Steps to Gem Cutting

As promised in my last post, here is a simplified version of the steps it took to fashion the gems in this ring.  In this case, a very old traditional technique of gem cutting is used to accessorize a Gary Dawson Jewelry Design ring designed using CAD.
Rough Sapphires dopped onto matchsticks.
The gems are mounted on what is called a “dop stick”, in this case since the gems will be quite small, a pair of kitchen match sticks.
The gems are then shaped on a series of diamond-dust impregnated disks…the actual cutting part of gem cutting!

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Once the gems are shaped and polished they can be set into the ring.
Ring with one gem set

Using a graver to clean up the bezels holding the gems securely in place.
With both gems set, the bezel is cleaned up with a sharp tool called a graver.
This demonstrates a very primitive, but effective gem cutting process.  To see the work of one of my favorite cutters check out the award winning page of John Dyer!

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