Different Gemstone Cuts and Shapes

When we talk about Gemstones, beautiful types and colors start appearing in front of us like Ruby, Coral, Yellow Sapphire, Pearl, and so on.

Most of the gemstones are mined. They comes in crystal form in their natural state. Gem cutter leads to the transformation of the raw, rough material into glittering jewels. To state, archaeological records reveal that as early as 3000 B.C.

Gem-cutters used to cut and shape stones for both useful and beautiful purposes. Cutting gives the stones a specific shape and enables the true color and brilliance of the gemstone.

Precious gemstones like diamond, rubies, sapphire, and emeralds have a high price. Then another category of gemstones likes topaz, onyx, agate, etc. are semi-precious.

Process of Tumbling and polishing of the gemstones smoothen the edges and surface of the gemstones. These stones have their own natural beauty and are popular in jewelry making and other craftwork. To impart beauty to vivid stones, gemstones are cut into beautiful shapes.

These Gemstone Cuts can be classified as:

Cabochon Gemstone Cuts

 

The name of cabochon stones comes from an old Norman French word “caboche” which means head. These cabochons have no facets, but they are tumbled and polished till they become smooth, round finish and a gleaming shine.  So, Opaque gems like malachite, turquoise, onyx, and agate are also cabbed.

Brilliant Cut

 

The brilliant-cut is a complex, precisely cut that places multiple facets at regular angles for creating maximum brightness. There are a lot of variations in brilliant cuts. It depends on the shape and size of the rough stone.

Cushion-Cut

 

The cushion cut is generally identified as a square or rectangular shape with rounded edges. This stone cut comprises 58 facets, like brilliant stones. The cushion-cut has been popular since the 18th century.

Divine Gemstone Cuts

 

This is a variation of the brilliant-cut and It is produce to expand brilliance. In a divine cut, the top is flatter and smaller than in most brilliant cut gems. The arrangement of the faces creates a parachute-like shape.

Rose Cut

The rose cut was made in 1520 and was used for garnets. This cut has a round, cabochon base and top face have a regular pattern of triangular faces.

Barion Gemstone Cuts

Barion cuts have a tendency to look different depending on their application to various shapes of gemstones like round, triangular, rectangle or square. The characteristic arrangement of the sides in a barion cut gem makes a cross-shaped pattern at the center of the stone.

Checkerboard-Cut

 

In a checkerboard cut, all the facets are in a square shape to give a checkerboard look. Checkerboard cut is often paired with translucent gemstones like tourmaline quartz and cushion-shaped because all these categories of shapes and stones showcase the sophistication of the cut.

Old Mine Gemstone Cuts

Old mine cut is of numerous older cutting styles that include the old European cut and the Mogul one.
The main aim was to get the maximum sparkle. But technical restrictions showed that the stones were taller and the faces were larger than in the current brilliant cuts. Old mine cuts and other older cuts are now also sometimes used to create an antique look.

Gemstone Shapes

The shape of a gemstone is determined by its outline when viewed from above, and this further determines the total style and impact of the finished piece of jewelry. There are several shapes and cut combinations that appear together are given particular names.

Round

Round-shaped gemstones are elegant and immensely popular. Round gemstones are generally pair with a dazzling rose or cabochon cut. 58 facet diamond,  diamond solitaire rings which are round with brilliant-cut are the most popular choice for gemstone engagement rings. 58 facets are the most traditional and popular choice for engagement rings.

Oval shape gemstone

Majority of rough gemstones are loosely spherical which makes oval the most common shape for colored gemstones. Gem-cutters often select an oval shape because they need to balance aesthetic and commercial attentions. Oval shapes provide themselves to cabochon cuts or can be faceted with a modified brilliant cut.

Marquise Gemstone Cuts

A marquise shape is a point oval-shape diamond and tends by a modified brilliant cut. Marquise shape is  “navette.” The point ends and the significance of corresponding the facets on both sides make this shape technically demanding to cut and also fragile. Hence, might find that gems that are cut into this shape are comparatively more expensive than similar weight stones in other shapes.

Pear shape gemstone

Pear or teardrop has one rounded and the other pointed end. This shape with a brilliant-cut generally has between 56 and 58 facets. Pear-shape gems are often wear in pendants and earrings.

Briolette

A Briolette-shaped gemstone is the most difficult shape to cut. The main difference from the pear-shape is that a Briolette is angle on all sides. Today, it is comparatively uncommon and tends to be used in antique style pieces, especially necklaces and drop earrings.

 

Heart Shape

Heart-shaped gems are a reformed pear-shape with a separation at the top to create a loving and romantic aura. A brilliant-cut the best combination with heart-shaped gem and the finished stone generally incorporates 59 facets.

Square and Rectangle

There are numerous types of square and rectangular-shape gemstones which combine a particular cut with a square or rectangular shape.

Square – Princess

A gemstone which is famous as “princess-cut” is generally square with a brilliant-cut and pointed corners. Generally,  diamond engagement rings are in this shape and cut combination. A princess-cut gem generally has up to 78 facets, and the combination of shape and faceting shows its color in the corners of the cut as well as in the center.

Rectangle – Emerald

An emerald-shape stone is generally rectangular corners in the shape of angles and The stone has a flat top and the edges have step cut. This shape and cut combination looks like a mirror and gives a beautiful sparkle.