Doug Menadue :: Bespoke Gems - Precision Hand Faceted Gemstones Of The Highest Quality
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Here is an outstanding rubellite tourmaline from Nigeria. I have cut this beautiful tourmaline in a contemporary design which combines polished and frosted surfaces. This is a very fine tourmaline, eye clean and quite large. When I purchased this piece of tourmaline rough I wanted to do something different with it, there was just something special about the stone. This piece has now been set by the very talented jewellery designer Todd Turner and it is going to be the feature piece in The Courtesy Of The Artist upcoming Rare Earth show. It is going to be a truly unique and amazing jewel.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here is an outstanding rubellite tourmaline from Nigeria. I have cut this beautiful tourmaline in a contemporary design which combines polished and frosted surfaces. This is a very fine tourmaline, eye clean and quite large. When I purchased this piece of tourmaline rough I wanted to do something different with it, there was just something special about the stone. This piece has now been set by the very talented jewellery designer Todd Turner and it is going to be the feature piece in The Courtesy Of The Artist upcoming Rare Earth show. It is going to be a truly unique and amazing jewel.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here is an outstanding rubellite tourmaline from Nigeria. I have cut this beautiful tourmaline in a contemporary design which combines polished and frosted surfaces. This is a very fine tourmaline, eye clean and quite large. When I purchased this piece of tourmaline rough I wanted to do something different with it, there was just something special about the stone. This piece has now been set by the very talented jewellery designer Todd Turner and it is going to be the feature piece in The Courtesy Of The Artist upcoming Rare Earth show. It is going to be a truly unique and amazing jewel.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Tools down folks,  time to go home and open a bottle of red.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia I'm loving this piece of aqua! Someone already has dibs on it. I'm hoping to cut a matched pair of around 12mm Antique Rounds. Beautiful unheated aqua... Love it love it love it! :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Prepolishing a rutilated quartz stone. I use 3K Diamond on a copper lap.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Today's mission... start on recutting this big rutilated quartz for a client. It's 33 carats but the current shape isnt very attractive and not well done. We want to improve the proportions and give it a better design. I'm going with a stepped enerald cut on the pavilion and a scissor cut on the crown. Because it has rutile needles you don't want to go too crazy with the facets as it would just get confusing in there. So I'm aiming somewhere in the middle, make it interesting but understandable.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another superb Australian sapphire from the Central Queensland gemfields around Rubyvale. This is a magnificent stone, bright, colourful and richly hued. It has been cut in the classic Round Brilliant design which is the perfect cut for this truely Australian gem. 3.50ct 9.18mm. Available and on display at @courtesyoftheartist.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! A very fine blue sapphire from the 'Subera' gemfields near Rubyvale in Central Queensland. It is eye clean and came in at 5.65 carat 10.45x10.45x7.11mm. This beautiful gem will be part of the @courtesyoftheartist Rare Earth: Australian Made exhibition opening this Thursday night. Come along and check it out and all the other amazing Aussie gems. Look forward to seeing you there. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished polishing the pavilion on this sapphire 'Fitzroy'. DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Cutting a sapphire 'Fitzroy'... its looking good. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A lovely sapphire from the 'Subera' field near Rubyvale. I'm going to cut a special 'Fitzroy' for the @courtesyoftheartist Rare Earth: Australian Made exhibition. The finished gem will be on display and available for sale on the night.  Ok, better get started... hoping for around 10mm.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia This big gorgeous beauty is going to be on display at @courtesyoftheartist Rare Earth: Australian Made exhibition opening this Thursday night as part of the @strandarcade 125th anniversary.  It has been set by @toddturnerjewellery and the ring is absolutely amazing, it really is something that'll blow your mind! The stone is a 28.98 carat flawless Nigerian rubellite tourmaline which I cut in a contemporary one-off design which combines both polished and frosted facets and curves. Come and see it and enjoy the celebrations.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia As part of the Strand Arcade's 125th anniversary, Courtesy Of The Artist @courtesyoftheartist is launching it's annual Rare Earth:Australian Made exhibition this Thursday Night. This will be a very exciting exhibition. On display will be some stunning jewellery by contemporary Australian jewellers and an outstanding display of exceptional gemstones from Australia. Of particular note will be a special assembly of  rare and fancy coloured natural  Australian sapphire from the Central Queensland gemfields around Rubyvale. This is a rare opportunity to see some amazing sapphires and I'd really recommend you getting along and having a look at these stones, they are unique and singular gems. A number of my gems will be on display including a 28.98 ct flawless rubellite tourmaline that has been beautifully set by Todd Turner. I'll be there Thursday night and I'd love to see you there.  I'll be posting some more pics in the next few days of some of the amazing sapphires and gems you'll see.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful piece of natural Mozambique aquamarine with that classic greenish blue colour. This piece will best cut a matched pair of round shaped gems,  I recommend the Antique Round design. I think they will cut around 12mm and eye clean or very close to it. This piece is available to be cut. Contact me for more details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Some small sapphire 'dog tooth' crystals from the Central Queensland gemfields around Rubyvale.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A few stars of the show. The one in front is a 24.99ct amber red flawless sapphire. Apparently amber red and orange colours are among the rarest colours found on the gemfields.  I asked what this stone might be worth and was told it was in the low 6 digit$. Not bad. I'll take two please. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Sunny and Jess showing us how to find those sapphires in the seives. Had a great afternoon on their claim. They have a magic spot out there. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Sunny showing us how the machine works, putting through several buckets of dirt and hopefully getting a few sapphires for the effort. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Entrance to the mine shaft on my friends claim. One of the best maintained and professionally done on the gemfields. Underground is awesome!  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Going down a mate's mine claim out on the Reward field at Rubyvale.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Sorting sapphires at Sapphire C.Q  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Thursday evening after a crazy day.  Looking forward to gemfest and a long weekend off.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A top blue gemfields sapphire and a zircon. Going to hand deliver them this weekend to the fellow who hand dug them at Rubyvale in Central Queensland.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful natural 3.8ct zircon from the Central Queensland gemfields. It has a gorgeous blend of honeycomb and brandy colors. I think the client is going to be happy. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Vignettes from a busy week.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Let's see what we can do with this beautiful little gemfields zircon.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Clean bench... ready to start another day's cutting.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A picture perfect day at Manly - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Now and then a stone comes along that blows my mind, takes my breath away and leaves me in awe of Mother Nature and I am left wondering how such a thing can exist. A nebula incarnate. This opal is one of those stones. The dance of colors in this stone cannot be captured on camera, it's something that must be behold of the moment. This is why I cut gems. This is what I love.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on the welo opal. The colors inside this gem are beautiful and mesmerising.  The design is going to be the 'Kalli' design by the late Jeff Graham with 169 facets. It's a fantastic 'dome' style design and one of my favorites to cut.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished!  A big juicy sunset tourmaline. It's kind of a green gold colour combo, very beautiful to see. I cut this in my PHI FLOWER DOME design which has 153 facets.  It is eye clean, 12.95x12.95x9.47mm and 8.94 carats.  It is looking for a good home. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a beautiful eye clean sunset tourmaline. Cutting it in my PHI FLOWER DOME design,  should be around 13mm. Will be available for sale when finished.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Juicy sunset tourmaline nodules!  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One of a number of lovely sunset tourmaline nodules i just got in. These nice stones have a bright green crosstable which will add some interesting highlights to the finished gems. These will cut 10mm and bigger. Available for commissioned orders.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful O'Briens Creek smokey quartz cut in my Portuguese Double Rose cut. Finished at 21.42 carats and 16.13mm. This beauty is currently undergoing some magic and is being set... stay tuned.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful O'Briens Creek smokey quartz cut in my Portuguese Double Rose cut. Finished at 21.42 carats and 16.13mm. This beauty is currently undergoing some magic and is being set... stay tuned.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished... 28.98 carat eye clean freeform architectural rubellite tourmaline. Ready for the next stage in the journey.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on something special... a beautiful 36 carat rubellite tourmaline. This is gem is for a collaboration piece for an upcoming show... stay tuned.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia In progress, a nice big beautiful smokey quartz from O'Briens Creek in Far North Queensland outside of a little town called Mt Surprise. This piece is self dug. Cutting it in my Portuguese Double Rose cut.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia New black spinel 'Fitzroy' in progress.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Selection of some amazing Australian sapphires including some very special ''black'' sapphires. These stones are all from an old time digger on the Australian sapphire gemfields around Rubyvale. They are being put up for sale at this time. Have a look especially at those beautiful ''black'' sapphires. Enjoy!  Visit the What's New page on my website for full details.  #203132, Black (Blue) Sapphire, Round Brilliant, Australia, 10.27 Carats, 14.1x14.1x7.15mm  #203131, Black (Blue/Green) Sapphire, Round Brilliant, Australia, 6.58 Carats, 11.6X11.6X6.82mm  #102991, Black (Blue) Sapphire, Emerald Cut, Australia, 7.05 Carats, 12.1X9.4X6.4mm  #203439, Black (Blue) Sapphire, Emerald Cut, Australia, 5.25 Carats, 11.3X8.3X5.51mm  #2034312, Green Sapphire, Rectangle Cushion, Australia, 3.60 Carats, 9.6X8.45X5.72mm  #203437, Green Sapphire, Oval, Australia, 7.25 Carats, 13X10X6.23mm  #203438c, Yellow Green Sapphire, Oval, Australia, 3.06 Carats, 10.2X7.5X5.12mm  #102746, Yellow Sapphire, Round Brilliant, Australia, 1.16 Carats, 6.4X6.4mm  #203438a, Yellow Green Parti Sapphire, Oval, Australia, 1.53 Carats, 7.9X5.9X4.19mm  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Beautiful matched pair of precision cut Nigerian pink tourmaline perfect for earrings or studs.  7.5mm 3.93ct. For sale. Contact me for more info.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Fresh off the dopstick, two matched pairs of beautiful Nigerian pink tourmalines. These are cut in a Round Brilliant style design called 'Mini-Mint' and the gems are perfect for earrings or studs. The tourmalines are a strong vivid pink and very bright and flashy. Sizes are 6.6mm 2.84tcw and 7.5mm 3.93tcw. For sale. Contact me for more info.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the lapis lazuli i was working on yesterday. It is cut in the 'Tangier' design and is 8.91mm and 3.67ct. Love the rich blue colour!  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a nice little piece of lapis lazuli. This is going to be cut in the Tangier design.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A big beautiful Australian green sapphire from Rubyvale on the Central Queensland gemfields. 7.25 carats, 13X10X6.23mm. This is a cracker of a sapphire from a private collection and is up for sale. Contact me for more details or check out my WHAT'S NEW page on my website.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A big beautiful Australian green sapphire from Rubyvale on the Central Queensland gemfields. 7.25 carats, 13X10X6.23mm. This is a cracker of a sapphire from a private collection and is up for sale. Contact me for more details or check out my WHAT'S NEW page on my website.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A dozen lovelies on their way to a happy client.  11 sapphires and one zircon all cut from their own rough. It was a bit of a mission but they turned out real nice.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia An amazing natural Australian black sapphire, 6.58ct, 11.6X11.6X6.82mm. This beauty is part of an old digger's cache and is up for sale.  Contact me for more details or visit my What's New page.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia An amazing natural Australian black sapphire, 6.58ct, 11.6X11.6X6.82mm. This beauty is part of an old digger's cache and is up for sale.  Contact me for more details or visit my What's New page.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia 7.05CT Australian ''midnight blue'' black sapphire precision cut in the classic Emerald Cut design. 12.1X9.4X6.4mm. For Sale.  Visit my Whats New page for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AUSTRALIAN BLACK SAPPHIRE :: 7.05CT :: 12.1x9.4x6.4MM :: Within the depths of this remarkable Australian sapphire you will find the most wonderful and vivid flashes of blue, a deep rich blue that is striking in it's intensity. It is a dark stone and I'd say this sapphire is on the borderline of being a black sapphire. With sapphires, when the colour approahes this sort of depth they can become known as ''black'' sapphires.  This black sapphire is part of an old time digger's collection that he built over the years and it now being put up for sale. It has been precision cut and polished locally on the gemfields and is a first class sapphire in every regard. For those folks that have a penchant for dark or black gemstones then this is perfect for you and not to be missed as it is a unique black sapphire.  Visit my WHAT'S NEW  page on my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AUSTRALIAN BLACK SAPPHIRE :: 7.05CT :: 12.1x9.4x6.4MM :: Within the depths of this remarkable Australian sapphire you will find the most wonderful and vivid flashes of blue, a deep rich blue that is striking in it's intensity. It is a dark stone and I'd say this sapphire is on the borderline of being a black sapphire. With sapphires, when the colour approahes this sort of depth they can become known as ''black'' sapphires. This beautiful sapphire still retains flashes of the deep rich blue colour especially under lights and when viewed in the hand you can see into the stone and note the blue colour. As you can see, this lovely stone has been made in the Emerald Cut design which is a classic and works well here allowing those striking flashes of blue to really capture the eye.  This black sapphire is part of an old time digger's collection that he built over the years and it now being put up for sale. It has been precision cut and polished locally on the gemfields and is a first class sapphire in every regard. For those folks that have a penchant for dark or black gemstones then this is perfect for you and not to be missed as it is a unique black sapphire. It is very hard to get big beautiful sapphires like this regardless of the colour, especially of this size and quality.  Visit my WHAT'S NEW  page on my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here's that big beautiful black sapphire from the Australian gemfields of Central Queensland. This is a magnificent gem weighing in at 10.27ct and 14.1x14.1x5.17mm. It has very deep blue flashes of color in its depth. A fine black sapphire.  It is part of an old digger's collection that is now up for sale. Visit my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AUSTRALIAN BLACK SAPPHIRE :: 10.27CT :: 14.1X14.1X7.15MM :: This magnificent gemstone is an Australian black sapphire. It is a big stone, eye clean and untreated, just as it came from the earth. The colour of this stunning sapphire is actually a very deep blue, so deep that it becomes what is known as a ''black'' sapphire. It still retains flashes of the deep rich blue colour especially under lights and when viewed in the hand you can see into the stone and note the blue colour. It is not opaque like black spinel or black jade. It is transparent like any other high grade sapphire.  This black sapphire is part of an old time digger's collection that he built over the years and it now being put up for sale. It has been precision cut and polished locally on the gemfields and is a first class sapphire in every regard. For those folks that have a penchant for dark or black gemstones then this is perfect for you and not to be missed as it is a unique black sapphire. It is very hard to get big beautiful sapphires like this regardless of the colour, especially of this size and quality.  http://www.bespoke-gems.com/australian-sapphires.php#image_203132  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AUSTRALIAN BLACK SAPPHIRE :: 10.27CT :: 14.1X14.1X7.15MM :: This magnificent gemstone is an Australian black sapphire. It is a big stone, eye clean and untreated, just as it came from the earth. The colour of this stunning sapphire is actually a very deep blue, so deep that it becomes what is known as a ''black'' sapphire. It still retains flashes of the deep rich blue colour especially under lights and when viewed in the hand you can see into the stone and note the blue colour. It is not opaque like black spinel or black jade. It is transparent like any other high grade sapphire.  