7 Gem cutting – how it has changed over the years (50% of the original rough diamond is lost during the cutting of a round brilliant gem)

 Have you ever wondered how a raw lump of mineral or crystal evolves into a dazzling diamond, ruby, or sapphire? This captivating metamorphosis is known as gem cutting or lapidary, and it plays a pivotal role in determining the ultimate value of the gemstone. The origins of this art can be traced back to the early 1300s in Venice, with subsequent appearances in Paris and Bruges in the mid-1400s. Gem cutting is a meticulous craft that delicately manipulates light to unveil the gem's true beauty, while inadequate cutting can extinguish its brilliance.

The journey typically commences with the rough gemstone being carefully sawed into a preliminary shape using specialized lapidary saws, often resulting in shapes like square, round, pear, or marquise. Subsequently, a diamond-infused wheel is employed to further refine the gem's shape. The gem cutter employs a sequence of increasingly fine abrasives to progressively approach the gem's pristine core. Cabochon gems, for instance, are meticulously polished to achieve a smooth and uniform surface. In this process, they may be held by hand or more commonly secured, or "dopped," to a dowel using wax or adhesive to facilitate the lapidarist's precise polishing.

Transparent gemstones, on the other hand, frequently undergo faceting, a method that involves cutting and polishing flat planes on the gem's surface in a meticulously symmetrical pattern. Ensuring the perfect alignment of these planes is crucial, as any deviation would diminish the gem's ability to capture and manipulate light through its facets. In cases where a gemstone is cut too flat or lacks proper polishing, the brilliance it could have displayed is diminished. However, when a gemstone is expertly faceted, it becomes a radiant prism, allowing light to dance within its depths, creating the mesmerizing sparkle that enchants us and significantly influences the gem's overall value. Conversely, poorly executed faceting, with misaligned facets, prevents light from interacting optimally with the gem, leading to a loss of its captivating brilliance.