WHAT’S A BEARDED GIRDLE?

A Bearded WHAT?

A Bearded Girdle is a Girdle that has Hairline Chips or Feathers around the Outside Edge of the Diamond.

These Flaws Appear where the Girdle meets the Crown (Top of the Diamond), or the Pavilion (Base of the Diamond).

This Fuzziness or Faint Chips can be caused by Two Things:

• The Bruting or Cutting Process
• Excessive Wear and Tear

What does a Bearded Girdle look like?

Take a Peek…

You see those Fine, Rough Edges? That’s a Little Stubbly looking isn’t it?

Now, let’s take a Closer Look at what Causes this…

The Bruting or Cutting Process

When a Rough Diamond is Cut and Polished, the Diamond goes through a Series of Stages where the Diamond is Faceted and Proportioned.

If the Cutting or Bruting Process is Done Too Quickly or Too Sloppily, the Result can be a Bearded Girdle.

Excessive Wear and Tear

Wear and Tear can also cause a Diamond’s Girdle to Break away.

The Girdle of a Diamond is the Most Vulnerable Area on a Diamond since it is Exposed and the Facets come to a Knife Edge. It can take Quite a Beating!

Over the Years of Hitting it or Bumping it, these Well Defined Edges can Round Off, Chip or Fracture.

If you look at older Cuts of Diamonds, like the Old Mine Cut or Old European Cut Diamond, you’ll often see these Tiny Hairline Chips.

Granted, you’ll probably need a Jeweler’s Loupe (10x Magnification), or a Microscope to see them, but I’m sure you’ll Run into a Few.

Now-a-Days, the Diamond Cutting Process is normally Done by Computer and Machine so there is Less Chance of Bruting Errors and Bearded Girdles.

But, it can still happen to you.

Here are some things you can do to Protect the Girdle and Prevent it from Chipping!

1) More Prongs

Prongs Help protect the Girdle from being Hit.

6 Prongs Protect the Outer Edge Better, but they also make the Diamond look Gaudier. You’ll see Less of your Stone, but you shouldn’t ever have to Worry about Chipping it.

2) More Protective Mountings

Mountings like the Bezel Setting and Partial Bezel Setting Wrap around the Stone and Protect the Vulnerable Edge. See Examples below…

Cleaning and Inspecting

It Helps if you get into a Regular Routine of having your Diamond Cleaned and Inspected. You’ll be able to Catch if a Prong is Bent which makes the Girdle More Exposed.

Lastly…

If you have a Rough Job, or are Very Physical, consider Removing your Diamond Ring so it doesn’t get Harmed. Objects like Filing Cabinets, Engines and Barbells Wreak Havoc on a Stone.

Play it Safe

Just to be Sure!

No one Wants their Diamond to Grow a Beard! :)