⭐ Show Us Your Cut Stones - Before And After Photos

[Wally69]

I working with some of the uniquely natural bomb sapphires

Some of them you throw in the reject pile and go through them again and think son-of-a-beach.....

This is what I called this one, it is very thin but a very thin layer of golden-bronzed material acts like bottom of a crystal clear lake.

Had fun free forming this one...

 

[Pat Hogen]

I had a stone on a dop that came with a machine I purchased, it had one facet of the pavilion done and it looked like a dirty piece of practice quartz.
A lot of months have passed and I finally decided to cut the stone to get it off the dop, and this is what the Ugly Duckling became -

Tasmanian Topaz - 4.55ct and 9 mm

 

[Pat Hogen]

So the three pix of my latest stone are an evaluation of how I manage my camera, A Nikon A1000, it took a lot of time and effort to work out how this camera best performs and the settings in which it works without dropping the light, not performing at all and why it was not.
The stone is Fusion Green Zircon, 4.80 ct, 8.5 mm, all pix are of same stone.

#1 is daylight, overcast and cloudy

#2 is digital light ribbon in daylight, overcast and cloudy

#3 is late afternoon, light blocked, overcast and cloudy

As an aside, does anyone have the 'Spellbound' diagram in pdf?

 

[Dihusky]

Looked through my 1500+ designs on the computer and unfortunately don't have 'Spellbound', who's design is it Pat, or do you have it in some other form?

From the picture standpoint, have you tried playing with the exposure compensation +ve & -ve?

 

[Wally69]

I have the rectangular and square spellbound, will PM you.

 

[xcvator]

So the three pix of my latest stone are an evaluation of how I manage my camera, A Nikon A1000, it took a lot of time and effort to work out how this camera best performs and the settings in which it works without dropping the light, not performing at all and why it was not.
The stone is Fusion Green Zircon, 4.80 ct, 8.5 mm, all pix are of same stone.

#1 is daylight, overcast and cloudy
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/11720/1591076423_rscn0183_2.jpg

#2 is digital light ribbon in daylight, overcast and cloudy
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/11720/1591074752_rscn0181_2.jpg

#3 is late afternoon, light blocked, overcast and cloudy
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/11720/1591074810_rscn0172_2.jpg

As an aside, does anyone have the 'Spellbound' diagram in pdf?

Have you tried "light bracketing" or using a polarizing filter, might cut out the glare but not lose the detail ?

This link might help too

https://www.earthstreasury.com/2013/11/04/photographing-gems-and-jewelry/

 

[Pat Hogen]

Looked through my 1500+ designs on the computer and unfortunately don't have 'Spellbound', who's design is it Pat, or do you have it in some other form?

From the picture standpoint, have you tried playing with the exposure compensation +ve & -ve?

I have been playing with the focal and speed for the last two attempts, I will scrutinise the + & - tomorrow. Thanks for the recommendation.

Spellbound is a Jeff Rhonemus creation, but I cannot find his details, he might be in FBook.

 

[Pat Hogen]

I have the rectangular and square spellbound, will PM you.

Excellent Wally, I am keen to see the frosting details that appear to be a part of the diagram.

 

[Pat Hogen]

Have you tried "light bracketing" or using a polarizing filter, might cut out the glare but not lose the detail ?

This link might help too

https://www.earthstreasury.com/2013/11/04/photographing-gems-and-jewelry/

Thank you Xcvator, I will look that up. I actually want to manage the glare without losing it as that is part of the refraction and the noticeable dazzle.

Great site, earths treasury.

 

[Martyz]

Here are the before and after shots from a recently received piece of rough opal. Another from out of the vault that belonged to my father.

It showed a bit of colour on top and a nice band through the milky crystal.

After a lot of study I bit the bullet and sliced it up and started shaping.

Ended up with a nice mix of stones with some nice sun flash colour.

Some natural cracks showed up once some of the stones dried so back on the wheel they went until the final result was achieved.
Some beautiful delicate colours.

 

[Dihusky]

Excellent job, looking at the rough it was clearly one for splitting in half, worked out really well. :Y:

 

[Martyz]

Cheers Dihusky. Dividing the piece was probably the most difficult part. There were possibly 4 zones of colour where I could see the chance of cutting a stone. I think I got as much as I could with four nice stones and a couple of leftovers with minimal colour.
The best of the crystals is on its way to be made into a birthday present for my niece.

 

[Wally69]

Finished this 1ct sapphire last night, it has an interesting play of colour.

 

[Martyz]

Very pretty Wally. I like the table cut. It probably helps with the colour play. :Y:

 

[Pat Hogen]

Interesting stone and very nicely polished Wally.

 

[goody2shoes]

Would like to get something done for my new baby Niece's

Goody

 

[Bullwinkle]

Nice job Wally.

 

[Jaros]

Great going Wally. erfect:

 

[Dihusky]

Nice one Wally, see you've got rid of the table it works well. Had a few stones where I've got to the table and thought 'why not dump the table' as they've looked good with out it.

 

[Wally69]

Thanks for the kind comments appreciate the feedback.

The cut is a standard round brilliant but with the star facets extended to a central meetpoint. Have considered this a number of times DiHuski and this time I elected to pull it off the dop and see how it looked. Not sure if it technically improves or reduces the stones outcome, it was certainly no easier to photograph :argh:

Figured it would be easy to put it back on a dop and cut in a table but I think it works well, best sparkle is when looking at it straight on, I am guessing a table might broaden the sparkle angle of view.

Very happy with the outcome though and it will be staying as it is. :inlove: