The work of the lapidary: cutting and polishing of stones

Have you ever wondered how this pretty Aventurine cabochon you just ordered from Perles & Co was made? Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that the gemstone you have in your hands was originally a rough stone, dull and without luster, straight out of a mine.

This is where the know-how of the lapidary comes into play! The lapidary, also called stone cutter, is thecraftsman who shapes, cuts and polishes meticulously precious stones (except diamonds, that is the work of the diamond cutter) and fine or ornamentalstones to reveal all their beauty. This profession does not date from yesterday, since it already existed in the Middle Ages.
The lapidary works the rough stone until the finished stone. He starts from a block, he saws, he preforms, he facets, he cuts and polishes until he reveals the brilliance and the color of each gem.

To better show you this know-how, one of our lapidaries has opened the doors of his workshop to us. Through this video, you will go behind the scenes of the manufacturing of pearls and gemstone cabochons.

Immersion in one of our lapidaries

• First, there is theobservation of the stone (0:00:08) in order to choose the most beautiful colors, those with the least amount of inclusion... while limiting the loss of material.
• Then comes the sawing (0:00:19) using a diamond circular saw to roughen the stone.
• This is followed by preforming (0:00:45), which is done on a vertical abrasive wheel. This cutting allows to give the final shape to the stone.
• Finally, the lapidary proceeds tofaceting and polishing (0:01:19) to enhance the brilliance of the stone. During this final step, the stone is fixed on a stick, called a dop, which allows for great precision.
• And at the very end, when necessary, he proceeds to drilling (0:02:03) for pendants and beads.

In order to keep the stone cool, it is constantly moistened. Have you noticed this?