Faceted Beads

Facets on a bead make the stone much more interesting and valuable. They catch the light producing a sparkle and the texture adds depth. Sometimes cut is just as important as the gem itself. Close up, multi-faceted beads look awesome. At one time, all gemstones were crafted in cabochons. Facet cutting began in European jewellery around the late 13th-century. The aim is to cut the stone to maximize its brilliance, by balancing the light reflected both internally and externally. Although faceted beads these days are cut with a computerized machine, there's still a thriving community of gem cutters, often taking hours to cut a single bead.