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