[Jewelry making - Article 00438] - Re: [Orchid] Cutting Gem Silica

[coralnut]

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    Terry, I don't know the quality of the gem silica you purchased,
    but....if you are a novice cutter I would first practice on
    something else....anything else. Gem silica is considered a rare (or
    at lease hard to get) stone and the prices on the market can be
    quite high for good quality.  The last thing you want to do is mess
    up hundreds of $ worth of nice gem silica. 

    When you do begin cutting it, you will find it performs pretty much
    like any quartz...it is after all a quartz....very much like
    chrysoprase in cutting. So, start on your 100 to shape, go to 220 to
    fine cut, then to  280, either 400 or 600, 1200 or 3000 final smooth
    and then polish either with cerium on felt or 50K diamond. Its a
    pretty standard cutting procedure. 

Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple elegance IS 
fine jewelry!
dcdietz AT comcast.net 

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