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Gem Magic: �How To Make Your Own Brilliant Gemstones

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Discussion

  • Gemstone Properties
  • Selecting a Stone
  • Selecting a Design
  • Preparing / Cutting a Stone
  • Resources

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Hi. I’m Les.

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rational-geek.com

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Gemstones

Transparent

Diamonds

Colored Stones

Opaque

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Precious Stones

  • Diamond
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Emerald

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Stone Origin

Mined

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  • Dug out of the ground
  • Questionable sourcing
  • Unique Imperfections

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  • You can dig for your own

Synthetic

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  • Cheaper
  • Identical physical, chemical, and optical properties
  • Cleaner, more uniform

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Simulants

  • Differ form the true stone
  • Can be mined or synthetic

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Faceted vs Cabochon

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Gemstones

  • Looks Awesome
  • High Hardness
  • High Refractive Index
  • High Dispersion

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Hardness

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Hardness

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Opaque Stones

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Opaque Stones

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Opaque Stones

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Refractive Index

Low

High

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Refractive Index

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Dispersion

Low

High

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Soda Lime Glass

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Quartz

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Beryl�

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Crystal (Leaded Glass)

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Corundum

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Spinel

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Garnet

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Diamond

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Cubic Zirconia

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Moissanite

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Exotics

turtleshoard.com

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Exotics�Rutile

turtleshoard.com

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Exotics�Rutile

turtleshoard.com

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Exotics�Dichroic Moissanite

turtleshoard.com

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Exotics�LuAG

turtleshoard.com

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Exotics�Laser Garnets

turtleshoard.com

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Rough

Online

  • turtleshoard.com
  • gemsngems.com

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In Person Shows

  • ccgms.org/annual-civic-center-show
  • tgms.org/show

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Rough

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Cabochons

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Designs

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facetdiagrams.org

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GemCad

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Preforming

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Preforming

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Faceting Machines

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting

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Cutting HUGE Stones

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Cutting Sequence

600

8,000

60,000

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Faceting Machines

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Vevor - $229

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Cut Kit

$270

1x CutKit™ Mast

1x dop holder

1x 6mm dop pair

1x 10mm dop pair 1x transfer jig

1x 240 grit lap

1x 600 grit lap

2x copper polishing laps

1x 8k Gearloose Diastik™

1x 60k Gearloose Diastik™

1x stick Princeton low temperature dop wax

1x stone tongs

1x nut/bolt set

1x marker

1x water shield

1x charging ruby/corundum

3x YAG facet rough (assorted colors)

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Loupe

$18

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Ultra Tec v5 Digital

$5590

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Lap Set

$1100

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Find your local gem/mineral association!

  • Cobb County Gem & Mineral Society
  • The Georgia Mineral Society, Inc.

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Questions?

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