How do they match: Gem and Diamond Workers

  • Stone Setter Apprentice
  • Diamond Cutter
  • Gem Stone Cutter
  • Gem Cutter
  • Jewelry Cutter
  • Pearl Cutter

  • Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
  • Dismantle lapping, boring, cutting, polishing, and shaping equipment and machinery to clean and lubricate it.
  • Examine diamonds or gems to ascertain the shape, cut, and width of cut stones, or to select the cuts that will result in the biggest, best quality stones.
  • Examine gem surfaces and internal structures, using polariscopes, refractometers, microscopes, and other optical instruments, to differentiate between stones, to identify rare specimens, or to detect flaws, defects, or peculiarities affecting gem values.
  • Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
  • Hold stones, gems, dies, or styluses against rotating plates, wheels, saws, or slitters to cut, shape, slit, grind, or polish them.
  • Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
  • Immerse stones in prescribed chemical solutions to determine specific gravities and key properties of gemstones or substitutes.
  • Locate and mark drilling or cutting positions on stones or dies, using diamond chips and power hand tools.
  • Measure sizes of stones' bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
  • Place stones in clamps on polishing machines and polish facets of stones, using felt-covered or canvas-covered polishing wheels and polishing compounds such as tripoli and rouge.
  • Regrind drill points, and advance drill cutting points according to specifications for channel depths and shapes.
  • Secure stones in metal mountings, using solder.
  • Secure gems or diamonds in holders, chucks, dops, lapidary sticks, or blocks for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.

  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Sharpen cutting or grinding tools.