A cut of a gemstone. A brilliant cut stone has fifty-eight facets.

Brilliant Cut

A cut of a gemstone. A brilliant cut stone has fifty-eight facets.

"Henry I enriched the plain circlet with gems, and on his great seal the trefoils of his fathers crown assume a form resembling that of fleurs-de-lys." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"Henry I enriched the plain circlet with gems, and on his great seal the trefoils of his fathers crown…

"The effigies of Henry II, Richard I, John, and their queens, show the crown to have made such an advance in the dignity of its aspect." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"The effigies of Henry II, Richard I, John, and their queens, show the crown to have made such an advance…

"The crown of Henry III has a plain circlet heightened with trefoils, a slightly raised point intervening between each pair of the leaves." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"The crown of Henry III has a plain circlet heightened with trefoils, a slightly raised point intervening…

"The truly beautiful crown of Edward II as it is represented in his effigy, was formed of four large and as many smaller leaves of a deeply serrated type, rising with graceful curves from the jewelled circlet, and haing eight small flowers alternating with the leaves." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"The truly beautiful crown of Edward II as it is represented in his effigy, was formed of four large…

"It would seem from the crown, sculptured with elaborate care upon the head of his effigy at Canterbury, that Henry IV determined to distinguish the accession of a Lancastrian prince by displaying an unprecedented magnificence in the emblem of his sovereignty. The splendidly jewelled circlet of this crown is heightened with eight large and rich leaves, and as many true fleurs-de-lys." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"It would seem from the crown, sculptured with elaborate care upon the head of his effigy at Canterbury,…

"The arched crown in its earliest form was introduced by Henry V.; and, with the arches crosses, which from the time of Henry VI always have been crosses patees, appeared to supersede the earlier foliage upon the circlet." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Crown

"The arched crown in its earliest form was introduced by Henry V.; and, with the arches crosses, which…

"Cut Gems. A, brilliant; B, rose; C, goute de suif; D, en cabochon." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Cut Gems

"Cut Gems. A, brilliant; B, rose; C, goute de suif; D, en cabochon." —The Encyclopedia Britannica,…

"The following cut, from an ancient gem, represents Diomede in the act of bearing away the Palladium." — Anthon, 1891

Diomede

"The following cut, from an ancient gem, represents Diomede in the act of bearing away the Palladium."…

This illustration shows a Double Brilliant (sometimes called Lisbon) cut gem.

Double Brilliant Cut

This illustration shows a Double Brilliant (sometimes called Lisbon) cut gem.

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Gem

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Gem

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Gem

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Gem

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Gem

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Gem

"Engraved Gem in the British Museum." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Gem Sculpture is the glyptic art, or lithoglyptics; the art of representing designs on precious stones, either in raised work (cameos) or by figures cut into or below the surface (intaglios)."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Intaglio Engraved Gem

"Gem Sculpture is the glyptic art, or lithoglyptics; the art of representing designs on precious stones,…

This illustration shows the gems worn on the breast plate of the high priest of the Hebrews. Each of these gems is mentioned in the Bible.
1) Cornelian (Reuben)
2) Topaz (Simeon)
3) Emerald (Levi)
4) Ruby (Judah)
5) Sapphire (Issachar)
6) Diamond (Zebulon)
7) Hyacinth (Dan)
8) Agate (Naphtali)
9) Amethyst (Gad)
10) Chrysolite (Asher)
11) Sardonyx (Joseph)
12) Jasper (Benjamin)

Hebrew Breastplate

This illustration shows the gems worn on the breast plate of the high priest of the Hebrews. Each of…

A rose cut is a cut of gemstone. In this cut, the upper surface is shaped into triangular facets of nearly equal size throughout.

Rose Cut

A rose cut is a cut of gemstone. In this cut, the upper surface is shaped into triangular facets of…

The Scarabaeus gem is a gem carved to look like a scarab beetle.

Scarabaeus (Side View)

The Scarabaeus gem is a gem carved to look like a scarab beetle.

The Scarabaeus gem is a gem carved to look like a scarab beetle.

Scarabaeus (Top View)

The Scarabaeus gem is a gem carved to look like a scarab beetle.

A split cut is a cut of gemstone. It is similar to a trap cut.

Split Cut

A split cut is a cut of gemstone. It is similar to a trap cut.

A Trap Cut is a cut of gemstone. Emeralds are commonly cut this way.

Trap Cut

A Trap Cut is a cut of gemstone. Emeralds are commonly cut this way.