The process of cutting precise, flat surfaces (facets) on a gemstone to maximize its brilliance and fire by controlling how light enters, reflects, and exits the stone.
From French facette, diminutive of face, literally meaning 'little face.' The term developed as gem-cutting techniques advanced in the 15th-17th centuries, when craftsmen began cutting multiple small 'faces' on stones.
The mathematical precision of faceting revolutionized jewelry in the Renaissance when new cutting wheels allowed craftsmen to create the brilliant cuts we know today! Each facet must be cut at exact angles—for diamonds, typically 57 or 58 facets—creating the spectacular light show that made gems symbols of luxury and status.
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