Questions About Lapidary and Jewelry Making
Advanced questions about jewelry making and lapidary techniques.
Choosing the Best Faceting Wax for Your Task
Faceting wax or dop wax comes in different colors with different melting points. Learn how to choose the wax best...
Read More
Gold Refining Advice for Jewelers
Before you turn the alloyed gold you got a great deal on into gold jewelry, carefully consider what gold refining...
Read More
Properly Charging Ceramic Laps
A ceramic lap is an excellent choice for polishing gemstones. Here is a guide for properly charging ceramic laps and...
Read More
Tips for Polishing Synthetic Corundum
Polishing synthetic corundum without leaving pits requires certain techniques and tools. Get expert lapidary advice here.
Read More
Polishing Gemstones for Beginners: Pre-Polishing Advice
Polishing gemstones is difficult to master. Pre-polishing plays a major role in how well a gem can take a polish....
Read More
Diamond Rough and Equipment for the Occasional Diamond Cutter
Finding good diamond rough and the right equipment can be challenging for a non-professional diamond cutter. Learn what to look...
Read More
Cutting Star Gemstones: Tips for Beginners
Want to start cutting beautiful star gemstones? Here are some helpful gemological resources for novice lapidaries and jewelers.
Read More
How to Orient Sapphires with Silk Inclusions
Silk inclusions in sapphires are hard to detect. Learn to pick the best orientation and cut for these gems. You...
Read More
How Can a Gemstone’s Optic Sign Change?
A gemstone's optic sign may be listed as either + or -. Learn whether impurities in a specific stone or...
Read More
Lapidary Tips for Polishing Girdles
What are the best techniques and tools for polishing girdles? Learn how to complete your faceted gems quickly and easily...
Read More
Best Rough Gemstones for Beginning Faceting
Learn which rough gemstones are ideal for beginning faceting practice. A progression of relatively inexpensive gem species can teach important...
Read More
Why Choose a Barion Cut?
Gem faceters must consider factors like brilliance, color, and faceting yield before choosing a cut style. Learn what a Barion...
Read More
Diamond Cutting for Hobbyists: Getting Started
With study, care, and the right tools, hobbyist gem cutters can add diamond cutting to their repertoire. Get started with...
Read More
Are There Any Fair Gemstone Pricing Formulas?
Can gemstone pricing formulas help gem merchants and buyers make fair deals? Learn what factors should play a role in...
Read More
What’s the Difference Between Mineral Samples and Gem Rough?
For faceting, the distinction between gems and minerals is usually clarity. However, learn why the decision to cut may be...
Read More
Creating Ring Mountings for Deep-Cut Gemstones
Deep-cut gems like Barions may not fit in standard ring mountings. Jewelers can try to find special mounts or custom...
Read More
Aquamarine Setting Advice
Aquamarines can look great, but what’s the best way to mount them? Novice jewelers should learn the pros and cons...
Read More
Does Refractive Index Affect Gemstone Brightness?
Many factors contribute to gemstone brightness. Learn the role a gem's refractive index plays and the difference between gemology theory...
Read More
Faceting Tips for Exotic Gemstones
Some gems are seldom faceted because they're rarely found in nature or rarely used for jewelry. Learn a few tricks...
Read More
Some Advice for Cutting Tourmaline Gemstones
Cutting tourmaline can be difficult. Learn how to cut tourmaline, including faceting techniques to minimize the risk of damaging your...
Read More
What Causes Fuzzy Refractometer Readings?
Fuzzy refractometer readings may be the result of poorly faceted gems, the wrong amount of refraction liquid, and even stone...
Read More
How Does Vapor Deposition Create Mystic Topaz and Aqua Aura Quartz?
Vapor deposition can be used to enhance gemstones like topaz and quartz with a metal coating or sheen. Learn how...
Read More
Refractive Index List of Common Household Liquids
Gemologists may immerse gems in refraction fluids during examinations. This refractive index list of household liquids offers some common alternatives....