This black sapphire is part of an old time digger's collection that he built over the years and it now being put up for sale. It has been precision cut and polished locally on the gemfields and is a first class sapphire in every regard. For those folks that have a penchant for dark or black gemstones then this is perfect for you and not to be missed as it is a unique black sapphire. It is very hard to get big beautiful sapphires like this regardless of the colour, especially of this size and quality.  http://www.bespoke-gems.com/australian-sapphires.php#image_203132  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Starting on a beautiful aussie zircon. Lovely rich color in this stone.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just finished a recut of an emerald oval into a square cushion to replace a missing stone from a pair of earrings. Only lost 26 points.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Been a busy week or two... repairs,  recuts,  repolishes, custom cuts... a bit of everything.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here is an Australian blue sapphire from the Central Queensland gemfields. Alot of sapphires have what's known as a crosstable which in this case is green.  Generally sapphires are oriented to get the blue colour which is what I've done in this case.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia In progress... an amethyst to fit a marquise setting 16x8mm.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Custom cutting an amethyst to fit a marquise setting.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Love that beautiful warm glow of my copper lap. Prepolishing a big aussie sapphire with 3K diamond.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia GEM REPOLISHING SERVICE - give tired old worn gemstones a facelift and a new lease of life. This revitalized gem is a sapphire, old weight was 1.35 carats, new weight is 1.30 carats. Only 5 points sacrificed to make it look like new again. Contact me if you are interested in having old gems sparkling again.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Starting on a little pink tourmaline yin-yang, client supplied rough. This will be a very pretty little gem when finished.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Late afternoon in the dopstick forest... DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Of all the stones that I cut, one of the most satisfying, pleasing and pleasant is the humble garnet. It's a friendly stone to facet, no cleavage planes, no frustrating quirks to watch for, it is just a pleasure to work with. One of the best things I like watching is how nicely each facet takes a lovely glossy polish. I also really appreciate the intensity and depth of the colour, I'm  always reminded of a good glass of red wine or port. Garnet also has great fire and dispersion and responds well to a design that has been properly optimised to it's particular critical angles. A properly precision cut red garnet in a simple humble standard (super) round brilliant is truly a thing of beauty.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A couple of Aussie sapphires on the dop today. Got a parcel of 12 to get done before I can have a week vacation.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia All sorts of odd jobs. Had to make a shape out of lapis to go in this silver Moroccan pendant.  The jeweler supplied a plastic template for me to match.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Really awesome chunk of bicolour tourmaline. It actually has three colour zones, a nice rich pink in the middle and a sort of pale green on the ends. It is nicely split into thirds. This will cut a VERY fine eye clean gem. I will create a design especially for this stone I think as it has been preformed and I really like the shape and it should yield well.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just a few of the lovely pink tourmalines from a really good parcel that I was lucky to score recently.  All nice little cutters that will cut some really sweet pinks. Plenty of matched pairs for earrings and studs.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Some recent bespoke gems... lovely splash of colours.  DOUG MENADUE WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A big beautiful aquamarine,  23.73 carats,16.25x16.22x15.58mm. This is cut in my Regulus Maximus design which was inspired by Fred Van Sant's design,  Regulus. A big stone for a killer cocktail ring. Available.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here is an outstanding aquamarine, the first one to ever be cut in my new design, Regulus Maximus. This beautiful aquamarine gem has a wonderful blue colour and is really something to see. It is 23.73 carats and 16.25x16.22x15.58mm.The design features a high crown and a deep pavilion to really maximise (hence the name) the size, colour and presence of this amazing stone. It is a gem that makes a statement! The design really brings this aquamarine to life and features a very lively, sharp, crisp facet pattern action. This gem would be ideal for a spectacular cocktail ring, especially with the high crown which brings fire to the stone. This is an aquamarine that I highly recommend for those that want and like a really serious statement ring, one with a dazzling gem that commands the entire room and draws every eye. Available.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Recent collaboration piece between Alistair Kelsey @alistairkelseyjewellery, Lado Shvili @ladosjewellerystudio and myself. This amazing piece is a Black Spinel 18ct Rose Gold Engraved Signet Ring. I cut the black spinel, Alistair designed and crafted the ring and Lado did the amazing engraving. The result was a beautifully balanced signet ring which the client was extremely happy with. I want one now! :-) Read more about it here :  http://www.bespoke-gems.com/black-spinel.php#image_876  DOUG MENADUE WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another gemmy facelift. This was an old worn tanzanite cushion,  now it looks like new.  Original weight was 1.93ct, new weight is 1.88ct. Only lost 5 points. If you've got an old gem that needs a facelift, please don't hesitate to get in touch. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a nice piece of aqua. I'm cutting this in my variation on Fred Van Sant's ''Regulus'' design... its called ''Regulus Maximus''. The gem is going to be a bit over 16mm.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia That 29.32 carat golden honey citrine from different angles plus a pic of the original rough stone from whence it came.  Love the glow of this gem.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished this beauty last week.  This is 29.32 carats of golden honey citrine cut in one of my favorite oval designs,  the Ten Main Oval. A beautiful gem with deep rich tones and is eye clean... spectacular! Available. Visit my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The golden eye sees you! This is 29.32 carats of golden honey citrine cut in one of my favorite oval designs,  the Ten Main Oval. A beautiful gem with deep rich tones and is eye clean... spectacular! Available. Visit my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Peachy pink morganite... this piece would be perfect for a little Asscher Cut. Morganite has been super popular of late.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Beautiful deep red garnets that look like wine when cut. Classic!  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Cool as an iceberg, natural blue topaz. Perfect for Asscher Cuts and hot sunny days.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Lovely piece of water worn heliodor from the Ukraine.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia I've got a couple of lovely big pieces of prasiolite in stock that will cut something spectacular. Beautiful colour. Contact me of your interested in having a bespoke gem cut just for you.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Love the beautiful colour of this London Blue Topaz. These have been preformed and I have earmarked them for a matched suite of three gems. I'll trim the smaller piece into two for  matching earring gems and the bigger piece into a killer cocktail ring stone. They'll look absolutely amazing! If you're interested in putting dibs on these just let me know.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just in, some juicy peridots from Pakistan. That classic intense green colour which is absolutely dynamite.  These will cut rounds or cushions up to 8 or 9mm. Contact me if you're interested in a bespoke gem cut just for you.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A slab of Cowell black jade from South Australia. This stone  is hard and polishes to an incredible glossy finish. I cut a Signet Asscher recently and it looked beautiful, really liked how the jade turned out. Something a bit different.  If you would like something custom cut for you in this wonderful stone just left me know.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Some beautiful lavender amethyst that will cut matched pairs for lovely earrings. I've got some nice oval designs earmarked for these stones.  Contact me for more info or if you'd like a pair cut for you.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AFGHAN PINK TOURMALINE :: 2.67CT :: ANTIQUE ROUND :: 8.00x8.00x6.68mm :: This is an outstanding pink tourmaline from Afghanistan. This is among my most favorite of stones to work with. There is something about the Afghani tourmalines which makes them the among the finest in the world. This beauty is truly superb, the colour is what I would call ''candy'' pink and is intense! The gem was orientated and cut down the ''C'' axis which is the way to get the best colour out of a stone. You can see the original tourmaline crystal  here. The design I chose is one of my classic designs, the Antique Round.  Overall, this is a first-class pink tourmaline gemstone and one that I know you will absolutely fall in love with. A very highly recommended gemstone and definitely one for those that love PINK!  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia This wonderful gem is a nice bright lemon greenish yellow heliodor from Nigeria, 5.93 carats, 13.47x9.68x8.97mm. I have faceted this gem in one of my favorite oval designs, the Supernova. It is a very good design and suits this heliodor well. The colour of the gem in real life is a little more yellow then the pictures suggest. It is clean except for a few very fine silver needles which again in real life are hard to spot. I really like this gem, the colour and the design all combine to create a truly beautiful heliodor gemstone.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A fine piece of beautiful black jade from Cowell in South Australia. The gem is a lovely jet black colour with a super glossy polish. I cut this in my Signet Asscher design and it is 9.29 carats and 12.98mm. Something a bit different that you've probably never seen before. Available.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Discovered a new stone... Black jade from Cowell... and wow! What a great stone. Its a jet black color and polishes up amazingly glossy. Very impressed.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Nigerian pink tourmaline that I faceted in my Brilliant Royale design. This beautiful gem is what I would call ''hot'' pink for its intense and vivid colour and is 2.02 carats. Available for purchase. You can find more details about this gemstone on my website.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A before and after pic of the lovely Nigerian pink tourmaline that I faceted in my Brilliant Royale design. This beautiful gem is what I would call ''hot'' pink for its intense and vivid colour and is 2.02 carats. This is an exceptionally fine gemstone, eye clean and is available for purchase. You can find more details about this gemstone on my website.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here is a stunning Nigerian pink tourmaline that I faceted in my Brilliant Royale design. This beautiful gem is what I would call ''hot'' pink for its intense and vivid colour and is 2.02 carats. This is an exceptionally fine gemstone, eye clean and is available for purchase. You can find more details about this gemstone on my website.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another beautiful day up here at Avalon.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Measuring up a piece of Cowell black jade for a little project.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Let's start the days cutting. I do love my work. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia PINK TOURMALINE :: 4.8CT :: 13.21x7.23x6.09MM :: BRAZIL :: EMERALD CUT :: This is a truly outstanding rich pink tourmaline from Brazil. The colour is absolutely amazing and if you like the pics you will love the gem. The stone is exceptional is every regard. It has been precision faceted by an Australian gemcutter and the cut and polish is first class. The design is the classic Emerald Cut and it really shows off the brilliant colour of the gem. You could do anything with this fabulous pink tourmaline, you could set it as a pendant, a ring, anything your imagine can conjure up. A beautiful pink tourmaline that I highly recommend. Available for purchase.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia In progress... that nice sweet little piece of candy pink tourmaline from Afghanistan. It's shaping up to be an 8mm Antique Round. It's going to have just the nicest pink color ever. :-)    DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia PINK TOURMALINE :: 4.8CT :: 13.21x7.23x6.09MM :: BRAZIL :: EMERALD CUT :: This is a truly outstanding rich pink tourmaline from Brazil. The colour is absolutely amazing and if you like the pics you will love the gem. The stone is exceptional is every regard. It has been precision faceted by an Australian gemcutter and the cut and polish is first class. The design is the classic Emerald Cut and it really shows off the brilliant colour of the gem. You could do anything with this fabulous pink tourmaline, you could set it as a pendant, a ring, anything your imagine can conjure up. A beautiful pink tourmaline that I highly recommend. Available for purchase.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful sunny golden beryl that I faceted in the wonderful Antique Round design. It is 2.39ct and 8.08x8.08x6.49mm. It is a stunning gem and perfect for a ring setting. It is available for sale. Visit my website for details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Very fine red garnet from Malawi, 7.24ct, 12.42x10.12x7.67mm, eye clean,  faceted in my favorite oval design, the 'Supernova'. Beautiful deep red color with bright strong flashes of colour. A very lovely red garnet.  Available for sale, visit my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Very fine red garnet from Malawi, 7.24ct, 12.42x10.12x7.67mm, eye clean,  faceted in my favorite oval design, the 'Supernova'. Beautiful deep red color with bright strong flashes of colour. A very lovely red garnet.  Available for sale, visit my website for full details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Part of my Moroccan specimen collection plus a few aussie ones mixed in. How many things can you recognise?  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Upon the altar of good design.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Nice little tray of goodies waiting to be cut. There's some aqua, tourmaline, citrine, black spinel, topaz and zircon. Yum!  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Ok... time to start on this sweet little piece of Afghani pink. Next step will be to 'grind the rind'. Around these little tourmaline crystals is a rind that must be ground off to get to the 'meat' of the stone. It is important to do this carefully and to let the stone sit for a few days afterwards to let the inner tensions and pressures that are released to 'express' themselves. If this is not done and instead you just rush in in a hurry to cut the stone you stand a strong chance of the stone splitting. Tourmaline crystals must be handled with great care and consideration when about to be faceted.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Delicious pink tourmaline from Nigeria that should cut a stunning gemstone around 8mm. Contact me if you would like me to facet a unique gem just for you.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Monster yellow sapphire anyone? This is a truly awesome stone in every regard. This is a natural yellow sapphire from Ceylon,  38.50ct and 20.0x14.4x14.1mm... what a sapphire!  This beauty is available for inspection and purchase in Sydney. Contact me for details. Available through King Stone Gems.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/ceylon-yellow-sapphire-rectangle-radiant-160518/  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A sweet little piece of pink tourmaline from Afghanistan that should cut around 8mm. Lovely bright colour.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The 'Superman Sapphire'!!! A 20.35ct Ceylon white sapphire that has been precision cut (alas not by me) in a design that looks alot like what superman has on his chest. It's a true collectors stone... I haven't seen a white sapphire this big before. It is available for sale.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia On the block... golden beryl, green beryl and a nice red garnet. Probably do the garnet in a supernova oval,  the green beryl in a utopia pear and the golden beryl, not sure.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another gem facelift... all this old sapphire needed was a bit of love and attention and now it looks brand new. Only lost 0.06 carats, 6 points. Old weight was 2.66ct and new weight is 2.60ct.  DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Lovely big piece of honey citrine, a beautiful stone that will cut a large and spectacular gemstone in a design with lots of facets.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Visit my WHAT'S NEW page to see new gem and rough additions that have been just listed. Some beautiful stones there.  http://www.bespoke-gems.com/whats-new.php  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia ''The Moroccan'' - From a series of unique gem designs inspired by travels through Morocco. If you are someone who demands the finest quality in the jewels you wear, bespoke gems will be a total revelation for you. Have your next gem personally hand cut and polished for you in a unique and stunning design. Contact Doug at Bespoke Gems for more details and discover the art of the gemcutter.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished cutting a new citrine oval to replace the old one that came out of a setting and is damaged. You can see the big chunk before and how it looks after.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Slowly getting there with this big citrine oval. Quartz takes forever to cut... DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia In progress... cutting a new citrine oval to match the old.