Post subject: Re: Best polishing media for Aquamarine?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:31 pm
Active Member
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:46 am Posts: 96 Location: Tampa, Florida
I prefer the Skyway oxide lap when polishing Aqua. It is very fast and you can move meets with it. It also has the unique benefit of not rounding the facet edges like most oxide laps do, although the edges aren't as sharp as with a BA5T. This is actually preferable when polishing stones that are to be set in a ring though, as the edges won't abrade as easily or chip as severe. The Skyway polishing lap works for a lot of different stones- it really shines on Quartz, Glass, Peridot, and Tanzanite. I can't recommend the lap enough.
Aqua also polishes with diamond, 14, 50, 100K depending on how fine you want to go.
Post subject: Re: Best polishing media for Aquamarine?
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:35 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 2:51 am Posts: 755 Location: South Africa
Miguel wrote:
I will appreciate that suggest me, the best polishing media, for polish Aquamarine on Diamatrix, After pre-polish with PAN PCD 13K on Zinc+
Miguel, to polish aquamarine on the Diamatrix lap you can use diamond or AlOx, CrOx, or CeOx. Clean aquamarine is probably the easiest gem material to polish. I used to use Linde A (AlOx) on tin/lead but have progressed through a Gearloose range - Darkside, Greenway, Skyway, Matrix - and have settled on AlOx on a Gearloose Matrix lap for speed, flatness and sharp edges. Duncan
Post subject: Re: Best polishing media for Aquamarine?
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:52 pm
Active Member
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:46 am Posts: 96 Location: Tampa, Florida
I apologize, I missed the part where he is using a DiaMatrix. The Skyway stick works on the DiaMatrix although it is intended for use with Diamond. AlOx, 50-60K, or 100K polycrystilline diamond would be best.
When I was first introduced to the Matrix, it was supposed to actually be a flatter facet producing lap but this is actually not what I have seen in practice. In fact, the lap actually rounds the facet edges of small star facets or if you press at all. This is good for speed and durability of the facet edges, but not the finest finish I could achieve.
The BATT and BA5T produce the sharpest facet edges, but are slower to polish the entire facet than the Matrix or Skyway because of this. The whole facet isn't as easily pressed into the lap because of the hardness of the lap surface. The DiaMatrix is much better at not rounding the facet edges than the Matrix, but once again, if you press on it the facet will round.
The Skyway is extremely unique in that it does not act like a soft surface at all. You can press on the stone and it will not round the facet. Small star facets are not a problem, although very tiny facets will round even with a BATT if you press too hard.
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