u/EducationalTap9080

This gemstone from Tanzania’s Uluguru Mine was faceted by me. It weighs just over one carat and features a classic brilliant cut. I simply wanted to share the incredible fire and beauty of this stone.

It was cut on a Sterling ST-08 handpiece faceting machine, and I’m really happy with the result. I know it’s not an extremely valuable gemstone, but the color is absolutely stunning. As material with this color becomes increasingly rare, I believe this stone has great potential for the future.

After what feels like an eternity at the bench, I am finally finished with this project. I haven’t hit the final scale weight yet, but it’s definitely over 10 carats—my guess is somewhere in the 10-12 ct range.
I decided on a custom-modified emerald cut for this one. Instead of standard corners, I went with a three-facet break to soften the look, topped with an antique-style crown.
Honestly, this stone was a battle from start to finish. I started with a rough piece that had a nasty feather/crack running through it. I really wanted to keep the weight, but I eventually had to make the hard call and grind the inclusion out entirely. The pavilion was a nightmare—I ended up re-cutting it three times. Just when I thought I was in the clear, a bit of pitting occurred during polishing, followed by a chip that forced me to re-cut the pavilion again.
The crown was a smooth ride by comparison, though it still required a ton of fine-tuning to get the meetpoints perfect.
This is hands-down the longest I’ve ever spent on a single stone. But looking at it now, the color and the depth are insane. It’s an untreated Tanzanite with a crazy natural color shift—I’ve seen some call it "tri-color"—and it’s absolutely staying natural. No heat, just pure crystal.
I’m incredibly proud of the precision on this one. Cut on my Sterling ST08. Definitely the most rewarding piece I’ve ever worked on.

Hi everyone,
I am currently working on a beautiful, untreated Tanzanite, cutting it into a custom-modified emerald cut. As it stands, the stone would finish at over 10 carats—possibly even up to 12.
However, I have encountered a small "feather" inclusion located right on the edge. It is only visible from one specific angle. Before I proceed to the polishing stage, I am at a crossroads and would appreciate your input:
Option A: Should I polish it as is, see how it looks finished, and decide then?
Option B: Should I grind the inclusion out completely, even though it will significantly reduce the final carat weight?
Option C: Is a feather inclusion in this position generally considered negligible, especially once the facets are polished and the light refraction/total internal reflection is fully active?
For those of you with experience working with Tanzanite: would you prioritize the final weight or the "cleanliness" of the stone in this scenario? I am curious if the finished facets typically hide such a peripheral inclusion or if it remains a distraction.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey everyone,
I wanted to share my latest project and hopefully get some opinions on its rough value.
I faceted this 12.6 carat Tanzanite myself using a handpiece machine. I tried my absolute best to give it an "almost precision cut."
Here are some quick specs:
Weight: 12.6 ct
Clarity: Loupe clean (FL/IF)
Treatment: Highly likely unheated. It’s still strongly trichroic in its c axis and shows all three distinct colors depending on the angle.
Since I cut this myself, I’m a bit too close to the project to give it an objective price tag. Given the size, clarity, and the fact that it's unheated, what would you estimate the fair market value or a reasonable retail price per carat for something like this?
Thanks in advance for your insights!