Before the 15th century, what was diamond cutting limited to?

• A. Pure shaping of rough to approximate proportions.
• B. Creation of minor table facets only.
• C. Engraving of inscriptions on girdle before polishing.
• D. Before the 15th century, diamond 'cutting' was limited to superficial polishing of the rough.

Answer: (D)

Diamond cutting before the 15th century was about smoothing and shaping the rough stone, not creating a system of facets. Craftsmen would remove irregular surfaces and polish to make the gem easier to set and wear, but there was no established practice of faceting to optimize light performance. The breakthrough came in the mid-15th century when techniques and tools for faceting were introduced, allowing the first table cuts and subsequent facet arrangements that greatly enhanced brilliance. So the statement that cutting at that time was limited to superficial polishing of the rough best captures how early diamond handling differed from later, facet-based cutting.