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Woohoo! Just in... some juicy green peridot goodness! :-)    DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Australian Harts Range Zircon - 6.9 Carats - 10.8x10.8x7.2mm - Eye Clean  Cut in the high performance SG1 design which is a variation on the Round Brilliant. These natural zircons are found in a very small area in the central part of Australia, a remote region called the Harts Ranges. The actual fossicking area is called ''The Mudtank'' because as soon as it gets a spot of rain on it it all turns to mud in a flash and you don't want to get caught there in your vehicle. This beauty is a chocolate-mocha-tobacco colour, very rich and beautiful. A fine and rare natural Australian gemstone.  AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. Check out the Zircon page on my website for details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Australian Harts Range Zircon - 6.9 Carats - 10.8x10.8x7.2mm - Eye Clean  Cut in the high performance SG1 design which is a variation on the Round Brilliant. These natural zircons are found in a very small area in the central part of Australia, a remote region called the Harts Ranges. The actual fossicking area is called ''The Mudtank'' because as soon as it gets a spot of rain on it it all turns to mud in a flash and you don't want to get caught there in your vehicle. This beauty is a chocolate-mocha-tobacco colour, very rich and beautiful. A fine and rare natural Australian gemstone.  AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. Check out the Zircon page on my website for details.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Australian Harts Range Zircon - 6.9 Carats - 10.8x10.8x7.2mm - Eye Clean  Cut in the high performance SG1 design which is a variation on the Round Brilliant. These natural zircons are found in a very small area in the central part of Australia, a remote region called the Harts Ranges. The actual fossicking area is called ''The Mudtank'' because as soon as it gets a spot of rain on it it all turns to mud in a flash and you don't want to get caught there in your vehicle. Finding a large clean zircon like this requires moving ALOT of dirt and many hours of back breaking labour digging in the hard dirt and putting it all through the sieve. This beauty is a chocolate-mocha-tobacco colour, very rich and beautiful. A fine and rare natural Australian gemstone.   AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. Check out the Zircon page on my website for details.    DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Next mission... ''match the hatch''. I've got to take that big chunk of citrine and cut a gem to match the oval next to it. That oval has some big flaws in it and the client wants to replace it with a new stone. Had to create a new design especially for the job. Let's see how close I can get.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A lovely 106 carat piece of aquamarine that should cut a spectacular gemstone. I'm thinking maybe go big and classic like an Asscher Cut. It might be around 15mm or even bigger. If you are interested in such a large Asscher let me know as I'll be cutting it soon and it will be available for purchase.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia What to do? What to do?  Early stages of planning how to cut this big piece of aquamarine, 106 carats. There is a piece on the end that I'll have to trim away because of flaws. The rest is very juicy. Any suggestions for a design? You've got maybe 15x20mm to play with. This aqua will be one for the store.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Giving new life to the old. This old worn sapphire came in looking pretty beat up. A bit of love and attention and a few hours on the polishing lap it's looking much much better. This sapphire is ready to go off and face the world again. It's always a pleasure to give old gems a new lease of life.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA ~ Commissions Taken ~ - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful natural 11mm aquamarine that I'm making in the classic Asscher Cut. This gem has that amazing natural delicate minty green blue colour which is absolutely lovely. Most aquamarine in the marketplace is heated to remove this colour and change it into the usual standardized  blue you see everywhere. Such a shame when that happens.  This natural aquamarine asscher will be available for sale. Contact me if interested.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished an Australian peridot for a client. This is a beautiful peridot that he dug himself, the colour is fabulous and easily rivals the best Pakistan material. It was a pleasure to cut. Finished in one of my favorite ovals,  the Supernova at 3.43 carats from 10.7 carats rough.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A lustrous and glossy Australian black spinel finished in my Signet Asscher design. This beauty is 3.33 carats,  8mm in size and is a pure jet black colour, it is the black gemstone of choice. This fine gem is now in the hands of Sydney jewellery designer @nicholashaywoodjewellery for an upcoming collection.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One of my favorite combinations... golden beryl and the Utopia Pear. It's a fabulous design, very elegant with nice 'lines'. This beauty is available for sale... it's 7.43 carats of radiant sunshine. :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA ~ Commissions Taken ~ - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another black spinel signet asscher in the works. This one will be 8mm.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Recutting and repairing a chipped crown on this large tanzanite oval. Painstaking working. Having to find each and every facet on commercial cut stones... eeeyup. Patience grasshopper... DOUG MENADUE  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The PRIME CROSS, also known as St Johns Cross and by other names. I love discovering the symbols that lay hidden in numbers. Arrange all the prime numbers on a 24 (hour) wheel and connect the dots... and see the pattern. Everything has their origin.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.SACREDGEOMETRICS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a nice morganite oval,  rough supplied by client.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Ok folks,  here is something EXTREMELY RARE! This is a very large faceted rhodochrosite which is definitely a very collectable stone. The gem weighs 10.01 carats.  It is very clean with the unique strong and distinctive red colour that only rhodochrosite has. It wasn't cut by me, cutter unknown.  This is available for purchase. Serious enquiries only.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Almost finished this golden beryl Utopia Pear. It is around 10.44x15.09mm and will be available for purchase when done.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  Custom Precision Hand Cut Gemstones Of Distinction ~ Commissions Taken ~ - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia In progress... a nice golden beryl cut in my favorite pear design,  the Utopia Pear by Jeff Graham.  Finish it off on Monday.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS :: Specialising in high-end precision hand-cut gemstones in beautiful traditional and modern designs. All gem designs are optimised to bring out the very best in colour, brilliance and performance and Doug can even create your own personal and unique design. Discover the art of the gemcutter with Doug Menadue and Bespoke Gems and see just how incredible coloured gems can really be. ~~~ Commissions Taken ~~~ SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the black spinel in my Signet Asscher design. It came up beautifully at 11x11x5.1mm 8.28 carats. The polish is lovely and glossy and the colour a pure black... it leaves those steely grey 'black' diamonds in the dust. This design and gem are for a men's signet ring but it would also be ideal for cufflinks or any jewellery setting that requires a lower profile stone. Contact me for more information or if you would like to get your own suite of black spinels cut in this design. ~~~ Commissions Taken ~~~ DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Flip over and do the pavilion... almost done. The black spinel is looking nice and glossy now.  Nice crisp lines.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the crown on this black spinel. The crown is in traditional step cut Asscher style. These nice long crisp facets look great because of the wonderful glossy black polish that black spinel takes.  DOUG MENADUE  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM ~~~ Commissions Taken ~~~ - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Begin the grinding... a bit of black magick coming up.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  ~~~ Commissions Taken ~~~ - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Next project... a nice big Weld River black spinel cut in a modified Asscher Cut design for a men's signet ring. These black spinel are amazingly glossy and pure jet black when cut. It will be 11mm and around 8 carat when finished.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA ~~~Commissions Taken~~~ - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A superb 5.8 carat indicolite blue tourmaline from Afghanistan, a country which is renown for producing some of the most incredible gems in the world. This beautiful tourmaline gemstone was precision cut in the classic Emerald Cut design by master gemcutter,  Doug Menadue. It is available for sale. Click on the following link for full details :  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/afghan-blue-indicolite-tourmaline-emerald-cut-150488/  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A superb 5.8 carat indicolite blue tourmaline from Afghanistan, a country which is renown for producing some of the most incredible gems in the world. This beautiful tourmaline gemstone was precision cut in the classic Emerald Cut design by master gemcutter,  Doug Menadue. It is available for sale. Click on the following link for full details :  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/afghan-blue-indicolite-tourmaline-emerald-cut-150488/  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the 25x10mm stepped cut long oval tourmaline. Came in at a smidge over 14 carats. WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Gotta cut a big long stepped oval 25x10 from this ripper piece of blue green tourmaline.    WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM   - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia JEWELLER TRADE SERVICES by BESPOKE GEMS. Repairs, repolish, recuts, resize, precision gemcutting and polishing of your rough or mine,  unique gem designs and more. Contact me to discuss your requirements or to collaborate on cutting an amazing one-of-a-kind gem for your next award winning jewel.    DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM    - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! 67.48 carats of topaz magic. I cut this in the KALLI design with 177 facets. A big beautiful stone. I hope the client is going to be happy with it.  :-)   WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  Commissions taken. - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! 67.48 carats of topaz magic. I cut this in the KALLI design with 177 facets. A big beautiful stone. I hope the client is going to be happy with it.  :-)   WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  Commissions taken. - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Starting on the crown next on this big topaz Kalli. It's coming along nicely. There is a bit of a divit in the top of the stone which will eat into the height a little unfortunately, just means the height will be a fraction lower.    DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM   - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia ROSE DE FRANCE AMETHYST - PORTUGUESE DOUBLE ROSE - 36.9 CARATS - 19.27x19.27x19.4MM - 225 FACETS -    When you look at the gem and you ''swirl'' it around it looks like a school of bright silvery fish swimming around and around inside the gem, it's quite mesmerizing. When you do this out in the sunlight, my goodness, what an effect! This is a gem that I definitely consider an Objet d'art, it is a gem that captures the full beauty of the Rose de France amethyst, with its soft delicate purple hue and lovely water clear clarity.     http://www.bespoke-gems.com/rose-de-france-amethyst.php#image_840     - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Prepolish... polish... transfer. The prepolish stage is always the one that seems to take the longest time. Don't know why really. It's the middle stage between cutting and polishing and the one that is arguably the most critical. Tackle the crown tomorrow.    WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM    - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Grinding... grinding. You can see the design starting to take shape. Looks like it will be around 23mm.    WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM   - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Let's get going! Begin the grinding... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Next big stone... a client sent me a big topaz that has special sentimental significance and I'm going to cut a big beautiful KALLI dome out of it. The rough topaz is 235 carats and I'm hoping to get a KALLI around 22 to 24mm which should yield in the ballpark of 60 to 80 carats. Will be awesome when finished.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Who loves Alexandrites??? Here is a superb Brazilian Alexandrite that has been precision cut in the classic Emerald Cut design.  It is a large eye clean stone exhibiting a very strong color change and weighs in at 1.42 carats, 7.49x5.07x4.11mm. It is available for inspection and purchase at King Stone Gems in Sydney. Contact me for more details or visit the website here :  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/brazilian-alexandrite-emerald-cut-160498/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A nice 5.8 carat Afghan indicolite tourmaline recut i finished the other day. A nice clean open 'c' blue,  a beautiful stone and available for purchase. Contact me for details. If you are in Sydney it is available for inspection at any time.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finishing off last jobs for the year. Been a big one. Thanks everyone for all your support and encouragement, and a very big thank you to all who placed orders this year and for whom I cut a few stones. Best wishes everyone and thanks for a great year. Seen alot of amazing creations being posted this year by some incredibly talented people, a real inspiration. Keep on creating,  folks. Cheers! :-) DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another beautiful pair of vivid fanta orange spessartite garnets from Mozambique. These gems are cut in the round brilliant style and are calibrated to 6mm making them easy to set. 2.48 total carat weight. Perfect for ear studs!  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/mozambique-orange-spessartite-garnet-round-pair-150466/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Bright orange spessartite garnets anyone?  This pair have that intense fanta orange colour and are dynamite! The perfect stones for a pair of ear studs. 7mm, 4.09 tcw.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/nigerian-orange-spessartite-garnet-round-pair-150462/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia All done!  Came out nicely. 9mm and 4.64ct. A very fine natural blue topaz asscher cut.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Cutting a natural blue topaz asscher cut. Looking good!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Recut job coming up. This is a large Harts Range zircon and comes from the 'mud-tank' fossicking area. This is a remote region in the Northern Territory,  central Australia where a myriad of gemstones can be found. The zircon is currently a poorly cut and windowed chunky rectangle cushion shape, 13.24x11.84x7.64mm, 15.41ct. Basically I will treat the stone like a good preform. The intention is to recut the zircon in a precision design with correct angles etc. It will be a good size when finished and clarity VVSI to eye clean. This pic was taken early morning in my office and shows a rich brandy caramel sort of color. It will be a special stone and definitely one for the collector as large clean Harts Range zircon are very scarce.  It will be available for sale. Expressions of interest welcome.  DOUG MENADUE  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Tanzanian tanzanite is without doubt one of the most beautiful gemstones in the Mineral Kingdom. The rich intense blue and purple hues are magnificent and reminds me of the best grade lapis lazuli, that amazing midnight blue but with brilliance and flash. Here presented is a pair of very well matched tanzanite square cushions, the details for each stone are :  1) 8.36×8.41×6.24mm = 3.51ct 2) 8.36×8.40×6.32mm = 3.53ct  They have been precision cut and are both exceptional stones. The pavilion is in the Asscher Cut style with a Brilliant style cushion crown. Quite frankly, they look amazing. They are both eye clean though under a loupe one does have a very tiny veil in the pavilion, it doesn €™t detract from the overall beauty at all, it €™s pretty much impossible to see. The colour is a very good medium-dark blue with some violet highlights.   One has just a touch more violet in it then the other but it €™s very minimal, and once set in earrings you €™d be very very hard pressed to pick any difference. Tanzanite is notorious for matching colour exactly so finding two so well matched is a rare thing, especially given the quality of the precision cutting and in a square cushion design.  This pair of tanzanite gems is a very special offering and are of the best quality. A very fine matched pair of Tanzanites.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/tanzanian-tanzanite-square-cushion-150455/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia From the many comes the one - a new asscher shall be born. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Superb Afghan blue green tourmaline, 8.00ct, 13x9.6x7.8mm, #150450. In the hand this beautiful gem has a rich hue and bright flashes of colour and vibrancy. It is an exceptionally fine tourmaline from Afghanistan which is world renown for producing stone of the best tourmaline found anywhere. It is a wonderful classic stone. It has been precision cut and polished in a rectangle cushion design. Available.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/afghan-blue-green-tourmaline-rectangle-cushion-150450/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia An exceptionally fine Namibian green tourmaline precision cut and polished in an beautiful square cushion design. A superb gemstone weighing 8.82ct, 11.4x11.1x9.74mm and is eye clean. This gem is currently available. Inspect the gem and many other remarkable gems on our website.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/namibian-green-tourmaline-square-cushion-150449/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Magic little Namibian indicolite blue tourmaline that has been precision cut in a square radiant design. A very fine gemstone, 1.51ct, 6.2x6.2x5mm.