TaoGem Gemstones

Now that I have some time under my belt cutting, shaping, sanding and polishing gemstones for others who are skilled jewelry designers, I am now ready to learn some type of jewelry making. After selling to so many talented jewelry designers and witnessing the many interesting jewelry making techniques, I have decided to pursue metal […]

Until recently I have not really cut and polished a lot of Plume type agates. Recently we began weekly contest entries for various cabochons. Each week is different and can be based upon color, type of mineral, or shape.
It was as a result of entering that I finished one of my favorite cabs. I […]

One of my favorite minerals are the different ocean jaspers. Especially the orbicular jasper variety mined on the coast of Madagascar.
Here is an example of a beautiful specimen of “Ocean Jasper” rough.
I really love the way a finished cabochon looks. Here is a rarer red ocean jasper matched pair. Ideal for designing custom earring jewelry.
For […]

There is only one method for a lapidary to create matched gemstone pairs to be used in custom earring type jewelry designs.
It is necessary for the lapidary to begin with a solid piece of gemstone mineral in rough form. There is no other way because we have to have two matching slabs from the […]

Link To The Lapidary Forum Discussions.
The Jewelry Designer
Jewelry designers are people who design special one of a kind jewelry pieces in their own unique style using any number of techniques. The pieces are considered designer jewelry when the design is a specific piece of jewelry even though at times another designer may copy that designers […]

An example of some beautiful Rainbow Jasper in slab form. This particular example really has a great variety of jasper colors. I do have this available in stock and can be cut and shaped in any way that a jewelry designer would like. I have talked before about how important it can be for a […]

TaoGem Gemstones
It can be a real struggle for a gemstone jewelry designer to design that unique piece of gemstone jewelry. Most designers do not have a working relationship with a specific lapidary shop. This means that the designer is limited to picking out gemstones to work with at random off the internet or perhaps […]

The vibrant blue color of lapis lazuli (or lapis) is a strikingly beautiful. Often having gold veins running through it, or a sparkly finish, lapis is a rock that has been admired and cherished for thousands of years.
 
Lapis Lazuli Information
* Water may remove the protective coating that is on lapis and therefore should not […]

Purchasing quality gemstone in rough form can turn out to be a very disappointing experience. The results of my personal purchasing experiences had led me to believe that I might in fact be missing something that may all along have been common place in other lapidary shops. Other Cabbers must have a section of their […]

Link to forum discussion
All of the cabochons that this person makes are glass and they come from two main processes. The first process she usees for cabochons is lampwork (or torch work). These are made in a very similar process to the beads that I also create and sell. Flameworked cabochons allow for very […]