Jewelry Making Resource May 9: How Gemstones are Cut

By on May 9, 2012
Print Friendly

Wire Jewelry Idea May 9:
How Gemstones are Cut

by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Video by John Dyer

John Dyer is one of the biggest names in the gem world, and I was fortunate to meet him briefly at the GJX show in Tucson this year. (GJX is one of those shows with very tight security – and for good reason). John Dyer’s faceted gems are among the most well-cut I’ve ever seen, and you can tell a John Dyer stone by the tiny “JD” logo cut in a discrete place in the gem. While well out of my price range now, perhaps someday I, like Dale, will be able to wrap a John Dyer stone!

I hope you enjoy this recent video by John Dyer which explains how a rough stone is taken through the cutting and faceting process to become a brilliant stone, which is then perfect for snapsets and wire prongs for use in wire jewelry.

Happy Jewelry Making!

Have a Wire Jewelry Idea or Resource you’d like to share?
Click Here to submit your idea. You could be featured on our Blog!

Click to Receive Daily Tips by Email

7 Comments

  1. avatar

    Rebecca

    May 9, 2012 at 6:10 am

    amazing, I knew it took a lot of time and precision but to see it done by one of the “best” artists was wonderful, thanks!

  2. avatar

    Charlie

    May 9, 2012 at 7:27 am

    This is wonderful. It’s great to see how gemstones are cut and faceted. But I think it would also be fun to have a video of someone making a cabochon. So many people out there that make jewelry just buy cabs from a vendor but have never seen how much work is involved in making one. Maybe you can find a video of a cabochon being created.

  3. avatar

    Sherry

    May 9, 2012 at 8:48 am

    I’ve never seen it first hand before. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Amazing work! I’m looking forward to this during my retirement.

  4. avatar

    Terri

    May 9, 2012 at 10:08 am

    What a treat to see that video.

  5. avatar

    Emilie Jefferson

    May 9, 2012 at 11:51 am

    Thank you,
    That was a great video to see
    & yes it would be nice to see a cab being done,
    Enjoy your site , very much. am also interested in a pattern for a cab , wired wrapped with 10 ot more wires sticking up
    from around the cab. some will go into the bail, what do you do with the extra wires to hide them, having no twirls. just a nice plain elegant bail showing. Thank you so much for your info. Cheers Emilie

  6. avatar

    Jane Elizabeth Duke

    May 9, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Beautiful! Spectacular! Amazing! I could go on but…John is quite the Artist at cutting stone and pretty good at making videos too! Thank you so much for providing us the opportunity to view one of the greatest lapidaries in the World! Not often you get to see such an artisan. Wire-Sculpture you are the greatest! : )

  7. avatar

    Rachell

    May 10, 2012 at 4:59 am

    Really enjoyed the presentation. The sound was great as well.