I usually get a couple of requests for gemstone cutting each week.  There are a few things I need to know when I am trying to estimate a price for gemstone cutting services.  These items are listed below with explanations.

1. Type of gemstone – certain gemstones take a longer time to cut and polish than others.  For instance, quartz can take a long time to polish for most cutters.  Because the polishing process is the longest process and the most time consuming some gemstones may take longer to finish and require more labor.

2. Size of the gem- Knowing the size will help me estimate the time it will take to cut your gem.  Knowing this up front will also clear up any confusion on estimates as well.  I usually do not cut small gems such as gemstones that are less than five carats in the rough weight.  This is because it may not be economical for my customers if they are paying a few hundred dollars on a cut that will result in a stone worth less than the cutting labor.  There are times when my clients are ok with this however due to sentimental connections with the rough.  A lot of my clients mined the rough themselves and still want it cut no matter the economic cost.  If you do not have a carat scale or millimeter gauge then use approximations like dimes, quarters and other common items.

3. What cut you would like with an example picture or diagram – there are thousands of gemstone cuts, and a lot of them are known by different names.  It is helpful if you have a certain cut in mind to have a picture of it or a diagram so I can reference the cut.  Many gemstone facet diagrams can be found at the links below.

http://www.gemstoneartist.com/Designs.asp
http://www.faceters.com/designs/
http://www.usfacetersguild.org/index_designs.shtml
http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/gem_designs/design_index.shtml
http://www.djgems.net/facetdiagrams.htm
http://tlorin.se/Facett/
http://www.fac-ette.com/new_source/designs.php

4. Clarity- This is often the hardest thing for an untrained eye to detect.  Mostly I want to know if you can see through the gemstone or if there are large noticeable inclusions in the stone. 

I will always evaluate your gemstone rough and make sure it is facet grade material.  If I feel that the rough gemstone has a lot of issues that could damage the crystal during cutting or not finish a elegant finished gemstone I will notify you.  Before I ever start a job I will email a prospective client with my recommendations on cut, an estimate of size and an estimate of cost.  Once the gem is cut I will send you a photo of the finished gem and ship the stone after receiving payment for my services.  I look forward to working with you on your rough gemstone projects.