallel to the edges, the facets becoming steeper towards the girdle. The lower part usually has more facets than the upper part. A step cut can be used in combination with other cuts i.e. Oval-Step cut or Square-Step cut, etc.
Scissor Cut A type of step cut. The facets are divided into four sub-facets by the "scissors", some have truncated corners while others are cut with square corners.
Ceylon cut, Old Mine cut, Antique cut, or Cushion Cut is most often referred to as the "Cushion
cut" and it can vary in shape from ovalish/squarish to ovalish/rectangularish. It is a primary cut used on
ruby and sapphire that is cut in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This very popular cut has numerous facets in both
upper and lower parts and is normally a very brilliant cut. This cut allows the cutter to obtain maximum
weight so it is not always symmetrical. Now we are seeing other gems, even semi-precious gems, being cut with the face symmetry similar to the Cushion cut, and called a Cushion cut, however the faceting is not the same as that of Ceylon and Burma cut gemstones.
Emerald Cut A step cut with an octagon shape, especially used for emerald, but also popular for longer-shaped diamonds and other colored stones. Most have truncated corners while others can have square corners.
Antique cuts are very similar to the Ceylon cut and Cushion cut in the face shape, being ovalish and squarish, and the second being more ovalish and rectangularish. The Antique cut is also a primary cut used on ruby and sapphire that is cut in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This very popular cut varies in the type of facets used in both upper and lower parts like the Ceylon cut, Old Mine cut, Antique cut, or Cushion Cut. The pavilion is normally a mixed cut to create as brilliant a stone as possible, except the cut is normally a shallower cut than the typical Cushion cut. This cut allows the cutter to obtain maximum weight with a big face, and like the Cushion it is not always symmetrical.
Oval cut is a very popular cut has numerous facets in both upper and lower parts and is normally a very brilliant cut. It's face shape is always oval. Some are cut elongated oval but this cut is always symmetrical. To allow the cutter to obtain maximum weight, the pavilion can be a step or mixed type facet to create as brilliant a stone as possible from the particular crystal, so it can vary from deep to a shallower cut yet still be called Oval since the face is still Oval and symmetrical.
Bead cut This is a Spherical cut that is totally faceted...
Other Cuts
Various other types of cuts show an abundance of forms available. Not all gems are cut to these forms as a general rule so these cuts are only provided as a guide to understanding them.
Square cut, Baguette cut (long rectangle), Octagon cut, French cut (base and table square, triangular facets)...