Reasons of a rosette

 

The rosette in a guitar is not a mere decoration; cutting a hole in the top (sound hole) weakens it notably and with time it will likely develop cracks where endgrain is exposed. The rosette avoids this problem in a fashionable way. That said, since it is also a very strong visual element, it’s one part of the instrument where the maker can express his own style and show his level of workmanship and dedication. Several factories offer nowadays well made rosettes either of their own design, reproduction of classics or of a maker's own design at a very reasonable price. In the last case, at least the creativity and originality of the maker is preserved; not the execution though. The basic problem is that factory made rosettes are made from dyed or tinted veneer, not natural wood veneer; this might seem a negligible difference, but at the end natural wood looks much better. The bottom line: a pre-made rosette is either a compromise for cost effectiveness or an amateur's choice for lack of workmanship, time or dedication. A connoisseur can spot it right away.