GEM CUTTING

There are several ways of fashioning gems. Gem cutting and polishing is the most popular method of fashioning gems. In Sri Lanka we have two main groups of cutting and polishing of gems-Cabochons and Faceted gemstones

Cabochon is the oldest of the popular modes of cutting is use in present day. Earlier times it was the simplest way of fashioning gemstones,  today it is done for definite purposes. This cut is a dome shaped polished top, which is made to act as a lens which will collect light rays from all around and reflect back to the viewer's direction.

In faceting (cutting and polishing) of all  the ( Shaping the rough stone )  gemstones, so many cutting styles in  different shapes and also their variations have been developed. Even to present day new cuts are introduced. All these cuts depend on two basic conditions-style and the shape. These two conditions are controlled by  optical  properties related to beauty, structural  properties of gemstones and desirability for fashion  and value.      

(Faceting and Polishing of the shaped stone)