When a gemstone is desired to be used in jewelry, it is cut depending on the size and shape of the rough, as well as the desired piece of jewelry to be made. As a rule of thumb, a cut gemstone will reduce the mass (described in the carat) by about 50 percent.

There are several techniques available to work with gemstones. Specifically, sawing, grinding, sanding, lapping, polishing, grilling, and tumbling.

Types of cuts

A list of cuts:

• Antwerp rose cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• baguette cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• Barion cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
   cut
• briolette
  Briolette
  A briolette is an elongated pear-shaped gemstone cut with triangular facets. It is 800 years old and was popular during the Victorian times and although its popularity waned thereafter, it has enjoyed a recent resurgence for precious and semi-precious stones....
  
   cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• cabochon
  Cabochon
  A cabochon , from the Middle French caboche , is a gemstone which has been shaped and polished as opposed to faceted. The resulting form is usually a convex top with a flat bottom. Cutting en cabochon is usually applied to opaque gems, while faceting is usually applied to transparent stones...
  
  
• cushion or old mine cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• double Dutch rose cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• emerald
• Flanders cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• heart brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• king brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• kite brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• lozenge cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• magna brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• marquise or navette cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• obus cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• oval brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• pear or drop brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• pendeloque
  Pendeloque
  A pendeloque is a pear-shaped modification of the round gemstone brilliant cut used for diamonds....
  
   cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• princess
  Princess cut
  The Princess cut is the second most popular cut shape for diamonds, next to a round brilliant. The face-up shape of the princess cut is square or rectangular and the profile or side-on shape is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. The princess cut is a relatively new...
  
   cut
• radiant cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• rose or rosette cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• round brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• single or eight cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• step cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• square emerald
• star brilliant
  Brilliant (diamond cut)
  A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
  
  
• trapezoid or trapeze cut
  Diamond cut
  A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing such as the brilliant cut. Cut does not refer to shape , but the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond...
  
  
• trilliant
  Trilliant cut
  A trilliant cut is a type of gemstone cut, which is triangular, as the name suggests. It is sometimes called trillion, or trillian. The cut comes in two different variations, with curved and uncurved sides...
  
  or trillion or triangle cut