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/namibian-blue-indicolite-tourmaline-square-radiant-150452/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Getting down and dirty! Got some chrome and indicolite tourmalines that have had a hard life and its time for them to have a recut, make them look pretty again. There is also a spinel crystal that the client wants cleaned up (preserving the crystal shape) and made nice and sharp to go into a setting.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A magnificent Tanzanian chrome tourmaline, 11.10ct, 16x12.7x8.52mm. This is a big stone and rare for its size and clarity. The gem is eye clean and has the classic chrome green colour. It's a superb stone and one for the collector. Available from King Stone Gems.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/tanzanian-chrome-tourmaline-oval-150448/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A magnificent Tanzanian chrome tourmaline, 11.10ct, 16x12.7x8.52mm. This is a big stone and rare for its size and clarity. The gem is eye clean and has the classic chrome green colour. It's a superb stone and one for the collector. Available from King Stone Gems.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/tanzanian-chrome-tourmaline-oval-150448/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The third of the three and thrice is the charm. Here is the last of the three stunning red spinels just in. This is another superb Burmese orange red flame spinel with just the most beautiful colour, 1.63ct, 8x6.5x4.56mm. The pictures don't do these three red spinels any justice. They really are first class stones. Available.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/burmese-orange-red-flame-spinel-oval-150446/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The third of the three and thrice is the charm. Here is the last of the three stunning red spinels just in. This is another superb Burmese orange red flame spinel with just the most beautiful colour, 1.63ct, 8x6.5x4.56mm. The pictures don't do these three red spinels any justice. They really are first class stones. Available.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/burmese-orange-red-flame-spinel-oval-150446/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Second of three new red spinels just in. This is an outstanding orange red flame spinel from Burma, 1.37ct, 7.5x6x4.28mm, #150445. Beautiful and intensely colored,  a wonderful stone. Available for sale.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/burmese-orange-red-flame-spinel-oval-150445/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Second of three new red spinels just in. This is an outstanding orange red flame spinel from Burma, 1.37ct, 7.5x6x4.28mm, #150445. Beautiful and intensely colored,  a wonderful stone. Available for sale.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/burmese-orange-red-flame-spinel-oval-150445/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One of three beautiful red spinels just in. This is a superb red spinel from Vietnam, 2.26ct, 8.6x6.4x5.49mm, VVSI, #150444. A very clean spinel with a color very similar to Mozambique ruby. A first class gemstone. Available for sale.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/vietnamese-red-spinel-oval-150444/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One of three beautiful red spinels just in. This is a superb red spinel from Vietnam, 2.26ct, 8.6x6.4x5.49mm, VVSI, #150444. A very clean spinel with a color very similar to Mozambique ruby. A first class gemstone. Available for sale.  http://www.kingstonegems.com/fine-loose-coloured-gemstones/vietnamese-red-spinel-oval-150444/  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Blast from the past... in 2008 I left my career as a computer programmer/systems designer and decided to go bush, to Mt Surprise in North Queensland to be exact. I helped out in a little gem shop running tours out to the nearby topaz gemfields. They had a claim there and each day I would take up to 20 people out digging. One day a fellow wanted to make a little video of his trip to the gemfields and this is it. So come fossicking with Doug and see how it's done. :-) Here's the youtube link :  https://youtu.be/bCHxNIYFY-4  www.bespoke-gems.com - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A sweet little bicolour tourmaline finished in the classic Emerald Cut design. Custom order cut for a client. I love these little tourmalines, magic stones.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A glossy black spinel that I recently finished for a client. Black spinel is my gem of choice if you are looking for a pure jet black gemstone, they are absolutely beautiful.  DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Some super gem candy coming your way folks!  Anyone for a 15.11 carat, 15.5mm Nigerian morganite square cushion, natural and untreated, precision cut, eye clean with a beautiful apricot pink color - a simply stunning stone.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful 4.10 carat Mozambique ruby oval cut. A top class gem with excellent color and almost eye clean. This fine ruby is available for inspection this week in Sydney. Contact me for more information.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful 4.03 carat Mozambique ruby cut in a rectangle cushion. A top class gem with excellent color and almost eye clean. This fine ruby is available for inspection this week in Sydney. Contact me for more information.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful 4.03 carat Mozambique ruby cut in a rectangle cushion. A top class gem with excellent color and almost eye clean. This fine ruby is available for inspection this week in Sydney. Contact me for more information.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A very fine natural Mozambique ruby oval 4.1 carats. It also has a mate,  another very fine ruby cushion just a smidge over 4 carats as well. Available for sale and private viewing in Sydney this week only. More pics and details to come.  Contact me for additional  info.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just finished a couple of topaz 'Tangier' gems. They look absolutely amazing,  really bright and sparkling gems in the hand. One has a touch of blue,  the other a bright silver. This is a 'dome' style design with a high rounded crown. I do love my topaz! :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A really fine Namibian paraiba like blue indicolite tourmaline cut in a brilliant trillion design. It is 4.2 carats and 10.41x10.41x6.73mm, a great size for any setting.The colour is amazing and much better then the pic. If you like the pic you will love the gem. A very fine blue indicolite tourmaline.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The things you see out on a walk... - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AFGHAN BLUE INDICOLITE  TOURMALINE - 16.39CT - 17.6X11.6x8.7MM - EMERALD CUT - #150374 - A superb and extra fine natural blue indicolite tourmaline from Afghanistan  that has been precision cut and polished in the classic Emerald Cut design. A deep blue azure color that is vivid and rich with great depth of character. This fine gem would suit either investment or wear, it's large size, excellent color, eye clean clarity, high make and fine water all combine to identify a first class blue tourmaline gemstone.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Looking at some early morning sky blue topaz rough. All beautiful stones and will cut some amazing gems. Topaz is one of my personal favorites and I'm a big admirer of it. It always looks good, fantastic colors and you can cut big gems.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia From the King Stone Collection, a superb and exceptionally fine indicolite blue tourmaline from Afghanistan. This beautiful gem weights 10.29 carats, measures 18.7x9.3x6.7mm and is eye clean. It is recommended for both wear and investment and is definitely a gem for the collector. Fine large tourmalines of this water are very scarce.  Available.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia October is double birthstone month at King Stone Gems. 15% off all opals and tourmalines.  Coupon Code 'OCT15'  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Two beautiful topaz gems commissioned and finished, a lovely natural blue topaz Asscher Cut and an electric blue topaz Antique Round.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished a nice natural blue topaz asscher 4.94ct and an electric blue topaz antique round 5.76ct. A lovely pair of topaz gems commissioned by a customer.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia LIGHTNING RIDGE BLACK OPAL - 2.63CT - 10.33X8.95X4.62MM - A spectacular loose natural Australian black opal from Lightning Ridge. This is a superb black opal and the first thing that strikes you is the big bold flash of reddish orange gold, like a golden eye of a dragon. This is a rare and highly sort after colour in the world of opals and to have such a remarkable display of this hue is really something unique and quite special. This is the perfect ring stone, an opal both ideal in its shape and size with such a powerful presence and personality. This black opal is very highly recommended to the collector or connoisseur of fine gemstones. A world class black opal from the famous opal fields of Lightning Ridge in the remote outback of New South Wales.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Next project... a natural blue topaz asscher and an electric blue topaz antique round. I do love my topaz!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia LIGHTNING RIDGE BLACK OPAL - 2.76 CARATS - 11.5X9.08X4.15 MM - One of the many unique and very beautiful opals in our collection, a swirling maelstrom of vivid blues, purples and violets. And don't forget that October's birthstone is opal!  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! Here's a big beautiful 225 facet, 36.9ct flawless gem of Brazilian Rose de France Amethyst cut in the Portuguese Double Rose design which is an amalgam of a traditional Portuguese pavilion and a Double Rose dome crown from a design by Jeff Graham. It turned out beautifully and it is a ball of light! All those facets really add some kick to this gem. Nice way to finish the week. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working away on this nice big piece of rose de France Amethyst. It's coming along nicely... lots of facets. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia MINTABIE HARLEQUIN RED ON BLACK OPAL :: 27.65CT :: An exceptional opal from the renown opal fields of Mintabie in South Australia. This region produced spectacular opals and this is a superb example of some of the best to ever come out of the ground. This black opal shows strong highly desirable red flashes of colour, absolutely fabulous as they move in and out of the mysterious depths of the stone. This beautiful opal is available from King Stone Gems. Contact us to make an appointment to view this and many other fine gems.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia For my next magic trick... I've had this big piece of beautiful rose de France Amethyst dopped up for about 6 months that I wanted to cut but couldn't decide on a design. Anyway, it's been staring at me for a while now and I've settled on a design for it. It's a big piece and I'm hoping to get around an 18mm diameter. Because it's so large it's going to need alot of facets so I'm going to do a traditional Portuguese cut on the pavilion and a Double Rose dome cut on the crown. That will really turn this beauty into a big ball of swirling sparkling light. Stay tuned to see how it will turn out. Any guesses on the finished weight?  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just finished a nice suite of four matched rose quartz yin-yangs for a customer. I really like this design,  it has a wonderful sweeping effect with a simple elegance and minimalist feel. It works nicely in rose quartz which tends to be a little sleepy in appearance so instead of a brilliant style cut, the effect of which would be dampened somewhat, the yin-yang has a nice flowing movement of light and motion to it and brings to mind the gentle tooing and froing of waves lapping at the shoreline. Not sure if that makes sense but when you see them you'll get what i mean. :-) Onto the next project... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia LIGHTNING RIDGE BLACK OPAL - 3.26CT - 13.21X8.93X4.43MM - An incredible world class Australian black opal from the Lightning Ridge opal fields of remote outback New South Wales. A beautiful black opal showing the full spectrum of colour in big bold flashes. A magnificent opal available from King Stone Gems.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Today's mission is to start three rose quartz yin-yangs. I did one last week and i have to do three more to complete the suite. Here you can see I've trimmed a piece of rose quartz into blocks so these three will be 'sibling stones'. There is going to be one piece of rose quartz remaining which will cut maybe a 10mm gem if anyone is interested. It would suit either a yin-yang or perhaps an antique round.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the topaz Tangier I was working on this week and it turned out beautifully. This design creates a very bright brilliant gem with mega light return and sparkles. It is a dome style design so it has a nice high curved crown which I'm very keen on. I really like dome designs, just something about the profiles which appeals to me and I think it creates alot of dispersion and fire. This O'Briens Creek topaz gem is 10.55 carats and 11.75mm and was personally dug by me during my time on the gemfields.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the topaz Tangier I was working on this week and it turned out beautifully. This design creates a very bright brilliant gem with mega light return and sparkles. It is a dome style design so it has a nice high curved crown which I'm very keen on. I really like dome designs, just something about the profiles which appeals to me and I think it creates alot of dispersion and fire. This O'Briens Creek topaz gem is 10.55 carats and 11.75mm and was personally dug by me during my time on the gemfields.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Polishing the crown on my topaz 'Tangier'. It's going to be an absolute stunner. Nice and bright and silvery white. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia It's been a long while since I last cut a stone just for the fun of it. The vast majority of the gems I facet these days are custom orders and that takes up most of the cutting time. So I decided to sneak in a couple of gems that I've been wanting to cut for quite a while. The first is a big topaz in a favorite dome style design by Jeff Graham called 'TANGIER'. It's a great design and I'm really partial to these domes. I love the shape of them and that they allow for alot of creative expression. This particular design and stone combo has been firmly lodged in my mind this past week for some reason so I figure I'd better get to and cut it.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished!  Here's a before and after of the electric blue topaz I just cut. Turned out beautifully, just love that colour!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Electric blue baby! Com'n along nicely. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Starting on a vivid electric blue topaz 'supernova'. I love the rich color of this material,  it really comes up a treat and is nice and bright.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Sapphire is the birthstone for September and to celebrate we are offering 15% off all sapphires this month only. Just use the coupon 'SAPPHIRESEPT15' to obtain your discount. So come and visit our website and select your next beautiful sapphire from our fine collection.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just letting everyone know that I accept BITCOINS at both my Bespoke Gems and King Stone Gems websites.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just letting everyone know that I accept BITCOINS at both my Bespoke Gems and King Stone Gems websites.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! A lovely radiant golden citrine Utopia Pear that came in at 16x11x10.45mm and 8.65 carat. It looks a bit better then the original windowed oval for sure. I do love citrine.  I've got more of this same coloured material if anyone is interested my cutting them something fancy. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on the pavilion of this fine piece of golden citrine. This material is always a pleasure to cut. I like the way I continually see glimpses of bright golden colour as i move the stone backwards and forwards across the lap. It's a beautiful color and when cut properly and in a good design,  golden citrine truly is one of the most beautiful gems you could hope to see. Forget all about value, rarity and all the other mundane marketplace considerations, when taken purely on the beauty of its play of color, its radiant golden hues, a fine piece of citrine is really an absolutely glorious thing.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia About to do a recut on this large golden citrine. Going to turn this oval into an exquisite Utopia Pear. First step is to rough up the table and then dop it onto the brass dopstick using wax. From here I then centre the stone and cut the pavilion.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD - AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia On display at @courtesyoftheartist the new gem design THE FITZROY. Big thanks to Nina, @cesar.cueva and the whole team for everything! The topaz and black spinel gems looks fabulous in the display, really happy to be a part of it all. Can't wait to see them set in your jewellery creations. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD - AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Introducing 'THE FITZROY', a new gem design exclusively created for The Courtesy Of The Artist gallery in the Strand Arcade here in Sydney. They are going to launch it tomorrow night (Wednesday 19th Aug) at the special 'An Evening With Our Designers' event. I have cut several gems in this new design which will be on display and available for sale. Come along tomorrow night to @courtesyoftheartist and say hello and check out THE FITZROY.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM SYDNEY CBD - AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Busy busy busy... lot of cutting to do this week. A topaz and black spinel cut in my new FITZROY design that was commissioned by the Courtesy Of The Artist gallery (COTA) in Strand Arcade and will get its premiere next Wednesday night at the special Meet The Designers event being held. Also cutting an electric blue topaz Antique  Round and a natural blue topaz Egyptian Asscher as well as recutting the crown on an old worn blue sapphire. Plenty to do. Also got to find time to photograph new stock and list it on the new King Stone Gems website.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD - AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hello everyone!  Exciting news... the new KING STONE GEMS website has finally, after much blood, sweat and tears and countless hours, late evenings and lots of weekends, been LAUNCHED!!! WOOHOO!!! Its such a great feeling to get it across the line after so much hard work.  