Note: The next two steps in the gemcutting sequence: "Selection of Faceting Design" and "Orienting, Preforming, and Dopping" are sometimes done in the opposite order of that presented here, depending on such factors as the surface condition of the rough and ideality of its shape. However, for the purposes of this tutorial, we'll assume that the design is selected first.

The shape and specific type of design for a gem are usually guided by two factors which gemcutters have little or no control over:

1) Shape of the rough: Gems are, by nature, rare. Thus, one of the top priorities of any good gemcutter is to utilize as much of the rough as possible to craft the finished gemstone. Most of the time, the shape of the rough lends itself well to only a few gem shapes. This is the reason that many of the tourmalines you see on the market are rectangular and many of the demantoid garnets you'll find are either round or oval. The pictures below illustrate the "classic" crystal shapes of these gems.

Tourmaline Crystal		Demantoid Crystal