With the beautiful piece of lapis lazuli purchased, I had a new challenge in front of me. I’ve never cut a gemstone before, but I had recently seen a demonstration by Tim Elliott which impressed me. I knew that he was the man to ask about how to get it done. When I called him, and asked if he would be willing to cut a gemstone to my specifications, he countered with an offer to come an cut it myself. I couldn’t have been happier!
Step by step we slabbed, cut and polished the specimen I had procured. The first two steps Tim did largely himself, as they require a knowledgeable hand, but when it came time to polish, I was able to work. And, with each level of polishing, more and more of the gemstone came out of the rock.