What Is an Open Culet in a Diamond? History, Meaning & Modern Appeal
The Allure of the Open Culet
Old world charm. A window to one’s soul. Antique. Timeless character…
But what the heck is that little open windowing facet we sometimes see through a diamond?
Mistake? Intentional? Purposeful? What? How? Why?
Love it? Hate it? Don’t understand it but need to know? You’re not alone.
Lately, antique cushion cut diamonds—especially Old Mine styles—have been making waves again. And with their revival comes renewed curiosity about one of their most distinctive features: the open culet.
So let’s dig in.
What Is a Culet Anyway?
First, pronunciation: Culet is said “kyoo-let” (like cue-let).
The word comes from the French culet, a diminutive of cul meaning “bottom” or “little backside.” Jewelers adopted the word centuries ago to describe exactly that—the tiny point at the base of a diamond.
Hidden at the very bottom of the stone, it’s the spot where every facet meets, a punctuation mark at the end of nature’s most dazzling sentence.
In modern cutting, the culet is usually left as a sharp tip—tiny, invisible, and pristine. But in centuries past, cutters treated this delicate point differently. They polished it flat, leaving a small facet. This is what we call an open culet.
A Practical Detail with a Romantic Soul
Why bother flattening the point? Two reasons:
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Protection. That sharp tip is fragile. One good knock during the cutting process (or even after setting) and the diamond could chip. By adding a facet, cutters gave the stone a little armor.
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Personality. The open culet became a kind of signature. It turned the diamond into something unmistakably handcrafted—a detail that whispered, “This was cut in a time before machines, when every stroke of the wheel was guided by human hands.”
An open culet is not a flaw. It’s a fingerprint of history. Many antique diamonds—especially Old Mine cuts and Old European cuts—proudly wear this feature. Look straight through the table (the “window” at the top of the stone) and you’ll often see it: a tiny hole, like a pinprick of light at the center.
Diamonds by Candlelight
Think about the era these stones were cut in. 18th- and 19th-century diamond cutters weren’t chasing the clinical brilliance we expect today. They cut for glow. Their diamonds were meant to shimmer in candlelit ballrooms, not under LED spotlights.
That open culet allowed light to pass differently, giving the stone a softer, more romantic presence. It’s part of what makes antique diamonds feel so alive and soulful—less about perfection, more about mood.
Antique vs. Modern: A Study in Contrast
Fast forward to today: lasers, computers, and mathematical precision rule the cutting floor. Symmetry is so exact it can feel almost anonymous.
But perfection isn’t always what we’re after, is it?
There’s something irresistible about a stone that carries history in its face-up view. That tiny culet is like a secret passage back in time. And yet, modern artisans are finding ways to marry the best of both worlds—using today’s technology to refine symmetry, geometry, and diamond traceability, while still honoring old-world design.
The result? A true modern relic of artistry. Something that feels timeless yet intentional, classic yet contemporary.
Why Collectors Love It
Collectors and romantics alike are drawn to open culets for a few reasons:
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Authenticity. It instantly signals that your diamond is antique or inspired by antique styles.
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Character. No two culets are cut exactly the same—each one has its own personality.
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Conversation starter. People notice it, and it sparks curiosity.
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Connection. It links you to generations of craftsmanship and design, giving the stone a sense of story.
Closing Thought
So the next time you look into a diamond and see that tiny “window” at the center, don’t mistake it for an imperfection. See it for what it is: a glimpse into the artistry of another time.
A culet isn’t just the bottom of a diamond. It’s the beginning of its story.