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Rough rubies can be cut into beautiful sparkling gems.heart shaped necklace image by Alx from Fotolia.com
Use a jeweler's loop to examine uncut rubies for any potential flaws that can create weakness in the stone. You need to be aware of the properties of your stone thoroughly before beginning to cut. - 2). Sharpen your gem cutter. You need the machine to be as sharp as possible to maximize your cutting ability and shorten the time required for this task.
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A pale color indicates a poorly cut ruby.Jewelry image by Sergey Yakovenko from Fotolia.com
Cut the ruby slowly and carefully using the sharpened gem cutting machine. Slow, methodical strokes are the key to not over-cutting your stone. Cut rubies carefully with a depth percentage of 65% to 80% to maintain depth, which adds to color and luster. A more shallow cut makes the ruby look washed out and pale in color and is slightly transparent. A quality cut provides a rich red color. Although a deep cut creates a smaller stone, the quality increases the value.
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