Understanding the Emerald Cut and What it Does for Your Gem

Understanding the Emerald Cut and What it Does for Your Gem

Natural Colombian Emerald Ring with Accent Gems

The most popular cut for emeralds is the step cut or the trap cut – so much so that it has been named the classic emerald cut. In this cut, the gem has a distinct table with rectangular faces on the crown as well as the pavilion, running parallel to the girdle.
The facets are sometimes square with truncated corners. There are two rows on the top, crown, and usually three rows on the pavilion or cone. This cut is preferred cut for emeralds as it allows for maximum weight retention and does give a stable form to this relatively soft gem that rates 7 on Mohs Scale and scratches easily.

Emerald cut

While this is a great cut for an emerald, the emerald or step cut is unable to bring out the fire and brilliance in gems like diamond. A round brilliant diamond with 58 facets including the culet allow for light to bounce off so many surfaces, creating a spell binding brilliance!

Anatomy of a Round brilliant cut

And with the diamonds high refractive index, it would be a pity not to get the maximum fire and brilliance from the gem. It is a fact that emerald cut diamonds sell at a lesser price than round brilliants! They have their own connoisseurs though.

The emerald cut is good bet for emeralds as the clarity is almost always compromised in this gem that invariably forms in nature with multiple inclusions or Jardine. So there is hardly anything to lose in terms of brilliance or fire. Instead the advantage lies in this cut highlighting the rich velvety emerald green color.

Emeralds over one carat will invariably have one or the other clarity characteristics. So while judging an emerald, one has to be accommodative about inclusions. However, it does not mean that clarity can go for a toss! It means that a good natural emerald must have a diaphanous look, where light passes through the crystals giving it a soft inner glow.

Some top quality emeralds from Colombia have clear crystal and therefore may be found in mixed cuts highlighting the stunning clarity and lustre, typical of that geographic location.

Selected Rings, Pendants and Talismans made available to Gemstoneuniverse.com patrons in February 2013

Gemstoneuniverse.com Table Natural Colombian Emerald Gemstone Facts

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