Lapidary: The Art of Transforming Gemstones

Lapidary refers to the art of cutting, shaping, and polishing gemstones. This intricate craft involves the process of transforming raw or rough gemstones into objects of beauty, such as gemstone jewellery or decorative items.

Lapidaries, also known as lapidary artists, possess a vast array of tools and techniques to cut and shape gemstones. Sawing, grinding, faceting, and polishing are just some of the methods they employ to unleash the hidden beauty within each stone.

These skilled artisans work with various gemstone materials, ranging from the timeless sparkle of diamonds to the deep allure of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and more.

At its core, lapidary is a fusion of precision and creativity. It requires an eye for detail and an appreciation for the natural beauty held within every gemstone. Through their craft, lapidaries strive to showcase the inherent splendour of gemstones, turning raw materials into dazzling creations that captivate the senses.

The Latin word for “stone” is lapis, which rock hounds and jewellery lovers may be familiar with as the term for a semi-precious, deep blue gem also known as lapis lazuli, or “stone of the sky.”

In the 1300s, lapis lent its shine to the English noun lapidary, referring to a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones, as well as to the art of such a person. The crystalline refinement involved in the work of a lapidary eventually led, centuries later, to the use of lapidary as an adjective describing things that have the elegance and precision of inscriptions carved in stone monuments.

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