Which term describes a free-form gem cut that combines flat facets with curved surfaces?

• A. Baroque cut
• B. Fantasy cut
• C. Crown cut
• D. Brilliant cut

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is recognizing a cut style that breaks from standard, uniform patterns to create a unique, free-form appearance. A fantasy cut is defined by its imaginative, non-traditional shape and facet layout, specifically blending flat facets with curved surfaces. This combination allows facets to be configured in unexpected ways, producing a distinctive silhouette and optical play that isn’t constrained by a regular grid. That flexibility is exactly what the term fantasy cut conveys, making it the best descriptor for a cut that mixes flat facets with curved surfaces. By contrast, a brilliant cut follows a precise, symmetric pattern of small triangular and kite facets designed to maximize light return in a conventional shape; it doesn’t embrace free-form variation. The other terms, baroque cut and crown cut, refer to older or more specific historical styles that don’t specifically capture the mixed flat-and-curved facet concept in the way fantasy cut does.