Which term is the dark reflection across the center of an elongated brilliant-cut diamond?

Which term is the dark reflection across the center of an elongated brilliant-cut diamond?

• A. Blocking
• B. Brightness
• C. Bow-tie
• D. Bearded Girdle

Answer: (C)

In elongated brilliant-cut diamonds, light can reflect and refract in a way that creates a dark, central cross-shaped area across the middle. This central dark reflection is called the bow-tie effect. It shows up because the facet arrangement and symmetry interact with how light travels through the stone, sometimes routing light away from the observer rather than back to it. A well-cut, properly proportioned stone minimizes this shadow, maximizing brilliance. Other terms don’t describe this phenomenon: blocking isn’t a standard term for this reflection, brightness refers to overall light return rather than a specific dark center, and a bearded girdle describes a girdle texture, not a central shadow.

In elongated brilliant-cut diamonds, light can reflect and refract in a way that creates a dark, central cross-shaped area across the middle. This central dark reflection is called the bow-tie effect. It shows up because the facet arrangement and symmetry interact with how light travels through the stone, sometimes routing light away from the observer rather than back to it. A well-cut, properly proportioned stone minimizes this shadow, maximizing brilliance. Other terms don’t describe this phenomenon: blocking isn’t a standard term for this reflection, brightness refers to overall light return rather than a specific dark center, and a bearded girdle describes a girdle texture, not a central shadow.