A facet is a planar lateral surface that has been cut or polished on a three-dimensional stone or metal body. Facets enhance the visual effect of a faceted gem. Faceted cuts consist of a large number of small planar surfaces. This method of processing precious stones has been commonly practiced since the 15th century.

Diamonds occur in every color of the rainbow. The most common hues are yellowish, and such stones are appraised together with colorless (so-called "white") diamonds. Other colors such as green, blue, rosé and red are rarer and are collectively described as "fancy colors." The most frequent fancy colors are brownish hues and black. Rarer and more precious fancy colors include various nuances of rosé, red, green, and blue.

There are no limits to lapidaries' imaginations when it comes to the diversity of cuts that can be given to precious stones. Stars, teardrops, triangles, buds - an endless variety of shapes have been devised, many of which are new interpretations of well-known forms. Collectively known as "fantasy" or "designer" cuts, they are used in the design of diamonds and colored stones. Many of these cuts have their own specific names, although many of these names are known only by a few specialists.

As its name implies, this gem is truly born in flame. Fire opals are primarily found in hollow cavities and fissures in mountains of volcanic origin. The name is also due to the stone's intensive orange color, which gleams in nuances ranging from yellow to red. Though it belongs to the opal group, fire opal is not opalescent (i.e. it has no rainbow-colored shimmer). Most fire opals are milky and cloudy. Only the most precious specimens are clear and transparent. Fire opals can be cut into a facetted shape, which is an unusual form for cut opals. The stone, however, is inherently delicate. The most important deposits are found in Mexico.

The frame setting is like a picture frame that surrounds and firmly holds a stone. The metal is wrapped in a thin strip all the way around the stone. The closely fitting upper edge is pressed slightly over the edge of the stone, thus securely holding the gem in its desired position.

Freshwater cultured pearls are very popular nowadays. Formerly small and irregular in shape, recent advances in cultivation have made it possible to attain freshwater cultured pearls which are up to 10 mm in diameter and nearly spherical in shape. This variety of pearl is particularly attractive because of the diversity of colors in which it occurs. The spectrum ranges from white, rosé and green to intensive shades of red and lilac. To cultivate these pearls, no lifeless kernel is inserted into the bivalve: nothing is inserted except a small piece of living tissue which produces mother-of-pearl. As a result, freshwater pearls have no central kernel and consist entirely of mother-of-pearl. Freshwater cultured pearls are currently imported almost exclusively from China, whence their alternate name: "China pearls."