Lower quality cuts are easy to spot, because you can see lighter colors, and ‘Windows’ within the gem. Windows refer to the ‘Opening of facets’ within the gemstone, making it difficult for colors to bounce off the facets within the gem, and allowing light to pass right through exhibiting little brilliance. Fewer windows equals more color intensity; the perfect faceted gemstone shows no ‘Windows’ at all.

Badly angled facets allow light to pass straight through the gem or to be deviated to the side. Optimum facets accurately cut, will make light travel back towards the viewer looking directly into the table facet. The table facet is the upper most surface of a gem to look into it you must look directly into the gem from above.

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