Can someone tell me about the Barion cut???

[Cyren]

Hi all,
I really like the look of step cut stones, but I don''t know if they would afford as much light return as I would want in a colored gem. I''ve looked at rectangular barion cut stones and like the added sparkle, but don''t really know anything about the cut. Any experts want to weigh in?

Thanks!!

Cyren

 

[DiamondExpert]

Devised in ''71 by Basil Watermeyer and named using his 1st initial and all but the 1st letter of his wife''s name, Marion.

Nice, bright cut which will liven up a stone''s light return.

 

[DiamondExpert]

Here''s a poor pic of a Barion cut aqua.

 

[movie zombie]

love that aqua! prefer it to concave cut......

movie zombie

 

[Barbara]

Date: 8/14/2006 6:50:16 PM
Author:Cyren
Hi all,

I really like the look of step cut stones, but I don''t know if they would afford as much light return as I would want in a colored gem. I''ve looked at rectangular barion cut stones and like the added sparkle, but don''t really know anything about the cut. Any experts want to weigh in?


Thanks!!


Cyren

Hi Cyren,

You asked specifically about step cut stones and Barion cutting does "jazz them up" beautifully. The opal shown below, even though it has the typical opalescent haze, still shows a lot of sparkle due to its Barion cut. This stone would have been pretty dead if a traditional step cut had been used. I think, though, that Barions show their greatest advantage when used in place of traditional brilliant cut ovals, pears and marquis. In these cuts, the non-symmetrical shape necessitates that many of the angles of the pavilion facets deviate far from the "ideal" angle for that gem. The result is that these shapes usually show areas of extinction (dark spots) or windowing (light, non-reflective spots) when viewed from above. In an oval, there''s even a name for this called the "bow-tie" effect. (A sales clerk once tried to sell me (a facetor) an oval stone, by pointing out what a nice "bow-tie" it had! -- which is kind of like a car salesman trying to sell a used car to a mechanic by pointing out what a nice loud "knock" the engine has.

By making all of the pavilion angles at or near the ideal angle for that gem Barion cutting results in increased and more even brilliance in ovals, etc. The only down-side, which is minor compared to the increased brilliance, is that pavilions are deeper and fuller than the traditional brilliant cuts and may not fit as easily into calibrated commercial mountings.

Barbara

 

[CaptAubrey]

"Barion" is actually the name of a group of cuts that Basil Watermeyer developed in the 1970s. They share elements, but there are a variety of "Barion cuts" out there.

 

[Cyren]

Thank you all for your replies. Barbara- I have notices many of the rectangular barion cuts I''ve been looking at have dark, non-reflective spots. Something to be aware of I guess. Thank you all for the great info, so much help!!

Cyren

 

[kcoursolle]

Hi there,
A garnet that I purchased has a barion pavillion, here''s a pic. I really like the way this stone was cut. However, it does seem to make the stone appear a little darker, so it might be best for stones with medium to light tone.