Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting is an emerging technology for precision cutting of difficult-to-machining materials with the distinct advantages of no thermal effect, high machinability, high flexibility and small cutting forces. This paper investigated theoretical and experimental cutting characteristics associated with abrasive waterjet cutting of quartz GE214. It is shown that the proper variations of several cutting parameters such as waterjet cutting pressure, cutting speed and cutting depth improve the roughness on workpiece surfaces produced by AWJ cutting. From the experimental results by AWJ cutting of quartz GE214, the optimal cutting conditions to improve the surface roughness and precision were proposed and discussed.