drop cut
drop cut, method of faceting gemstones into a pear shape suitable for pendants, earrings, and other jewelry. A pendeloque, a shape credited to Louis de Berquem in the 15th century, is a pear-shaped modification of the round brilliant cut used for diamonds. A briolette is an elongated pear-shaped stone covered with bands of triangular or rectangular facets, usually with a pointed end and lacking a girdle (the band separating the top or crown of the diamond from the bottom or pavilion).
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title:
drop cut
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
09 October 2012
Access Date:
November 14, 2026