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Design Terminology: What's the Difference Between a Bevel and a Bezel?

By Rain Noe - September 11, 2017

We designers often take for granted the terminology we use to describe parts of objects. But after seeing laypeople interchangeably use the words "bevel" and "bezel" in an online discussion about the forthcoming iPhone X, it's become clear that not everyone has our command of design and manufacturing vocabulary. Well, Core77 is here to help with this simple breakdown; show these to your layperson friends and they'll never again mix up the following commonly-confused terms.

Bevel

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"Bevel" is a term taken from the carpentry and stoneworking worlds. It refers to the chamfered/angled transition where a horizontal and vertical surface meet. Beveling is done for both aesthetic and human factors considerations.

Bezel

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"Bezel" is a term from the jewelry design world, originally referring to the encircling ring that holds a gem in place on a ring. It has come to refer to the part that encloses the glass covering of a watch face, a dial on an instrument panel or the screen of a smartphone.

Bezos

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"Bezos," know to his friends as Jeff, is the Seattle-based entrepreneur behind online retail company Amazon. He has four children and is interested in aerospace.

Denzel

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"Denzel" is a popular American actor known for his nuanced portrayals in a variety of leading roles, most notably in the critically-acclaimed "Fences," "Glory" and "Training Day." He is reportedly working on "The Equalizer 2."

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Design Terminology: What's the Difference Between a Bevel and a Bezel?

Stan VanDruff

3 years ago

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2Z

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Correcting the Internet on proper usage of bevel/bezel while confusing the Internet on proper usage of bevel/chamfer...<sigh>. Both illustrations above are chamfers. Though laypeople may call every angled surface a bevel, woodworkers and masons know that an edge treatment bounded by two obtuse angles (commonly 135 degrees) is properly called a chamfer. A chamfer serves the same purposes as an external fillet. A bevel is used to form a sharp (acute angle) edge such as when making a miter/mitre or scarf joint, or a cutting tool such as an axe, knife or chisel.

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- Dave Eyvazzadeh
  
  Stan VanDruff
  
  3 years ago
  
  Z
  
  1Z
  
  Reply
  
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O Studio

3 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

DWEEZIL
"Dweezil" is an American rock guitarist, son of the musician Frank Zappa.

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Félix Martin

3 years ago

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Z

Reply

The mis-use of the term ''Bezos'' might originate from the french translation ''Biseau'' : the exact translation for bevel.

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Rain Noe

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.