For those of you who are wondering what KING STONE GEMS is all about and what's happening to BESPOKE GEMS, let me put your mind at ease as it's all good news. BESPOKE GEMS will keep on doing what it's always been doing, cutting beautiful custom order gems for wonderful people. That won't change. It's my passion and I love doing it.  KING STONE GEMS is a project that has been in my mind and the works for quite a while. It all started to come to fruition last year and the last six months has really seen the rubber hit the road. It is the culmination of many things and the beginning of new ones.  To celebrate the new KING STONE GEMS website, all new subscribers will receive 10% off their first purchase (excluding diamonds) if you subscribe this month (August, 2015). So please, come and have a look at the new KING STONE GEMS website and pass the word. I stand behind both the BESPOKE GEMS and the KING STONE GEMS websites so rest assured that you will still receive the same level of attention and friendly service (at least I hope I've been friendly to everyone :-) that you have come to expect and know me for.  Many thanks and best regards to you all, Doug Menadue,  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SUITE 522A, LEVEL 5 KING GEORGE CHAMBERS 375 GEORGE ST SYDNEY CBD, NSW, 2000  AUSTRALIA +61 2 92998005 +61 408064190 - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM  SYDNEY CBD :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KING STONE GEMS :: Merchants of loose gemstones in Sydney, Australia.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another pic of the new office.  Drop by of you're in the area.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Ah, finally settled into my new office. What a mission the last two weeks have been. Moving office is always a bigger job then you think it will be even if it is only one floor above the old office. This is a great room and I'm loving it. New office,  new brand name,  new website.  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here are some examples from a recently discovered deposit of what the mine owner is calling Australian 'fire' opal. It's very interesting material and is indeed a very high quality opal. It comes from Western Australia and only from the one location. It has a rich golden orange color that reminds be of really good Madeira citrine and ranges in color through to a nice amber.  It doesn't not however have the fire or play of colors like the Mexican fire opal though the mine owner says it's just a matter of time before they find some. Clarity wise, it ranges from clean and crisp to sleepy.  Something a bit different.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  WWW.KINGSTONEGEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hi Folks,  How are you all doing? I hope everyone out there is doing well.  Just wanted to let you all know that I have moved office again, but not far... just up to the next floor.  My new address is :  SUITE 522A, LEVEL 5, KING GEORGE CHAMBERS, 375 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, AUSTRALIA  There is a complete update on my  WHAT'S NEW page along with news about the upcoming launch of my new flagship website, KING STONE GEMS.  Cheers and thanks, Doug Menadue  www.bespoke-gems.com www.kingstonegems.com - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished.  One gorgeous pink tourmaline! Stunning gem,  flawless and simply devine. Cut from a piece of rough supplied by the client.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working away on the pink tourmaline. It's a beautiful stone,  lovely colour.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia In progress... a beautiful pink tourmaline becoming a ten main oval.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Coming very very soon folks... the launch of my new flagship website and brand name... KING STONE GEMS  This will be a whole new retail gem experience specialising in beautiful high-end gems. I've been working on this over the last six months, bringing it all together and now I'm in the final stages and just putting on the finishing touches.  Stay tuned... KING STONE GEMS :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Ok, now for a change of pace. Next is a beautiful piece of pink tourmaline. It is a lovely colour and I'm going to cut it in the Ten Main Oval. This oval design is a favorite of mine. This stone is going to be challenging to cut because it is relatively thin so i don't have much depth to work with. Here we go.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Before and after... a pair of sky blue topaz cut in the Pharaoh design.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The march of the topaz continues on... Two more beautiful sky blue topaz on their way to being polished and sparkling. These are going to be cut in a design called 'Pharoah' which I think is a really great art deco styled square cushion. This design has 165 facets so it will take a little time to do.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Recutting a morganite oval into a round. It's getting harder and harder to source good rough so recutting a commercial cut stone is the only option sometimes . For various reasons gem quality facet rough material prices are skyrocketing across the board and is getting quite difficult to find. Commercial cut stones are becoming the new 'preforms'. WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia And here they are! One big beautiful family of stunning natural blue topaz all cut from the same single piece of rough stone. I was able to get six 'sibling' gems from the 'mother' stone... four asschers and two supernova ovals. There were also three leftover offcuts that will produce three smaller gems which will make nine gems in total once they are cut. Not bad at all. These are all soon to be heading off to their new human families all around the world. These gems will all share a special bond. It was a pleasure cutting them and bringing them into the world. I hope everyone enjoyed following along.  Cheers and thanks! :-) DOUG MENADUE :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Now it's the ovals turn. Two supernovas coming up.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia And then there were four! Here are four sibling natural blue topaz asschers all cut from the same mother stone. A beautiful suite of gems.  There are two ovals still to come which I'm about to start. :-) DOUG MENADUE :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Two stones in the blocks. This is to transfer them so i can work on the crowns next.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY ::AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Onto the next asschers... number 3 and 4. From a nice chunky block through to a finely polished gem. I love the process of crafting gems.  DOUG MENADUE :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Welcome to the world! Here are the first two siblings cut from the same mother stone... they are identical twins, a matched pair of natural blue topaz cut in the classic asscher design. They are superb stones,  each is 11x11x9.1mm and 8.32 carats. They really are beautiful stones,  lovely colour, bright, sparkly and with a crisp internal facet reflection pattern. These will be going to the two 'M's on Pricescope. Congratulations! :-) Cheers!  DOUG MENADUE :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on the crown of number two asscher. Coming along nicely.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia RUBY :: 5.54CT :: 10.73X8.62X6.73MM ::MOZAMBIQUE :: GRS CERT ::VIVID RED ''PIGEON'S BLOOD'' :: Ok folks, here is an exceptional one-of-a-kind ruby on offer for a short time only. This remarkable ruby is large and very very clean and has been GRS certified as VIVID RED ''PIGEON'S  BLOOD'', the most sort after color in rubies. Large clean rubies of any size are incredibly rare let alone of this incredible colour and clarity. This is a ruby that if set in a ring would truly be without equal. It has been very well cut and nicely proportioned.  This gem is available for viewing and purchase for a short time in Sydney. Contact me to make an appointment. Unfortunately no pricing will be given out online so please don't ask. :-) DOUG MENADUE :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia RUBY :: 5.54CT :: 10.73X8.62X6.73MM ::MOZAMBIQUE :: GRS CERT ::VIVID RED ''PIGEON'S BLOOD'' :: Ok folks, here is an exceptional one-of-a-kind ruby on offer for a short time only. This remarkable ruby is large and very very clean and has been GRS certified as VIVID RED ''PIGEON'S  BLOOD'', the most sort after color in rubies. Large clean rubies of any size are incredibly rare let alone of this incredible colour and clarity. This is a ruby that if set in a ring would truly be without equal. It has been very well cut and nicely proportioned.  This gem is available for viewing and purchase for a short time in Sydney. Contact me to make an appointment. Unfortunately no pricing will be given out online so please don't ask. This is one of those rare stones that if you have to ask the price then you probably can't afford it. :-) DOUG MENADUE :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here comes number two! Another lovely natural blue topaz asscher in progress. I'm really enjoying this project. I love love love cutting nice big topaz gems... Topaz is such a pleasure to cut and it always looks great when finished. I'm dying to see the colour of these beauties when finished. I think they are going to be pretty incredible. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the pavilion on the first of series of natural blue topaz asschers and ovals all from the one mother stone. This one is now in the transfer block so that i can do the crown. In the meantime I'll start on the next asscher, also 11mm. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Polishing the pavilion on this natural blue topaz asscher cut. This one is 11mm and a very fine stone indeed. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Cutting in the main pavilion facets first. Bottom left is my well worn 600 grit lap. Then i move onto my favorite copper sintered 1200 grit lap to do the fine pre-pre-polish cut. This gets the stone ready for the polishing stage. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Starting on the first two asschers, both 11mm. Perfectly matched siblings.  In the top left you can see that i have ground the table facet at an angle. This is to avoid the cleavage plane. I've then dopped it onto the brass dopstick using wax.  Once that's done i grind in and level the four sides and if i need to i heat the wax and center the squared in block. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Good morning folks. Ok, I've sliced and diced the large topaz into smaller pieces and I've got all the orders covered. There are three 11mm and one 10mm asscher plus a supernova oval. There is one piece left over that might cut a decent sized oval. Have to look through the back orders.  In one of the previous pics you can see that the thickness of the original  stone is around 12mm and even across the stone. This is because topaz has what is called perfect cleavage. Imagine a stack of chocolate bars piled up one on top of the other. Now looking at the stack from the side take one of those chocolate bars out from the middle and that's what you sort of have here.  When cutting topaz we have to be conscious of this cleavage place as you don't want it to be a facet surface because it will pit and peel when polishing. All we need to do is slightly tilt the plane off level and then we won't have any problems.  This also ties in with getting the best colour from the topaz. You get the best color looking straight down the topaz crystal axis with the surface of the cleavage plane positioned as if it is the table of the gem. We're lucky here because these blocks of topaz will all be ideally orientated to get the best color.  We'll be honoring the stone and getting the best color we can. These will be a fine suite of gems. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here we go!  About to start on a series of gems that will be cut from one big 'mother' stone. These are all going to be what I call 'sibling' stones as they are all going to be all related. There are a number of Asscher cuts and an oval that I've got to produce. This is a large piece of natural blue topaz displaying top colour. This is special material as you rarely see this intense blue. It's beautiful stuff.  The first step is carefully working out how to trim it up so that I can maximize the number of gems that I can obtain from the mother stone and to make sure I've got all the orders covered. I've spent a fair bit of time on this as you only get one shot. :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! Here is the lovely sky blue topaz that I've been working on for the last couple of days. It turned out beautifully,  the colour is fabulous... just like a killer aqua. It came in at 15x18x10mm and 15.25 carats. It was a pleasure to cut and polished nicely.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the 3K prepolish. This is the step that usually takes me the most time when cutting a gem. A good prepolish is one of the keys to a great polish.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Time to start on the crown. The colour of this sky blue topaz is looking really amazing.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Final polish of the pavilion on this large sky blue topaz. This is done using 100K diamond grit on my favorite typemetal polishing lap. Next I will transfer it and start on the crown... tomorrow.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Done the fine cutting, now onto the 3K pre-polish. This is the important step to get the gem ready for the final 100K polish.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here we go... some serious grinding coming up!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia About to start on a big Sky blue topaz. This one is going to be a large Brilliant Pear. I'm hoping to get around 15x18mm. It's a beautiful color and I'm expecting a pretty amazing gem when it's done.  Have a guess what the finished weight will be if you like (but no prizes this time round :-). WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia 'Working from home' today... snuck off to the beach for brekkie... flat white and turkish toast with vegemite. It feels good to sneak a morning off every now and then... a guilty pleasure. Back to it soon building the new website... planned release date start of July. More details to come.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia This poor old Sapphire had seen better days.  It came to me worn and chipped but will be leaving fresh and crisp.  To all you jewellers out there in Sydney I'm just across the road in the King George Chambers, Lv 4, 375 George St. So bring me your tired and your worn... :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: 0408064190 :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Oh how I love the blues!!! Geez I love blue Topaz in all its many hues. It is one of my all time favorite stones and always looks great... daytime,  nighttime,  anytime.  Check out that amazing large piece of natural blue Topaz (3). That colour is the creme dela creme of natural blue topaz... It's the best and super rare!  Some happy cutting coming up. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COLOMBIAN EMERALD :: 3.01CT :: 11.2x6.8x5MM ::There is another.... This is one of several exceptional Colombian emeralds that I have available for a very limited time only. They have been out of the ground for a long time and the owner now wants to sell them urgently.  They are available for viewing this week in Sydney,  Australia.  These emeralds are superb  gems, very clean and the colour and vibrancy of the finest quality.  Emeralds of this caliber you rarely, rarely see. Contact me to arrange an appointment.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: 0408064190 :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COLOMBIAN EMERALD :: 3.54CT :: 10.6X8.9X6.2MM :: This is one of three exceptional Colombian emeralds that I have available for a very limited time only. They have been out of the ground for a long time and the owner now wants to sell them urgently.  They are available for viewing this week in Sydney,  Australia.  These emeralds are superb  gems, very clean and the colour and vibrancy of the finest quality.  Emeralds of this caliber you rarely, rarely see. Contact me to arrange an appointment.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: 0408064190 :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COLOMBIAN EMERALD :: 5.84CT :: 12.3X10X7.3MM :: This is one of three exceptional Colombian emeralds that I have available for a very limited time only. They have been out of the ground for a long time and the owner now wants to sell them urgently.  They are available for viewing this week in Sydney,  Australia.  These emeralds are superb  gems, very clean and the colour and vibrancy of the finest quality.  Emeralds of this caliber you rarely, rarely see. Contact me to arrange an appointment.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: 0408064190 :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COLOMBIAN EMERALD :: 7.18CT :: 13.3X11.5X7.2MM :: This is one of three exceptional Colombian emeralds that I have available for a very limited time only. They have been out of the ground for a long time and the owner now wants to sell them urgently.  They are available for viewing this week in Sydney,  Australia.  These emeralds are superb  gems, very clean and the colour and vibrancy of the finest quality.  Emeralds of this caliber you rarely, rarely see. Contact me to arrange an appointment.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: 0408064190 :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Okay folks, here's what you've all been waiting for... The finished weight of the amethyst in my little guess-the-weight competition. The weight is 13.15 carats.  It looks like I've got two winners who both picked 13 carats... @dedy.p and @yocanibalshhh. Both of the winners came from the instagram side of the fence. I'll get in touch with the winners who will both receive a lovely O'Briens Creek Topaz.  On the Facebook side,  Kim Swanson,  you came a close second with 13.5 carats.  Thanks heaps to everyone who had a go.  I hope it was a bit of fun.  Many thanks,  Doug... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Ok, back in the office today and time to finish off this monster amethyst. Hope you folks have all got your guesses in by now.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Taking a while to work the rough piece of amethyst down to size. Pavilion coming along well. Polished a few facets. It will be a 17mm stone cut in the Trouble With Tribbles design.  Any guesses as to the final carat weight?  Tell you what,  let's make this interesting. Whoever gets closest to the finished weight will receive a really nice Topaz for the best guess. I'll pick a nice one. Just post what you think the final weight will be of this gem, either here on iG or fB. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM. - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here we go! Roughed in the stone and we're ready to start cutting.