Which term describes a position that orients a gemstone's pavilion toward the viewer?

Which term describes a position that orients a gemstone's pavilion toward the viewer?

• A. Face-down (or table-down)
• B. Face-up
• C. Etch Channels
• D. Fancy cut

Answer: (A)

When you think about how a diamond is being viewed, the terms describe which surface faces the viewer. If the pavilion—the bottom half of the stone—is toward you, you’re in a face-down (table-down) orientation. In this setup, the pavilion is facing the viewer and you’re not looking at the table from above. That makes face-down the precise label for this position. Face-up would place the table and crown toward you, not the pavilion. Etch channels are a surface feature, not an orientation, and fancy cut refers to a style of cut rather than how the gem is oriented for viewing.

When you think about how a diamond is being viewed, the terms describe which surface faces the viewer. If the pavilion—the bottom half of the stone—is toward you, you’re in a face-down (table-down) orientation. In this setup, the pavilion is facing the viewer and you’re not looking at the table from above. That makes face-down the precise label for this position.

Face-up would place the table and crown toward you, not the pavilion. Etch channels are a surface feature, not an orientation, and fancy cut refers to a style of cut rather than how the gem is oriented for viewing.