---
title: "Synthetic rutile 3D Gem Models & Faceting Diagrams"
description: "Synthetic rutile 3D models and faceting diagrams: RI 2.616 to 2.903, critical angle 22.5°, and the top ten brilliants and jewelry cuts in synthetic rutile, by brilliance, fire and scintillation."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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# Synthetic rutile 3D models and cutting files

Refractive index 2.616 to 2.903 · critical angle 22.5° · 37 cuts scored

[Open it in the Simulator](https://digitalgemology.com/tools/3d_gemstone_simulator?stone=synthetic-rutile)

Crystal structure, one unit cell · drag to turn

## Cutting synthetic rutile

Synthetic rutile has a refractive index of 2.616 to 2.903 and a dispersion of 0.330, a specific gravity of 4.26 and a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale (tetragonal crystal system). It is doubly refractive (uniaxial), with a birefringence of 0.287. Its critical angle, from the low end of the range, is 22.5°, so a round design needs a pavilion of at least 39.4° for head-on light to reflect off both sides of the pavilion and leave through the table.

We ray trace every cut in synthetic rutile with the same light census that scores the other gemstones: one refractive index, 2.76, the midpoint of the published range, and a fire spread of 0.284, 0.86 of the published dispersion, the ratio our seven reference stones follow. Nothing is tuned to a result. Our instrument tools model synthetic rutile too, except the dichroscope, polariscope and spectroscope, which need a measured spectrum; its figures live on this page, on each cut's page in synthetic rutile, in the Cut Performance Wheel and in the Cut Performance Index.

Synthetic rutile is strongly doubly refractive (birefringence 0.287): its two rays have critical angles of 22.5° and 20.1°. Our census traces one index, so every figure for it is a rough approximation.

## Synthetic rutile optical properties

**Refractive index** 2.616 to 2.903 (o = 2.616, e = 2.903)

**Birefringence** 0.287

**Optic character** Doubly refractive (uniaxial)

**Dispersion** 0.330

**Hardness (Mohs)** 6 to 6.5

**Specific gravity** 4.26

**Crystal system** Tetragonal

**Critical angle** 22.5°

**Guide minimum pavilion angle** 39.4° for a round design

**In our trace** refractive index 2.76, fire spread 0.284

Published values, as on the [synthetic rutile glossary page](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/synthetic-rutile); they change a little from stone to stone. Where a property has a range, we calculate angles from the lower refractive index. It gives the stricter limit. Sources: [GIA](https://www.gia.edu/dam/migrated-assets/docs/doc1/Winter-1997-Gems-Gemology-Synthetic-Moissanite-Diamond-Substitute.pdf) · [International Gem Society](https://gemsociety.org/article/rutile-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/).

## The top ten cuts in synthetic rutile

**In synthetic rutile, the Portuguese Bird's Nest Cut performs best of the 23 jewelry cuts we score: 80 for brilliance, 99 for fire and 98 for scintillation.** The Square Cut follows at 82, 95 and 78, then the Cushion Cut at 73, 94 and 85. Of the three, the Square Cut has the highest brilliance and the Portuguese Bird's Nest Cut has the most fire.

**The top ten jewelry cuts in synthetic rutile, ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together (equal totals share a place), each out of 100, with the T73 Round Brilliant benchmark in synthetic rutile**

| Cut | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Portuguese Bird's Nest](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/portuguese-birds-nest), *Jewelry cut* | 80 (T73 benchmark 81) | 99 (T73 benchmark 94) | 98 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Square](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/square), *Jewelry cut* | 82 (T73 benchmark 81) | 95 (T73 benchmark 94) | 78 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Cushion](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/cushion), *Jewelry cut* | 73 (T73 benchmark 81) | 94 (T73 benchmark 94) | 85 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Marquise](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/marquise), *Jewelry cut* | 57 (T73 benchmark 81) | 95 (T73 benchmark 94) | 86 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Trilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/trilliant), *Jewelry cut* | 65 (T73 benchmark 81) | 90 (T73 benchmark 94) | 79 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Radiant Square](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/radiant-square), *Jewelry cut* | 69 (T73 benchmark 81) | 97 (T73 benchmark 94) | 66 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Asscher](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/asscher), *Jewelry cut* | 62 (T73 benchmark 81) | 92 (T73 benchmark 94) | 72 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Octagon](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/octagon), *Jewelry cut* | 64 (T73 benchmark 81) | 95 (T73 benchmark 94) | 66 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Princess](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/princess), *Jewelry cut* | 48 (T73 benchmark 81) | 99 (T73 benchmark 94) | 78 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Octagonal Kite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-octagonal-kite), *House cut* | 63 (T73 benchmark 81) | 99 (T73 benchmark 94) | 60 (T73 benchmark 80) |

Score out of 100 T73 Round Brilliant, our benchmark, in synthetic rutile **Jewelry cuts:** the fancy shapes we score, our house shapes among them. Ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together; equal totals share a place

**In synthetic rutile, the DG-M5 Cut performs best of the 11 brilliants we score: 97 for brilliance, 97 for fire and 85 for scintillation.** The DG-Rafaello Cut (81, 96 and 96) and the DG-Vitruvio Cut (81, 94 and 98) share second place. Of the three, the DG-M5 Cut has both the highest brilliance and the most fire.

