Cut-
A cut is defined by the ability of a stone to interact with light and reflect it to the eye. The various cuts of gemstones all require precise proportions, exact symmetry, and professional polishing. With these ideals set in place, each stone is graded on its brilliance, fire, and scintillation.
Brilliance is a gemstone’s ability to reflect light internally and release it back to the eye.
Fire is a gemstone’s ability to turn pure light into spectral colors from internal reflections.
Scintillation is a gemstone’s ability to flash light and color as a result of precision cutting.
In colored stones, both fire and scintillation are masked by the gemstone’s natural color qualities, making them hard to grade. Therefore, colored rocks are solely graded on their ability to reflect light internally and release it back to the eye (brilliance). Brilliantly colored stones commonly display two traits that professionals can grade them on: extinction and windowing.
Extinction is the darkened areas around the stone where no light returns to the eye. Windowing refers to the light areas around the stone where light escapes without being reflected internally.
In colored stones, as well as diamonds, these elements of light refraction or lack thereof are all dependent on the quality of cut made by the gem handler. Without proper proportion and symmetry, without clean and precise cuts, without a knowledgeable and experienced handler, the gemstone will not shine at its optimal level. AZEERA knows gemstones; we know how they work, how they form and most importantly, how to cut them so each and every stone has its shining moment.
Keep reading our 5-part Setting a New Standard series to see how else we ensure you get the perfect gemstone ring, every time
