Cutter recommendations in 2021

[erislynn]

Does anyone know a lapidary that will recut a sapphire that a customer brings in? I’ve tried contacting a few favorites from past threads and they either specifically mention on their website that they don’t recut outside gems anymore or they give that same answer when I email them. I’m still waiting on a reply from Jerry Newman with fingers crossed but in case he too has retired from this work, any suggestions? A lot has changed in 2021…

 

[musicloveranthony]

I've been having trouble finding someone also. I have quite a few to recut or clean up

 

[elizat]

I feel like a good option is whomever sets it. David Klass, Sako and others either are also cutters or have them on staff. Of course, you'd need to have a setting made, and not just want it cut for the future. Sako's dad, the GemDoctor on IG, does restorations and cutting as well- both he and dad do it. I don't know if they will tweak a stone though, if they aren't setting it.

 

[maru8888777]

I've never worked with Dan Stair, but I hear that he'll do this for customers?

 

[erislynn]

@musicloveranthony Yes, I hear you! I tried so many jewelers and they don’t take outside stones. One of them suggested that I look on agta.org and I went through all the lapidaries on there. Only one reply so far but it was from a larger company where you don’t get to talk to the owner/gemcutter themselves.

@elizat I guess that’s why it’s been hard to find someone. I bought the stone after screening tons of options for just the right color, and I have an old setting I want it to go into. I haven’t tried Sako yet though. Thanks for the tip!

@maru8888777 I read a lot about Dan Stair since he’s so highly recommended here. IIRC, he isn’t an option for me either because he stopped taking outside gems this year or his turnaround time is too long.

 

[JackTrick]

Michelle Mai has recut stones of mine before, although they weren’t sapphires. You might try inquiring with her!

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Jim Buday has done commission work before cutting sapphire. He may be open to doing a recut.

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[erislynn]

I like Michelle's portfolio but she’s no longer adding to her waitlist right now which is six months out! And that’s mostly for orders where she sources the rough. This is going to be harder than I thought.

 

[erislynn]

So I ended up giving up on this recut project but wanted to share a few vendors who did respond to me and were willing to consider a recut of an outside gem.

Disclaimer: I have not ever hired either of these vendors for any services, so use at your own discretion.

Mark Gronlund - He will consider recut requests direct from the customer on a case by case basis. Email him with good photos, especially a top down view of the table and a profile view of the crown and pavillion.

Peter Torraca - Also has a great portfolio but will only work through your jeweler. So if you have a jeweler who’s willing to work with third parties, it can be a great combo.

P.S. I never did hear back from Jerry Newman.

 

[ringo865]

Maybe (since you specifically selected this stone for its color) you could have a new setting made, instead of risking color loss/change during a recut to fit an existing setting?

 

[erislynn]

The reason for the recut is to close the window for better light performance, so unfortunately a new setting won’t solve my problem.