Understanding Gemstone Cuts and Shapes

One of the most important considerations when buying a new piece of jewelry that incorporates gemstones is the cute and style of the stone. While the quality of the stone makes a difference, the cut and shape make an arguably even more noticeable difference. If you choose the right cut you end up with a stunning piece of jewelry, but go with the wrong one and you’ll have a piece that you might not care for as much, or that won’t look as good as it could. 

Deciding on a Cut Technique

There are five different cut techniques that determine what a gemstone will look like in the end. It’s up to you to decide on the one that is going to look best for your needs. Below is an overview of the different cuts out there and which makes the most sense for your uses.

Fancy

This is actually a combination cut that relies on a few different cut types to create a specific shape in the stone. All those heart stones, princess cuts and the other specialty cuts are fancy cuts. They’re made to get rid of imperfections and typically remove sections of a stone that don’t look as nice as the rest does. 

Brilliant

A brilliant cut is designed to make a gemstone sparkle. It’s used most often on diamonds to give them that brilliant sparkle they are known for. It comes in a range of shapes, but generally has at least 17 facets on it. It’s possible to get a brilliant cut with as many as 58 facets though, and that will create even more shine and sparkle. This is the type of cut that you want on clear gemstones, and doesn’t look at nice on colored ones. 

Cabochon

A cabochon is a nice strong dome shape that’s cut into stones like opals that don’t benefit from facets. It makes the stone easier to maintain and create a beautiful dome look to it. This is a good option for darker stones. 

Mixed Cut

Mixed cuts are used to make popular specialty cuts as well, but they generally are a mixture of step and brilliant cuts to create things like pear shaped gems, or the cushion cut. 

There are a great deal of cut options to choose from, but it’s important to get one that’s going to match the gemstone that you want. That’s why you should consult with us here at Draper's Jewelry to learn more about your cut options and which type you like the best, before making that type of decision. 

Popular Mother’s Day Gifts for Jewelry Lovers

It’s that time of year again, Mother’s Day is fast approaching. It’s time to think about the gift that you will get for your mother. The gift you ultimately decide on will show your love for your mother and will give her something to remember you by as well. Unfortunately choosing jewelry isn’t always easy, especially for your mom. You want to pick a piece that’s going to look nice, match her style, but also be appropriate as a gift from a son or daughter to their mother. That’s why we’ve put together a few simple jewelry gift suggestions to make the task a bit easier. By following these suggestions you should be able to come up with a jewelry idea that your mom will be thrilled with. 

Charm Bracelet

There’s something really nice about a high quality charm bracelet that you can’t match with many other jewelry pieces. It’s personalized jewelry that you can customize to fit the person you are giving it to. Show your mom how much you know about her and how much you care, with a quality charm bracelet and a few charms that fit her nicely. 

For customization ideas, consider going with birthstones of all her children, or some charms that represent her interests. It’s fun to pick out all the little pieces for the bracelet because there are so many options to choose from. 

Pearls

A pair of pearl studded earrings never go out of style, their attractive and most mothers love them. They’re a good solid option to consider when you aren’t exactly sure what to get, and your mom will love it. There’s also colorful pearl jewelry for a more exotic for a mom that has a large jewelry collection already and is in need of something fresh. 

Heart Shaped Jewelry

Heart shaped jewelry is the perfect mix of love and casual looks to create a good piece to give to your mother. Something like heart-shaped earrings, or a heart locket is a good option when searching for the ideal gift for your mom. Just make sure to go with a piece of jewelry that’s classy while still being somewhat casual. It’s important to show your love for your mother and a nice heart item is a good way to do it. 

Picking the perfect piece of jewelry for your mother for Mother’s day isn’t the simplest task in the world, but as long as you know your mother at least a little bit you shouldn’t struggle with it too much. Keep the above ideas in mind, but always consider what you know specifically about your mom as well. If there is a certain type of jewelry that she prefers, go with that. Take your time and pick a piece that means something to you, and the love and care will show through in the gift. 

Speak with us here at Draper's Jewelry to find out what we have to provide you with. You'll be able to find something that they're sure to love with our selection offered.