Which statement describes the effect of 16th-century developments on diamond cutting?

Which statement describes the effect of 16th-century developments on diamond cutting?

• A. They eliminated the need for the table facet.
• B. They led to the use of rose cuts only.
• C. They allowed contiguous polishing by hand.
• D. Shift from superficial polishing to genuine faceting.

Answer: (D)

In the 16th century, diamond cutting shifted from simply smoothing a stone to shaping it with a deliberate pattern of flat faces. Cutters began using true faceting on the crown and pavilion, with the table acting as a central reference point, to control how light is reflected and refracted inside the diamond. This move to structured facets dramatically increases brilliance and fire compared with basic polishing. The other ideas don’t fit because the table facet remained important, rose cuts were not the sole or defining development, and the real change was not just continued hand polishing but the adoption of precise facets that enhance light performance.

In the 16th century, diamond cutting shifted from simply smoothing a stone to shaping it with a deliberate pattern of flat faces. Cutters began using true faceting on the crown and pavilion, with the table acting as a central reference point, to control how light is reflected and refracted inside the diamond. This move to structured facets dramatically increases brilliance and fire compared with basic polishing. The other ideas don’t fit because the table facet remained important, rose cuts were not the sole or defining development, and the real change was not just continued hand polishing but the adoption of precise facets that enhance light performance.