Gemstone Carvings

Q: What is used to carve stones?

A: Stone carving is the process of carefully shaping rough natural stone by removing and molding it into pieces. Tools for rough shaping stone to create a block the right size for carving These consist of pitching tools, feathers, and wedges. Chisels for cutting include pitching tools, points, and lettering chisels. Chisels can also be operated pneumatically or by hand using a hammer.

Q: Which shape is best for a gemstone?

A: The current most popular cut is the round cut, commonly referred to as the round brilliant cut. The facets are shaped to enhance light dispersion within a stone; this cut was traditionally reserved only for diamonds. 

Q: What is the weakest gemstone?

A: Talc, gypsum, calcite, and fluorite are among the softest or weakest gemstones.

It is commonly accepted that gemstones with a Mohs hardness of 7 or above are ideal for rings and jewelry, whereas those with a hardness of 7 or less 7 are considered to be the softest or weakest stones.

Q: Which gem is the most difficult?

A: The world's hardest naturally occurring material is diamond, with a Mohs hardness scale of 10. It is, however, also fragile. Hardness is a factor in determining a gemstone's overall wearability grade.

Q: What is the rarest stone?

A: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, painite was the world's rare gemstone and the rarest mineral in 2005. The color can range from pink to reddish to even brown, but in particular circumstances, it might even appear green. There were just 2 specimens of Painite known to exist when it was discovered in 1951, and this continued for many years. As of 2004, less than two dozen gemstones were known.

Q: What are the four most prized stones?

A: Diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are the four most prized and sought-after precious gemstones in the world.

Diamond: This stone needs no introduction; it is without a doubt the most sought-after of the "big four," which are primarily used in jewelry, and it is a classic choice for engagement rings. The reason why diamonds are the most expensive precious stone is probably that they take millions of years to create and are the strongest naturally occurring material on earth.

Sapphires: These stones are prized for their stunning blue coloring; examples with richer blue hues are more expensive. Although red sapphires are known as rubies, sapphires can be found in all other colors.

Emeralds: Emeralds are renowned for their beautiful green color, which is produced by the element chromium. The deeper the color, the more valuable the emerald. While certain stones are nearly colorless, they can also have blue or yellow undertones. Emeralds are extremely brittle on the outside, which makes it challenging to mold them into jewelry-quality forms.

Ruby: Everyone can recognize a ruby by its stunning, deep red hue. Rubies, which derive from the Latin word for red, are admired for their toughness, durability, and brilliance. Even rarer than diamonds are larger stones. Red ruby is essentially a sapphire, but because of its exquisite color, it is categorized separately.