brilliant cut

American  

noun

Jewelry.

1. a cut intended to enhance the brilliance of a gem with the least possible sacrifice of weight, characterized by a form resembling two pyramids set base to base, truncated so as to give a broad table and a very small culet, and having from 18 to 104 facets, 58 being typical.

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Other Word Forms

• brilliant-cut
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of brilliant cut

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Brilliant cut gemstones came to life in candlelight, spot-lighting the face of the wearer, accentuating what one commentator called "the sparkling fire of the eyes".

From The Guardian • Jul. 29, 2011