Half Moon Cut
half moon cut | 'haf mün kət
noun
A gemstone cut that resembles an oval or circle which has been cut in half
A half-moon cut presents the diamond in a half-oval or half-circle shape. While this cut is rarely used for center stones in jewelry pieces, they are often used for side stones because of the way they are shaped and designed. While half-moon cut diamonds in the early 20th century used a step-cut to achieve the shape, today they use a brillianstreering to create a seamless edge. These types of diamonds are subsequently popularly used in ring settings, with two half-moon cut diamonds on either side of the central stone, helping increase the brilliance of the center stone and the overall aesthetic of the piece.