CS Book 2 _AS -9 Cut.pdf

Cut KEY CONCEPTS Cut greatly influences a transparent faceted gem’s interaction Expert cutting maximizes a gem’s brilliance and color. with light....

Cut KEY CONCEPTS Cut greatly influences a transparent faceted gem’s interaction Expert cutting maximizes a gem’s brilliance and color. with light. Flat stones with shallow pavilions usually have areas of lower Transparent rough is usually faceted. color intensity, called windows. Cutters often use proportion variations to retain as much You’ll usually see dark areas, or extinction, through the crown weight as possible with expensive, rare, high-quality rough. in stones with deep pavilions. Most outline variations in colored stones are intended to save Cutters take less care with inexpensive, low-quality rough, so weight. finished stones often have proportion variations. Profile variations in a symmetrical cut are usually seen as The market demands precise cutting and proportions in gems differences in face-up brilliance from one side to the other. cut from relatively available, moderately priced rough. Most proportion and symmetry variations are visible through Preforming is done by highly skilled workers because it has the the crown as reduced or uneven brilliance. greatest impact on a finished gem’s value. Important factors in evaluating a faceted gem’s proportions Opaque or translucent rough is often cut into cabochons, are its crown and pavilion depths, the symmetry of its profile, cameos, intaglios, or beads. and its face-up outline. 147