From Pebble to Jewel - Montana Sapphire & an extra surprise
May 31, 2017 19:01:13 GMT -5
Fossilman, kk, and 9 more like this
Post by micellular on May 31, 2017 19:01:13 GMT -5
I haven't been cutting much lately, but here's the results of three month's work by me and a fantastic silversmith (Julia Kay Taylor).
This is a Rock Creek Montana sapphire, and one of my more expensive single pieces of rough that I got in Tucson. I'm not sure whether or not it is heated - the color suggests yes, but I do see a trace of silk when the light hits it just right. Final stats: 1.1 ct, 44% yield, 5.6mm. Cut in Jim Perkin's Diamond Head, which I modified and optimized for sapphire.
After roughing in the pavilion, you can see the color zoning. Luckily the blue is concentrated in the tip.
Roughed in pavilion mains. Oh no! A wild crack appeared! I'll have to grind it out.
Pavilion fully polished. You can see the blue moonstone-like glow of rutile silk with the light hits at an oblique angle.
Flipped, roughing in the crown.
Off the dop! Face-down, you can see the color zoning.
It was very moody and hard to photograph face-up. It displayed a lot of extinction (i.e. black) especially when looking at it close up since my big head blocks light from entering the stone.
See, it's a lot brighter when held at almost arm's length.
However, Julia did a *fantastic* job of setting! It really brightens the stone across a wider range of lighting conditions. She bezel set it in a flower-petal pierced cup.
I also commissioned her to make a pendant out of my "Star Trek Trillion" aquamarine that I posted a few months ago. It's stunning and reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings (Lord of the Bling?) Despite how sparkly it is, it's not so gaudy that can't wear it to work.
This is a Rock Creek Montana sapphire, and one of my more expensive single pieces of rough that I got in Tucson. I'm not sure whether or not it is heated - the color suggests yes, but I do see a trace of silk when the light hits it just right. Final stats: 1.1 ct, 44% yield, 5.6mm. Cut in Jim Perkin's Diamond Head, which I modified and optimized for sapphire.
After roughing in the pavilion, you can see the color zoning. Luckily the blue is concentrated in the tip.
Roughed in pavilion mains. Oh no! A wild crack appeared! I'll have to grind it out.
Pavilion fully polished. You can see the blue moonstone-like glow of rutile silk with the light hits at an oblique angle.
Flipped, roughing in the crown.
Off the dop! Face-down, you can see the color zoning.
It was very moody and hard to photograph face-up. It displayed a lot of extinction (i.e. black) especially when looking at it close up since my big head blocks light from entering the stone.
See, it's a lot brighter when held at almost arm's length.
However, Julia did a *fantastic* job of setting! It really brightens the stone across a wider range of lighting conditions. She bezel set it in a flower-petal pierced cup.
I also commissioned her to make a pendant out of my "Star Trek Trillion" aquamarine that I posted a few months ago. It's stunning and reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings (Lord of the Bling?) Despite how sparkly it is, it's not so gaudy that can't wear it to work.
