What does faceted mean on a diamond? The most common type of finishing found in modern-day diamonds is the faceted girdle. Basically, a series of very small facets are made around the entire circumference and this faceting process removes tiny feathers caused during the bruting process.
Full Answer
What is a facet on a diamond?
A facet is a flat surface on the geometric shape of the diamond. For example, if you would take a look at the brilliant cut diamond you will see the stone consists of 57 facets; the crown of the diamond has 33 facets on the top part of the girdle and 24 on the pavilion, which is underneath the girdle.
What is a faceted gem?
For faceted gems, this means the area above the girdle. Usually, you’ll see this area when viewing the “face” of a gem set in jewelry. The bottom of a faceted gem, the area below the girdle, is called the pavilion. The largest facets are called mains. (Some gems have larger table facets). There are both pavilion mains and crown mains.
What is facet faceting?
Faceting maximizes the brilliance, fire, and life of transparent stones. The appropriate cut maximizes the amount of light bouncing around in the stone and back out to the viewer, maximizing the sparkle. Unlike cabochons, where inclusions add character, inclusions in a faceted stone interrupt the light and decrease the fire of the stone.
What is a faceted girdle on a diamond?
The most common type of finishing found in modern-day diamonds is the faceted girdle. Basically, a series of very small facets are made around the entire circumference and this faceting process removes tiny feathers caused during the bruting process. Click to see full answer.
Is a faceted diamond good?
The answer to the question is a very simply, 'no', a diamond with more facets will not give a diamond more sparkle. By giving a diamond more facets will only result in a gemstone having more reflections rather than having an effect on the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond.
What does faceted mean in jewelry?
A faceted stone is a type of gemstone cut where the stone has flat top, polished faces called facets across it and a pointed bottom. This cut refracts the light inside the gem and reflects light on the outside facets of the gemstone, maximising the stone's brilliance and fire.
What is a faceted diamond cut?
At its most basic description, a facet refers to the flat surfaces of a gemstone that are arranged in a geometrical pattern. When cut by an expert, a diamond's facets cause beautiful optical effects on the gemstone's surface, and additional sparkle as its facets interact with light and each other.Aug 16, 2021
Does more facets mean a better diamond?
Simply put, there is no advantage to having more facets on a diamond. The number of facets a diamond has, affects the pattern of the reflections in a diamond rather than its overall brilliance. Diamonds with more facets have more smaller reflections instead of fewer larger reflections.Nov 29, 2016
Are faceted gemstones real?
Unlike cabochons, where inclusions add character, inclusions in a faceted stone interrupt the light and decrease the fire of the stone. The fact that a faceted stone is genuine does not in itself mean that it is a valuable gem. Color, clarity, cut, and rareness or availabilty all factor in to the value of a stone.
Are gems naturally faceted?
Natural gemstones are formed in nature with no interference from humans other than being mined, cut/faceted and polished.
How is a diamond faceted?
The crown of a diamond consists of four types of facets: the table facet, star facets, main facets, and break facets. The pavilion of a diamond has only main and break facets. The culet of a diamond may also be considered a facet if it has a flat edge instead of a pointed finish.Jul 26, 2021
Why are Asscher cut diamonds so expensive?
They're also the most expensive because cutting a round diamond creates the most raw diamond waste. Because Asscher cut diamonds appear smaller in size than other diamond shapes of the same carat weight, you may want to purchase a larger diamond, which will be more costly.Oct 8, 2021
How many facets should a diamond have?
58How Many Facets Does a Diamond Have? The gold standard for facets is 58. So round brilliants, cushion, heart, emerald, and oval diamonds all have 58 facets. However, some shapes have less than that.Jul 26, 2017
How many carats is 100 facets?
Unsurpassed brilliance… 100 precision-cut facets! Designed to achieve maximum brilliance, the magnificent 6-carat center stone is cut with 100 facets to reflect light with spellbinding radiance from every angle.
What is 88 facet diamond?
Goldsmiths Brightest Diamond; introducing one of the most brilliant cut diamonds in the world, the Goldsmiths exclusive 88 facet unique pattern adds additional facets to the bottom of diamond, creating an immense flow of light for maximum brilliance fire, scintillation and sparkle.
Which diamond cut has most facets?
round brilliant cutThe most brilliant, or sparkliest, diamond cut is the round brilliant cut. Round brilliant diamonds are cut to have 58 facets (including the culet), allowing light to enter the diamond and reflect off of every facet to create a beautiful sparkle.
How many facets does a princess cut diamond have?
Princess cut diamonds can have as few as 50 facets, but the number can be modified to increase the diamond’s sparkle. While some princess diamonds are cut with more facets (up to 144!), you’re more likely to find a princess diamond in the lower facet range, around that “gold standard” 58 facets. As such, the princess cut diamond may be a little less fiery than a modern round brilliant, but there’s a trade-off: the princess cut hides inclusions masterfully, which allows buyers a little more flexibility if they need to price down for clarity. However, color imperfections will become more noticeable in this shape’s square dimensions. Opt for near colorless when choosing the princess shape.
What is radiant cut diamond?
The radiant has the dimensions of an emerald cut diamond with the spark of a round brilliant cut. Radiant diamonds are the best mix of subdued sophistication and sparkling celebration .
What is Reese Witherspoon's engagement ring?
Reese Witherspoon’s engagement ring from her husband, Jim Toth, is an Ashoka solitaire. While the number of facets for most shapes of diamonds is the same, how those facets are cut and where they are cut makes all the difference. Symmetry is everything in diamonds.
What is the symmetry of diamonds?
Symmetry is everything in diamonds. Before the brilliant cut, diamond facets were almost always step facets, and the actual cut of those facets were far from perfection. However, today’s diamonds are cut with precision and designed with mathematical acuity for optimum fire and certain brilliance.
