Culet

cu·let | ˈkyü-lət

noun

The pointed bottom of the pavilion, which is sometimes polished with a tiny facet and sometimes pointed with no facet

A culet is defined as a flat face on the base of a gemstone. Throughout the 1400’s, proceeding the acquisition of the table cut, a new facet was added to the base of the cut, aligned with the surface of the table. Culus, the word used for both of these base facets, originates from the Latin term for “base”. The primary role of the culet is to guard the stone. For instance, if a diamond's base is honed and the stone were unexpectedly hit, it poses a risk for breakage off the honed end. The culet builds on an additional facet to the total number of facets of the diamond - meanwhile, a pointed culet does not. A culet ranges in ratings. These ratings may be labeled from ““None” to “Extremely Large”. Furthermore, if a loose diamond were to be sent to a jeweler for certification, it is studied face up to assess the culet's size; then, from there, it is studied from the side to assess the culet's angle.

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