| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | means sending the stone to a company where |
| When people tell me that they have a nice four | | | | the work may be done. Sometimes, the jeweler |
| ct. aquamarine stone ring, they tell me that they | | | | might have a local connection to either a |
| just noticed that the stone was chipped and do | | | | professional or amateur, some are the best going, |
| jewelry shops actually repair stones? This is a | | | | for the repair work. The cabochon work is easy |
| good question and one that lots of people have to | | | | and more locals can do this work. For faceted |
| deal with. I want to say first that I am glad you | | | | gems, having a local cutter is not common and |
| have an aquamarine! This makes me smile in a | | | | most stones are shipped to a factory offering |
| sentimental and special way. Why? Well, with so | | | | the service. |
| much blue topaz on the market today, the | | | | The middle of the stone, between the top, |
| wonderful aquamarine has almost faded in the | | | | crown, and the bottom, pavilion, is called the girdle |
| public eyes. | | | | of the gem. If the chip is here, repair is relatively |
| Unfortunately, many do not even know about this | | | | simple for a small chip and will not affect the rest |
| much more valuable and beautiful gemstone. In | | | | of the stone in a noticeable way. If the chip is |
| years past, the aquamarine "was" the stone of | | | | higher on the stone, say on or between a couple |
| choice for those special shades of blue nature | | | | of the facets on the crown, the repair is more |
| makes. Aquamarine is a superior stone in all | | | | difficult. Why? Look at the at your aquamarine, |
| aspects to the irradiated blue topaz, a stone not | | | | and you will see the faces line up and meet each |
| naturally the rich blues in nature. | | | | other. To repair a chip on one of the higher |
| First of all, most jewelry shops do not have the | | | | facets will mean cutting and polishing the stone |
| capability to recut chipped gemstones. Some of | | | | down deep enough to remove the chip. |
| this depends on the cut of the stone to start | | | | This will change the face where the cutting is |
| with, whether a cabochon, round top, like an opal | | | | done and the facets will not line up as before. To |
| or onyx might be cut, or faceted as with | | | | do the job properly, often the entire top, crown, |
| diamonds, rubies and other stones with little faces, | | | | of the stone will need to be re-cut. This means all |
| the facets, on the surface. The person who cuts | | | | facets are re-cut and polished so all line up as |
| gemstones does the work called "lapidary" or | | | | before. This is done to prevent one large repaired |
| stone cutting. This work requires the cutting and | | | | face from messing up the arrangement and |
| polishing equipment needed for gemstones. | | | | standing out easily to the eye. |
| Almost all stones must be worked with tools the | | | | How the repair is done depends on the location of |
| jeweler simply does not use for working metals. | | | | the chip and whether the stone is faceted or a |
| Stones are much harder than metals and require | | | | cabochon cut. Then, where and how well the |
| special and sometimes very specialized machines | | | | work is done depends on the contacts the |
| to work the gem, whether in cutting a gem from | | | | jeweler has. To find a jeweler with in-house |
| a piece of rough material from the earth or in | | | | lapidary service is a rare find, indeed. |
| repairing a chip in a stone already cut. While many | | | | Be sure to ask if the work is done in-house or |
| folks do cut and polish cabochons, rounded tops | | | | sent to a cutter. Ask for an estimate before |
| without facets, the number greatly lessens when | | | | having the work done. Ask if the repair will |
| looking for those who do facet cutting. The | | | | change the over dimensions, width and length, of |
| equipment is very different since each individual | | | | the stone since that will affect how it fits back |
| facet is cut one at a time, through different | | | | into your jewelry mounting. Ask if the cutter can |
| grades of cutting from rough abrasives to the | | | | give you at least an idea of how much stone |
| final polish. | | | | must be cut away to do the repair. I do know |
| What Do Most Jewelers Do? When a chipped | | | | how it is done and what is needed to make a |
| stone needs repair, the jeweler generally sends | | | | stone look right when repairing a chip. This is not |
| the stone to a lapidary craftsperson. This usually | | | | easy work to do. |