**The top ten brilliants in synthetic rutile, ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together (equal totals share a place), each out of 100, with the T73 Round Brilliant benchmark in synthetic rutile**

| Cut | Brilliance | Fire | Scintillation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [DG-M5](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-m5), *House cut* | 97 (T73 benchmark 81) | 97 (T73 benchmark 94) | 85 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Rafaello](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-rafaello), *House cut* | 81 (T73 benchmark 81) | 96 (T73 benchmark 94) | 96 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Vitruvio](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-vitruvio), *Brilliant* | 81 (T73 benchmark 81) | 94 (T73 benchmark 94) | 98 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Miliano](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-miliano), *House cut* | 80 (T73 benchmark 81) | 93 (T73 benchmark 94) | 98 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Anteros](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-anteros), *Brilliant* | 89 (T73 benchmark 81) | 95 (T73 benchmark 94) | 80 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [DG-Broken Hearts and Arrows](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/dg-broken-hearts-and-arrows), *Brilliant* | 82 (T73 benchmark 81) | 95 (T73 benchmark 94) | 86 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [T105 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/t105-round-brilliant), *Brilliant* | 81 (T73 benchmark 81) | 92 (T73 benchmark 94) | 90 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [T73 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/t73-round-brilliant), *Benchmark* | 81 | 94 | 80 |
| [T57 Round Brilliant](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/t57-round-brilliant), *Historic cut* | 81 (T73 benchmark 81) | 94 (T73 benchmark 94) | 72 (T73 benchmark 80) |
| [Old European](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/synthetic-rutile/old-european), *Historic cut* | 75 (T73 benchmark 81) | 89 (T73 benchmark 94) | 81 (T73 benchmark 80) |

Score out of 100 T73 Round Brilliant, our benchmark, in synthetic rutile **Brilliants:** the round cuts we score, from the Old Single to our house rounds. Ranked by brilliance, fire and scintillation added together; equal totals share a place

Brilliance is the share of face-up light that the stone returns. Fire is the share of that light that splits into color. Both come from our face-up light census. Scintillation is the sparkle that facets give as a stone moves, and we read it from the facets of each cut. We score 37 cuts, the same figures as our Cut Performance Index. The Cut Performance Wheel does not model this stone yet. Mazarin, Peruzzi and Old Mine, historic cushions, are in neither list. Each measured cut’s own page shows its figures in every gemstone we trace. A simulation of the geometry, not a grading report.

## Synthetic rutile: questions

### What pavilion angle should I use for synthetic rutile?

For a round design, at least 39.4°. At that angle or steeper, light that arrives straight down reflects off both sides of the pavilion, beyond the critical angle of synthetic rutile (22.5°). Then it leaves through the table. The angle is the larger of the critical angle and (180° − critical angle) / 4. Faceters usually cut a degree or two steeper, for light that arrives off the axis. Fancy shapes vary, so every cut page lists its own figure.

### What is the critical angle of synthetic rutile?

22.5°, from a refractive index of 2.616, the low end of its published range. Light that strikes a facet from inside the stone at less than this angle from the normal of the facet passes out. At a larger angle, it reflects.

### Which cuts work best in synthetic rutile?

We add brilliance, fire and scintillation together. By that total, the DG-M5 Cut, the DG-Rafaello Cut and the DG-Vitruvio Cut are the best brilliants in synthetic rutile. By the same total, the best jewelry cuts are the Portuguese Bird's Nest Cut, the Square Cut and the Cushion Cut. We score 37 cuts in all, and this page ranks the top ten of each.

### How much does synthetic rutile weigh compared with diamond?

Synthetic rutile has a specific gravity of about 4.26, and diamond has 3.52. So a stone of the same size weighs about 1.21 times as much as the diamond.

## Other gemstones

- [Diamond](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/diamond)
- [Moissanite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/moissanite)
- [Cubic Zirconia](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/cubic-zirconia)
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- [Aquamarine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/aquamarine)
- [Citrine](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/citrine)
- [Quartz](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/quartz)
- [Alexandrite](https://digitalgemology.com/gemstones/alexandrite)

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