Who created the Ashoka cut diamond?
Only the most flawless diamonds can be cut into this unique design, which makes the Ashoka rare…and expensive. The cut was created by William Goldberg and features 62 facets.
Is a princess cut diamond more fiery than a round brilliant diamond?
As such, the princess cut diamond may be a little less fiery than a modern round brilliant, but there’s a trade-off: the princess cut hides inclusions masterfully, which allows buyers a little more flexibility if they need to price down for clarity.
What is a diamond facet?
A diamond facet is a flat surface on the shape of a diamond. Every diamond possesses multiple facets that enable it to absorb and reflect light. An ideal or excellent cut diamond is well-proportioned with optimal facet angles.
How many facets does a diamond have?
How many facets a diamond has depends on the shape of the diamond and the quality of the cut. The most popular diamond shape, particularly for engagement rings, is the round brilliant cut diamond and it is famed for its fire, brilliance and scintillation.
Does a diamond with more facets sparkle more?
A diamond with more facets is considered a good thing, but does a diamond with more facets sparkle more? In short, no. It is the skill and precision to which the diamond is cut that determines its sparkle. The combination of perfect symmetry and proportions of the stone and its facets creates the best fire, scintillation and brilliance.
What is a facet in gemstones?
Back to syllabus. Facets, those “geometrically arranged, flat surfaces” that cover faceted gemstones, all play specific roles in a gem’s optical performance. When expertly cut, facets not only create beautiful patterns on the gem, they also help it shine. Sometimes, literally.
What is the top row of facets?
The “top row” of facets, star facets adjoin the table facet. Along with the other crown facets, they serve to control the entry and exit of light from the gem.
What are pavilion facets?
The pavilion facets are designed to reflect the light back to the viewer. This enhances both brilliance, the amount of light a gem returns, and dispersion, the colorful “fires” that seem to emanate from within.
What is the widest part of a gem?
The widest part of the gem, the girdle defines its outline. When viewed from the side, however, the girdle is usually fairly thin. Faceters cut girdles to help set the stone in jewelry.
Can you cut a gemstone facet?
Not all Gemstone Facets are Flat. Facets may start out as flat surfaces, but gem cutters can cut them by hand or machine into concave surfaces, too. You can read about curved facets in our article on gem cutting styles.
Can you learn to facet gems?
If you’re new to the art of gem cutting, you’ll become quite familiar with these terms as you learn to facet gems. However, all gem enthusiasts, especially gem buyers, can benefit from learning about the types and functions of different gemstone facets.
Do faceted gems have a culet?
Some faceted gems have neither a pointed nor flat culet. Some cuts, like ovals and emerald cuts, have a keel at the bottom of the pavilion, an edge like the bottom of some boats.
Why do diamonds have a bruted girdle?
Just a few decades ago, almost all round brilliant diamonds have a bruted girdle because of the way diamonds were cut. This frosty appearance is created when a rough stone is rounded against another rough stone in a process called bruting. A bruted girdle looks rough and “porous”.
What is the surface area of a diamond girdle?
The surface area of the girdle is smooth and continuous all the way around the perimeter of the diamond. A polished girdle is smooth and reflective. The most common type of finishing found in modern-day diamonds is the faceted girdle.
What are the different types of diamond girdle finishing?
There are basically 3 types of girdle finishing you can find in diamonds: faceted, polished and bruted. Interestingly, the type of girdle finishing has no effect on the brilliance or optical performance of a diamond.
What does a bruted girdle look like?
A bruted girdle looks rough and “porous”. In severe cases of the bruting process, a “bearded girdle” can form and the diamond’s surface resembles the appearance of a man’s beard. On a micro-scale level, the bearded girdle has many tiny feathers which give the diamond an opaque and frosty appearance. In badly worked diamonds where the girdle is cut ...
Basic Girdle Types
The girdle can be polished, un-polished, or faceted. In the early years most diamond girdles were left unpolished in their original condition after the ‘bruting’ stage where two diamonds are rotated against one another giving them a round outline and establishing the girdle plane.
Symmetry
The symmetry grade issued by the labs is an evaluation of how consistently the facets meet at the proper places around the diamond. This is known as “meet point symmetry”. (This differs from ‘optical symmetry’, the precision of the placement of corresponding facets in three dimensional space).
Durability
The girdle also serves to function as a safe barrier against damage to the edge of the diamond, both during setting and during daily wear. Very thin girdles can make the stone more vulnerable to abrasion and chipping.
Laser Inscription
The girdle also provides an ideal location on the diamond to place a discrete laser inscription that helps identify the diamond without affecting its appearance. Since the technology became available some twenty years ago, inscriptions have proven very popular with both merchants and consumers alike.
Measuring Girdle Thickness
Girdle thickness (along with all other aspects) is measured at the labs by highly accurate non-contact scanners such as Sarine. Girdle thickness is expressed mathematically as a percentage of average diameter. An extremely thin girdle could be a percentage as low as 0.0% and extremely thick girdle could be as high as 10.0%.
Lab Descriptions of Girdles
The range of descriptors is: Extremely Thin, Very Thin, Thin, Medium, Slightly Thick, Thick, Very thick, and Extremely Thick. Lab reports will typically provide a range of thickness around the stone, e.g. Medium to Slightly Thick. If it is extremely consistent all the way around it will have one designation such as Medium.
Girdle Hills and Valleys
As stated above, the girdle is the junction of the crown facets and the pavilion facets. This gives rise to a slightly scalloped effect caused by different sets of facets meeting at different points. Therefore the thickness of the girdle undulates somewhat in a series of hills and valleys.
