Girdle facets are the small facets cut around the girdle itself, such as the 16 on the T73.
In more detail
They are counted apart from the 57 or 58 facets of a round brilliant. A faceted girdle is a recent habit. It gives a setter an edge to hold, but it adds depth and weight. At the same 8.15 mm width, the T73 weighs 1.99 ct against 1.81 ct for the knife-edged T57.
On a grading report
The report says whether the girdle is faceted, polished or bruted.
Related terms
- Girdle: The girdle is the narrow band at the widest part of a cut stone, between the crown and the pavilion. It is the edge that a setting grips.
- Knife-edge girdle: A knife-edge girdle has no girdle band at all: the crown and the pavilion meet in a sharp line.
- Facet: A facet is one flat, polished face of a cut gemstone. Its angle and its direction around the stone decide where it sends light.
- Round brilliant: A round brilliant is a round diamond with the brilliant facet plan. It has 33 crown and 24 pavilion facets: 57 in all, or 58 with a culet.