Culet

Culet
For the element of plate armour, see Culet (armour).

In gemology, a culet is a flat face on the bottom of a gemstone.

Diamond proportions and facets, for the round brilliant cut.

During the 14th century, after the adoption of the table cut, a further facet was added to the bottom of the cut parallel to the surface of the table. The term used for these bottom facets derives from the latin word for bottom, culus.

The culet is added largely to protect the integrity of the gemstone. On a diamond, the cleavage plane runs parallel to the octahedral faces, and so any damage to the tip of the diamond could cause a split up the entire length of the pavilion. With other gemstones that are not subject to cleavage, the culet is added to protect the fragility of the pointed tip.

The culet has remained optional on many diamond cuts up to the present day, and was omitted from Marcel Tolkowsky's original designs for the round brilliant diamond cut in 1919. Nonetheless, culet facets are common on modern brilliant cut diamonds.

References


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  • culet — [kyo͞o′lit, kyo͞o′let΄] n. [OFr, dim. of cul, posterior, bottom < L culus, anus < IE base * (s)keu , to cover < SKY, HIDE1] the flat base of a gem whose face is cut as a brilliant: see GEM …   English World dictionary

  • culet — /ˈkjulət/ (say kyoohluht) noun 1. the small flat face forming the bottom of a brilliant. 2. the part of medieval armour protecting the back of the body below the waist. {French (obsolete), diminutive of cul bottom, from Latin cūlus. Compare… …  

  • Culet (armour) — A culet is a piece of plate armour consisting of small, horizontal lamés that protect the small of the back or the buttocks.[1] References ^ Pictorial glossary of armor …   Wikipedia

  • culet — noun Etymology: French, from diminutive of cul backside, from Latin culus; akin to Old Irish cúl back Date: 1678 1. the small flat facet at the bottom of a brilliant parallel to the table see brilliant illustration 2. plate armor covering the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • culet — /kyooh lit/, n. 1. Jewelry. a small face forming the bottom of a faceted gem. 2. Armor. a piece below the backplate, composed of lames and corresponding to the fauld in front. [1670 80; < F (obs.), equiv. to cul bottom ( < L culus buttocks) + et… …   Universalium

  • culet — noun a) A component of armor, consisting of overlapping plates designed to protect the buttocks. The Turk prosecuted his advantage to the uttermost of his power; yet the other [...] not onely avoided the Turkes violence, but having drawne his… …   Wiktionary

  • culet — cu|let Mot Agut Nom masculí …   Diccionari Català-Català

  • culet — cu·let …   English syllables

  • culet — cu•let [[t]ˈkyu lɪt[/t]] n. 1) jew the flat bottom surface of a faceted gemstone, parallel to the girdle 2) her plate armor for the haunches • Etymology: 1670–80; < F (obs.) =cul bottom (< L cūlus buttocks) + et et …   From formal English to slang

  • culet — ˈkyülə̇t noun ( s) Etymology: French, diminutive of cul bottom, backside, from Latin culus; akin to Old Frisian skūl hiding place, Middle Low German schūl, Old Norse skjōl hiding place, refuge, barn, Old Irish cūl hiding place, Welsh cil, Old… …   Useful english dictionary

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