Page:Handbook of Precious Stones.djvu/42

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PRECIOUS STONES.

be arranged into the two groups—(1) those having plane surfaces; (2) those having curved surfaces: but, under special circumstances, facets or plane surfaces are occasionally associated with curved surfaces in the same specimen. The further subdivision of the two groups of forms may be tabulated thus:

Group 1. Plane surfaces Brilliant-cut.
Step or trap-cut.
Table-cut.
Rose-cut.
Group 2. Curved surfaces Single cabochon.
Doable cabochon.
Hollowed cabochon.
Tallow top.

A few words descriptive of each of these modes of cutting stones may now be given.

The old brilliant-cut, though susceptible of many small modifications as to the size of the facets, their mutual proportions and inclinations, and even their number, requires, when perfect, 58 facets thus arranged:

Fig. 12.

Fig. 12.

1 Table The "Crown," or upper part of the brilliant.
8 Star facets
4 Templets or bezels
4 Quoins or lozenges
8 Cross or skew facets[1]
8 Skill facets[1]
—
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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The cross and skill facets are sometimes called half-facets; the former are known as clôtures by the French lapidaries.
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