We know some of you have been waiting anxiously to see the Howes Emerald, so we wanted to give you an update. During cutting, we discovered a fissure in the stone. While the stone was still stable, the fissure would have been visible after polishing and would have detracted from the beauty of the stone. So, fearless, Gem decided, "I'm going to re-cut it." And before the collective gasp in the shop had even died down, she went to the lap machine and got right to it. After three days of intense, careful, and we have to say quite masterful cutting by Gem, the result was TWO beautiful stones. One, which will bear the "Howes Emerald" title, is a square step cut stone weighing 176.5 carats. The other, a pear cut stone weighing 116 carats, which our founder has decided to sell, has not yet been named. Both stones look quite clear, pre-polish, and may even be flawless. We won't know for sure until they're finished. The wonderful part is, since the rough stone had not completely been cut, the final two stones produced actually weighed in at 292.5 carats, a bit over the projected 282 carats for the single stone.
AND.....to our delight, when the matrix was removed from a large block of pyrite which showed only a few small stones on its surface, another very large stone was discovered. This stone will also be cut by Gem, en cabochon, and then, at the request of our founder, Gem will engrave the surface of the stone with one of her fabulous designs. (In the past, Gem did custom furniture engraving, and her designs are marvelous. Picture the design of an oriental rug carved into the top of a coffee table or a family crest carved into the doors of a cherry wood armoire.) We estimate the weight of the cut and engraved stone to be between 325 and 380 carats.
As for the Howes Emerald and its smaller counterpart, they are in the polishing stage and will be finished very soon. As promised, we will post photos here when they're done. And the great news for our customers is that YOU may end up being the owner of the 116 carat pear cut stone! When the polishing is finished, we will set it in a 14kt gold pendant, have it appraised, and then offer it for sale on our sites.
Keep stopping in for updates, and we will post photos when the stones are finished. We'll also keep you informed on the status of the smaller stone and will of course post an announcement letting you know when it will be offered for sale. Start counting those pennies and tightening those belts, and you may be the new owner of this fabulous emerald!
Until next time, all our best to all of you.
