Culet

Definition and Function of a Culet

A culet is a flat face on the bottom of a gemstone.
It is added to protect the integrity of the gemstone.
The culet is particularly important for diamonds due to their cleavage plane.
It helps prevent damage to the tip of the diamond, which could cause a split.
Other gemstones also benefit from a culet to protect their fragile pointed tips.

The culet was added to the table cut during the 14th century.
The term 'culet' derives from the Latin word for bottom, 'culus.'
Marcel Tolkowsky's original designs for the round brilliant diamond cut in 1919 omitted the culet.
However, culet facets are common on modern brilliant-cut diamonds.
The culet has remained optional on many diamond cuts to this day.

The culet is crucial for maintaining the overall shape and integrity of a gemstone.
It helps prevent damage to the gemstone's tip, which is often the most vulnerable part.
Without a culet, the pointed tip of a gemstone can easily chip or break.
The culet allows gem cutters to create intricate designs without compromising the gemstone's durability.
Gemstones that are not subject to cleavage still benefit from the protection provided by a culet.

The culet is an essential consideration in diamond proportions and facets.
It affects the overall appearance and light performance of a diamond.
The size and placement of the culet impact how light interacts with the diamond.
A well-positioned culet can enhance a diamond's brilliance and sparkle.
Diamond cutters carefully determine the optimal culet size and placement for each diamond.

The history of lapidary provides insights into the development of the culet.
Gemstone cutting history is closely linked to the evolution of the culet.
Additional information on culet can be found at the provided Wikipedia link.
The culet falls under the category of gemstone cutting.
This article lacks in-text citations and could benefit from more precise references.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/culet
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culet
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1722181
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0gvnw0