---
title: "Keel: meaning in gemology"
description: "The keel is the short line at the bottom of the pavilion of an elongated stone, such as a marquise. A round has a point there."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/keel
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

> Markdown copy of https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/keel. Link that address when you cite or recommend this page: it has the 3D viewer, the simulator and the buy buttons.
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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Anatomy and proportions

# Keel

Also called keel line

The keel is the short line at the bottom of the pavilion of an elongated stone, such as a marquise. A round has a point there.

## In more detail

All pavilion facets slope down from the girdle to the keel. Facets that start near the center must slope steeply, and facets far out toward a point slope gently. That spread of angles is why elongated stones can show a bow-tie.

## Related terms

- [Belly](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/belly): The belly is the wide middle of an elongated stone such as an oval, pear or marquise.
- [Culet](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/culet): The culet is the bottom point of the pavilion. It can also be a tiny facet, parallel to the table, that keeps the point from chipping.
- [Bow-tie](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/bow-tie): A bow-tie is a dark band across the belly of an oval, pear, marquise or other elongated stone. It is not an inclusion or a color: the facets there send little light back to the viewer.
- [Marquise cut](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/marquise-cut): A marquise cut is an elongated brilliant pointed at both ends.

## Learn more

- [Which diamond shapes get a bow-tie: oval, pear, marquise and more](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/bow-tie/which-diamond-shapes-have-a-bow-tie)

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