When gemstones are first mined, they look like pretty pebbles. It takes the skill of a gem cutter to shape a gem to reflect light back as brilliance and to polish its surfaces into mirrors that dazzle.

     Cutting a gemstone is a slow process of grinding down some of the world’s hardest substances into geometrically precise prisms. It takes dedication and skill to accurately execute each step in the process of cutting and polishing so that each facet is perfectly aligned with the next.

     This 4.75-carat rough blue sapphire was mined in Tanzania. It was probably panned from the gravels of a river bottom. Because it is worn by the water, you can already see its color: sometimes rough is rougher.

     This stone has a nice symmetrical shape so it is ideally suited for cutting a round gemstone. For extra brilliance, we will be cutting a Portuguese round, which has more facets than a standard round brilliant. We will show you step-by-step how a precious pebble becomes a faceted gemstone.

Photos © Daniel Stair