I’ve unsuccessfully searched the usual catalogs for faceted stones,
both natural and manufactured, that are extremely long with
relationship to their width. I am especially interested in emerald
and marquis cuts.
I would appreciate any help with my search.
Jon Olson
Silver Artisans
Try Crescent Gems, http://www.crescentgems.com They have some
unusually shaped, long stones. No guarantee it will be what you
want, but worth trying.
The usual disclaimers, no affiliatian, just a satisfied customer.
Please share with us your experience with Crescent Gems - delivery
speed, order accuracy, customer service and overall satisfaction.
Beth in SC
I've unsuccessfully searched the usual catalogs for faceted stones, both natural and manufactured, that are extremely long with relationship to their width.
Because not too many people are looking for any one unusual shape,
it doesn’t behoove the catalog folks to keep a supply of them. If
you contact them directly you may find that they have a few items
they didn’t want to bother putting on the website.
However, your best bet is to go to gem shows - big ones where
everybody goes, and smaller ones that cater to dedicated lapidary
folks. They cut odd sizes and shapes for the fun of it, and are
deliriously happy to have someone else appreciate them. Look for
local shows put on by rock and mineral collecting clubs and lapidary
hobbyists. Check the “shows” pages in Lapidary Journal (they’re on
line) - some surprisingly good but small shows are listed there.
Try Kaiser Gems in LA and New York.
213-622-6142 or 212-921-9190.
I deal with David in LA. Also Kaisergems@aol.com.
Sue Ann Dorman
P.O. Box 110201
Marina Del Rey, CA 90295
@Sue_Dorman
www.suedorman.com
Try http://www.creativegem.com they sells Fancy cuts gems.
Please share with us your experience with Creativegem - delivery
speed, order accuracy, customer service and overall satisfaction.
M. Dubois Jr.
Tucson AZ
If you are looking for long cuts in faceted stones I suggest that
you start by bringing up cutters or dealers who carry tourmalines.
Tourmaline is frequently cut in extremely long “baguettes”. The
reason for this is that tourmaline frequently occurs in very long
flawless crystals and the long cuts give the best weight yield. They
also take advantage of the fact that because tourmaline is usually
highly dichroic across the C axis, better color is realized by
cutting along the axis.
If you are also looking for a source of mountings that will
accomodate long cuts I suggest you check out Tripps. They have an
amazing assortment of sizes in settings that are especially designed
to accomodate long cuts. Another option that you might pursue is to
buy the rough and then have a domestic cutter do your bidding. A
good source for quality rough tourmalines is selectgemslimited.com.
They have an excellent selection at very fair prices. Ron Mills
at Mills Gem, Los Osos,Ca.
I've unsuccessfully searched the usual catalogs for faceted stones, both natural and manufactured, that are extremely long with relationship to their width.
You need to find dealers who specialize in cutting tourmaline and a
few other gems that form in crystals with that particular aspect
ratio.
It comes down to basic economics. Emerald cuts and marquises make
the best use of the rough crystal shape without great weight loss.
Not all gems can be cut in a long, narrow style because of
differences in crystal forms or the stubbier shapes of stream-tumbled
stones when mined from waterborne deposits. It=92s no accident the
=93emerald cut=94 got its name because beryl occurs in longish narrow
prisms that cut to that shape with very little weight loss. It=92s
certainly not one of the more brilliant cuts but is ideal for stones
that are valued as much for color as glitter.
Natural gems often cut in long, narrow shapes include tourmaline,
the beryls (emerald, yellow beryl, aquamarine, morganite, goshenite),
topaz, kyanite, crystalline quartzes and spodumene (Kunzite and
Hiddenite). Tourmaline is probably your best bet for =93extremely=94
long natural stones in relationship to width. Fortunately it occurs
in many colors so you have plenty of variety to choose from. You may
have to work directly with a cutter or mine owner to get stones of
that type because the market prefers shorter lengths.
Any of the man made flame-fusion corundums and spinels grown in long
boules could likely be cut to the shapes you want. Again, you=92ll
probably have to make arrangements with a cutter for them because
that shape isn=92t much in demand commercially.
Rick Martin
MARTIN DESIGNS