Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:11 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am Posts: 257 Location: Idaho
OK, new day, new gems! Or "Another day, another dopey sunstone post..."
For the next, I had two similar color and shape of rough, so I decided to cut a matched pair of ovals (best cut for the smaller). Only down side was the extra loss of weight from the larger rough, but a set of possibly matching 2.5+each sunstones!!!
One started as 7.98 ct, finished at 2.63 ct (33%), 12.06 x 8.02 mm oval. The other was 10.29 ct rough, finished 2.70 ct (26%), 12.02x8.02 mm, slightly lighter color.
The cut is the L&S Lazy Oval with some modifications.
Sorry about the slightly blurry gem pictures...
That's all for now, folks! The funnest ones are yet to come!
Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:07 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am Posts: 257 Location: Idaho
An in-between item... a recent blue zircon recut (crown only)
This is one of my favorite gems to refurbish - they start out as worn dogs, and finish as bright beauties!
Touched up the girdle on a 3,000 MB (had to leave a flat so fits in mounting), repolished the top with 1,200 sint. for any cutting, polished with 50K on zinc.
Started at 1.86 ct, finished at 1.76 ct. :40 to do the work.
Did another oval (4.95 ct) since, mild damage that required only the 50K/Zn.
Attachments:
File comment: Blue Zircon, damaged gem, 1.86 ct. 2020-03-20 Bl Z Ruf.jpg [ 53.17 KiB | Viewed 5650 times ]
File comment: Blue Zircon, 1.76 ct finished weight. 2020-03-20 Bl Z fin.JPG [ 74.57 KiB | Viewed 5650 times ]
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Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:59 am
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am Posts: 257 Location: Idaho
Thanks for the words, folks. I do love those blue zircs... Had someone show up with a 13 mm round one time, quite the dazzler!!!
Ok - it's been a few days so here are a couple more (sigh) Oregon Sunstones.
There were two pieces best suited for rounds, but I wanted something with a bit more zing than just another round brilliant. Also, knowing this stuff is a bit tender for setting in rings, I wanted to give the owner some motivation to put it in a more protected environment when set.
The first is "just another" orangish pink. Started out at 7.95 ct. It finished with a rose cut (apex cut) crown published in 1997 as "Bright rose", 9.60 mm, 2.81 ct. (35% recovery) Just under 2 hours.
The second is a light green/light orange dichroic piece, somewhat like an andalusite, with an additional red spot. For this one I didn't want to mix the colors if possible, so I stretched the pavilion (try that on a round...) I guess it worked... started at 12.16 ct (odd shaped/included rough), finishing as a 9.51 mm round, at 2.61 ct (21%). Also at just under 2 hours.
Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 2:49 am
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
That keeled design is giving me a bit of confidence to try it myself with some closed C tourmaline... Makes me wonder if you could redirect the light at the ends to follow the keel with high enough angles, might not be possible on feldspar.
Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:10 am
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am Posts: 257 Location: Idaho
Here is the original design, and a possible redo for a closed C. Not sure how it will perform, just messed with the angles on the two end sets. The 3rd set in on the pavilion (P3) may still cause some mixing... Use at your own risk........
Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:59 pm
Active Member
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:33 pm Posts: 80
Wowzers Allan, that first sunstone is great. Great balance of patterns on that stone. Is that a public available design? would love to try it. Really love the center radiating reflections in contrast to the "arrows" around the perimeter. Very pretty design.
Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 8:47 am
Established Member
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:32 pm Posts: 44
A friend in Australia sent me a piece of Topaz that he found in a creek bed. I cut a Paradise Round Brilliant that I optimized for Topaz. I chose to frost the P3 "pinwheel"... something that works well with colored CZ, but not overly impressive with natural Topaz.
Pic below is not in natural light, as we haven't seen the sun in a week.
Thanks for the peek.
Attachment:
B4 and AFTER TOPAZ.jpg [ 83.58 KiB | Viewed 5399 times ]
Post subject: Re: Before and After – Post YOUR Transformation Pics
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 7:47 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am Posts: 257 Location: Idaho
OK - onward with the Sunstone trove!
This next one is based off a somewhat common shape of Sunstone rough I see - a rhombohedron. Seems there is direction of cleavage that can lead to these pieces. Had to clean up some thin areas on the sides.
A bit of schiller, but a fun piece matching the cut to the rough on GemCad.
Started at 12.56 ct, ended up at 2.79 ct, 9.8 x 6.9 mm, about 2 hours and 22% recovery.
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