Damage from dropping a tourmaline?

[GemFever]

Dear PSers,

First I want to say what a wonderful resource all the combined knowledge of PSers is I've been lurking for a while, it's been fun.

I had a question about damaging stones by dropping them. Little stones seem to jump out of my fingers sometimes, and usually when I find them on the floor, they seem to be fine (though I have a mini heart-attack every time, but keep doing it). But I just dropped a pink tourmaline and when I picked it up, I noticed what looks like a flat chip on the edge of the table. Now I'm not sure whether it was there before and I never noticed it, or if I just chipped this little guy Is it fixable?

If a thread about this already exists, I'd appreciate if you could direct me to it. I'm not sure what search words to use for this dilemma.

 

[Imdanny]

How do you think it might be fixed?

 

[Edward Bristol]

Can happen.

Can't fix.

 

[GemFever]

I was hoping it could be polished out or something along those lines. Too bad

 

[Justin_Cutter]

It would probably require a re-cut to be "Fixed" Is it actually a chip or a scuff? Its hard to tell from the picture.
~Justin

 

[GemFever]

What's the difference between a chip and a scuff?

 

[Justin_Cutter]

I would say that a chip is something that noticeable material has been removed from the stone. A scuff/scrap would be multiple very close together scratches on the surface of the stone. I have seen scuffs be repaired before with minimal loss in material. If the stone is chipped then it would need to be re-cut.

Another way of saying it would be like scraping a fender on a car vs. denting the fender. The scraping will only need to be buffed/polished out whereas the dented fender will need to be reformed.
~Justin

 

[GemFever]

Thanks for the response!

I think it's mostly a scuff, though there may be a tiny chip on the side as well. Luckily it's a small stone (5x3) and one of two earrings, so the damage won't be too noticeable when I wear it. Will be more careful next time.

 

[gsellis]

Looks like a chip. It could be repaired (recut), and might be able to be done with adding 6 or 12 facets to the table. That is what I did to remove a natural on an aquamarine I found. BUT... there will be no guarantee. Tourmaline tends to be the stone cutters can swear at. They like to break at times because of internal pressure in the stones. So it might have even done it itself instead of from abuse. It would take someone like Tony the Gem Doctor looking at it to give a correct evaulation. Finding a cutter that does recuts is difficult. There is a lot of liability in fixing a broken stone and managing expectations. I know I won't unless we are really good friends.

 

[GemFever]

Thanks for the info! Now I'm having post-factum heart attacks about all the stones I've dropped. Maybe I just shouldn't play with them so much