It’s been an insane Fall – with various challenges. We had computer crashes – and we had to change
web-hosting companies and ISP’s on an emergency basis. I’m still cleaning up from that mess,
but in the process we’re getting back on schedule with cutting orders starting to flow out again.
I’m also launching a YouTube Channel where I’ll be posting
videos of various things – from field trips and product / supplier reviews to how-to vids on cutting,
polishing, and design concepts. Check it out from time to time here:
A 400+ Carat Spinel Rough.
This was submitted to my shop for cutting. Unfortunately,
it had to be cut down into several pieces, but watch this
space to see some great 5+ carat finished stones from it!
400+ carats
2008-06-20
Watermelon Oregon Sunstone with schiller and rainbow effect.
encircling the pavilion like a bulls-eye.
This was cut for a client from Dust Devil rough.
8.6 mm, 3.98 carats
2008-06-07
Some of the finest Moss Agate I've seen.
I collected this myself on the steep slopes of
Hart Mountain and cut en-cabochon free-form.
I have a small number of similar - soon to post here.
~ 34 x 27 mm
~ 36 x 29 mm
2008-05-27
Freeform Oregon Sunstone Carving for a client.
I cut this with elongated magnifying lenses to enhance the schiller.
15.58 carats
2008-05-21
East meets West in two more large doublets
built from Oregon Sunstone with schiller bars and Afghani Lapis
Both are drilled for cord-stringing.
39.16 carat, 30 mm long doublet
17.10 carat, 17 mm long doublet
2008-05-18
An example of my Checkerboard Princess
design in Braziallian Amethyst
5.14 carat natural Amethyst from Brazil
2008-05-15
I just completed this 2.43 carat Oregon Sunstone
for a client in a cool retroreflector design.
2.43 carat Oregon Sunstone
2008-05-08
Here's a rare bi-color Topaz from Brazil
cut in a traditional Emerald design.
9.09 carat natural, untreated bi-color Topaz from Brazil
2008-05-02
I just completed this inch-long free-form carving in
natural Green Beryl from the Carolinas for a client.
2008-04-28
I just completed three more wonderful Oregon Sunstone gems for clients:
4+ carat Orange-red with well-hidden schiller
cut for a client in my Barion Losenge design.
4+ carat pink with reflected schiller
cut for a client in my Keel Oval design.
4+ carat Orange-red with tiny bar schiller
cut for a client in a simple step design.
This one is super-juicy-red!
2008-04-26
Spring is the time for rock-hunting on Hart Mountain, and today we had a really good hunt!
One thing about Hart is that you always get wonderful views:
Paintbrush up here has such a hot-pink color.
Degarmo Canyon waterfall - from a half-mile away.
A flat place to stand!!
View west out of Degarmo from 6,000-foot elevation
The rock-hunting went very well - We got into some nice material, and a wild
patch of greens!
Botroidal Agate
I think this is a mass of Calcite
Hart Mountain Jasper
Hart Mountain Porcelain Jasper
Hart Mountain Porcelain Jasper
Hart Mountain Porcelain Jasper
A beautiful green sandwich!
Green-core nodule
A nice big hunter green cabochon preform!
Awesome patterns in this green!
2008-04-14
This deep green Oregon Sunstone with slight schiller and dichoric flashes of red
is cut in a classic step design. It is owned by a friend, and will be offered on auction
exclusively in the next newsletter!
2008-04/06
I've been experimenting with a series of doublets and triplets, using various materials.
Here are a few of the results.
Schiller-bar Sunstone on Chrysoprase
Schiller-bar Sunstone on Basinite
Schiller-bar Sunstone on Lapis
Schiller-bar Sunstone on Precious Opal
from Lightning Ridge (3 views of one stone)
Schiller-bar Sunstone on Precious Opal
from Lightning Ridge, backed with Basinite
Schiller-bar Sunstone on Precious Opal
from Lightning Ridge, backed with Basinite
This one is my favorite.
Juniper Ridge Fire Opal backed with Abalone
Lightning Ridge Precious capped with Quartz
and backed with Basinite.
Lightning Ridge Precious capped with Quartz
and backed with Basinite.
Lightning Ridge Precious capped with Quartz
and backed with Basinite.
These stones are available in the inventory, though not yet in the database. They'll be searchable within a few weeks.
2008-04-02
This 4.83 carat bicolor Tourmaline from Nigeria is not entirely clean, but
stunning nonetheless. This stone is in the inventory, and may be found
here.
2008-03-27
I cut this 5+ carat Sunstone with the pavilion faces constructed to carefully reflect and present the schiller
in a unique way - reflected in a mirrored fashion:
Here's a side view with the stone face-down, and lighted to show the schiller inside.
A 29.9 carat bicolor Topaz cut for a client in a standard CAM-style Trillion. It faces-up mostly brown, but throws some nice blue flashes from time to time.
2008-03-21
I just solved a unique request for a custom engagement stone set. The couple had this Obsidian
arrowhead, and wanted the engagement ring stones fashioned from it.
The challenge, of course, is that Obsidian is very soft and brittle.
The solution was to build doublets using Synthetic Sapphire for the cap.
The pieces were rose-cut using a crown design that I created specifically for this project,
and which is available on my design page (Checkerboard Princess #2).
The finished piece looks like this:
2008-03-18
This week, I completed a suite of Badakshan Spinel for a client in Afghanistan. The larger stones are over 4 carats.