What is an abraded culet on a diamond?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
An abraded culet is a chipped or scratched point at the very bottom tip of a diamond, called the culet. Because the culet sits at the deepest point of the pavilion, any damage there is visible straight down through the table and can show as a dark spot or blur in the centre of the stone. It is usually recorded as a clarity characteristic on a grading report, and while a mild abrasion has little practical effect, a badly chipped culet can affect how the diamond handles light.
Frequently asked questions
- Does an abraded culet affect a diamond's value?
- It can, depending on severity. A light abrasion may not even appear on a grading report, while a pronounced chip can pull the clarity grade down and make the damage visible to the naked eye, which reduces the stone's appeal and price.
- Can an abraded culet be repaired?
- A skilled cutter can sometimes re-polish the culet to remove minor damage, though this may reduce the carat weight very slightly. For significant chips, the stone would need to be recut, which is a more involved process.
- Where exactly is the culet on a diamond?
- The culet is the tiny flat facet, or pointed tip, at the very bottom of a cut diamond. On modern brilliant cuts it is usually a sharp point, while older cuts sometimes had a small flat facet there to prevent chipping.
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