![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cicadajewelrydesign.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/11\/shieldrosecutamethyst1.jpg\" "\\"shieldrosecutAmethyst1\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nSo here’s my piece of rough I chose. This particular Amethyst is a ‘rose de france’ amethyst.\u00a0The color is reminiscent of a lavender lilac shade which is a lighter color that usually comes from the Amethyst family.<\/p>\n
This is the process of slicing. I need to slice this piece of rough in order to get my desired section I choose to preform the stone out of.<\/p>\n This diamond grade disk is spinning at a high RPM. Water is needed to cool off the friction this process causes.<\/p>\n Take your time when pushing the piece of rough through the disk. You don’t want to break the stone and don’t want to lose a finger in the process so be cautious if you ever decide to slice.<\/p>\n So I sliced through the rough and notice how clean it came out.<\/p>\n I displayed the two pieces of sliced Amethysts for an up-close, personal view so you can to check out the aftermath of the slicing process.<\/p>\n After the slicing process, I started to preform the Amethyst. I started the process by hand until I got the desired shape I’ve been looking for. I then transferred the stone to my dop stick (check out one of my older blogs by clicking on the link to get the terminology, I.E. ‘doping stick’ by clicking here<\/a>.) for a more controlled and measured feel\u00a0to the shape I was aiming for.<\/p>\n If you can see here, I’m cutting rounded inward grooves into the girdle (the side of the stone which separates the top from the bottom of the stone).<\/p>\n I got the rounded areas done. This is that time in this process where you really start to get excited by the way it’s starting to take shape.<\/p>\n The next step for this rose de france amethyst is to start cutting some facets into it.<\/p>\n I’m touching up the rounded sections on the girdle.<\/p>\n I added a regular table to the top of the amethyst but I wasn’t too pleased with the outcome so I decided to go with a double-sided checkerboard rosecut to the stone.<\/p>\n I love the ‘trial and error’ process. I’m honestly satisfied with the final product.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n