Cutting precious stones: the secrets of their brilliance

A secret language between stone and light

When a rough stone is extracted from the earth, it is nothing like the jewel you admire in a shop window. Its surface is irregular, its reflections still shy. Cutting then reveals its potential, sculpting each facet to play with the light. It's a subtle dialogue between the craftsman and the stone, where each cut shapes its brilliance and intensity.

Over the centuries, jewellers have perfected cutting techniques, from the simplicity of ancient cuts to the perfection of modern ones. Behind each stone lies a story, an alchemy between nature and human skill.

One size, one emotion

Each precious stone has a unique essence, and the cut enhances it according to its natural characteristics. For example:

• A brilliant cut makes the diamond sparkle by capturing as much light as possible.
• A emerald cutwith its wide, stepped facets, offers an enchanting depth, perfect for stones of great clarity.
• A pear size or oval plays on elegance and elongated shapes, for an extra touch of refinement.

Choosing a stone also means choosing the emotion it conveys. A cut can suggest gentleness, power, eternity or delicacy. This is how each piece of jewellery tells a different, intimate and precious story.

A criterion of value

As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the cut also influences a stone's value. A well-executed cut maximises its brilliance and rarity, while a clumsy cut can dull its beauty. This is why jewellers and collectors look for stones cut with extreme precision, where each facet is designed to catch the light at its best angle.

Some cuts have become iconic, associated with legendary stones or top jewellery houses. The excellence of a piece of jewellery therefore lies as much in the quality of its stone as in the mastery of its cut.