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Today's mission... Turning this big chunk of amethyst into a beautiful bespoke gem. Aiming for a 17mm 'Trouble with Tribbles'. WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Now that's an Aqua!  75.41 carats of killer ring stone material. :-) Yup,  it's available for sale.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG89 :: GOLDEN TOPAZ :: 6.42CT :: 11X9.3X7.2MM :: RECTANGLE CUSHION :: BRAZIL :: A drop of golden delight!  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG100 :: BLUE GREEN TOURMALINE :: 6.79CT :: 13.3X10X8MM :: AFGHANISTAN :: A vivid and richly hued tourmaline that would be perfect as a ring stone. The colours are gorgeous with a wonderful interplay of blue and green. A superb gem. :: Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM :: SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG91 :: YELLOW GREEN BICOLOUR TOURMALINE :: 11.63CT :: 14.1X10.8X9.2MM :: EMERALD CUT :: AFGHANISTAN :: A magnificent delicately coloured tourmaline.  It shows two colours, a soft green at one end transitioning to a yellow at the other. Bi-colour tourmaline are something special and each gem has a unique personality.  This beauty is eye clean, pure and devine.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG98 :: PERIDOT :: 21.07CT :: 18.4X13.9X11.2MM :: PAKISTAN :: An awesome piece of green goodness. This is a very fine peridot from Pakistan which is considered to be among the finest peridot in the world. The colour is ideal and a top green. It is big and beautiful and simply devine.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG88 :: CHRYSOBERYL :: 5.81 :: 13X11X6.2MM :: SRI LANKA :: A divinely coloured chrysoberyl cut in a beautiful oval design. Large chrysoberyls are scarce especially as fine as this one. They are also very hard wearing, very bright and sparkling, a perfect ring stone.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM  SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG87 :: AQUAMARINE :: 12.54CT :: 19.3X13.3X9.8MM :: BRAZIL :: A stunning natural aquamarine showing the beautiful sea marine green for which this lovely gem is named. It is a very fine gemstone and would be the ideal pendant stone. It is truly a sublime gem, something very special.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a lovely little pair of matched amethysts. These will be very pretty stones when finished.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG102 :: AQUAMARINE :: 12.86CT :: 14.69X11.49X9.5MM :: BRAZIL :: SANTA MARIA :: A superb aquamarine - big, beautiful, strongly coloured and eye clean.  This gem has been Australian cut so the quality of the finish is first class. The design is the classic Emerald Cut which brings out the best in this aquamarine.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG90 :: TANZANITE :: 7.88CT :: 11X10.7X8.4MM :: CUSHION CUT :: AAA COLOUR :: That beautiful tanzanite from another angle. Lovely profile.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a nice piece of black spinel that was hand dug by the client.  I'm faceting this stone in the classic Portuguese Cut. Black spinel loves a design with lots of facets.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG90 :: TANZANITE :: 7.88CT :: 11X10.7X8.4MM :: CUSHION CUT :: AAA COLOUR :: If you have been looking for the perfect tanzanite ring stone,  this stunning gem is the one. The colour of this beautiful tanzanite is AAA quality, a deep rich royal blue with hints of purple. It is an ideal size and shape for an impressive ring. The quality of the cut and finish is excellent making this an exceptionally fine gem. A stone for the connoisseur.  Available for sale.  Contact via PM or email dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG86 :: INDICOLITE TOURMALINE :: 10.29CT :: 18.7X9.3X6.7MM :: AFGHANISTAN :: EMERALD CUT :: Hand shot of that beautiful blue tourmaline so that you can get a better idea of size and colour. Hope you enjoy.  Available for sale.  Contact me either via PM or email at dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia KSG86 :: INDICOLITE TOURMALINE :: 10.29CT :: 18.7X9.3X6.7MM :: AFGHANISTAN :: EMERALD CUT :: One from the collection :: Here is truly a rare and precious gem. An eye clean blue indicolite tourmaline exceptional in every regard. The color is superb and it has been crafted by an Australian gemcutter so you know the quality of the faceting and the finish of the polish is first class. The design is the classic Emerald Cut and this gem would be prefect as a ring halo set with diamonds.  Available for sale :: Contact me either via PM or email at dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here's another shot of that monster blue zircon.  It would make the biggest cocktail ring ever. :-) Available for sale.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BLUE ZIRCON :: 42.68CT :: 14X16.3X15MM :: CAMBODIA  Here's one from the collection and this it's a monster!  This incredible stone is an exceptionally large Cambodian blue zircon, truly extraordinary, for stones of this size are rare in the extreme especially with this awesome clarity and rich blue colour. This is one for the collector, a big,  beautiful blue zircon, a gem for which you could search a very long time for and not find anything coming even remotely close to it.  This blue zircon is available for sale. Genuine enquires only.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished repairing the damaged aquamarine. The bottom two pics show the chipped corner and where a flake has come off the Pavilion. Because of this the other three corners also had to be trimmed changing it from a baguette to an emerald cut. While I was at it I also polished the girdle which originally had been left unpolished and was very unsightly, sloppy work.  Folks,  when you are spending good money on a stone make sure you are not wasting your money on poorly cut and finished stones. Would you buy a brand new car that was covered in scratches,  chips and other defects? The girdles should be polished otherwise it just looks cheap.  I also repolished the table as it was poorly finished and had alot of scratches.  This gem has now been repaired and looks 100% better then it did. A gem that is properly finished and polished is one that you can charge more for and it makes your jewel look that much better. It's all about attention to detail.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEM.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia About to do some surgery on this nicely coloured aquamarine baguette. The corner was chipped during setting and a large flake broke away on one of the pavilion edges. It's pretty nasty and I'm going to have to turn the baguette into an emerald cut. This sort of repair has to be very carefully done.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here is a matched set of black spinels all handcut by me in my Victoria Regent cushion design. I do love this black spinel.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just finished another custom order that I've been working on for the last couple of weeks. Three nice rose quartz cut in the Sparkman design and 12 matched black spinel in the Victoria Regent design. Glad that one is finished. All for one client.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working my way through a matched set of ten 7mm black spinel Victoria Regent cushion cuts. This is number 8... bit of a long haul.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Cut a nice little 4mm rose garnet for this client's ring to replace the one that fell out and was lost.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Recut for a client, a lovely ceylon blue sapphire 1.6ct finished in the Antique Round design. She sparkles now... goodbye window.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Fresh off the dop, a flawless Harts Range zircon,  7ct and 11mm cut in the SG1 design... a high performance round brilliant variation.  This beauty is just full of confetti colour and dazzling. Flawless big zircons from this location are super scarce.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Camping at upper Colo River. Magic place, beautiful freshwater, brightest full moon, no city noise. bliss.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Doug Menadue :: Bespoke Gems :: Art Prints :: From an upcoming series :: Available on fine art paper or canvas various sizes :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Next... starting on an order of 10 black spinel Victoria Regent square cushions. The client supplied 10 black spinel cabochons and wanted a matched set of 7mm gems. So here we go... first step,  preforming.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia REPOLISH OLD, WORN & SCRATCHED GEM :: Revive those old sentimental and favorite stones to give them a new lease of life. Make them sparkle again!  Offer your customers that little bit extra.  Bespoke Gems :: Lapidary Services For The Jewellery Trade  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia REPOLISH RING STONE TABLES IN SITU :: Remove scratches and repolish worn table surfaces without removing the stone from the setting. Offer your customers that little bit extra.  Bespoke Gems :: Lapidary Services For The Jewellery Trade  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Watch out for the redback.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Lazy day today just working on the new website.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BLACK SPINEL :: 22 CARATS :: 'PHARAOH' :: This beauty is a very fine black spinel from Thailand that I recently cut for a client.  They wanted a large black stone and they loved this design and I had a nice big piece of rough waiting for just such an order.  Black spinel is THE black gemstone of choice... It is a pure jet black colour and takes an incredibly glossy polish.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia INDICOLITE TOURMALINE :: 2.O3 CARATS :: 8.5x8.5x6.2 MM :: This beautiful indicolite tourmaline hits it out of the park with its deep sapphire royal blue colour.  A superb stone,  eye clean and perfect for a ring setting.  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia GREEN TOURMALINE :: 14.1 CARATS :: 14.1x12.8x9.9 MM :: AFGHANISTAN :: A stunning rich green tourmaline from Afghanistan cut in a classic cushion shape. It is big and beautiful and would make a fine addition to any collection or an amazing cocktail ring.  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia TEAL BLUE TOURMALINE :: 28.1 CARATS :: 19.7x16.6x11.2 MM :: AFGHANISTAN :: CUSHION :: This gem is one of the finest tourmaline of this colour that you could ever hope to see. It is a beautiful gemstone, superb in everyway. It has been precision cut by an Australian gemcutter in a very nice rectangle cushion design so you can be sure the quality of the finish and polish is the very best. It is a large stone and would be the centerpiece of any collection. A unique tourmaline gemstone.  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM SYDNEY :: AUSTRALIA - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia MANDARIN GARNET :: 5.1 CARATS :: 9.2x9.2x6.5MM :: SQUARE CUSHION :: An absolutely delicious mandarin garnet with that amazing orange colour. This gem is perfect for the dream ring.  A rare find!  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia CORNFLOWER BLUE SAPPHIRE :: 5.07 CARATS :: CEYLON :: 9.03x8.76x6.58 MM :: Totally awesome cornflour blue sapphire in an ideal size for a  spectacular ring setting.  Has a GRS certificate. The colour is just devine!  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia RUBY :: BURMA :: 2.1 CARATS :: 8.8x6.1x4.4MM  An exceptional natural Ruby with excellent color.  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COLOMBIAN EMERALDS :: 2.9 CARATS :: 7.3X7.3X6.8MM  A very fine pair of matched Colombian emeralds. These would make lovely earring stones or maybe even cufflinks.  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia ROYAL BLUE SAPPHIRE :: 10.5 CARATS :: 14.7X11.8X6.1MM :: This is a stunning royal blue Sapphire that would make the ultimate gent's ring stone.  It is big and the colour superb and the oval shape is a classic. Imagine this beautiful gem set in gold as a ring, it would be without equal.  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Progressing well... a nice big natural black spinel, 17mm. Will probably finish around 20-22 carats I think.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hi folks,  Hope you're all doing well out there. I've been pretty quiet on the posting front for a while. Back into it for the new year and the first cab off the rank is a nice big black spinel,  66 carats rough.  I'm going to cut a modified Pharoah design which will have a shallower profile then normal. It should look quite something when it's done.  All the best everyone and hope you all have a great new year.  There is a new website coming soon as well... The Bespoke Gems Royale collection will be morphing into something new.  Stay tuned... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just in time for Christmas... here is a SNEAK PREVIEW of some of the beautiful gems in the new BESPOKE GEMS :: ROYALE COLLECTION. More gems to come in 2015.  Best wishes for the season to everyone!  WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BESPOKE GEMS :: THE ROYALE COLLECTION  Coming very,  very soon... a collection of prestigious gems of stunning beauty and quality. This has been a collection long in the making and there are gems here that will just sweep you off your feet. So stay tuned... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.BESPOKEGEMSROYALE. COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The spider returns!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Renovating and paint the new office. I'm moving across the street into my own office... woohoo! Been a busy week,  moving in on the weekend. I'll now be in the KING GEORGES CHAMBERS on George St, right next to Apple Store and across from the Dymocks Building.  Finally...my own space!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! That was a mission! :-) But totally worth it... The big natural blue topaz from Oban came in at 137.25ct,  27x37x22mm... original weight was 300ct so I got almost 46% yield which is excellent.  Very happy with how it turned out. It only took me all week.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Almost there... almost there... doing the final 100K polish on the crown. Big stones... Big work!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Coming along well... about to start the 100k polish. It's 27x34mm... Natural blue topaz... any guesses on the final weight,  folks?  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A fellow brought in a nice big topaz crystal to show me yesterday... Very impressive. It was about 420 grams and very glassy. A beautiful crystal... Apparently it came from Burma. It has a light pink champagne peachy colour. Amazing! You can see what looks like tree growth rings on the top of the crystal.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on the big blue topaz.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Shameless selfie. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The big 300ct natural blue topaz... it was a tricky one to try and come up with a design for... it had a very particular shape with large steep surfaces and a sort of twist. Finally decided on John Bailey's EYE design and I tweeked it a bit for this stone. Its going to be a very challenging stone to cut but when finished it will be a beautiful blue eye.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The time has come... Going to be working on this big 300ct natural blue topaz this week.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful silver topaz for a friend overseas. Finished in one of my favorite designs,  the Yin-Yang.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Three little gems ready for a recut... lets see what we can do with that.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hi folks,  Just wanted to let you all know that I have just listed some exciting new gems on my website.  Head to my website and check out the WHAT'S NEW page :  http://www.bespoke-gems.com/whats-new.php  Cheers and thanks,  Doug.... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BUTTERSCOTCH ZIRCON :: 'MAJESTIC KALLI' :: 11.4CT :: 10.5X10.5X11.4MM :: A rare and unusual gem, natural zircons of this colour, clarity and size are increasingly difficult to find. As the name suggests, the colour is a rich caramel butterscotch and is much nicer in person then the pics show. The design is a combination of a  KALLI crown and a MAJESTIC pavilion... Over 200 facets! The gem exhibits a full rainbow of dazzling fireworks... a joy to behold. This gem would suit the discerning collector or the imaginative jewellery designer. *** AVAILABLE FOR SALE *** Contact :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A little Tassie blue sapphire on the stick. The sapphire was found by the client.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia PERIDOT :: 'THE MAJESTIC' :: 3.5CT :: 8.6MM :: A new and striking peridot freshly polished... a truly beautiful gemstone. *** AVAILABLE FOR SALE *** Contact :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One delicious butterscotch zircon coming up... 'KALLI' design with a 'MAGESTIC' pavilion. Over 200 facets on this baby. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AMETHYST :: 'THE MAGESTIC' :: 5.5 CT :: 10.8MM :: Here is a totally luxurious looking amethyst. I cut this one last week in my new round design called 'THE MAGESTIC'. It is a gorgeous gemstone with rich colours and would make a truly stunning solitare ring stone. I hope you like this new design. *** AVAILABLE FOR SALE *** Inquires :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COMICCON!!!! - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia COMICCON!!!! - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One of us is looking forward to going to COMICCON. - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here's some of the fruits of my labors this week... These are all cut in my new 'THE MAGESTIC' design. This design is great for high yield and maximum  performance.  I also wanted the design to hold and improve the colour... basically I wanted the best of all worlds. Cutting it in a range of materials with different RI's has given me a good idea of how it performs. I'm happy with the results.  TOPAZ 10ct, 12x12x10.4mm  MORGANITE 4.8ct, 10.2x10.2x8.6mm PERIDOT 3.5ct, 8.6x8.6x7.5mm AMETHYST 5.5ct,  10.8x10.8x9.5mm *AVAILABLE FOR SALE*  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM dmenadue@yahoo.com  Cheers,  Doug... - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hi folks,  Just wanted to let everyone know some of the services I provide to the jewellery trade. I'm located in the DYMOCKS BUILDING here in Sydney, LEVEL 5, SUITE 10B, so I'm nice and convenient and I try my best to provide a quick turnaround on jobs. If you have any questions or inquires feel free to give me a call or drop in.  0408064190  JEWELLER TRADE SERVICES :: GEM REPAIRS :: Fix chipped facets and girdles REPOLISH :: Crowns, pavilions and tables RECUT :: To rejuvenate old worn stones RESIZE :: Gems to fit settings REMOVE :: Scratches  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS :: INDIVIDUALLY HAND CUT AND POLISHED GEMSTONES :: THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY CUT GEMS IN THE WORLD :: DYMOCKS BUILDING :: LEVEL 5 :: SYDNEY :: 0408064190 :: WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Let's get this day started. About to start the crown on my new design THE MAGESTIC.