| The key to getting the best light from precious | | | | greater symmetry are considered desirable. |
| gems like diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and | | | | Earrings are the ideal way to show off clear |
| rubies is to have the best possible cut for that | | | | precious stones. A tall claw that holds the stone |
| particular stone, and to present it out of the | | | | completely clear of the metal is not really practical |
| setting to let the light in. That is why large | | | | on most rings, both from aesthetic and practical |
| diamonds are usually held in a claw setting on | | | | points of view, but the task can be easily and |
| rings, and why diamond pendant earrings are so | | | | elegantly accomplished by setting the stone in an |
| spectacular. | | | | earring. Necklace pendants are also excellent, |
| Opals and other opaque gems are often set deep | | | | although the light catches them less easily and |
| into rings and polished smoothly in a | | | | unless the stone in question is very large, some |
| ‘cabochon' rounded cut. The many planes of a | | | | kind of setting is usually necessary or it will appear |
| brilliant gem cut don't do anything for an opaque | | | | quite small. |
| precious stone, because they are intended to | | | | Studs are good but pendant earrings are the best |
| bring light into the stone from as many angles as | | | | option for displaying truly remarkable brilliant |
| possible and make the gem sparkle from the | | | | stones, particularly diamonds. Even diamonds of |
| inside. Fine diamonds are of course the most | | | | lesser calibre can be vastly improved by |
| precious of all gems, and it is the brilliance and | | | | presentation in well designed earrings. The light |
| internal spark that sets them apart. While the | | | | enters from every angle and the gemstones will |
| topology of brilliant gem cuts is both a precise | | | | sparkle to the best of their potential. |
| science and a complex art, more planes and | | | | |