A couple months back, I bought a huge 82ct premium color tanzanite that had been badly heat damaged, likely from a (very inadvisable) steam-bath. Given the quality of color & size of the stone, whoever broke it took a big financial hit. The image above suggests it would be best to just divide the stone … Read More
This is why well-cut crowns are some important: the first image is of a new aquamarine asscher on the dop & half finished, the second is of the same stone, but with the crown I favor for asscher designs. Yeah, precision cutting really does matter, top to bottom. Finished stone in the third image: 3.42ct, … Read More
Question: I am curious about the process of changing the color to colorless. I had read online that the color can be changed by heating at home, is this so (or just silly internet advice)? I am considering changing its color if so… Answer: Yes, you can heat zircon yourself and without special equipment. Many … Read More
All large sapphires are rare. In today’s market, untreated sapphires of any fine color are very rare indeed. Sizable round, untreated, fine color sapphires? Well, suffice to say that they’re almost impossible to source when you want one. That’s why I invested in this large, untreated yellow sapphire at the AGTA show in Tucson this … Read More
I just wrapped up a fun recutting project. A client needed a 6mm square cushion yellow sapphire with fine color, high clarity and untreated (if possible). I was able to find a badly proportioned square at Tucson this year and was reassured by the vendor it’s untreated. I’ll be sending the stone to the AGL … Read More
Recently I was commissioned to facet a very large and unusual sapphire from the El Dorado Bar diggings in Montana, USA. The stone came to me as a 3.17g rough. As it pretty typical for the Montana deposits, the stone was water-worn a crystal section. Unusual for the Montana deposits, the stone has a straw-yellow … Read More
In 2011, I purchased this zircon rough in Tanzania. Zircon from Singeda, Tanzania is often a super-saturated, near-black shade of red. In reflected light, the stone appears near-black, but it is red in transmitted light. I cut the stone in a cut-corner square brilliant of my own design. But this kind of zircon is so … Read More
Recut Smokey Quartz trilliant When I introduced myself to a jeweler, I like to explain the difference between my gemcutting and what is more commonly seen in the trade. I like to point out the fact that all of my stones are designed to be mounted. In choosing designs, I avoid sharp corners, overly thin … Read More