Read More
Gemstone Orientation for Beginners
Choosing the best gemstone orientation for your rough takes skill and experience. Learn what factors you should take into account...
Read More
How to Re-Oil Emeralds Safely and Easily
Oil treatment is a standard industry practice for enhancing emeralds. However, the treatments are not permanent. Learn how to re-oil...
Read More
How to Find Curved Striae in Synthetic Ruby and Sapphire
Curved striae or lines are a telltale sign of synthetic ruby and sapphire. If you're having trouble seeing them, here...
Read More
What is the Best Synthetic Corundum?
There are many ways to grow ruby and sapphire in a lab. However, determining the best synthetic corundum for faceting...
Read More
What are the Best Rough Sapphire Stones?
The best rough sapphire stones may come from different sources, depending on the color you want. However, valuable blues may...
Read More
What is the Average Gemstone Faceting Yield?
What’s the average gemstone faceting yield from a single piece of rough? Learn how to estimate how much material you’ll...
Read More
Gem Cutting Acronyms and Their Meanings
You'll find gem cutting acronyms like L/W in faceting guides. Learn what these frequently used terms mean and how they...
Read More
Bangkok: City of Gemology Schools
Bangkok is the center of the colored gem trade. Compare the top four Bangkok gemology schools and see why this...
Read More
The Path to Success in the Gem Trade
Finding your path to success in the gem trade takes introspection, education, and exploration. Learn about your options for entering...
Read More
How To Make A Rock Lamp
With the right tools and a little drilling know-how, you can create a rock lamp with an agate or jasper...
Read More
What is the Best Lap for Polishing Sapphire?
Polishing sapphire gemstones can be tough on laps. Learn the pros and cons of different laps and some techniques to...
Read More
Gem Cutting Machine Recommendations
What's the best gem cutting machine for novices? Read about some popular models and learn the importance of finding the...
Read More
Beginning Wax Casting: Resources For Jewelry Makers
Wax casting makes it possible to create intricate and unique metal pieces for jewelry. Here are some tips for beginners...
Read More
How Should A Gemstone Contact A Faceting Machine Lap?
Is a flat lap to dop swing really necessary? Learn how a gemstone should contact a faceting machine lap and...
Read More
Advice for Preforming Gemstone Rough for Maximum Yield
To pick the right cut for a gem, you need to figure its maximum potential shape. Preforming gemstone rough is...
Read More
Choosing And Applying Doublet Glue For Jewelry
What's the best doublet glue for creating assembled stone jewelry? Learn about the choices as well as tips for making...
Read More
How To Restore The Spring Of A Sterling Silver Money Clip
Has your sterling silver money clip lost its spring? If you have experience with metalworking, learn these methods for repairing...
Read More
Repairing Platinum Jewelry: Tips For Getting Started
Working with platinum is actually a little easier than working with gold. If you want to add platinum jewelry repair...
Read More
How To Make A Quartz Wedge For Polariscope Testing
A quartz wedge can be used with a polariscope to help a gemologist distinguish the + or – optic sign...
Read More
Faceted Gemstones And Light Return Measurements
What factors determine the light return of faceted gemstones? Facet quality, polish, color, and cut style all play roles. Learn...
Read More
A Cabochon Bezel Setting For Unusual Opal Doublets
Cabochon cuts are popular for showcasing opal doublets. Learn a trick for making a bezel setting for doublets that are...
Read More
Ring Sizing Advice For Novice Jewelry Makers
Ring sizing is an important part of jewelry making and repair. Learn a few soldering and annealing tricks from the...
Read More
Facet Designs For Beginners
What are the best facet designs for novice gem cutters? Find recommendations for cutting styles, books, resources, and gemstone rough...
Read More
Green Tourmaline and Rubellite: Emerald-Cutting Advice
Dark green tourmaline and red rubellite gems can look very black in an emerald cut. Learn how to minimize this...
Read More
Getting Started in the Jewelry Trade
How do you start making a living in the jewelry trade? You need to learn gemology and metalsmithing and get...
Read More
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
Get Gemology Insights
Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!