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Round Brilliant Gem Cutting Instructions - Step by Step
Step
Description
Instructions
Pictures
1
Dop the Gem Rough
Once you have selected a stone, grind a flat surface on the crown (top) side of the gem and put in on the dop. Dopping the rough can be done with superglue, epoxy, or wax.
2
Set the Index Gear
Make sure you have the right index gear and set it to the first cut index, typically the largest index on the gear, in this example, it is 64.
3
Natural Pavilion
The amethyst being cut in this tutorial already has natural crystal faces which look a lot like the cut pavilion will look.
4
Prepare to Cut Girdle
5
Lower Rubber Bowl for Girdle Cutting
6
Lower the Mast
7
Turn the Mast Adjustment Knob
8
See Mast Lowering
9
Continue Turning Mast Knob
10
Mast is Lowered
11
Start Cutting Girdle
12
See Girdle Facets
13
Not sure yet
14
Mast Close to Lap
15
Mast Far from Lap
16
Clamp Lever for Mast
17
Lowered Clamp Lever of Mast
18
Change Angle with Clutch
19
Lower Quill to 49 degrees
20
Once Degree is set, Check Dial Indicator
21
Fine Adjust Dial Indicator
Turn Silver Knob on Right to Fine Adjust Dial Indicator
22
Cut Pavilion Facets
23
Closeup of Cutting Pavilion
24
Check Index Gear
25
Change Index Gear to Next Facet
26
Cutting the Pavilion Facets
27
See Pavilion Mains Preform Cut
28
Use Dial Indicator for Precise Cutting Depth
29
Dial Indicator Shows Depth of Cut
30
Continues to Give Constant Feedback
31
Getting Close to Depth Needed
32
Dial Indicator at Zero When Done
33
Cutting Pavilion on 600 Grit
34
See Pavilion Facets Smoothed in at 600 Grit
35
See Pavilion Facets Smoothed in at 600 Grit
36
Using 3000 Grit Diamond Spray
37
See Pavilion Facets Prepolished to 3000 Grit
38
See Pavilion Facets Prepolished to 3000 Grit
39
Using 50000 Grit Diamond Spray
40
See Pavilion Facets Polished to 50000 Grit
41
See Pavilion Facets Polished to 50000 Grit
42
Transfer Dop
43
Trasfer Dop Close up
44
Using Special 'T' Superglue for dopping
45
See Rough Double Dopped
46
See Rough Double Dopped Close up
47
Use Solvent to Remove Glue from Crown Side
48
Closeup of Solvent on Glue
49
Try Removing Dop with Pliers
50
Remove Dop with Vise
51
52
53
Put Dop into Quill
54
Preform Crown Main Facets with 300 Grit
55
Smooth in Crown Mains with 600 Grit
56
Smooth in Crown Facets with 600 Grit
57
Prepolish Crown with 3000 Grit
58
Polish Crown with 50000 Grit
Closeup Facet almost completed
59
Polish Crown with 50000 Grit
60
Tools Used to Align Table Facet
61
Prepare Quill with Table Aligner
62
Use Tools to Align Table Dop
63
Use Tools to Align Table Dop
64
Put Rough Dop in Table Dop
65
Begin Cutting Table Facet
66
Continue Preforming Table Facet
67
Prepolish Table Facet
68
Polish Table Facet
69
Polish Table Facet
70
Finished Polishing Table Facet
71
Use Solvent to Remove Gem From Dop
72
Closeup of Gem with Glue Mess
73
Put Gem with Residue in Solvent
74
Closeup of Gem in Solvent
75
Finished Gem Pictures
76
Finished Gem Pictures
77
Finished Gem Pictures
78
Finished Gem Pictures
Missing In Action
Hey! What did I miss? Let me know if some part of this walkthrough is confusing or is missing a step you want more information on.
Drop me a note letting me know what else you would like for me to do a walkthrough for.
My email address is
service@prettyrock.com