Gem cutting in Sri Lanka

Gem cutting in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka produces some of the most beautiful gemstones in the world. While I was in Sri Lanka, I had the chance to watch how these people prepare and facet the gemstones straight from the mine. Just amazing how gem cutting in Sri Lanka is done even to this day. I loved my experience so much I’ll be going back again.

The Ceylon Sapphire comes from here is one of the most highly sought after gems.

Sapphire Crystal From Sri Lanka.
Sapphire Crystal From Sri Lanka.

 

View this video for a sneak at my cutting experience in Sri Lanka.

The first experience I had was with a guy who was using an old traditional cutting machine. It had no motor, but instead had a stick with a piece of rope tied around the shaft of a cutting machine to rotate it. The co-ordination and skill required to cut a gemstone using this machine blew my mind.

Manual Cutting Machine
Manual Cutting Machine
Manual Cutting On The Street
Manual Cutting On The Street

 

All Hand Cut
All Hand Cut
So Many Facets.
So Many Facets.

Then we left to travel to a cutting factory where the scale of production becomes obvious. There hundreds of people cutting away all day producing thousands of gems each day.

 

Selecting gems For Cutting With Minimal Inclusions
Selecting Gems For Cutting With Minimal Inclusions

 

gem cutting in sri lanka
Preform To Get The Shape Of The Gem
Calibrating The Size Of The Gem
Calibrating The Size Of The Gem
Putting The Gem On The Dop
Putting The Gem On The Dop
gem cutting in sri lanka
Faceting
Gemstones Ready For The Table Facets
Gemstones Ready For The Table Facets
Gemstone Shape Charts
Gemstone Shape Charts

 

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