saphire please

[kking384]

I have been asked by a client to supply a saphire cut to a specific size for a piece of handmade jewellery they have, the stone they had in originaly fell out.

I would like to know where to get some rough from and if anyone has cut it, what advice can you offer .


Thanks again

[paul Stansfield]

Hi kevin,

Sapphire is a most rewarding stone to cut as in general they are small sizes and therefore cut quickly and easily, also, and I know this is going to sound bizzare!, Sapphire to me makes a very distinctive noise when it cuts, compared to say quartz....and some how it just sounds smoother!! I must be going somewhat mad!!!



Getting the stones...........if its for a specific job then it makes it tricky, there is always H bosch in SA, but it could prove costly!

Another suggestion might be to buy a badly cut stone about the right size and re-cut it........anywhere that sells loose stones like in hatton garden or birmingham should be able to come up with a stone that is the right size and colour but just nees some loving care...........or even second hand jewellry as this can sometimes be a cost effective way of getting stones...

As for cut.....

1200 diamond disk
3000 diamnond disk
14,000 polish on your choice of lap (mine is a 'lastlap)
If it still looks a bit slack......a quick 'pop' with 60k diamond (again for me on a Last Lap)

And hey presto.

Seems like a lot of effort, but on small stones it really doesn't take too long (small = 1ct or less to me!)

Cheers

Paul

[Brad Amos]

I would agree with the previous posting, especially about using already-cut stones as a source of material. I have spent quite a lot of money on sapphires from Australia, which are often photographed against an intense light-source to conceal the fact that they are so dark that a cut stone, after all your work, turns out to look black.
Unless there is a strong prejudice against it by the final owner, I would recommend using synthetic blue corundum. Although the blue is often somewhat greyish, the final effect can be extremely beautiful. It is available from the Rock Peddlar and other major dealers in the US quite cheaply as half-boules (boules split longitudinally to relieve internal strain).