It often makes sense to repair, re-cut, or re-polish gems.  A great lapidary can really do wonders to a gem that has seen better days, and for an otherwise inexpensive gem, the cut can be virtually all of the value in the stone (for example, a…

We’ve discussed in other articles how precision cutting can make a big difference in the optical performance of a gemstone when cut from the rough, and how recutting diamonds and colored stones can be a useful tool to repair damage.  This time,…

We faceters all like to take pride in our work. However, no matter our skill level, we all make errors. However, you can learn a few tricks for correcting faceting mistakes.

Should I do repair work on gemstones, what is your opinion? Well, that all depends really, but in general I will not do repair work. Here is why… First – By doing repair work on some one elese’s gemstone you are opening yourself to some…

Step 4: Gem Grading Lesson 5 Back to syllabus As a professional, grading and valuing gemstones, you will occasionally come across stones that need recutting and you need to know when it is worth while. Showing your customer how a…

The photos below are a comparison of a commercial stone on the left vs. one of my custom cut stones on the right. Note that I treated both stones equally when photographing them. Neither has been “touched up” and both were wiped off with alcohol…