Gemstones are beautiful and precious for a number of reasons. Many people are drawn to the vivid colors and sparkling luster of gemstones, which can be caused by the way the stones reflect and refract light.
The unique optical properties of different gemstones are caused by the arrangement and structure of the minerals that make up the stone and the presence of trace elements that can give the stone its distinctive color.
In addition to its beauty, a gemstone collection is often prized for its rarity and durability. Many gemstones are found in only a few locations around the world, making them scarce and valuable. Some gemstones, such as diamonds, are also prized for their hardness and ability to withstand wear and tear, making them suitable for use in jewelry that will be worn every day.
GlobeNewswire reports suggest that the gemstone market will increase rapidly and reach $53,146.2 million by 2032. But have you ever wondered how these stones are cut so that they become so precious?
There are three main types of cutting techniques: faceting, cabochon cutting, and tumbling, and all are followed by hand polishing. Each one has different advantages depending on the material being worked on, but they all follow the same basic principles.
Let’s take a look at how gemstones are cut into your precious pieces of stones.
Faceting
Faceting is the process of cutting a gemstone into a regular polygon, usually in order to maximize the reflection of light through the gem. This is typically done using a faceting machine consisting of a flat grinding lap, called a lapidary wheel, and a device called a dop, which holds the gemstone in place.
To begin the faceting process, the gemstone is first shaped and polished using abrasive grit and a polishing agent. This is typically done using a tumbling machine or by hand. Once the gemstone has been shaped and polished, it is mounted onto the dop and placed onto the lapidary wheel.
The gemstone is then carefully cut and polished using a faceting machine. The lapidary wheel rotates at high speeds and is coated with a fine abrasive grit, which is used to cut and polish the facets onto the gemstone. The gemstone is rotated and moved along the lapidary wheel to create the desired shape and pattern of facets.
Once the faceting process is complete, the gemstone is removed from the dop and is ready to be set into a piece of jewelry or displayed as a finished gemstone.
Cabochon Cutting
A cabochon is a gemstone that has been shaped and polished but not faceted. The word “cabochon” comes from the French word for “head” because the traditional shape of a cabochon is a rounded dome.
To cut a cabochon gemstone, a gem cutter begins by selecting a rough gemstone and marking out the outline of the desired shape on it with a pencil. They then use a series of increasingly fine-grit abrasive wheels to grind and polish the gemstone into the desired shape.
The gemstone is typically mounted on a rotating lap, which is a flat disk made of a hard, smooth material like copper or steel. The gem cutter moves the gemstone back and forth across the lap, applying pressure and rotating it to achieve the desired shape.
Finally, the gemstone is polished to a high shine using a polishing compound and a soft cloth or wheel.
Tumbling
Tumbling is a process in which rough gemstones are placed in a rotating drum or barrel with a variety of abrasive materials, such as grit, ceramic pellets, or steel shot. The drum is rotated at a slow speed for a period of time, usually several days to a week or more, depending on the desired level of polishing and the hardness of the gemstones.
As the drum rotates, the abrasive materials wear down the rough edges of the gemstones, creating a smoother and more polished finish. The tumbling process can be used to polish a variety of gemstones, including those that are too hard or brittle to be shaped and polished, using traditional lapidary techniques.
It is a relatively quick and easy way to finish and polish a large number of gemstones at once and is commonly used in the production of costume jewelry.
Hand Polishing
Hand polishing is a process in which a gemstone is polished to a high shine using abrasive materials and hand tools. It is typically done after a gemstone has been shaped and rough-polished using lapidary techniques, such as grinding and sanding.
To hand polish a gemstone, a gem cutter will begin by selecting a series of increasingly fine grit abrasive papers or cloths. They will then sand the gemstone’s surface with the coarsest grit abrasive, working their way up to the finest grit. As they sand, they will periodically wash the gemstone to remove any abrasive particles and check their progress.
Once the gemstone has been sanded to the desired level of smoothness, the gem cutter will apply a polishing compound to the surface of the gemstone and use a soft cloth or wheel to buff it to a high shine. Depending on the hardness and toughness of the gemstone, the hand-polishing process can be quite time-consuming and requires a steady hand and a good eye for detail.
Gemstones are valuable and beautiful, but the cutting of a gemstone is just as necessary. The different types of cuts can enhance the beauty of a gemstone while also making it more durable.