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on my new design... 'THE MAGESTIC'. Finished the pavilion,  now for the crown.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful Tasmanian Sapphire cut for a client from a piece of rough that they found. The rough was a very odd shape with a yellow 'nose'. Most of the nose was cut away (but not to spite itself :-) and what remained was a stunning blue sapphire gem.  If anyone wants stones cut that they have found, please get in touch and let me know what you've discovered. Let's turn those rocks into gems. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia NATURAL FANCY INTENSE YELLOW DIAMOND :: 0.24CT :: SI1 :: 4.01x4.04x2.45MM :: GIA CERT :: Available for sale. For more details contact me at :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia NATURAL FANCY DEEP YELLOW DIAMOND :: 0.25CT :: SI1 :: ROUND BRILLIANT :: GIA CERT :: This natural fancy deep yellow diamond is available for sale.  Contact me for more details at :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia NATURAL FANCY VIVID YELLOW DIAMOND :: 0.24CT :: VS1 :: 3.97x3.99x2.48MM :: ROUND BRILLIANT :: GIA CERT :: A beautiful vivid yellow diamond available for sale. Contact me for more details at :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Anyone at the SYDNEY JEWELLERY SHOW today who wants to catch up,  let me know. Be good to see you. - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia SMOKEY QUARTZ :: 'PIXAR' :: O'BRIENS CREEK,  AUSTRALIA :: 12MM :: 5.2CT :: This beautiful piece of smokey quartz has been cut in a very modern and stylish design. It is something a little different and reminds me of the Pixar lampshade... it would really suit an innovative and imaginative jewellery designer. I hand dug this piece several years ago at O'Briens Creek in North Queensland. This design is also available in topaz. *AVAILABLE FOR SALE*  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia SMOKEY QUARTZ :: 'PIXAR' :: O'BRIENS CREEK,  AUSTRALIA :: 12MM :: 5.2CT :: This beautiful piece of smokey quartz has been cut in a very modern and stylish design. It is something a little different and reminds me of the Pixar lampshade... it would really suit an innovative and imaginative jewellery designer. I hand dug this piece several years ago at O'Briens Creek in North Queensland. This design is also available in topaz. *AVAILABLE FOR SALE*  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Selecting out some exceptional individual and matched pairs of natural untreated Australian sapphires. These are just stunning and are very fine gems. Perfect for studs or rings. These are some fancy coloured sapphires as well. Yum!!! WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A few Australian black spinels,  smokey quartz and amethysts.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Beautiful autumn colours of natural Australian zircons. These are stunning and I just love the colors!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Australian natural zircons and topaz.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Spending the weekend sorting and grading some new gems just in. Finally got a whole batch of my smaller aussie gem rough cut that I had accumulated during my travels. They are mostly in the 3 to 5mm rounds but there are a few bigger ones and different shapes. Fantastic to see them all cut and sparkling. They have all been hand dug and are natural and untreated. There are sapphires from central qld, garnets and zircons from the central Queensland and the mud tank in the NT. Peridots from Cheviot Hills, Black Spinel,  topaz,  amethyst from near Bowen, smokey quartz and a few other bits and pieces. These will be available for sale in a short while. There are plenty of matched pairs and sets. Stay tuned for details.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia 8.9 carats of luscious apple green Marlborough chrysoprase cut in the classic Emerald Cut design.  This gem is translucent and glows.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful piece of chrysoprase from Marlborough.  Usually cabbed, chrysoprase looks great faceted and takes on a really nice translucent appearance. This one is going to be done in an emerald cut design.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Natural blue topaz 'MYSTIC STAR' bespoke gems. When you look straight down you see a five pointed star sparkling back at you.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Introducing my new design... the 'MYSTIC STAR'. WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Work in progress... Natural blue topaz Mystic Star.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hot off the dop! A beautiful Pakistani Peridot in the classically delicious green that this material is renowned for.  This beauty is cut in my ANTIQUE ROUND design and is 8x8x6mm and 2.4 carats. The ideal ring stone.  It is available for sale. For details message me or send me an email at dmenadue@yahoo.com  Be quick!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Whispered about in many a lapidary club over the ages have been stories and tales about the legendary 'Oban' blues. These natural blue topaz are among the most sort after gems in the Australian lapidary scene. You will find references to Oban and these blues in all the old fossicking books but try and find the location on a map back then and it was hard work. This stone was sent to me and apparently has a long history dating back to the old tin mining days.  The owner wants me to create a beautiful gem and looking at this stone I know it will be something spectacular.  The stone is the top of a natural blue topaz crystal and is almost flawless inside with an excellent blue colour. It is nice and chunky and a good shape but it will require me to create a design especially for it. It deserves something special. The topaz is 36x30x25mm and 301cts! It is one of the most superb natural blues I've had the good fortune to handle. Stay tuned to see how it turns out.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Golden Sapphire? Nope just a beautiful piece of citrine. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful indicolite tourmaline I recently cut for a client.  The colour is superb and as clear as the Caribbean waters.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia OX BLOOD CITRINE :: UTOPIA PEAR :: 6 CT :: Autumn colours at their best! *** AVAILABLE FOR SALE *** http://www.bespoke-gems.com/citrine.php#image_711 - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia OX BLOOD CITRINE :: UTOPIA PEAR :: 6 CT :: 10.1x14.5x8.7 MM :: Deep rich golden brandy colours makes this citrine just amazing. I love this colour and this design. It would make a really special ring stone if you like them big. An exceptionally fine ox blood citrine. 'Ox Blood', by the way, is the name given to this particular deep colour of citrine. *** AVAILABLE FOR SALE *** WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful royal blue Sapphire from the Antang mines in Kaduna, Nigeria. This beautiful gem is 3.7 carats and is truly a stunning colour. It was cut for a client from rough they supplied. If you want a sapphire like this one, have a chat with Brume Jeroh as he is the man in the know.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A nice combo of blues... a couple of fine tourmalines and a rich royal sapphire.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Love this rich madeira citrine colour. It is totally stunning and I'm going to cut it in my favorite pear design, UTOPIA PEAR.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the first half of my new 'cross of faith' freestyle design. Nice piece of topaz this one. Ok, now while it's in the transfer block I want to get started on a really nice piece of Madeira citrine. Is this obsessive compulsive?  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Last few days I've been seeing this cross design in topaz, not sure why.  Anyway,  I'm going to have a go freestyle cutting it in a nice piece of silver topaz. I'll leave the cross 'frosted' so that it stands out. I think it would make a nice pendant stone. Stay tuned... WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Doing the crown and table on this very fine tourmaline. Loving this colour!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Just finished! One of those really fine blue sapphires from Africa. Freestyke - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Have to repolish the table on this big Emerald as it's quite worn. Unfortunately I can't do the crown steps because it's still in the setting.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Flo and I hitting the coffee festival yesterday at The Rocks in Sydney.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Bit of a mixed bag this week. A few repairs (jewelers like to chip stones), pink tourmaline,  sapphires,  topaz  and many others.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A nice little heliodor beryl being crafted into a tapered step cut. Something a little different.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Yesterday's labours, a nice big black spinel EMERALD CUT and a sweet little citrine PRINCESS CUT.  In the hand,  the colour of the citrine looks like a yellow diamond.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia FLINDERS ISLAND TOPAZ :: MIXED CUTS - TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES - PRINCESS CUTS :: 17.2MM 19.1CT - 19.2MM 26.9CT - 8MM 3.8CT :: Here is a beautiful suite of topaz that I recently cut for a client from their own rough. I LOVE TOPAZ! You can cut BIG gems and they ALWAYS look amazing.  One of my favorite stones.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia One big black spinel EMERALD CUT coming up.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Reckon you could wear one of these big 'Killiecrankie Diamonds' on your finger?  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! A couple of big Flinders Island topaz,  also known as ' Killiecrankie Diamonds'. These were cut from the client's own rough they found on a fossicking trip to the island. They are nice big gems,  one is 17.1mm and 19.1ct. The other is 19.3mm and 26.8ct. Very impressive stones!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finishing up a big pair of beautiful O'Briens Creek topaz. Doing the final 100K polish.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Cutting a nice little slice of black onyx to fit a ring.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Doing the fine cut on this big O'Briens Creek topaz. Here I'm using one of my favorite laps, a 1200 grit sintered copper lap. It cuts super fine and gets the facets ready for the 3K prepolish.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A stone a day... and today it's a nice big O'Briens Creek topaz.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia SMOKEY QUARTZ :: MOCK CHECK SQUARE :: O'BRIENS CREEK,  AUSTRALIA :: 8.5CT :: 12MM :: Checking out the rich mocha and coffee hues and subtle tones of this natural smokey quartz from a different angle. You can see the square check pattern reflected. This is a perfect combo for a pair of men's cufflinks.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia SMOKEY QUARTZ :: MOCK CHECK SQUARE :: O'BRIENS CREEK,  AUSTRALIA :: 8.5CT :: 12MM :: The rich mocha and coffee hues and subtle tones of this natural smokey quartz are truly devine and complement this modern design perfectly.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia 'THE BLACK ASSCHER' :: BLACK SPINEL :: ASSCHER CUT :: 10.4 CT :: 11.3 MM :: glossy, lustrous... mysterious.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BLUE TOPAZ :: SG1 :: 2.5 CT :: A stunning,  clear and crisp blue topaz, perfect for the cocktail ring.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Next project... two matched pairs of 'KILLIECRANKIE DIAMONDS'. These are actually topaz that are found on Flinders Island near Tasmania. They are going to be a pair of my favorite trillions, TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES and a pair of smaller PRINCESS CUTS.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BRAZILIAN AMETHYST :: UTOPIA PEAR :: 3.3 CT :: A beautiful amethyst in a classic cut.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A beautiful Afghan tourmaline cut in the very bright BRILLIANT PEAR design,  3.3 carats. This was a custom order for a client. Top colour.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finally got the last of my signage up. I'm on the bottom under the line.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BLACK SPINEL :: The black gemstone of choice!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hot off the dop... 3.3 carats of luscious brazilian amethyst cut in the elegant UTOPIA PEAR design. You should see this beauty... The colors are rich and devine, lovely blues and purples flashing away in there, far better then the pic. This is an excellent combination of stone,  color and design.  When you see an amazing amethyst like this you can fully understand why amethyst was so highly regarded in past times and was among the most sort after of coloured gemstones.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Preparing a little blue topaz.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Working on a gorgeous piece of amethyst... this is going to be one of my all time favorite pear designs,  the  UTOPIA PEAR.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia About to start on a nice piece of brazilian amethyst... its going to be a nice big UTOPIA PEAR. I love this rich grape colour,  beautiful.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia TOP CLASS BLUE/PURPLE COLOUR CHANGE SAPPHIRE :: MADAGASCAR :: 1.45CT 6.7X6MM :: RECT CUSHION :: VSI :: TREATMENTS UNKNOWN :: FOR SALE $600 USD PER CARAT :: dmenadue@yahoo.com WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BLUE/ PINKISH PURPLE COLOUR CHANGE GARNET :: MADAGASCAR :: 1.27CT 6.3X5.6MM :: VSI :: NO TREATMENT :: RECT CUSHION :: FOR SALE :: $910 USD PER CARAT  dmenadue@yahoo.com WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Any one interested in a BLUE/PINKISH PURPLE COLOUR CHANGE GARNET :: 2.26 CT :: 8.3MM :: MADAGASCAR.  This gem exhibits a very strong colour change and the blue is dynamite! It has been well cut (not by me) in a round design.  It is an excellent size. Priced at $1100 USD per carat.  Contact me if you are interested :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A nice little 1 carat 6mm parti color Sapphire from the central Queensland gemfields cut in the high performance SG1 design.  A top little sapphire.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A stunning natural zircon from the central Australian gemfields around Hart's Ranges. These zircons are scarce and true collectors gems,  especially in large sizes like this. This beauty is cut in the high performance SG1 design and is 9mm, 3.7ct. In the sunlight it looks like it is full of bright firey confetti, super dispersion. Natural zircons rival diamonds for fire.  This one is a pinky champagne colour. The Central Australian gemfields is a very remote and hard to reach location. *AVAILABLE FOR SALE*  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Polish that gem!  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The sky blue topaz NIGERIAN CUSHION is starting to take shape. Its a beautiful piece of rough.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia On the dop and ready to roll. Beautiful blue topaz... Yum!!! WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Saturday morning at the 'office'... One 8mm sky blue topaz in a NIGERIAN CUSHION design coming up. This material looks incredible when cut and you'd think it was top class aquamarine. The colour is that good.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia First cab off the rank. An Australian black spinel cut in the KALLI dome design with 185 facets, 10.6mm, 7 carats.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia The new workspace... working hard.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Foyer of the Dymocks Building on George St in Sydney. Built in the 1940's I believe and it is truly a beautiful building. I feel super fortunate that I was able to find a place here. This is one of the two main buildings in Sydney known for the high class manufacturing jewelers that are located here. If you are in Sydney you are welcome to drop by for a visit and a chat anytime. I'm on the 5th floor,  site 10B.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Something to brighten the wall... a large 1x1m mosaic picture showing a while bunch of gems that I've cut over the years. There are around 400 individual pics all assembled using photoshop. It looks awesome and is quite impressive hanging there. I didn't realize just how BIG it would be.  Thanks Flo for the surprise!!! :-) - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Woohoo! Got my sign up on the window at last. Open for business folks. :-) Oh,  and if anyone is looking for diamonds I can source those for you to. - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Introducing the new DOUG MENADUE :: BESPOKE GEMS logo.  This coincides with some exciting news... I have relocated my gemcutting studio into the city. I am now based in the DYMOCKS BUILDING in SYDNEY. For anyone in Sydney you are most welcome to drop in and say HI!  My address is SUITE 10B, FLOOR 5, DYMOCKS BUILDING, 428 GEORGE ST,  SYDNEY, NSW, 2000.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Another super O'Briens Creek silver topaz 'LONE STAR' finished and on its way to its new owner in California.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Starting on a new silver topaz lone star. Shine on brightly dudes! :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AFGHAN GREEN TOURMALINE :: SMITH BAR :: MATCHED PAIR :: 10X18.8MM :: 13.9 & 15.3CT :: Here are two of the finest tourmalines of this type that you could hope to find. They are exceptional gems in all regards and they are very well matched which makes them even rarer. One has a noticable blue zone near one end. The other has a touch of blue but not as noticable. They would make a very special pair of earrings or perhaps a pair of cufflinks. Alternatively they represent very good investment or collector gems. This pair of gems is a very special and rare offering, truly unique. These gems are available and will be sold as a pair. Contact me for more details. Serious inquiries only.  dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AFGHAN GREEN TOURMALINE :: SMITH BAR :: MATCHED PAIR :: 10X18.8MM :: 13.9 & 15.3CT :: Here are two of the finest tourmalines of this type that you could hope to find. They are exceptional gems in all regards and they are very well matched which makes them even rarer. One has a noticable blue zone near one end. The other has a touch of blue but not as noticable. They would make a very special pair of earrings or perhaps a pair of cufflinks. Alternatively they represent very good investment or collector gems. This pair of gems is a very special and rare offering, truly unique. These gems are available and will be sold as a pair. Contact me for more details. Serious inquiries only.  dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! Two exceptional matched Afghan green tourmalines in the modern classic SMITH BAR design, 10x18.8mm. Very happy with how they turned out. I'll take some glamor pics over the weekend.  