Are step cut emeralds popular in the USA?

[benjaminpendleton]

Hi, I''m the new guy in class who asks the questions that everyone else already knows the answer to... oh, well, someone''s got to do it...
Are step cut emeralds still popular in the US? Why, or why not? What percentage of emeralds sold in the US are step cut (ballpark figure from personal observation is fine). Can highly faceted emeralds actually hide flaws better than a straightforward style of cut? Is that why jewelers tend to go with the fancier cuts? If you have a truly beautiful emerald to begin with, does it NEED to have a multifaceteed cut to be truly beautiful in the end? Are there those of you out there who would not buy a step cut emerald, regardless of it''s beauty, just because you don''t like them? Have I asked enough questions yet?

 

[chrono]

Most of the emeralds in the USA are step cuts; I believe this is due to the shape of the rough and also to help retain colour and weight. I haven''t seen any fancy cut emeralds in person - do you have any pictures of fancy cut emeralds to share here? I''m also thinking that most might be step cuts due to inclusions in the stone: the less cutting the less risk of the stone chipping during the cutting process. So perhaps the fancy multifaceted emeralds are those that are very clean clarity wise? Just my guess.

 

[partgypsy]

I don''t know this for certain, but step (or emerald) cut is the ideal or reference cut for an emerald, it''s classic, shows off the color well, just goes well together. And to tell you the truth if I was buying a really nice emerald I would prefer to have it in an emerald cut and so there may even be a slight cost premium for that shape.

Because fine emeralds are rare, regardless of the shape though, people will ask, is it a really nice emerald? And in the end overlook the shape of the cut (as long as it''s well cut) as long as it''s a killer stone.

 

[Skippy123]

In the past I talked to a few jewelers and I heard the reason they do not do too many other cuts is because emeralds have a lot of inclusions and their hardness is around 7.5 so it makes it difficult to cut and they are more prone to breaking. I wanted some emerald trillions and none of them would cut trillions because of the inclusion and breakage issue.

I wonder if step cuts help prevent breakage?

 

[chrono]

Skippy,
I wouldn't say step cuts prevents breakage, but it has less facet and larger ones, so it is less likely to get damaged in the cutting process. Trilliants are a busier cut with more facets and smaller facets, hence a larger risk.

 

[Harriet]

It seems that emeralds are loved for their colour and velvety appearance. Would a brilliant-cut be antithetical to that? Just a thought.

 

[chrono]

Well, maybe. I've also seen gorgeous deep blue sapphires with that well known kashmir velvety appearance, yet they were not step cuts.

 

[Harriet]

Aren''t those sapphires beautiful? I''ve seen a number of faceted ones, albeit with fewer facets than the usual suspects.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/17/2007 1:55:53 PM
Author: Chrono
Skippy,
I wouldn't say step cuts prevents breakage, but it has less facet and larger ones, so it is less likely to get damaged in the cutting process. Trilliants are a busier cut with more facets and smaller facets, hence a larger risk.

Thanks Chrono, nice to see ya wwt friend!

Benjaminpendleton, what cuts have you seen lately? Are you looking for a particular cut? I have seen mostly step cuts lately.

 

[chrono]

Hi Skippy. I hang out here very often.

 

[Harriet]

Chrono,

.

Benjamin, I''ve seen a number of cabochons as well.