Rough to Cut Aquamarine: What are the Numbers?

What potential gemstone is in a piece of rough? It's confusing if you haven't seen it, so HERE ~ let me show you. We take our rough aquamarine and transform it into a lovely round brilliant star showing you all the numbers you need along the way.
Looking to explore more or contact me directly? www.gemshepherd.com

[@KattStop]

Okay I just found your page and you are my new favorite thing in faceting. Thanks for existing. Keep posting.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

I'm honoured~ welcome to the channel.

[@DonariaRegia]

I'd like to challenge you to cut that other stone in a typical emerald cut to compare yield and most importantly color saturation. The natural shape of beryl is optimized for yield in square/rectangle cuts (see your remaining stone) and a step cut really does seem to maximize color. A video comparing the two would be good educational content!

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

An excellent suggestion. I've got a notion to make a matching pair (stud earrings are on my brain), but your suggestion may be good cause to get a few more pieces for the experiment aswell.

[@hjdec]

That stone color seemed to float in the middle which looks awesome. I'm glad I came across your videos. Time to binge watch. No transfer jig made me so nervous and you've inspired me to try a base plate under the thick steel laps. It was nice to watch cutting the table first. Cutting it last always stresses me out.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Welcome to the channel~ give table first cutting a go. There's advantages to both methods.

[@rogerhargreaves2272]

Wow Peter, that was fascinating to watch that rough transform into a beautiful gemstone. It’s a beaut. Great advice as always. Thanks for sharing. Rrrrrrrrooooooogggggg

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thanks Rog - an epic quest to get to the end of the thing, but an interesting surprise often waits at the end. Cheers mate

[@roberttyrrell2250]

Very nice. You're progressing well. Kudos !

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thanks Robert

[@merkilegur]

Just saw this video & loved it so I subscribed. Learned some things. I recently joined a faceting guild in my city to learn to facet gems.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thank you~ welcome to the channel. I hope you enjoy your time learning faceting.

[@CoyoteRollin]

A beautiful process, great video sir.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thanks very much~

[@cocopufer5667]

The color on that aqua was spot on! You didnt have to be tricky with a grey background........

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Juggling white balance is always a beast. Camera tech may be in league with the Devil.

[@thoralfgraetz857]

Love you´re videos! What is you´re favorite type of beryl? Mine is Morganite.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thanks Thoralf. I'm quite partial to Aquamarine, though the others keep growing on me aswell.

[@DonariaRegia]

​@@GemologyforSchmucks I'd choose bixbite! Side note: I'm a fan/practitioner of vertical lap faceting, and one of my inspirations is Alex Amess, a cutter of unusual talent. He cut competition winning stones without an index. All his machines were his creations (even laps), he was also known for cutting and polishing a round brilliant at shows only held by his fingers in 15-20 minutes. His master work was known as "The Crystal King" being the largest faceted stone in the world at the time at 8,500 carats. He would pass two years later at the age of 50 and for the most part forgotten. I checked up just before replying here and oddly enough a new article about him was posted just 3 days ago on the Victorian Faceter's Group. A fascinating life cut short being rediscovered by a new generation.

[@mollyv8b705]

I love this color!!!

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

It's quite something isn't it?~

[@binkytheeimperfectunprofes6770]

"Very lovely," said the Pisces...

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Cheers to the fish-folk~

[@Liburni]

thanks for the good video, nicely cut, I have to try cutting the crown first and then the pavilion

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Give it a go ~ there's advantages to both processes.

[@12mloudermilk]

SPACE DEMON! 😮

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Constant Vigilance!~

[@martinpetersen1725]

Time to upgrade the bandana to aluminum...lol@@GemologyforSchmucks

[@jupitereye4322]

I had a bunch of those little pieces, back when I crashed my car and the windshield shattered. If I only knew back then I could make millions off it...

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Health is wealth, as they say. I'm glad that the glass shower didn't cause tooooo much damage. That said ~ check out some of my other videos on distinguishing glass and crystalline gems. There are some pretty quick and easy ways to distinguish. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGLOp3qZo9t8Z7ssi=tzQ7fzCYmfXa-StP

[@mariacesh982]

nice!

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thanks Maria~

[@maristeljara7357]

Traducir texto con la cámara Is there a home way to know if aquamarines are real when they are not polished

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

That depends on the piece. If you immerse the stone in water, and use magnification, you may be able to find natural inclusions that would distinguish it from synthetic aquamarine. Otherwise it can be quite difficult.

[@Algoldprospecting]

Happy new year’s

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Happy New Years to you aswell~

[@d.se1]

🤩🤩🤩 How do you measure it during polishing? Is there any special tool? Have you chosen a red color for setting it on those „stock“? Why? 😃

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Measuring is typically done with calipers. I use vernier callipers, some people prefer digital. on the red, im not sure exactly what you're referring to. The dop wax? The dop wax influences the colour the rough stone projects out.

[@d.se1]

@@GemologyforSchmucks yes, i mean wax. Thx for reply, very interesting!! 🙏

[@sarahm.8385]

Video that showed up in my feed ... Randomly? ... Analytics? .. x_X ... But aquamarine does happens to be my gemstone :3 ...

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

oOoo~ perhaps it was FATE! either way, welcome to the channel, and I hope you enjoyed.

[@emilyconti3148]

Is there any way you can make a video on alexandrite. Natural vs synthetic.

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Thanks for the suggestion Emily ~ I'll keep that in mind when I find the right samples. Nice alexandrite samples are quite uncommon.

[@Algoldprospecting]

What gem red gem glows under uv light?

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

There are many. Ruby and spinel are two options, which fluoresce due to chromium. Garnets will not.

[@Dawgzihk]

Do you take any special precautions when cutting beryl to avoid berylliosis?

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

Most people i've heard from just stress the importance of using plenty of water when cutting, which I do. After that, I'd say more caution is needed in cleaning out the splash-pan than cutting stage. Of course - the truth of the matter is told by long careers, so i'd be very interested in hearing from frequent aquamarine and emerald cutters especially.

[@Dawgzihk]

I see, thanks. Maybe I should try cutting some beryl too then. I love aquamarine!

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

@@Dawgzihk It's a delight to cut too.

[@maximhollandnederlandthene7640]

Wow only 20% left from the original weight. 😒 I like a more wider table than this, isnt this a way to cut and polish garnets ? Cowboys or gipsy's hehe 🖐😄

[@GemologyforSchmucks]

yes ~ round cuts are highly inefficient, which is why they are the most expensive cut. Some in the market also like wide tables, but I enjoy high crowns and small tables. They seem majestic to my eyes.