Pixel Cut Gems

Pixel cut is a playful way from Steve Moriarty (and his fans) of describing faceted gems that seem to be in a pixelated form. These gemstones look like an old school video game pixel in an actual gemstone. Instead of those smooth shapes and corners, gem are replaced by deliberate, blocky shapes resembling pixels. Steve Moriarty has cut many of these unique pixel gemstones, and set them in custom jewelry designs.

While we don't cut this design too often, we normally have 2-3 unique gemstones cut with this design. As long as we still get requests for this sort of cut, Steve Moriarty will continue to make this unique and sometimes "strange" cut gemstone.

What Is a Pixel Cut Gemstone?

A pixel cut gemstone is exactly what the name suggests: a faceted gemstone designed to create a blocky, geometric or pixel-like appearance. Rather than trying to make every facet disappear into a continuous field of brilliance, the design makes the individual patterns within the stone part of what you see.

The result can look surprisingly modern. Depending on the gemstone, viewing angle and cutting pattern, you may see squares, rectangles, bars or repeating geometric sections appearing within the stone.

These aren't the traditional gemstone cuts most people are used to seeing in a jewelry store. That's really the point.

For us, a pixel cut is less about following a standard shape and more about using faceting to create something visually different.

Common Traits of Pixel Cut Gemstones

Some common traits of pixel cut gemstones.

• Block-like facets: Instead of the smooth, intricate cuts that maximize light reflection (as in traditional faceting), the gemstone would feature "steps" or blocky edges that mimic the pixelated style of digital images.

• Minimalist design: These gems could have a geometric, low-poly look with a minimalist and modern feel, potentially appealing to collectors who appreciate a fusion of art, technology, and gemstones.

• Unique reflections: The pixelated facets might reflect light in an unusual way, creating a more fragmented and artistic sparkle, unlike the continuous brilliance of traditional gemstones.

• Cut shapes: The pixelated cut could still follow traditional shapes like round, oval, emerald, or pear but would be rendered with square or rectangular blocks.

Why Do Pixel Cut Gems Look So Different?

Most traditional faceting designs are created with brilliance, scintillation, color or some combination of those characteristics in mind. Pixel cutting takes a slightly different approach.

The pattern itself becomes a major part of the finished gemstone.

As you move a pixel cut stone, individual areas can brighten, darken and change appearance. Instead of seeing one continuous flash across the gemstone, your eye picks up the individual geometric sections created by the facets.

That is what creates the "pixel" effect.

And because every piece of rough is different, two gemstones cut using a similar concept can still have very different finished appearances.

Pixel Cuts, Opposed Bar Cuts and Geometric Gemstone Faceting

You may also see some of our pixel-style gemstones described as opposed bar cuts.

Opposed bar faceting uses rows or bars of facets arranged in opposing directions. When the angles and proportions work with the gemstone material, those facets can produce the repeating blocks and geometric reflections that give the stone its pixelated appearance.

That's part of the fun of gemstone faceting. Small changes to the angles, orientation and shape of a design can dramatically change what you see when looking through the finished gemstone.

"Pixel cut" is our much easier—and more fun—way of describing the visual result.

Are Pixel Cut Gems the Same as Fantasy Cut Gemstones?

There can certainly be some overlap.

Fantasy cut gemstones is a broad term commonly used for gemstones that move beyond conventional faceting patterns. Fantasy cutting can incorporate unusual facet arrangements, grooves, concave facets, freeform shapes and other techniques.

A pixel cut gemstone is more specific in appearance. The goal is that recognizable geometric, block-like or digital-looking pattern.

We would consider pixel cutting one of the more unusual forms of creative gemstone faceting, but not every fantasy cut gemstone is a pixel cut.

What Gemstones Work Well for Pixel Cuts?

A pixel-style design can potentially be used with many transparent faceting materials, but the rough has to make sense for the cut.

Color, clarity, dimensions, inclusions and the shape of the original rough all matter. A gem cutter also has to consider how much valuable rough would be lost trying to force a particular design onto a stone.

That's why we don't believe every piece of rough should automatically become a pixel cut.

Steve looks at the individual gemstone first and determines what kind of finished cut will make the most sense. Sometimes that's a traditional cut. Sometimes it's a Portuguese, step, concave or fantasy-style cut.

And every once in a while, the rough is asking for something considerably stranger.

That's where a pixel cut can get interesting.

Pixel Cut Gems vs. Traditional Gemstone Cuts

Put a pixel cut next to a traditional round, oval or cushion and the difference is immediately noticeable.

A traditional faceted gemstone generally emphasizes familiar symmetry and light performance. Pixel cut gemstones intentionally draw more attention to their internal geometric pattern.

Neither approach is necessarily "better." They simply create completely different looks.

Someone searching for a classic sapphire engagement ring may prefer traditional faceting. A gemstone collector looking for something they've never seen before may have the exact opposite reaction.

Pixel cuts tend to be conversation pieces.

Custom Pixel Cut Gemstones

Because Steve Moriarty cuts our gemstones himself, we're able to experiment with designs that aren't commonly found in mass-produced jewelry.

That doesn't mean we have dozens of pixel cut stones available at any given time. We don't.

These are specialty cuts, and we generally only have a small number available. Some designs may never be duplicated exactly.

That's one of the reasons collectors enjoy unusual and custom cut gemstones. You're buying more than a particular gem variety or carat weight—the cutting itself becomes part of the personality of the stone.

Can Pixel Cut Gemstones Be Used in Jewelry?

Absolutely.

Steve has cut pixel gemstones that we've later incorporated into custom jewelry. Their geometric appearance can work especially well when the jewelry design allows the gemstone itself to remain the focal point.

Because pixel cut stones can have unusual dimensions or shapes, however, a standard mass-produced mounting isn't always the best choice.

A custom setting allows us to design around the actual gemstone rather than forcing the gemstone into a predetermined mounting.

The finished result can be a truly one-of-a-kind piece of gemstone jewelry.

Why We Still Cut Them

We've been cutting gemstones for decades, and one of the things that keeps it interesting is experimenting.

There will always be a place for beautiful traditional rounds, ovals, cushions and emerald cuts. But occasionally you get a piece of rough where doing something different simply makes sense.

Pixel cuts are one of those experiments that people remembered.

Some people love them immediately. Other people look at them and aren't quite sure what they're looking at.

We consider both reactions a success.

If people keep asking Steve to cut them, he'll keep making them.

Shop Our Pixel Cut Gems

We normally only have a handful of these unusual gemstones available at a time. If you're looking for a loose pixel cut gemstone, opposed bar cut, geometric gemstone or another unusual gemstone cut, take a look at what we currently have available.

You can view our collection of pixel cut gems here.