Bruted vs Faceted

I haven't updated this blog for a while... at least not with this kind of info.

If you pay close attention to your stone's certificate, you will see 2 pieces of information that relates to the Girdle. They are the thickness and the 'type' of girdle. In this post, I'm going to explain the 'type'.

Girdle
Girdle is the thin line between the top half of your diamond and the bottom half when viewed from the side. If you refer back to this simple diamond diagram, you can see where it is:



It is the widest part of the diamond and divides the top from the bottom. (It doesn't divide equally of course with the bottom being longer than the top) After being set, the girdle is usually visible unless it is purposely covered by the setting or band like the famous Tiffany Bezet line =P





There are primarily 2 types of girdles:

1. Faceted
2. Bruted

Faceted

Nowadays, this is probably the most common girdle type. Faceted means that the girdle is finished with a faceted feel. Even without a microscope, if you look carefully, you'll see numerous facets along the girdle as you turn the ring. It gives the ring a more 'clean' look. Faceting is done after bruting a diamond. These are the last and final steps in diamond cutting.

Bruted

Bruted was more common many years ago and 1 of the reasons why it was common was to prove that the stone was a real diamond. Bruted girdle is achieved by grinding 2 stones together. The appeareance is like a sugarly/frosted look.

Pros & Cons & Facts

-Faceted girdles take an extra step and are considered to be "better" than bruted girdles

-Although there are some out there who argue otherwise

-Faceted girdles cost a bit more as an extra step is involved in the cutting process

-Most diamonds today are faceted