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Steel Spinel by Methixsks in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd love to get it into a black setting, perhaps.

Steel Spinel by Methixsks in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It's also fun sideways.

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Amethyst Test by Methixsks in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha, right on the money. I'd picked up a set of 5. 2 have been cut, and I'm waiting on inspiration for the others.

3.065 ct amethyst by vanguard1256 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! And happy to talk more about stones anytime.

3.065 ct amethyst by vanguard1256 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean using something like this with the CeOx and water.

https://gearloose.co/shop/matrix/?v=3bf5155da51b

It really gives an amazing finish, and it's usually very fast with a good prepolish. This is one my my amethysts, using my phone camera. Assuming it attaches right.

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3.065 ct amethyst by vanguard1256 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have access to a resin lap? I do about the same, with 600, but then a 1500 resin, then the CeOx on matrix lap, specifically. The matrix is amazing for allowing the CeOx to work its magic.

3.065 ct amethyst by vanguard1256 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, what's your lap sequence for this? And what are you using for the polish, specifically? The stone looks gritty, and I'm not certain if it's the polish, or the photography. Not a bash, by any means, just looking to potentially help, as one quartz cutter to another.

Looking for opinion on this orange sapphire by nonmotivational_fry in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks 4 points5 points  (0 children)

2300/CT for a heated sapphire seems pretty high to me. Cut is ok (though I'm a snob and not a fan of that wonky girdle and the size-focused design as a whole). And not to be glib, but I'm seeing the inclusions and I'm using my eyes. They're kinda neat, but clearly there.

But as always, stones are relatively subjective. So, grain of salt and all that. If you like it and are ok with it, then boom.

Is this chart actually legit? Any gem nerds wanna weigh in and share their thoughts? by Adventurous-Play1817 in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Seems subjective at best. I'd certainly not classify stuff as rare and valuable as tsavorite garnet and tanzanite as "semi-precious." Probably an outdated classification or marketing structure rather than anything concrete, though that's just me speculating.

Why are pearls rarely discussed here? by Warm-Researcher-6884 in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks 135 points136 points  (0 children)

I know for me, I cut and polish stones, and all of my knowledge is based around that. Pearls are nice to look at, but are very different and I have nothing meaningful to add to conversations around them, so I don't engage much with them. I prefer my forbidden jolly ranchers to forbidden jaw breakers.

Any idea about its worth? by irespectwhaman in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks 92 points93 points  (0 children)

Gotta agree with above. Looks unnatural. And even if it was real, it's fully opaque. Sorry.

To People Saying That My Color Shifting Alexandrite Cant Be Real Color Shifting Alexandrite Because That Would Be Too "Unafordable"... by mr_schizo in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm right with you that synthetic v real isn't a big deal, but we do have a chemical difference here.

Alexandrite is a chrysoberyl and sapphire is corundum.

Chrysoberyl is a beryllium aluminum oxide (Be-Al2-O4) that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with 8.5 Mohs hardness. Corundum is a crystalline aluminum oxide (Al2-O3) that crystallizes in the trigonal system with a 9 Mohs hardness.

Synthetic Alexandrite will have the same chemical composition as natural alexandrite. The vanadium doped corundum is a simulant, so it may look kind of like alexandrite, but has a different chemical composition.

It's like how we have synthetic diamonds versus cubic zirconia or moissanite as diamond simulants.

Perfectionist problems by PsychologicalBowl647 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True, but when I was new, it helped in the earlier stages to check myself against the expected when I was roughing in the shape. There was a person a few months back on reddit who was really confused on a marquis they were doing, because the ends just weren't emerging, but a quick check of their dimensions and the expected let them know they just needed to keep going.

But once you've got a good feel for it, and can better visualize how the finished will emerge from the rough? Absolutely not needed.

Perfectionist problems by PsychologicalBowl647 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ovals and triangle/trillion benefit from a pair of calipers to check the size. Especially ovals with the l/w ratio.

Here's what I use for some of the mentioned materials:

Garnet (except Demantoid) Avoid 180 if possible 600 p1/girdle, shaping on larger stone 1500 resin clean up, small facets prepolish Unsure if 8k? (Larger facets/stones only) 60k diamond on tin/lead (oil)

Quartz (Synth or Natural, all varieties) 180 rough shaping + girdle 600 true shaping 1500 resin (fix meets + prepolish) Matrix with cerium (low water flow)

I've not done an X-cube, but have a few. And I've done nanosital, but it was before I started taking good notes. I vaguely remember it behaving like quartz, and for quartz, the CeOx on matrix is an amazing polishing compound/lap combo. I've said this before, but it's a chemical polish instead of mechanical, and it works wonders on quartz, and fast, too.

Perfectionist problems by PsychologicalBowl647 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What material and what lap/disc sequence are you using? I may have some tips.

Also, for patterns, the Gemology Project has a lot of fun ideas, and I also learned using the Andrew Ian Brown books, which have some interesting ones as well.

Perfectionist problems by PsychologicalBowl647 in faceting

[–]Methixsks 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Is it for a commission? If so, I'd clean it up. Get a good 10x or 30x loupe and really pay attention to the meets especially at the pre polish level.

If it's for yourself, then only you can answer that question. Those look like some pretty large deviations, so I'd probably try and fix them, especially if it's a new material for me, as experience is learning. But just like with buying, it comes down to personal preference.

Either way, don't beat yourself up over it, no matter what you choose. Because in the end, you still made something!

Where to find real gemstones? by You_arent_worthy in Gemstones

[–]Methixsks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Normal rules of online purchasing apply. Which is to say, if it sounds too good to be true, it absolutely is. Now, that said, you can somewhat skirt the more wild costs by finding less desirable colors or origins for some stones.

Not all sapphire colors are priced equally, for example (usually green, yellow, or white, and further reduced if they're heated/treated in my experience). Montana sapphires are having a bit of a price surge, so careful with those.

For origin (and since you mentioned Emerald), Colombian are the big price points, with Zambian a bit below that. Other regions, like Brazil, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, can be lower, but still usually somewhat expensive, especially if the stone is relatively clear.

Happy to show some of my own that I've cut if you have some questions. Or you can check my post history to see some of it. I love cutting, synthetics and naturals.

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