Carved gemstone

A gem carved into a leaf, flower, bead or figure rather than faceted.

Carved emeralds, rubies and sapphires come mostly from the Indian tradition, where gems were carved into leaves and flowers for centuries. In the 1920s Cartier set them among diamonds in its “Tutti Frutti” jewels, and carved gems have been prized by collectors ever since.

What to look for

Edges and tips are fragile; look for chips. In a piece with several carved stones, check that they agree in colour and style, since replacements are common.

In the collection