Post subject: bringing out the brightness of a stone
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 10:15 pm
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 2:22 pm Posts: 2
any kind of a solution or item that can make a translucent stone glow that has no light coming in from the back. Maybe a mirror or reflective solution or something like that.
Post subject: Re: bringing out the brightness of a stone
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:03 am
Gold Member
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:52 pm Posts: 1131 Location: Central Queensland, Australia
Assuming you're referring to a flat-backed cabochon - polish the hell out of the back, as highly as possible? And make sure the dome is a low one so the stone is relatively thin?
Not sure that would actually make it "glow" but it could possibly help somewhat.
Easiest and cheapest solution: polish the inside of the setting as much as you can. A closed setting will actually work better as a mirror than an open-back one if you go down that road. Just be sure the setting is tight enough so no dust and grease will accumulate behind it. You can use mirrors or foil too, but those require a lot more work.
You can enamel the bottom of a setting too, to increase the depth of colour for a pale stone. There are enamels around that can be cured with UV light (requires specialized lamp) and with hot air. 'Hot' in this case means 400°C - higher than what a hair dryer will give you. But a hot air blower and some 'low temp' enamel are affordable and not too cumbersome to apply... 'Proper' glass enamels require high-temp oven curing at 800°C or higher afaik.
Who knows, maybe a simple bit of transparent coloured plastic at the bottom of a polished setting might work wonders too... Can never hurt to try
Post subject: Re: bringing out the brightness of a stone
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 7:45 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:55 am Posts: 543
I have had success with the back of a closed setting polished and then bright scratched at 60 degree angles. The Anglo Saxons used a fine gold foil, burnished bright and then stamped with a fine crossed pattern, very good effect.
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