Antique brooch, 19th century, with Bohemian Rosecut Garnets
The rose cut – also known as a faceted cabochon – is among the most traditional cutting styles for garnets. Its unique appeal lies in the lively sparkle created by the multitude of small facets on its gently domed surface.
One of the great advantages of the rose cut is its efficient use of small, rounded garnet crystals. This makes it ideal for deposits that yield only tiny rough stones, such as the famous Bohemian garnet mines, where the deep-red crystals often measure barely four millimeters in diameter.
During the 19th century, Bohemian garnet jewelry enjoyed immense popularity: elaborate, opulent pieces were created, sometimes featuring hundreds of tiny rose-cut garnets arranged into a continuous, glittering surface.
The rose cut is also highly suitable for rough material with many inclusions. For this reason, it became widespread in traditional rural and Alpine jewelry. Garnets from local deposits could be used despite their numerous inclusions.
Today, cutters work with higher-quality rough material from diverse sources, making it possible to produce larger stones as well.
Rose Cut Garnets for traditional folk jewelry
Where Tradition Meets Modern Design
Modern jewelry designers still turn to the rose cut to quote and reinterpret classical or antique motifs in contemporary creations.
The cut is sometimes subtly modified, and both exceptionally fine qualities and larger crystals are used – resulting in sophisticated, high-end jewelry pieces.
The rose cut thus remains timelessly relevant, combining economic efficiency with aesthetic elegance, and allowing garnets to shine in both historic and modern designs.
However, the classical rose cut for garnets is nowadays found in limited supply only, because it is rarely used for other gemstones and thus no longer part of most suppliers’ standard collections.
As a specialist in garnets, Hermann Lind II offers rose-cut stones in standard cqi quality – typically used in traditional folk jewelry – in all common sizes and shapes: round, oval, pear, and navette.
For special design projects, exclusive qualities and custom shapes and sizes are also produced by Hermann Lind II.