---
title: "Girdle: meaning in gemology"
description: "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."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/girdle
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Anatomy and proportions

# Girdle

Also called girdle edge, faceted girdle, bruted girdle, polished 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.

## In more detail

A thick enough girdle protects the edge from chips. It can be bruted, polished or faceted, and graders judge the thickness the same way for all three. The T73 has a girdle band of 16 facets; the T57 has a knife-edge. Labs also use the girdle for inscriptions.

## On a grading report

On the proportion diagram as a thickness description and a percentage, with the girdle finish (faceted, polished or bruted).

## Related terms

- [Girdle thickness](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/girdle-thickness): Girdle thickness is how thick the girdle is at its thinnest and thickest points. A report gives it as a range of words, such as "Thin to Medium".
- [Knife-edge girdle](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/knife-edge-girdle): A knife-edge girdle has no girdle band at all: the crown and the pavilion meet in a sharp line.
- [Inscription](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/inscription): An inscription is text that a laser writes on the girdle of a stone, too small to see without magnification. Most often it is the report number.
- [Crown](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/crown): The crown is the part of a cut stone above the girdle. On a standard round brilliant it has 33 facets: the table, 8 stars, 8 bezels and 16 upper halves.
- [Pavilion](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/pavilion): The pavilion is the cone-shaped part of a cut stone below the girdle. A standard round brilliant has 24 pavilion facets: 8 mains and 16 lower halves.
- [Bearded girdle](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/bearded-girdle): A bearded girdle has very small feathers that run from the girdle surface into the stone. They can come from the cutting process.

## Learn more

- [The parts of a diamond: crown, girdle and pavilion](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-anatomy/parts-of-a-diamond)
- [Diamond girdle thickness: thin, medium, thick and what it costs you](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-anatomy/diamond-girdle-thickness)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)