What''s the difference between a rose cut and a checkerboard?

[Indylady]

I think there must be a difference, because I feel like I can usually tell them apart (I''m referring to this cut on gemstones, not diamonds...I don''t think I''ve ever seen a checkerboard cut diamond). Is there a difference between the two cuts? Or are they one in the same?

 

[Indylady]

Also: The only difference I can think of is that rose cut seem to have facets that look like triangles while checkerboard facets look more like squares.

 

[morecarats]

My understanding is that a rose cut has a flat bottom, sort of a faceted crown without a pavilion. A checkerboard cut has a faceted table with a standard pavilion.

 

[chrono]

I''m with MoreCarat''s description
Rose cut: Flat bottom. The crown is domed and faceted with a pointy end. Think of it as a cabochon but instead of a smooth an polished crown, it is faceted.
Checkerboard: Usual pavilion bottom. The crown is faceted in squares (or kite-like shapes).

 

[Indylady]

Got it! Thank you guys so much.

Can rose cuts be set in a setting for a faceted stone? Or should they be set in a setting for a cabochon because of their flat bottom?

 

[cellentani]

I''ve seen two rose cut diamonds set in prongs, and personally, I think it looks weird to be able to see the flat bottom, and they almost don''t look like diamonds because they''re so glassy and dull. Traditionally, they sometimes were set in a cabochon-type setting with a high-polished foil back. This would throw some light into the stone, and also add some color. If I had to have a rose cut, that''s the type of setting I''d go for. Are you contemplating a rose cut?

 

[miraclesrule]

cellentani: I just wanted to say

because I was looking over your pink sapphire thread again today. It''s kind of wierd to know that the pendant picture in your yellow top is saved on my hard drive. I still

that and it''s my inspiration pick for a Pad. On a separate thread I may be calling on your for info on that double chain and all.

Sorry for the threadjack....

 

[Indylady]

Yes!

Here''s a really cheap one on Ebay that I''ve been looking at linky; or I''ve been considering finding a small matched pair to put in a 3 stone ring. I was inspired by the 3 stone ring on LM''s side that Packrat is re-creating, except I was thinking a more traditional 3 stone with rounds and without that ''split'' ring. Or...I was thinking about go after the Tiffany 3 stone flower ring look, without pave.

 

[cellentani]

Date: 10/31/2009 5:58:35 PM
Author: miraclesrule
cellentani: I just wanted to say

because I was looking over your pink sapphire thread again today. It''s kind of wierd to know that the pendant picture in your yellow top is saved on my hard drive. I still

that and it''s my inspiration pick for a Pad. On a separate thread I may be calling on your for info on that double chain and all.

Sorry for the threadjack....

Wow, thanks miracles - I''m very honored to be on your hard drive! It''s funny, but I hardly ever wear that piece, but after reading your nice comments, I just went and got it out. I don''t actually know very much about pads, think the color is a little too intense to be considered one. I''ve gotten a lot better at taking pics since then - maybe I''ll try to get some with more accurate color and post them in my old thread. I''m just tickled you like it though! And feel free to ask about anything - that''s what I love about PS!

Sorry szh! I''m going to check out your link now and respond!

 

[miraclesrule]

Hmmmm, hardly ever wear it??? GAH!!! Maybe you should sell it.

I want to find a stone that EXACT color.

I tried to link my thread from a few days ago...it didn't work. I should start a new thread called :Find me this color stone with your neck shot.

 

[cellentani]

Date: 10/31/2009 6:21:08 PM
Author: szh07
Yes!

Here''s a really cheap one on Ebay that I''ve been looking at linky; or I''ve been considering finding a small matched pair to put in a 3 stone ring. I was inspired by the 3 stone ring on LM''s side that Packrat is re-creating, except I was thinking a more traditional 3 stone with rounds and without that ''split'' ring. Or...I was thinking about go after the Tiffany 3 stone flower ring look, without pave.

The thing with rose cuts, as I''ve said before, is that they''re not very sparkly. I also think that cheap almandine garnets tend to be pretty dark and murky, but as long as you''re okay with that, I''m not going to try to dissuade you. I looked at the 3-stone LM rings, but I''m not sure which one you''re talking about - I haven''t been on CS very much lately to know what Packrat is up to (I see I have some catching up to do!). Can you post some pics of the settings you''re interested in? The ones shown in your link would be very suitable for a rose cut since you wouldn''t be able to see beneath the girdle. Speaking of girdle, I think there might be a chip on that stone, but you wouldn''t even see it in that type of setting.

 

[PinkTower]

I am not a fan of rose cuts. They look a bit too "Anne Boleyn" for my taste; I would rather fastforward about four hundred years. However, a well known PS vendor advised me that they tend to chip easily, so that dissuaded me from considering the cut.

I also dislike checkerboard faceting. To me, it looks like an attempt to cover up an imperfection.

 

[packrat]

Cellentani, this is the LM ring SZH is talking about. I'm hoping to hear back from Dana soon about the stones.

