micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Mar 23, 2017 17:04:19 GMT -5
Finally took the plunge and bought Gemcad + Gemray so I could fiddle around with optimizing and creating designs. This is Robert Long's "Sapphire Special" in unheated Rock Creek Montana sapphire, optimized to balance yield from the shallow rough, brightness, and color retention. The stone has a little more head shadow / extinction than I'd like, but the optimum angles required sacrificing more rough than I wanted. Ended up 0.55 ct (38% yield), 4.6mm wide. I'm quite happy with it! It's going to a welcome home with my coworker who is a casual collector of American gems. He gave his wife a *stunning* benitoite in rose gold for an engagement ring - but I was sad to see that it already shows some edge wear after less than a year, since benitoite only has a Mohs hardness of ~6.5.    |
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 23, 2017 17:42:42 GMT -5
Pretty sweet, but the language you are talking is way over my head. You never fail to impress.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 23, 2017 18:00:43 GMT -5
That's really nice Michelle. I love seeing the progress too. Keep 'em coming!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 23, 2017 18:05:35 GMT -5
That is just superb, Michelle! I would have been afraid to touch that one! Love the color.
What is the RI on that material? Jean
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Mar 23, 2017 18:10:40 GMT -5
Jean, the RI of sapphire is 1.76, so nice and sparkly! Yeah, I've been hesitant to cut sapphire, but I practiced on a few included stones before taking the plunge on this one. Probably the only stone I've cut so far whose value is actually worth my time, were I to try and sell it. Cutting it took ~6 hours, and learning / fiddling with the programs took another 6 or so.
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zekesman
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 637 
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Post by zekesman on Mar 23, 2017 18:55:48 GMT -5
Very nice all 3c's
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Post by Pat on Mar 23, 2017 19:05:18 GMT -5
Looks good to me!
I salute you and your tackling the computer programs.
Do you put a little baking soda on the top of your wax dop?
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Mar 23, 2017 19:11:05 GMT -5
No baking soda - just brown wax. Sometimes I'll add a collar of superglue on really small stones (<3.5mm)
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Post by MrP on Mar 23, 2017 19:14:45 GMT -5
micellular Didn't take you long to become an expert!.................................MrP
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 23, 2017 19:34:27 GMT -5
Very impressive workmanship and beautiful stone. Thanks for showing it through the stages.
Chuck
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Post by radio on Mar 23, 2017 20:22:39 GMT -5
Stunning! I still shake my head in disbelief that I gave away a cigar tube chock full of Montana Sapphire rough I acquired while spending a year in Anaconda, Mt. back around '69 or '70
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 24, 2017 3:36:51 GMT -5
Very pretty stone Michelle! Which windows program are you running Gem Cad on?
Larry C.
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Erich
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2015
Posts: 411
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Post by Erich on Mar 24, 2017 6:39:14 GMT -5
beautiful stone and amazing how fast you've been able to learn enough to produce such a beauty. Oh, did I mention, I salute your bravery in tackling something so small and valuable?
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Mar 24, 2017 9:57:36 GMT -5
QuailRiver, I'm running the programs on Crossover on a MacBook Air. No Windows disk needed, so the $40 for Crossover is well worth it.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,722
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 24, 2017 10:27:05 GMT -5
Michelle,has said,when you hit the pavement running, you run!!! Excellent work on those "Gems".......Two thumbs up! Never seen someone pick up a hobby as fast as you have Kiddo!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2017 10:44:45 GMT -5
Super nice!
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 24, 2017 14:18:41 GMT -5
Good heavens woman! You are such a pro already. That is a really beautiful stone. Thanks for the pictures, too. And the explanation- even if it's mostly Greek to me. LOL!
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Shannon
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2015
Posts: 145 
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Post by Shannon on Mar 25, 2017 1:16:55 GMT -5
Incredible!
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brucew
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 33
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Post by brucew on Mar 25, 2017 14:08:55 GMT -5
Your sapphire looks amazing, Really like the type of cut you did, Am in the process of learning to use a faceting machine I picked up in a sale, And have a handful of Montana sapphires to cut if I ever get brave enough.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Mar 25, 2017 14:27:37 GMT -5
Simply.beautiful.cut
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