So what would you do with a fine pair of gems? Set them as a glorious pair of earrings surrounded by diamonds maybe?  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished the first one. Looking good. You can see the Smith Bar design taking shape and the lovely colour of the gem tourmaline.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Let's begin! Now the first thing you need to know about faceting tourmaline crystals like this is that they represent one of the most challenging stones that a gemcutter can cut. This is because of cracks and the tendency of a crystal to split right across the stone. You need a super sensitive touch when working with these stones and very good technique.  The first thing I did last week was grind the 'rind'of the crystals. This is the preparation for these crystals. It does two things... 1. it removes most, preferably all,  of the small hairline cracks around the edges, and 2. it releases the inner tensions inside the stone. Its the release of the internal pressures in the crystal that can cause a stone to split. I then let the stone sit for the week and not touch it. This let's the stone sort itself out. If it's going to split it will do so at this time. It's just a peculiarity of tourmaline crystals that have come  straight from the ground rather then waterworn nodules which have had all the pressures released by virtue odd being bounced around in the river gravels. Ok, now the stones are ready to be cut. I dop the stones onto the dopsticks and start sizing and centring the first stone. Oh,  you also have to be very careful with heat.  To cut a matched pair we need to determine the maximum size of the pair and this is based on the smaller of the two stones. Once the stones are sized we begin cutting the pavilion facets.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia AFGHAN GREEN TOURMALINE!!! Here are two of the finest pieces of this wonderful material that you could hope to find. I've had these tucked away for years. I have always loved this type of green tourmaline from Afghanistan. It is rich,  velvety and simply devine. These two stones are perfectly matched in colour and actually have a blue cap on one end. I'm hoping to get around 10x18mm and I'm going to cut them in my all time favorite design for this particular type of stone... THE SMITH BAR. I think these are going to be superb gems and a very very rare offering. Stay tuned folks. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia GARNETS :: BAR ROUND :: 6.8MM :: 1.7CT EACH :: Here is a nice pair of garnets matched in size and design but not quite in colour. One is red and the other has a bit more pinky purple. Both beautiful stones. I've always thought this design is perfect for men's wear. These I could see as a tie pin or something like that. Contact dmenadue@yahoo.com *AVAILABLE*  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia GOLDEN BERYL :: FREESTYLE HONEYCOMB :: 26.8CT :: Here's that big piece of golden beryl I was working on. It turned out pretty cool. Very happy with it. It was cut for a customer from a piece of rough they supplied. This would make a great pendant I think. It's something a bit different anyway.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Freestyling the golden beryl. Its almost finished. Its now in the transfer block so I can polish the other side.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Here are some of the gem designs from my MOROCCAN COLLECTION.  These were inspired from a journey through Morocco and seeing all the amazing and colorful geometric tiled walls and features everywhere I went. It was a revelation and truly inspiring. I wanted to take these from the two dimensional into the three, to embody these incredible geometric designs as beautiful gems. The energy and awe that I felt when looking at all those brightly colored tiled creations I wanted to capture and hold in a gem.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Freestyling honeycomb on this chunk of golden beryl.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia About to start cutting this monster piece of golden beryl free style.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia SILVER TOPAZ :: KISS OF VENUS :: 12.2CT :: 12.4x12.4x10.8MM :: Here's the big O'Briens Creek topaz I finished the other day that I posted a video of. It's a fantastic gem and dazzling in the sunlight as you can see in the video. This is the very first gem I've cut in this design, the original stone. The design is a high top dome style.  Contact dmenadue@yahoo.com *AVAILABLE* $600  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia SILVER TOPAZ :: 'LONE STAR' :: 5.2CT :: 10.2X10.2X7.4MM :: Here's a stunning O'Briens Creek topaz cut in a really eye catching design that highlights a five pointed star. Its a beautiful silver white stone and something unique and unusual. Contact :: dmenadue@yahoo.com *AVAILABLE* $260  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Anyone loves stars? Here's one I also finished today. It is an O'Briens Creek topaz that I dug and is cut in the 'Lone Star' design, 10.2x10.2x7.4mm 5.2 carats. The star is highlighted by frosting the facets around it. This is a fantastic stone and the five pointed star is a special symbol for many people. This would be a good stone for a ring. *AVAILABLE*  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Today's mission :: the first cutting of my new gem design, 'THE KISS OF VENUS'. I'm going to use a nice piece of topaz that I dug at O'Briens Creek in North Queensland. I can't wait to see how it turns out. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia THE FORTINGALL YEW TREE :: This is one of my tree sketches from the time I traveled around the world back in the early 2000's. When I was in Scotland I went to visit the Fortingall Yew tree. This tree is thought to be one of the oldest if not THE oldest living thing on Earth. It is thought to be between 2000 and 5000 years old. Indeed when I was in its presence there was an indescribable feeling, I was in the presence of a being ancient and deep and so much more. It was very  humbling. What it would have seen and known... just imagine something so old and still with an untold age left to live. I stayed there for a while and began this sketch. It was in a churchyard... its funny how religions/churches find the 'power centres' and claim them. In times before the church there would have been druids or their ilk doing their thing there. Indeed there are some circles and standing stones nearby. So many mysteries. It was something very special to me to make the journey there and the memory of it is powerful and comforting. If any of you get the chance, go and visit the Fortingall Yew and spend some time with it. Doug Menadue.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.SACREDGEOMETRICS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia THE FORTINGALL YEW TREE :: This is one of my tree sketches from the time I traveled around the world back in the early 2000's. When I was in Scotland I went to visit the Fortingall Yew tree. This tree is thought to be one of the oldest if not THE oldest living thing on Earth. It is thought to be between 2000 and 5000 years old. Indeed when I was in its presence there was an indescribable feeling, I was in the presence of a being ancient and deep and so much more. It was very  humbling. What it would have seen and known... just imagine something so old and still with an untold age left to live. I stayed there for a while and began this sketch. It was in a churchyard... its funny how religions/churches find the 'power centres' and claim them. In times before the church there would have been druids or their ilk doing their thing there. Indeed there are some circles and standing stones nearby. So many mysteries. It was something very special to me to make the journey there and the memory of it is powerful and comforting. If any of you get the chance, go and visit the Fortingall Yew and spend some time with it. Doug Menadue.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.SACREDGEOMETRICS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia PINK TOURMALINE :: INCA DOME :: 5.7MM :: 1CT :: A very sweet little candy pink tourmaline from Congo. This beautiful gem has been cut in a modern design that features a high dome. It should fit a standard ring setting without any problems. It is a very happy, bright gem with a wonderful colour. *AVALIABLE* dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia BLACK SPINEL :: ROSE BRILLIANT :: AUSTRALIA :: 12MM :: 7.3CT :: Here is a beautiful glossy black spinel cut in a design that would be perfect for any jewellery setting. Black spinel is THE black gemstone of choice. It has a pure black colour unlike black diamonds which tend to be a steely grey colour. This is a very fine natural black spinel gemstone! * As a side note,  I have noticed lately the appearance of stones being marketed as black sapphires. It is my belief that these are actually black spinel.  It seems that the ones I saw were Australian stones and, to my surprise,  that Australia was a leading producer of these 'black sapphires'. This was news to me as I was unaware that there were black sapphires let alot Australia produced so many. I got in touch with some friends who lived and mined on the Sapphire gemfields for decades and were in their time one of the biggest miners there. They also were surprised as in all their time they never saw any. They mined plenty of black spinels but no black sapphires. They said yes you can certainty get very very dark blue or green sapphires which can look black or 'bombs' which are low grade opaque sapphires but shine a bright enough torch through them and you will see color.  So I suspect this is another case of buyer beware and that the prices being asked would be much higher and out of step with prices for equivalent black spinels. So in short, if you are considering buying one of these 'black sapphires' check it out first. Ask if there is a certificate to verify that it is actually a sapphire. Otherwise I think you'll be buying a very expensive black spinel.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia MALI GARNETS :: MINI-MINT & BRILLIANT PEAR :: MATCHED SUITE OF 8 GEMS :: 6MM :: 9TCW :: The fancy coloured garnets are without doubt one of my most favorite of gems. The fancy colours are the oranges, yellows and greens... they are always exceptionally bright, really really bright! They have great fire and are always high performers. I love the colours, stunning and full of life... they are happy uplifting gems and are always a pleasure to see. What I have here is a very rare matched suite of beautiful Mali garnets. There are three orange/yellow Mini-Mints, three light minty green Mini-Mints and two Brilliant Pears. They are all finely matched in terms of colour and saturation. I would like to keep them as a suite as they would make a really special jewellery item, something that would be totally dazzling. All the gems are over 1 carat... the Mini-Mints are in the 1.1 to 1.2 carat range and the Brilliant Pears are 1.35 carats each. *AVAILABLE* email :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia MALI GARNETS :: MINI-MINT & BRILLIANT PEAR :: MATCHED SUITE OF 8 GEMS :: 6MM :: 9TCW :: The fancy coloured garnets are without doubt one of my most favorite of gems. The fancy colours are the oranges, yellows and greens... they are always exceptionally bright, really really bright! They have great fire and are always high performers. I love the colours, stunning and full of life... they are happy uplifting gems and are always a pleasure to see.  What I have here is a very rare matched suite of beautiful Mali garnets. There are three orange/yellow Mini-Mints, three light minty green Mini-Mints and two Brilliant Pears. They are all finely matched in terms of colour and saturation. I would like to keep them as a suite as they would make a really special jewellery item, something that would be totally dazzling.  All the gems are over 1 carat... the Mini-Mints are in the 1.1 to 1.2 carat range and the Brilliant Pears are 1.35 carats each. *AVAILABLE* email :: dmenadue@yahoo.com  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia PINK TOURMALINE :: ACORN :: 8X8X8.8MM ::3.8CT :: A superb pink tourmaline from Afghanistan! I truly love the Afghani tourmaline, it always cuts a bright, lively and good looking gemstone. This beauty has been faceted in my Acorn design and would be ideal for a creative solitare setting or perhaps a hanging pendant design. The colour is devine and as pink as you could want. In the sunlight the gem is dazzling with fire and sparkles. The gem is eye clean and first class, top shelf. *AVAILABLE* Contact me at dmenadue@yahoo.com for more information.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia PINK TOURMALINE :: ACORN :: 8X8X8.8MM ::3.8CT :: A superb pink tourmaline from Afghanistan! I truly love the Afghani tourmaline, it always cuts a bright, lively and good looking gemstone. This beauty has been faceted in my Acorn design and would be ideal for a creative solitare setting or perhaps a hanging pendant design. The colour is devine and as pink as you could want. In the sunlight the gem is dazzling with fire and sparkles. The gem is eye clean and first class, top shelf. *AVAILABLE* Contact me at dmenadue@yahoo.com for more information.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia DOUG MENADUE ::BESPOKE GEMS ::FINE HANDCUT DESIGNER GEMSTONES ::DISCOVER THE ART OF THE GEMCUTTER :: Visit my website and check out the WHAT'S NEW page to see the gems I've recently listed. All the gems have been personally hand crafted by myself and polished to the highest standard. A huge range of classic,  modern and unique one-of-a-kind designs available. Commissions and custom orders taken.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia An exceptional pair of red Imperial garnets cut in a modern round bar design, 8mm, 2.9 carats each. Perfect for a pair of men's cufflinks.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM *SOLD* - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia 'TREE FROM A GARDEN IN FEZ' :: Just before the world changed forever I spent three months wandering around Morocco. Near the palace in Fez I discovered a small public garden wherein I spent several afternoons sketching an old tree that stood alone in the centre of the garden. It reminded me of an arm stretching up out of the earth quietly reaching. Doug Menadue  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.SACREDGEOMETRICS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Close up of the 'old tree of the book'. A pencil sketch in an old notebook I took with me on my travels.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM WWW.SACREDGEOMETRICS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Memories... I'm looking through an old sketch notebook that I took with me on my world travels back in the early 2000's. This was a pencil sketch of an old Fig tree. I have always been entranced by the strength and presence of trees such as these. They are old and knowing in a way that only beings such as these can be.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Coming soon... a matched pair of Afghani green tourmalines. These pieces are 30 carats each and I'm hoping to get a nice pair of Bespoke Gems from them around the 10x18mm. Will probably cut a pair of 'Smith Bars' which is one of my favorite rectangular designs.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A perfect pair of rich red Imperial garnets. They are not pinkish red or raspberry or purplish red... They are RED! The design is 'Round Bars' and is quite striking and different. They would be ideal for a pair of earrings but I really think they would be perfect for a man,  perhaps a pair of cufflinks or tie tacks or something like that. There is something about the design that would really suit that.  They are available for sale. Email me at dmenadue@yahoo.com for details.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Finished! A stunning hot pink tourmaline cut in my 'Acorn' design. This is a beautiful flawless gem with intense colour. It is a real beauty and is something quite special. 8x8mm. 3.8 carats.  It is available for sale. Email me at dmenadue@yahoo.com for details.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Started on another bespoke gem - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia Hot pink tourmaline on the dop being faceted in my ''Acorn'' design. This gem has been orientated so that when you look down through the table into the gem you well see an intense hot pink colour. This is going to be an amazing gemstone. :-) WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A nice matched pair of rich red garnets coming up, around 8mm and going to be faceted in a really nice round bar design for something a bit different.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia A spectacular suite of matched Mali garnets. There are eight garnets in total plus one pink tourmaline. There are six rounds cut in the ''mini-mint'' design which is perfect for fancy coloured garnets like these. They are 6mm and around 1.2 carats each... three light orange/yellow and three light minty green.  There is also a matched pair of ''brilliant pear'' light minty green garnets as well. Together these eight garnets are a superb matched suite and ideal for an imaginative jeweller to create some magic with. These garnets are exceptionally bright and brilliant and sparkle something fierce. They are avaliable for sale and I would like to sell them as a complete suite as such a suite is a very rare thing and it would be a shame to split them up. Contact me at dmenadue@yahoo.com for details.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia ''THE KISS OF VENUS'' :: Inspiration can come from many sources and many muses. My latest gem design is inspired by our most beautiful of celestial relationships, that between Earth and Venus. With the sun in the centre, if you were to look at the orbits of Venus and Earth over a period of eight years you would see a wondrous and perfect five-petaled flower appear. During this heavenly dance,  Venus would turn to ''kiss'' Earth five times. She is the brightest light in our night sky, the first to appear and the last to leave. When next you look up into the heavens and you see her there, take a moment to wonder and gaze upon our most beautiful dance partner... Venus.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia 'The Kalli Oval' :: 201 facets of beautiful deep pink/rubellite tourmaline weighing in at 9.1 carats. This design was inspired by the round design called 'Kalli' by Jeff Graham. I created it specifically for this tourmaline. Its a very challenging design to facet but the results are worth it. In the sunlight the colour shows a very bright hot pink with lots of fire and action and there are many hues in this stone right through to rubellite. It is truly unique and a collectors stone. If you did want to set it then it would suit a bezel ring setting. It is avaliable for sale.  WWW.BESPOKE-GEMS.COM - Precision Gemcutting and Lapidary Services Located In Sydney Australia

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