Which term refers to the width of a fashioned gem's girdle?

• A. Girdle Thickness
• B. Table Gauge
• C. Painting
• D. Digging Out

Answer: (A)

The width of a fashioned gem’s girdle is described by girdle thickness. The girdle is that narrow band around the stone where the crown meets the pavilion, and its thickness is the distance across the girdle at its widest point. This dimension is typically labeled in categories from extremely thin to extremely thick and influences both durability and perceived light performance. Very thin girdles can be prone to chipping, while very thick girdles add weight and can subtly affect the stone’s proportions. The other terms don’t describe this width: table gauge relates to the size of the table facet, painting isn’t a standard gemology term for girdle width, and digging out isn’t used to characterize girdle dimensions.