Designed by Arya Akhavan (September 2012) as part of the Symmetry Confusion suite, Defiance is a brilliant round faceting design that challenges traditional gem cutting rules. It creates an intriguing "triangles inside triangles" reflection pattern within a perfectly round girdle outline.
Despite its intricate geometric appearance, the crown is surprisingly straightforward to cut with a low-intermediate difficulty level and minimal risk of overcutting. It works seamlessly across a broad range of materials from RI 1.54 to 1.93 without requiring angle modifications.
Design Specifications
| Parameter | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Design Name | Defiance (Symmetry Confusion Suite) |
| Author | Arya Akhavan (Sept 2012) |
| Target RI Range | R.I. = 1.540 (Works from 1.54 to 1.93) |
| Facet Count | 70 + 24 girdles = 94 total facets |
| Symmetry / Index | 3-fold, mirror-image symmetry | 96 Index Gear |
| Proportions | L/W=1.000 | T/W=0.279 | U/W=0.242 P/W=0.450 | C/W=0.197 |
| Volume Ratio | Vol./W³ = 0.222 |
| Difficulty Level | Low Intermediate |
Step-by-Step Cutting Angles
1. Pavilion Cutting Sequence
| Facet | Angle | 96-Index Settings | Instruction / Meet Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 43.00° | 02-06-10-14-18-22-26-30-34-38-42-46-50-54-58-62-66-70-74-78-82-86-90-94 | Cut to centrepoint. |
| G1 | 90.00° | 02-06-10-14-18-22-26-30-34-38-42-46-50-54-58-62-66-70-74-78-82-86-90-94 | Level girdle. |
| P2 | 42.00° | 04-28-36-60-68-92 | Meet P1, G1 |
2. Crown Cutting Sequence
| Facet | Angle | 96-Index Settings | Instruction / Meet Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | 38.12° | 14-18-46-50-78-82 | Set girdle width. |
| C2 | 40.69° | 10-22-42-54-74-86 | Level girdle. |
| C3 | 37.33° | 06-26-38-58-70-90 | Level girdle. |
| C4 | 30.33° | 02-30-34-62-66-94 | Level girdle. |
| C5 | 34.26° | 16-48-80 | Meet G1, C1; C1, C2, C3, C4 |
| C6 | 22.36° | 08-24-40-56-72-88 | Meet C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 |
| C7 | 13.36° | 16-48-80 | Meet C5, C6 |
| C8 | 28.19° | 96-32-64 | Meet G1, C4 |
| T | 0.00° | Table | Meet C6, C7, C8 |
Suitable Gemstone Materials
Defiance is versatile and works beautifully on materials with RI values between 1.54 and 1.93:
- Quartz & Beryl (RI 1.54 - 1.58): Amethyst, Citrine, Aquamarine, and Morganite.
- Tourmaline & Topaz (RI 1.62 - 1.64): Delivers brilliant contrast and sharp inner geometric reflections.
- Spinel, Sapphire & CZ (RI 1.72 - 1.93+): Produces extraordinary light return and distinct bar-shaped facet patterns across the crown.
Explore more custom faceting diagrams and precision lapidary guides on Horizon Gems!
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