Pampel — The Faceted Drop That Sits Between Briolette and Pendeloque
Pampel — The Faceted Drop That Sits Between Briolette and Pendeloque
An elongated drop cut with structured pavilion faceting, used in pendant work
The pampel is an elongated faceted drop shape used principally in pendant and earring work, distinguished from a standard briolette by a more structured pavilion and a defined facet pattern. Where a briolette is a fully faceted drop with no clear distinction between crown and pavilion, a pampel typically presents a pear-like outline with full faceting on both halves and a more deliberate, ordered facet arrangement intended to maximise return brilliance through the dome and tip. The term is used principally in European trade circles, particularly in German and Czech bench tradition, and is occasionally encountered in English-language descriptions of antique drop pendants.
Form and proportions
A pampel takes the form of a teardrop or pear, with one rounded and one tapered end, and is faceted in the round. The pavilion is structured along the lines of a brilliant cut adapted to the drop outline, with a series of mains, halves, and girdle facets stepped from the broad shoulder toward the tip. The crown follows a complementary arrangement, often with a small table at the top opposite the tip. The intent is to combine the omnidirectional sparkle of a briolette with the more disciplined, brilliance-focused face-up appearance of a faceted pendeloque.
Drilling for pampel pendants is most commonly through the broader rounded end, with a small bezel or cap concealing the drill point. Some pampels are drilled fully through and threaded onto a cord or chain.
Material applications
The pampel is most often executed in materials whose rough lends itself to elongated drop forms — tourmaline of all varieties, topaz, citrine and other quartzes, and aquamarine. Coloured stones with strong saturation benefit from the cut because the deeper faceting produces colour and brilliance through the full body of the drop. Diamond pampels are far rarer and tend to appear in antique pieces rather than current production.
In the trade
For Skyjems buyers, the practical issues with pampel-cut stones are matching for pairs in earrings, drilling quality, and the alignment of the facet pattern with the long axis. We pay attention to whether the bench can adapt the cut to a custom mounting without requiring redrilling, which can be hazardous on stones with cleavage or strong grain. The cut is uncommon enough in the modern market that finding well-cut matched pairs requires patience.