SZH, are you looking to do all 3 stones the deep garnet color? Do you have someone in mind to make it yet?

 

[Roger Dery]

Hi all,
The historical Rose Cut (or more recently the Rose Brilliant Cut) and the Checkerboard type crown are *not* one and the same. Checkerboard types are relatively new, as in since the 1960''s. Whereas the original Rose Cuts first came into existence in the 1600''s.

Rose Cuts were an attempt to alleviate the lengthy time it would take to place a table facet on a significant sized diamond. In Glenn Klein''s recent book "Faceting History", he mentions that the Rose Cut technique was also used on round brilliant stones in the latter half of the 1800''s. This too, was an attempt to circumvent the amount of time spent placing the table. The Rose Cut and the Rose Cut round brilliant fell out of favor when the steam engine became available to the diamond cutting facilities in Antwerp and Amsterdam sometime around the late 1880''s.

This drawing is a depiction of a remake performed by Glenn Vargas in 1969 of what a classical Rose Cut should have looked like.

 

[Roger Dery]

The Vargas drawing was published in 1969, but others were also trying their design skills with this concept. Here is one by Doris Crawford in 1967. This one is a little more complex with a pleasing symmetry and could be used as a historical Rose Cut flat, or with a pavilion in place. Keep in mind that software was not available at this time, and calculations were performed by hand.

 

[Roger Dery]

The "checkerboard" concept was not just from one person, but was often a compilation of work from several faceters, who likely had well-developed math skills. Here''s an early design submitted by a fellow named Sid Word. This originally appeared in 1978 and was published in his local club newsletter. It was also re-published in several other publications and books.

 

[Roger Dery]

The "Rose Brilliant Cut" eventually gets a re-make. Here it is again and now has been designed specifically for Zircon. This one is by Ernest Schenck in 1993 and is placed as the crown for a full brilliant round. For the sake of comparison, the pavilion is not included.

 

[Roger Dery]

Throughout the 90''s the "Rose Brilliant Round" was championed by noted faceter, Philip Youngman of California. I know of a few AGTA Spectrum Award winning designs that incorporated some of Youngman''s work capitalizing on the "Rose" effect.

Having been enamored with the design myself, I have produced several hundred of them in the last few years. I find them to be very popular as they create a bright gem even when displayed in a low-light setting. Shown below is my re-design of the Rose Brilliant concept so that it can be adapted to most any species.

 

[packrat]

How interesting-I had no idea there were different variations like that! I especially liked the one by Doris Crawford and your re-design on the bottom, Roger!

 

[cellentani]

I would love to see stones cut in those modern rose cuts - looks very interesting!

 

[Indylady]

Cellentani, that is great advice! That reminds me somewhat of rhinestone settings, with flat shiny foil backs to them...I''ve also been checking out some small sapphire rose cuts.

Thank you Packrat for posting that imagine!

Roger, I''d love to see some examples of your work!

 

[empress]

And then there are double rose cuts - not a flat bottom but a repeat of the faceting on the top. These have been used to great effect in chains and earrings with both side showing...

With high clarity and great color - I think rose cuts are attractive.

 

[Roger Dery]

Date: 11/1/2009 7:35:31 PM
Author: szh07
Cellentani, that is great advice! That reminds me somewhat of rhinestone settings, with flat shiny foil backs to them...I''ve also been checking out some small sapphire rose cuts.

Thank you Packrat for posting that imagine!

Roger, I''d love to see some examples of your work!

szh07,
There are rules to uphold for this forum, and so it would not be appropriate for me to post photos of my work. I do, however, appreciate your enthusiasm. Thank you!

 

[stepcutnut]

I personally love rose cuts, I own a light yellow double rose cut ring and it throws off beautiful flashes of color

 

[cellentani]

wow, stepcutnut, that''s a really beautiful ring, and your double rose cut isn''t dull at all - just gorgeous!

I love how feminine it looks! Do you have more pics?

 

[stepcutnut]

Date: 11/2/2009 8:34:25 AM
Author: cellentani
wow, stepcutnut, that''s a really beautiful ring, and your double rose cut isn''t dull at all - just gorgeous!

I love how feminine it looks! Do you have more pics?

Thanks cellentani! I do, but they are all as washed out as the one I posted. I will hunt them down.

 

[Indylady]

Wow, that double rose cut is gorgeous!

 

[packrat]

That''s a beautiful ring, Stepcut-would love to see more pics!

 

[Fly Girl]

Just wanted to throw out an example of Roger Dery''s cutting from his Spectral Gems gallery. Link

Lots of fine eye candy there.

Thank you so much for explaining the different cuts.

 

[megeve]

Hi Roger

Thats an interesting read about the different rose cuts. I have always thought there is only one rose cut and not a few different ways of cutting it.

I have a piece of jewelry with a rose cut pear as the face of a fairy and I am really interested to know which of the cuts you mentioned is this *face*, could you please tell me?