CheckMate – Reflector: Online Faceting Designs and Diagrams

You can find cutting instructions for the CheckMate here.

Cutting Remarks

This is a neat one. The flashes are a true check, or square, something a brilliant bottom won't do. You won't find this design any harder to cut than a standard checker. As the stone gets large, the flats on the bottom take some time and caution when polishing.

I think the CheckMate performs well with low refractive index (RI) gems, like beryl and quartz. With medium to light-colored stones, you can really see the check squares as the material gets towards the light side. I also think it works best in a larger stone. I recommend at least 8 mm but prefer it in 14 mm. The CheckMate makes great earrings and reminds me of the old hand-cut buttons coats used to have.

A Real Reflector

Take a look at the photo of the CheckMate below. This Marabá amethyst isn't as pink as the photo might suggest. Although this stone does have quite a bit of magenta shot through it, what you see here is the reflected colors from the surroundings when the photograph was taken. (We were in just a normal room with white walls).

This design seems to reflect and mirror everything around it, which makes it hard to photograph. Nevertheless, it's a very pretty design.

Have fun cutting your own CheckMate.

Detailed faceting instructions by Jeff Graham available at The Rock Peddler