How to Add Sparkle to an Emerald Cut

Developing Designs for Gems of Varying Proportions

The first design based on this technique was for gems of standard proportion. I was very pleased with it. However, I still faced the challenge of what to do with some very long crystals of tourmaline and aquamarine I had in stock. The normal approach would be to cut them as long baguettes or saw them in half to create two smaller, but better proportioned, gems. Neither of these solutions satisfied me. I kept at it until I found a way to apply my sparkling emerald cut technique to very long crystals.

These cuts make use of vertical facets and a curved keel. The finished gems usually have one very bright spot, which may be accompanied by a less bright spot on either side. At first, I was disappointed with this effect. My opinion changed, however, after I carried one of the gems around and saw it in different lighting situations.

With this technique, the majority of the light entering the gem is focused into a single brilliant spot of light. This results in brilliance in soft light situations where most cuts would simply turn dark. That single point of light is also incredibly animated. It races from one end of the gem to the other with astonishing speed. The sparkling emerald cut technique doesn't yield finished gems as dazzling as more symmetrical gems. However, this technique is a significant improvement over a standard emerald cut. It's very practical for wear, especially for softly lit evenings. And as an added bonus, the facet size is reduced for easier polishing.

The Sparkling Emerald-Cut Pavilion: Step-By-Step

This design is shown with a 96 index gear and can be used on any proportioned gem. It's quite easy once you have cut one or two stones. The mains adjust very easily during pre-polish, so you have room for error in the first cutting.

1. Begin by shaping the outline at 90º.
2. Create a girdle by cutting a row of facets around the stone at 65º.
3. Set your angle for the pavilion mains (42º or 43º). Cut a set of facets at indexes 1 & 95, 47 & 49, until they close the culet. Then cut another set at indexes 2 & 94, 46 & 50, bringing them about a millimeter from the center. Keep cutting sets beginning with I 3, another at I 4, etc., until you run out of room. Be careful as you get near the ends, as these facets come down to the girdle in a hurry.
4. Finish the mains by raising the angle ½ a degree and cut two facets in the center at I 96 & 48.
5. You will then have to add another facet or two on the sides (55º or so) to blend the mains into the girdle facets.

The Sparkling Emerald Cut For Long Crystals

This cut is great for those long tourmaline and aquamarine stones. It's brought many ooh's and aah's from jewelers who've seen the results. With 46 facets on the pavilion, the sparkle and brilliance are outstanding.

Follow the steps in the table below.

PAVILION

Steps one through four: create a level girdle. As you cut one through three, aim to get all three facets the same width, as viewed from the side.

Steps five and six: split the girdle facets and get cut to the girdle. Where those facets meet is where you cut to for steps seven through eleven.

In the diagram, those meetpoints have been cut over by facets twelve and thirteen. However, it will be obvious when it''s on the dop.

For the last three steps, simply trim off corners. (These steps are only used on very large gems).

To finish the crown, step cut it with the same indices used for the girdle.

Happy Faceting!