Today, Jaipur is recognized as one of the world’s leading colored gemstone manufacturing hubs, especially for the cutting of emeralds. A few years ago, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) visited Jaipur, India to get a deeper insight into the workings of the gemstone cutting industry. Our uncle was among the people they interviewed to understand how emeralds are cut and polished. It is fascinating to note that unlike for diamonds where technology now plays a central role, for emeralds it is still the skill and experience of the craftsman that is relied upon. Have a look at the short video above to see how an emerald is transformed from rough to polished cabochons.
The art of cutting an emerald
